Crossover Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon Online ❯ The Grand Journey to the World Tree ( Chapter 11 )

We have arrived at the next chapter and now, Kirito is on ALO and joining up with our Moon Princess and her friends for adventures for a journey to the World Tree. You must be thinking that I must have WAY overpowered the other Sailor Scouts, but you have to remember that Kirito had come in with his SAO avatar data making him very strong for one thing with Serena/Usagi being the same way in which you have to remember that in this story, the Sailor Scouts were playing ALO from around the time that it first came out which says something and since it is a skill based game, their combat experience as Sailor Soldiers might help them in regards to ALO too.

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

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

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

Sailor Moon Online

Chapter 11: The Grand Journey to the World Tree

January 20, 2025, Kirigaya residence

Within the Kirigaya home, we find 15 year old Suguha Kirigaya looking up at a poster containing Leafa flying through the sky with birds flocking all around her and she thinks about why she started playing Alfheim Online in the first place. She remembers about how she hated VRMMO because of the ‘SAO incident’ that imprisoned her brother/cousin in the virtual world of Sword Art Online as well as hiding people’s true nature. She remembered on how she got curious and how she got her mother to get her an Amusphere. She then talked with hard-core gamer at school and he suggested to go to Alfheim Online. She didn’t know what to expect and she was surprised at how she loved Alfheim Online for one thing: The flight system. It is the ability to fly through the sky on her own wings especially when she was able to fly without her controller and that’s the love that turned her into a fully dedicated VRMMO player.

She wanted to talk to her brother/cousin, Kazuto, ever since he came back from SAO, but the pain in his eyes stopped her from touching on the subject. However, the SAO incident wasn’t over for him. Not as long as ‘she’ didn’t wake up. Around one month ago or so, Suguha learned about Asuna from Kirito and what they shared in SAO which brought pain to her heart. Once she learned that Kazuto wasn’t really her brother, she went through similar ‘identity crisis’ that he did when he learned the truth when he was ten. A feeling of love… a love beyond family relations then formed in Suguha’s heart and she didn’t understand the concept of cousins since her dad didn’t have any brothers and sisters and her mother’s sister, Suguha’s aunt and Kazuto’s biological mother, was gone with Kazuto’s biological dad. She didn’t want him to be sad like he was a night ago and she wished for his lost love to wake up through it meant that Kazuto’s heart was out of her reach.

Suguha then thinks in her mind, “And then there is ‘her’.”

Flashback; Around one month ago

Inside of Kazuto’s room, he and Suguha are talking about stuff in which she learns about Asuna Yuki, the person that he fell in love with in SAO, but she also learns about someone else.

Suguha says, shocked, “You are kidding!”

Kazuto says, shaking his head, “Nope. Kayaba’s own niece was trapped with us.”

Suguha says, stunned, “I heard rumors, but I didn’t know.”

Kazuto says, “And for good reason, Sugu. Remember, a lot of people died in SAO and with Kayaba ‘missing’, who do you think that they would target for ‘justice’? It is the reason that Kayaba’s own parents have gone into government protection.”

Suguha says, “But that’s not fair. They didn’t know a darn thing about what Kayaba was going to do and he even trapped a member of his own family in there.”

Kazuto says, with a sigh, “It isn’t fair, Sugu, but that’s ugliness in human nature. Most likely, the government is making sure that her family is protected from any ‘payback’ by idiots and jerks that just want plain revenge.”

Suguha asks, curiously, “So, what is she like?”

Kazuto says, “Well, she is very kind, caring, and deep down, she hates to fight. She doesn’t like to fight.”

Suguha says, “And when the game became ‘real’, she fought with everything that she had.”

Kazuto says, with a nod, “She wanted to live for one thing, but she also felt ‘morally obligated’ to do what she can since this death game was created by a member of her own family, her uncle, in which she helped, not knowing the truth. She really thought that Sword Art Online was going to be this wonderful adventure that everyone can enjoy.”

Suguha says, “And then it turned into a hellish nightmare.”

Kazuto says, “Beyond her worst nightmares, Sugu. And all the time, she was always crying.”

Suguha asks, “Always crying?”

Kazuto says, with a nod, “For the players that died. Players that had family, friends, and loved ones that they would never see again and futures never to be made. It struck her in her kind and caring heart and it hurt a lot. They died… they were murdered by her own uncle. An uncle that she loved like a second father and thought that he could never hurt a fly, but then…”

Suguha says, finishing, “He betrayed her and hers and his families by sending her into this nightmare and turning Sword Art Online into a death game.”

Kazuto says, with a nod, “Yep. She fought with everything that she had and risked her life to try to save as many players as she could as well as protect them as best as she could. It was a sense of guilt and responsibility that she did, but because she valued human life so highly among other reasons.”

Suguha asks, “Other reasons?”

Kazuto says, with a smile, “A story for another day, Sugu.” Suguha didn’t understand, but she decided not to pry and Kazuto says, “While most of the players agreed that she was a victim of the game and Kayaba as much or even more so than the rest of us for various reasons, but due to various reasons, she was still an ‘outsider’ like me mainly by choice. She knew that it would be ‘weird’ that one of the people in your guild and even your party was a formerly beloved family member of that madman that trapped us in that nightmare.”

Suguha says, “Seems stupid to me.”

Kazuto says, with a nod, “And it was stupid, Sugu, but that’s human nature.” Kazuto says, with a smile, “I guess that since she and I were ‘outsiders’ is the reason that we became friends in the game. And she needed a friend. All the people that she loved were here and she was cut off from them. Before SAO, she was never a day without any of her friends and loved ones. She was trapped without them for two long years. She knew that they were there, waiting for her, and hoping for her return which gave her strength to fight on to get home. However, it was friends like me and Asuna that kept her from going insane.”

Suguha says, with a nod of understanding, “I’ll bet.” Suguha asks Kazuto, “Kazuto, do you think that I will be able to meet her one day?”

Kazuto says, with a smile, “I’m sure that you will, Sugu. I would like to introduce you to all of my friends someday.” Kazuto says, with a sigh, “However, I don’t think that it is a good time. For her…SAO isn’t over.” Suguha’s expression becomes solemn and Kazuto says, “Asuna is her best friend from SAO other than myself and as long as she and the other three hundred don’t wake up, it can never be over.”

Suguha says, solemnly, “I see.”

End Flashback; Return to the Present

As Suguha lies down on the bed, she remembers on how Kazuto said that this friend, Kayaba’s niece, was more like an older sister and how Kazuto mentioned all of the times that she, Asuna, and Kazuto fought together kind of like the Three Musketeers or at least that’s what Suguha thought in her mind. Part of her was afraid about losing a ‘connection’ with Kazuto, but that fear faded away quickly and these days, she felt that his ‘family experience’ with that sister-like friend was helping reestablish the ‘family bonds’ though it was still a problem since she knew that Kazuto wasn’t really her brother and he didn’t know that she knew the truth about that. Another part wanted to thank her for taking care of her brother while she could only sit down by his body and watch waiting for the day that he could come home.

However, something else was happening. Ever since about learning about her, she started to have strange ‘dreams’. Dreams of a gorgeous castle/kingdom on the moon and dreams of a strange and lovely princess with golden blond hair in two long pigtails, blue eyes, golden crescent moon sigil on her forehead, and wearing a gorgeous white and golden royal dress and a lovely silver haired woman that looks a lot like this mysterious princess in which this princess is surrounded by none other than four of the Sailor Scouts she knew about: Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. But what was even weirder to her is that she was among them, but her hair was blond, in a similar hairstyle, a golden crescent moon sigil surrounded by a rainbow version of the Milky Way on her forehead, and wearing a gorgeous silver and rainbow royal dress.

The two of them were like sisters and she then sees herself or her ‘royal self’ dressed like a Sailor Soldier in which she is fighting someone that looks exactly like Kayaba’s SAO avatar of Heathcliff and the two of them were in a heated fight. And what was even weirder is that these ‘dreams’ didn’t ‘feel’ like dreams at all. They felt more like memories. Memories of a past that she had forgotten and she was afraid that she was going nuts or something, but she can’t help to feel that she isn’t going crazy and that these ‘memory-like dreams’ mean something very important.

And as these dreams started, every time that she thought about Kayaba and his niece, she kept feeling a great rage towards him. Of course, she should be angry. She trapped her brother in a horrible death game that took him away from the people that loved him so much and could have killed him at any time. And he showed how heartless that he truly was by putting his own niece, a niece that trusted and beloved him, in danger of dying by trapping her as well. However, the rage that she felt was something like betrayal as well. That at one time, she trusted Kayaba very much and he betrayed her in the worst possible way. It isn’t possible since she didn’t know a thing about him much less was close to him. In fact, her brother, Kazuto, had read up much about him and knew him more than her. She just couldn’t understand this ‘unnatural anger’ that she felt towards Kayaba.

Suguha thinks in her mind, “Maybe I am going crazy, but then again, maybe I can get my answers one day.” As Suguha goes into a deep sleep, the same mysterious cat that has been watching them lies on the fence as the moon of night glints on the moon sigil on its forehead.

January 21, 2025, Cherry Hill Shrine

At Cherry Hill Shrine, we find all of the Sailor Scouts, minus our Moon Princess, assembled together as they discuss the latest situation in ALO with the appearance of Kirito AKA Kazuto Kirigaya.

Mina says, with a smile, “The ‘Twilight Prince’ comes to save his ‘Knightly Princess’, huh? That’s just so…”

Raye smacks Mina on the head and she yells out, “Not now, Mina-chan!”

Lita says, “Anyway, he saw the picture that Molly showed Serena and he truly believes that’s Asuna-san.”

Amara says, “And with that look in his eyes, I don’t doubt him. And personally, we knew that there was something up since no one has beaten the game in over a year. There is something going on in that game and in that tree that ‘certain person’ doesn’t want to be found out.”

Raye says, “I have to agree. That’s just more proof that there is something wrong going on. I can feel in my bones and the fire, while not showing me, feels the same way.”

Hotaru asks, “So, what do we do?”
Lita says, “What can we do Hotaru-chan? The plan continues as always. We meet up at the World Tree.”

Mina says, with a smile, “Plus, Kirito might be a major plus. You said that she is like Serena and all of his SAO avatar data as possible were downloaded into his new ALO avatar making him really strong.”

Michelle says, with a nod, “That’s because that ALO is running on a copy of the SAO server and since the way of saving data is similar if not the same, all the data possible was transferred and merged. The only skills and items not transferred were those not compatible with ALO.”

Ami says, “However, it explains on how they were able to create ALO so quickly after what happened with Sword Art Online. Argus folded and RCT took over in which they gained all of their technology which made them able to create the game at a fraction of the cost.”

Amara says, with a plain tone, “With Sugou-san, who was always jealous that he played ‘second fiddle’ to Kayaba, in charge of the division of creating and maintains ALO. That’s a major ‘red flag’.”

Trista says, “Yes, but he isn’t under investigation. The task force that we are working with dealing with the finishing touches of the rehabilitation of the SAO players that have ‘woken up’, but the part of reintegrating them into ‘regular life’ is still in ‘full swing. They are planning to create an ‘SAO survivors school’ for all of the people in school, mainly middle to high school, during the time that they were trapped in SAO. There is also the matter of our princess and her Earth family including the situation of making sure any and all threats to them is at minimum levels.”

Raye says, with a sneer, “That asshole ruined so many lives and not just the ones that he killed with his fucking death game.”

Ami says, “I’m really curious about this adopted daughter of Kazuto-san and Asuna-san. It is amazing to me that an AI could ‘evolve’ beyond their programming and become an ‘independent entity’.”

Michelle says, with a smile, “Well, don’t get too curious. Kazuto-san and Asuna-san are really attached to their ‘cyber daughter’ and they might not like any attempts to study her like a ‘lab rat’, Ami-chan.”

Mina says, with a grin, “Yeah. Never mess with an angry parent, Ami-chan.”

Ami says, with a nod, “Valid point, Mina-chan.”

Hotaru asks, “How is our princess taking this development?”

Amara says, “Well, she didn’t want him to come along for obvious reasons, but I think that she is glad that he is coming along with us. He is a person that understands her need to save Asuna-san and the others more than we can whatever we like it or not.”

Lita tells Michelle, “However, from what you said about what happened after Amara and I logged out, she sounded like a bit of a mess.”

Raye responds, “She is a mess, Lita-chan.” Raye tells Lita, annoyed, “Geez! She has been back from SAO for just over two months! You think that she is just going to go back to the bubbly joyful Meatball Head that we know and love just like that?”

Lita yells out, nervously, “Hey! Hey!”

Ami tells Raye, calmly, “We know that Raye. We know. Lita didn’t mean to offend.”

Raye says, with a sigh, “Sorry, Lita-chan.”

Lita says, “Yeah, I know. We’re all worried about her.”

Raye says, “She has been through a nightmare made by a member of her own Earth family. That asshole was an uncle that she loved like a second father and he betrayed her in the worst ways possible which you can believe that it is the worst possible betrayals of the heart, Lita-chan. She has been also fighting for her life in a war for survival and she had been fighting for the survival of the other players. She had seen people truly died and never return. It is a good thing that she never saw the corpses of those that died. Personally, I think it would have been too much for Serena. Basically, it is like she has been at war for two years and she just got back. And you know how war veteran can be? The nightmares of war never fade from their mind.”

Ami says, with a nod, “I’ve read articles from war veterans from the United States and about even after decades, later in their old age, where they remember the horrors of war including the most gruesome moments like they were yesterday.”

Amara says, “And it might be the same for our princess. Remember when Rini arrived from the future and told us about how she knew about SAO? Serena’s future self, Neo-Queen Serenity, remembers those horrible details as if it were this time.”

Raye says, “And I also think that she may be suffering through PTSD.”

Hotaru asks, “PTSD?”

Ami says, solemnly, “Post-traumatic stress disorder, Hotaru. An anxiety disorder that happens to a person in the aftermath of a traumatic event and what happened in SAO qualifies. And based on what information that Luna and Darien along with what we have seen, she may have it. She has been constantly ‘re-experiencing’ SAO in one form or another through flashbacks and those horrible nightmares that she is experiencing, trying to avoid talking about SAO as much as possible…”

Lita says, with a nod, “And she has been AVOIDING going to the Crown Arcade! I mean, I thought that my eyes were going to pop out after she said no going to Crown Arcade! SHE SAID ‘NO’ TO CROWN ARCADE, PEOPLE!!”
Raye says, annoyed, “We get it, Lita-chan! That was totally not Serena! We get it!”

Ami says, “That would be avoiding things that could be related to the traumatic events. SAO was a game… A death game, but a game none the less. And what Rini said about Serena shaking when she took out her NervGear also strongly suggests it.”

Amara says, “Our princess may also have plenty of ‘Survivor’s Guilt’ with it.”

Hotaru asks, “Survivor’s Guilt?”

Trista says, “It is when a person felt like they have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not, Firefly.”

Hotaru says, “But why would she feel that way? She didn’t do any wrong.”

Raye says, “We know that. All of us know and heck, plenty of the SAO survivors know that and encourage that. She is a hero along with her friend, but it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t feel that way. Even the greatest of war heroes that done the most heroic things possible could feel ‘survivor’s guilt’ if they lost comrades causing them to feel guilty of living while those comrades died which causes a lot of emotional problems in the future. Personally, this is why I didn’t want Meatball Head finding out about this.”

Lita says, “Well, she knows now.”

Trista says, “And I think that it is for the best that she does do this, Lita-chan. I think that the only way that Serena can start to heal is that we rescue her friend and the other trapped former SAO players. For her, SAO isn’t over.”

Just then a familiar female voice says, “No kidding.” The scouts whip their heads to see Serena right in front of them as Rini, Darien, and Kazuto reach the top of the stairs.

Mina asks, “Whoa, Serena?”

Raye and Amara think at the same time, “I didn’t sense her at all!”

Lita, Amara, and Michelle look at Kazuto, see Spriggan Kirito’s image around him, and Amara says, “This is Kirito, huh? He looks a bit more mature, but less impressive.”

Kazuto gives an annoyed look and Serena says, annoyed, “Amara!”

Michelle tells Amara, “Now, Amara-chan, looks can be deceiving.” Luna and Artemis then leap up and all of them assemble around.

Kazuto tells Serena, “So, these are your friends, Usagi? I recognize Michiru and while they look a little different, I can see Makoto and Haruka.”

Serena says, with a nod, “That’s right, but their real names are Michelle Kaiou, Lita Kino, and Amara Ten’ou.”

Kazuto asks, “Wait? Michelle Kaiou, the famous violinist, and Amara Ten’ou, the famous runner and race car driver, are Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus?”

Michelle says, with a smile, “I see that our reputation precedes us.”
Kazuto asks, shocked, “Amara Ten’ou is a woman?”
Amara asks, “Got a problem with that?”

Kazuto responds, nervously, “No! No! From the articles, it seemed like you… were a man.”

Amara says, with a shrug, “Well, I can’t blame you for that one.”

Hotaru says, “Amara-papa dressed like a male a lot and she is what is known as a tomboy.”

Kazuto asks, surprised, “Amara-papa?!”

Michelle says, patting Hotaru’s head, “This is Amara’s and my adopted daughter, Hotaru Tomoe. Our little Firefly and as you already realized, she is Sailor Saturn, Sailor Scout of Destruction and Rebirth.”

Kazuto asks, curiously, “Yours and Amara-san’s adoptive daughter?”

Trista says, with a kind smile, “I think that’s a story for another day, Kazuto-san.”

Mina says, with a smile, “So, this is Kirito, the ‘Black Swordsman of SAO’, huh? I’ve got to admit that he is quite the looker.”

Kazuto becomes nervous and Serena tells Mina, with a glare, “He already has someone.”

Mina says, nervously, “I know! I know! Man, you really are like a big sister to him.”

Serena thinks in her mind, “Yeah, I know. I just can’t help myself. Ever since we met, I felt this weird ‘bond’ between him and me. It is like I found a long lost younger brother that I haven’t seen for so long.”
Mina asks Darien, with a sly smirk, “Hope that Darien doesn’t get jealous, huh?”

Darien asks, curiously, “Why would I be?” There are a bit of surprised looks from Mina and Lita and Darien says, with a smile, “Kazuto-san took care of my hime when I couldn’t be there for her and for that, I can’t help to be grateful.”

Kazuto says, “Like I said, it was no problem. Usagi is like a big sister to me… an annoying big sister at times.”

Serena sticks her tongue at Kazuto and responds, with a glare, “And you are just as annoying as my real little brother, Sammy.”

Raye says, with a groan, “Something tells me that they are going to be like this plenty of times. They really are like brother and sister.”

Rini giggles at this and Darien thinks, curiously, “They are, Raye. It was the very instant that I met Kazuto-san, I felt something. It was like I was meeting a childhood friend that I haven’t seen in years. It was just… weird to me. I felt like I knew Kazuto and we were like the best of friends close to brothers.” Soon after, Serena introduces all of her friends to Kazuto in order.

When they were done, Kazuto says, “It is nice to meet you all.”

Ami says, “Nice to meet you, too, Kazuto-san.”

Hotaru says, “Thank you for befriending and helping Serena when we couldn’t do anything for her.”

Kazuto responds, “No problem, Hotaru-san. Usagi is my first friend in SAO and like she said, we ‘outsiders’ had to take care of each other.”

Lita says, “It was a shock to learn that Serena was a solo player.”

Serena says, “It was a complicated, Lita-chan. In a way, I didn’t have a choice.”

Mina says, “Well, I think that it was pretty brave of Kazuto-san to play kind of the ‘outlaw’ to keep people from hating you just because of… you know.”

Kazuto says, “She didn’t deserve any of it. She was a victim as much as any other player and despite having no responsibility for what happened to all of us, she took on herself to save as many players as possible. She is a better person than them…and that includes even me.”

Serena says, with a sigh, “Kirito…”

Amara says, “It must have been hard to watch people that you care about die.”

Kazuto says, “You don’t know the half of it.”

Amara responds, “And you’re right. I doubt that we could half-way understand what you and Dumpling went through in that nightmare, Kazuto-san.”

Kazuto says, looking at Serena, “Anyway, I was shocked to learn that Usagi was really Sailor Moon, but it makes more sense on how she could handle thinking and talk about her real life ‘over there’. She must have faced plenty of life and death situations when she was fighting the forces of evil.”

Serena responds, drolly, “Tell me about it.”

Kazuto says, “But it also explains why you really did so much to ensure the safety of the other players.”

Ami says, solemnly, “Yes, even in our greatest of battles, everything seems to turn out all right in the end.”

Luna says, “Well, you, girls, have to learn that life isn’t perfect. If it was, there would be no need for Sailor Scouts.”

Kazuto yelps out, nearly falling on his back, “That cat!!!”

Raye asks Serena, in annoyed tone, “Don’t tell me that you forgot tell Kazuto-san about Luna and Artemis?”

Serena responds, nervously and rubbing her head, “Oops.”

Luna says, with a sigh, “You might have changed, but you are still much the same old Serena.” Luna tells Kazuto, “I’m sorry about this. My name is Luna, Kazuto-san. I am Serena’s guardian and advisor.”

Kazuto says, nervously, “Nice to meet you.”

Artemis says, “And I’m Artemis, Luna’s companion, and I’m advisor and guardian to Mina, who was the first Sailor Scout given her powers as Sailor V.”

Kazuto says, “I figured that she was the first since I heard about her from Sugu and after she vanished for a while, I heard about a Sailor Venus with the Sailor Scouts so I think that ‘V’ is short for Venus.”

Mina says, with a grin, “You are a real clever guy.”

Luna says, “Anyway, let’s get our facts together.”

Kazuto says, “Usagi told me that her childhood friend, who recently became a Sailor Scout, gave her the information and when to a person who’s dad worked on the Amusphere to modify her NervGear to be as close as safe to the Amusphere as possible.”

Ami says, “We were surprised to find out that Molly is a Sailor Scout.”

Lita says, with a nod, “And she knows some people. She has got connections.”

Raye says, “Well, since her store is the where Meatball Head defeated her first youma and the ‘first sighting’ of Sailor Moon, it isn’t surprising that it would be a bit of a landmark.”

Serena tells Kazuto, “After I had gotten it fixed, I decided to go to ALO, but I didn’t know that my friends were already players on it though I get why they were on it.”

Kazuto says, with a nod, “From what Yui told me, I figure that your friends figured out that ALO had similarities in programming to SAO and they figured that by figuring out the programming in ALO, they would figure out what programming commands the NervGear to release the safeties to fry our brains when we die in the game.”

Amara says, “That was the basic idea, but it also made us suspicious on how similar ALO is to SAO and your ‘daughter’s’ words confirmed things for us big time along with that picture.”

Kazuto says, “That’s Asuna. I know it.”

Raye says, “We always felt something ‘fishy’ in ALO and this just makes our suspicions confirmed. I never like that Sugou character the instant that I saw his face.”

Serena says, “Which is the reason that I didn’t want any of you along. I know him. I met him back in my childhood and I just know that he is pure evil. I remember that look well.” Serena puts her arms around herself, shivers, and she says, “That guy just spoke madman. He talked sweet words and he could fool most people, but I knew better. I had told Kayaba that he was a ‘bad man’ and he smiled at me in which he said he knew. Personally, I knew that Kayaba knew Sugou better and he knew him all too well.” Serena says, with a solemn tone, “I just didn’t know that the person that I was warning about Sugou was just as close to insane.” Darien puts his arms around Serena and she looks at Darien and she warmly smiles nuzzling her head and body on him causing Kazuto to lightly smile at this knowing that Serena is happy, but he is sad as he wants the same feeling with Asuna in his arms.

Serena looks at Kazuto, realizing that look, and she says, “We’ll get her back, Kirito. I know that we will.”

Kazuto gives a nod and he says, with a smile, “With all of your help, I know.”

Hotaru asks, “But if it is Sugou-san? What does he want with them? And how did he get them to ALO in the first place?”

Ami sighs and she says, “I think I know.” Everyone looks at Ami and she says, “I’ve been looking over the data and managed to use my ‘position’ as part of the ‘SAO Task Force’ to examine the servers in which I found tampering with the router.”

Lita asks, “The router?”

Kazuto then says, his eyes narrowing, “Now, I get it. The router is where all of the data goes in and out of SAO servers and it is the way that all of our minds would have to go through to leave the servers and return to our bodies. Sugou must have tampered with router to redirect some of the players into the ALO servers where he can trap them. He couldn’t get us all because there were too many of us, but that’s not what he wanted. He wanted enough of us for whatever purpose that he wanted.”

Amara says, her eyes narrowing, “And he got what he wanted. It was by chance that you or Dumpling didn’t get caught by him.”

Mina asks, “Okay, now, we know how he got those players, but what does he want with them?”

Ami says, with a solemn tone, “I’ve been researching Sugou-san’s life ever since we suspected him and what I saw… disgusted me.”

The others are shocked and Lita says, “You? Disgusted? This must be sick!”

Ami says, “Based on what I know, Sugou-san went to the same school as Kayaba and he is second only to Kayaba when it comes to the Full-Dive technology which he greatly resented. However, I also found out that he studied a lot of ‘other things’ including as much information on stuff like the CIA’s mind control research during the fifties and sixties.”

There are gasps and Mina asks, shocked, “Mind control?”

Ami says, with a nod, “And I’ve managed to use government resources to get records of Sugou-san’s ‘corresponds’ with an American company and I managed to find out without anyone knowing is that this company is interested in technology… that can alter human memories, thoughts, and emotions.”

There are gasps and Raye slams her fist onto her table and she yells out, “That’s fucking sick! I get it now! He wants those players so he can use them in his sick experiments to perfect his mind control technology! And he is using the ‘cover’ that they are SAO victims to put make people focus on Kayaba instead of him! He must have had this all planned all along!”

Amara says, with an angered sneer on her expression, “And just as bad, he is doing it just for profit. Most likely, he is just developing the technology to live high on the hog! For money! Just for money and that’s what makes me sick!”

Serena thinks in her mind, her eyes widen and her body starts to involuntary shake, “All that… for money?! Stealing three hundred people after surviving a nightmare… entrapping them in another virtual world away from their friends, family, and loved ones… and doing things to them that could leave them mentally scarred for life in which they could already be…FOR MONEY?!!” Serena’s breathe was quickening and her eyes were narrowing into a dangerous out of character glare in which Rini and Darien look over in which their eyes widen to see this while Kazuto’s eyes were also narrowing into a dangerous and enraged glare as he was in the same thought process as Serena.

Mina asks, “Does that mean… Asuna-san…?” Serena’s and Kazuto’s eyes snap open at this.

Amara says, her eyes narrowing dangerous and an angered look on her features, “No, I don’t think so. Based on what we know, he isn’t planning to do use her in his experiments. No, he is most likely keeping her captive to make sure that she can’t get away and leak out to the world what she is doing. He doesn’t plan to use his technology on her until he has perfected it and then…” However, this causes Kazuto to snap and with a mighty shout of anger, he slams his fist into the table, causing it to fly up about an inch or two, and Raye was about to yell at Kazuto, but she then winches when he sees the great enraged look in his eyes.

Kazuto says, with a sneer and a dangerous tone in his voice, “No… I won’t allow it… I won’t allow that sick son of a bitch… I’ll kill him first!”

Kazuto then leaps to his feet and Serena says, getting to her feet, “No, he won’t, Kirito.” Everyone looks at Serena and they are shocked to see an angered look in her eyes which is totally unlike and out of character for our Moon Princess before SAO in which she gets to her feet.

Seeing the look, Rini grabs her arm and she asks, “Where are you going?”

Serena says, with an eerie calm voice that’s completely out of character for her, “Rini, sweetie, please let go of my hand. I’m not in a good mood right now.”

Lita tells Serena, “Whoa! You have to calm down, girlfriend!”

Serena yells out, in an angered tone not heard in her before, “Calm down? Calm down?! How can I calm down when one of the best friends in SAO is going to be turned into that sicko’s ‘love doll’ or worse? I’m not going to just stand here and let that happen! I’m going over there and kicking that jerk’s ass all over the virtual world and beyond!” As the memories of SAO, especially those that died and the pain of those that survived, flow back, tears of anger come down the once gentle Moon Princess’ eyes and she says, still feeling Rini tugging at her, “Let go, Rini!”

Rini yells out, with tears of worry in her eyes, “No! I’m not letting you go until you calm down, Serena!” Serena was about to wrench Rini’s arm off her until Raye slaps her in the face causing Serena to look at Raye in shock.

Raye shouts out, strongly, “Listen to you talking, Meatball Head! Do you know what you are saying?! And do you realize how you are making us feel?” Serena’s eyes widen and she looks at her concerned best friends and she looks at Rini, with eyes filled with concern and worry, in which she realized what to do and her expression become solemn in which she gasps as Darien wraps his arms around her.

Serena says, “I…”

Darien says, concerned, “I know. I know.”

Kazuto tells Serena, “Usagi…” When Serena looks at Kazuto, he says, “You should listen to your friends. I think that this is the reason that they didn’t want you going on this mission, but I think that they will agree that unless we both go, we can’t move on.” When everyone looks at Kazuto, he says, “To me, Kazuto Kirigaya is just a persona. The real me is Kirito, the Black Swordsman. And it is the same for Usagi. There is no Serena Tsukino. There is only Usagi, the White Valkyrie.”

There are surprised looks and Hotaru asks Serena, curiously and concerned, “Is that how you feel?”

Serena says, with a nod and solemn voice, “Yes, Hotaru-chan. I know that it sounds crazy, but not to me. Serena… She isn’t the real me right now. I feel… naked without my blades and even though I’m fighting monsters, I’m on the lookout for them every single second even though they won’t pop out at me every single second. Until all of the survivors come home, SAO will never end for me.” Serena says, with a determined voice, “That’s why I have to do this. I need to do this. I…”

Kazuto says, “I… We need Asuna back and Usagi needs to save the last SAO survivors. To put at least some form of final closure to SAO and to be honest, we both need to. Agil said it to me: The fight isn’t over until it’s over. Our fight isn’t over until the last SAO survivor has come home.”

There is silence for a few moments and Amara says, “The plan should continue as we planned it, but Kazuto-san, as Kirito, is joining us at the World Tree.”

There are looks of surprise and Lita asks, “What about Leafa?”

Amara says, “She needs to remain in the dark as much as possible and before you say anything, Lita-chan, you know how she can be in which when she puts her mind up to something, she never takes it back and she is learning that Sigurd is just plain trouble for.”

Lita says, “Well, you have a point, Amara.”

Kazuto asks, “How much do you know about Leafa?”

Amara responds ,”Recon is actually her classmate in real life, so, they know each other very well and based on what he says, Leafa isn’t much different than she is in real life other than when she is in ALO, she is a much bolder person through what she did with you is over the top for her.”

Lita says, with a nod, “No kidding.”

Kazuto asks, “Any specifics?”

Amara says, “She has been a player for about a year and she is a veteran with Recon, but compared to more veteran players like us, if ALO was a level based MMO, she wouldn’t be considered an elite Sylph warrior. However, she had shown much skill for a new player which means that she has real-like swordsman training. Most likely, it is likely a form of kendo.”

Kazuto thinks in his mind, “Just like Sugu, huh?”

Amara says, with a smile, “She is a very tough girl and not one to be messing with. However, the thing is, she doesn’t play ALO for gaining elite status or rare items. There is only one reason that she plays: Flying.”

Kazuto asks, “Flying?”

Lita says, with a nod, “Yeah, Leafa loves flying and even more so when she learned to do it without the controller. It is her dream to being an ALF and fly as long as she wants and as high as wants.”

Raye says, “Well, I’m afraid that she will be disappointed since we are most likely right about what’s really going on there.”

Hotaru asks, “But why?”

Kazuto responds, “Why not, Hotaru-san?” When everyone looks at Kazuto, he says, “Sugou must have been setting this up from the start through I doubt that nearly all of RCT especially Asuna’s parents know about this. Asuna’s father is not a man that would approve, so, most likely, it is Sugou and a small team. ALO is their cover. With all of the players, it is a perfect cover. Who would suspect such a popular and ‘safe’ VRMMO would be harboring a secret as sick as the ‘death game’ of Sword Art Online? And they made sure that the ‘Grand Quest’ was unbeatable to make sure that no players could beat it until their research is done. Basically, the players of ALO are just pawns and screening his sick work and they don’t know it.”

Raye says, with a sneer, “And we were part of it while we were trying to find a way to get Meatball Head out of SAO. Damn it!”

Kazuto tells Raye, “You can’t blame yourself on it, Raye-san. Sugou must have had this planned for long months.”

Darien says, “But this situation does help us. Most likely, only Sugou and a few others that are very loyal to him know about this ‘operation’ and they can’t monitor ALO day and night. We could sneak up into the World Tree and expose it for what it is. However, I doubt that Sugou would take anything to chance. Even if the players figure out a way to get by the NPC guardians, he will have most likely a defense that only an administrator of his level would be able to unlock.”
Ami says, “Darien is most likely right, but I have been studying ALO and I haven’t been caught through there have been close calls. However, I don’t think that we will have much time. It has been over two months since the end of SAO and I fear that Sugou may have gained much from the poor victims they are keeping trapped other than Asuna-san.”

Trista says, with a nod, “Agreed. If we wish to save Asuna-san and the other trapped SAO players, we are going to need to get to the World Tree and fast. Darien and I have already made our preparations to head for the World Tree. Darien is the former leader of the Spriggans and an elite player like the rest of us despite him not playing as long as we have. However, like us, his real life combat experiences as Tuxedo Mask and Prince Endymon have given him an edge since ALO is a skill based game.”

Lita tells Serena, with a grin, “Yeah! He is known as the ‘Grand Kage’ meaning ‘Great Shadow’ like an elite ninja.”

Serena says, “That did surprise me when I found out.”

Darien says, with a slight blush, “Well, I wasn’t playing that game for fun.”

Serena says, with a warm smile, “I know, Darien-kun.”

Amara says, “Like it or not, we are going to have to keep Leafa out of the loop. When we get to Alne, we are going to have to find a way to sneak off without her and find a way to the top of the World Tree.”
Ami says, “Well, I won’t be able to come with you, but I think that it is for the best that I don’t come with you. I can figure out a way for you to get access to the inside of the World Tree. Darien is most likely right and you will need a way in.”

Darien says, “Like Trista said, you are going to need to work fast. Trista is most likely right and they are close to completing their sick research. Like it or not, you are going to have to our access way ready with twenty-four to forty-eight hours since our trip to the World Tree will take one to two days of real world time.”

Ami says, with a nod, “I’ll try.”

Raye says, “Okay, we have our plan. Meatball Head and Kirito will join up with Lita, Amara, and Michelle in Swilvane and take the short route to the World Tree. It has more monsters and dangers, but with your stats, I doubt that you will have any problems. With Leafa, you are going to have to leave her in the dark. We can’t get her involved in this.”

Kazuto says, “No kidding, Raye-san.”

Amara says, “Firefly and Rini will be waiting for them at Legrue within the underground caverns in the mountains since you can’t fly over the mountains that surround the World Tree in the center of Alfheim. After meeting them there, they will meet the rest of us, Raye, Mina, Darien, and Trista, at Alne at the base of the World Tree.”

Mina says, “This works out since the Sylphs and Cait Sith have an important meeting at neutral territory at the lands near the World Tree.”

Lita says, with a nod, “We know, Mina. There is going to be a treaty signing between them.”

Amara says, “Which means that we are going to have to hurry.”

Serena asks, “Why is that?”

Amara says, “Most likely, they are going to join forces to conquer the World Tree. The Sylphs and Cait Sith have been on the best of terms and the leaders of the two races are the best of friends in which they are popular leaders making the alliance so much easier since the players of the two races trust them so much.”

Trista says, “And that means that we could land in the middle of their attempt and it could make things complicated for us.”

Kazuto says, “Then we are going to have to hurry. I’ll head home and log in as soon as I can.”

Serena says, “We might be able to help you with that.” Serena asks, “Do you think that you girls mind a Sailor Teleport?”

Raye says, with a smile, “Just this once, Meatball Head.”

Amara says, “All right, let’s go.”

Everyone gets to their feet and the Scouts prepare to transform to use their teleportation powers to get Kazuto back home quickly in which Serena tells Darien, “Thank you for putting up with me, Darien-kun. I really don’t know if I can be your ‘Meatball Head’…”

Darien tells Serena, with a warm loving smile, “You will always be my Meatball Head, Sere’. You show that you are still much the same person since you care for your friends and you care for others so much and you don’t want fight unless absolutely necessary.” Darien says, with a kind smile, “However, I can see that you are really hurting and I am concerned that you are hurting more than you want to admit. When this is over, you are going to have counseling Serena. And please don’t argue with this, Meatball Head.”

Serena says, with a nod, “I understand.” Darien kisses Serena gently on the forehead and Rini can only wonder and be concerned her future mom and how much she is ‘hurting’ do to SAO.

January 21, 2025, Alfheim Online, Swilvane

Within the tavern that Leafa took Kirito for a drink for Leafa to thank Kirito for saving her from that team of Salamander PK group yesterday, we find said Sylph female entering the tavern in which she sees Kirito, Usagi, Michiru, Makoto, and Haruka materializing in front of her.

Kirito sees her and he asks, “Hey, there. Been waiting long?”

Leafa says, with a smile, “Not at all. I’ve actually been shopping for gear and just came in.”

Makoto tells Leafa, “There have been changes in plans, Leafa. Usagi, Michiru, Haruka, and I are coming along with you and Kirito.”

Leafa asks, shocked, “What?”

Haruka says, “We have something important to do at Alne and we are meeting up with Hino there.”

Leafa says, with a nod, “I see.”

Michiru says, with a kind smile, “I hope that this isn’t any problem for you.”

Leafa says, “Not at all. In fact, this will make the trip a whole lot easier. With three of the ‘Great Nymphs’ along, I don’t think that we will have much problems.”

Makoto says, with a nod, “You know it.”

Usagi tells Kirito, “Anyway, Kirito, I think that you are going to need to upgrade your gear.”

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

Leafa says, with a smile, “I know a good weapon shop in town.” Leafa tells Kirito, concerned, “But do you have enough money? It isn’t cheap.” Kirito looks over his player menu and his eyes narrow at something.

Kirito asks, “Wait! Is this thing Yrd money?”

Haruka says, “It is the form of money here in Alfheim.”

Makoto asks, “You need a loan?”

Kirito responds, shaking his head, “No, I have a lot of it.” Kirito thinks in his mind, “Most likely, the Cor that I had transferred into this game and became the money of this game.” Kirito then gently shakes his jacket pocket and he says, “Hey, Yui, it’s time to go.”

The little pixie came out of Kirito’s pocket and Yui says, with a yawn, “Okay.”

Usagi thinks in her mind, “Can an AI get truly sleepy? Well, it looks like she can yawn.” Later on, they were going through town in which Kirito updated his gear in the form of a clothing style top and bottom with better defensive properties and a long coat, but most of the time was Kirito looking for the right sword. Every time that the player shop owner gave him a sword, Kirito would swing the sword and he would tell him to get him a heavier sword. It isn’t surprising to Usagi since she knew that Kirito preferred swords with high strength requirements in SAO. Kirito finally agreed to a great sword nearly as long as he is tall and it seemed to be suited giant players found with the gnome and imp fairy races of ALO, but Usagi knew that despite Kirito seemed to look like his Spriggan body was designed for speed and not strength, Kirito would be able to make that sword work perfectly.

Leafa thinks in her mind, with a giggle, “He is like a child playing a warrior.” Soon after, the group headed for one of the large towers known as the Tower of Wind.

Usagi asks, “What’s this place?”

Makoto says, “This is the Tower of Wind, Usagi-chan.”

Kirito asks, “What are we doing here?”

Michiru says, “When flying long distances, it is best that you start from a high distance up for extra attitude.”

Kirito says, nodding his head, “Good point.”

Haruka says, “Maybe we should give you a lesson in breaking so we don’t have what happened yesterday when you came here happen again.”

Kirito says, with a sigh, “I was hoping that you had forgotten that.”

Leafa then starts to drag Kirito inside and she says, “Come on, slowpoke! I want to get to the forest before dark.” The group goes inside of the tower and once inside, plenty of the Sylph people were looking at them.

Usagi says, a bit nervously, “They are looking at us.”

Michiru says, with a kind smile, “That would be our fault since Haruka, Makoto, and I are so famous in ALO.”

Makoto asks, “Can you blame us for being that good?”

Haruka says, “I can since I wanted to keep this discreet.”

Michiru says, with a smile, “Nothing we can do about it now, Haruka-chan.”

Makoto says, “Anyway, follow us.” With Makoto and Leafa leading the way, the group prepared to head to a platform on the tower where they can fly off and start their journey to the World Tree.

Just then a male voice shouts out, “Leafa!” Everyone then looks to see three male Sylphs coming towards them.

One of them is a taller than average Sylph with dark green hair with green clothes to match and heavy silver armor with a huge broad sword hung at his waist. He also wears a circlet with an amethyst on his forehead.

Makoto says, with a groan and in a whisper, “And here comes the blow hard.”

Usagi asks, “Who are they?”

Haruka says, with a whisper while pointing to the tall Sylph male, “That’s Sigurd, the person that we warned you about.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Oh.”

Leafa says, nervously, “Oh, hey, Sigurd.”

The tall male Sylph, Sigurd, tells Leafa, “What’s this about you leaving the party? Is this true?”

Leafa says, “Yeah, it is.”

Sigurd asks, “Do you know how much it is going to upset the other members?”

Leafa says, “You said that it would be okay if I joined only when I had the time and you also said that I could quit when I wanted to.”

Sigurd says, “Yes, I know what I said, but you have been with us for a while now and everyone knows you. And if you leave, you are going to damage the reputation of the party!”

Makoto says, annoyed, “You have got some nerve, Sigurd!”

Sigurd tells Makoto, “This doesn’t involve you, Lady Makoto.”

Haruka says, “You asshole.”

Usagi then says, “Players are not items.”

Sigurd asks, looking at Usagi, “What did you say?”

Kirito and Usagi step forward and Kirito says, “My friend is right. You have no right to treat your fellow players as items that you can fool around with. They aren’t your sword and they aren’t your armor. They aren’t your equipment and you have no right to lock them down like in equipment slots!”

Sigurd yells out, “Bastard! How dare you…?” Sigurd moves his hand to a sword in a sheath strapped across his waist in which Haruka goes to her sword while Makoto raises her fist as a pair of gantlets that she has on start to shine.

Haruka says, with a stern and serious tone, “Sigurd, don’t you dare draw that sword unless you intend to use it!”

Makoto responds, “No joke! And you know that we can reach you in time to stop you! And also, what would the people think if you attacked a player that can’t fight just for standing up to your ass?!” Sigurd winches as he looks around and a lot of other players in the area are watching them in which he snarls.

Sigurd says, “Leafa, I can’t believe it! You are abandoning our territory to be a renegade like these two pieces of trash?!”

Leafa’s eyes grow wide and Haruka shouts out, “Sigurd, you are way out of line!”

Makoto tells Sigurd, with an enraged glare, “Watch your mouth, Sigurd! I’ll let you know that blue haired girl is Usagi and she is a friend of all eight of ‘us’, the Great Nymphs of Alfheim!” There are multiple gasps and Sigurd and his two companions are wide-eyed in which Makoto says, “And unless you want all eight of us up your ass, you had better fucking get out of our sight right now!”

Haruka says, with a dangerous glare, “Or do you want to take this ‘outside’? I’m sure you can win a one-on-one duel with either Makoto or me considering that you just insulted one of our friends and her friend.”

One of Sigurd’s party members tells him, “Are you asking for trouble, Sigurd? Everyone is watching and you know that you can’t beat either the Thunderclap Fighter or Wind Reaper alone.”

Sigurd says, “You had better run and hide once you cross our border, Leafa. I never expected you to betray me. Never.”

As Sigurd turns away, Haruka shouts out, with a strong and stern tone, “Sigurd!” When Sigurd turns to Haruka, she says, “Once we get back, we are going to advise Sakuya to remove you from your command.”

Sigurd gasps and he yells out, “What?!”

Makoto says, “You heard Haruka, you ass! We have had it up to here with your antics! We need a commander that’s not you.”

Haruka asks, with a dangerous glare, “And if you try anything when we get back with Leafa, we are going to advice Sakuya to exile you for good. Is that understood?”

Sigurd says, with a sneer, “Yes, Lady Haruka.” Sigurd stomps away and he thinks, “You are going to pay for making me look like a fool, you witch!”
Leafa gives a sigh and she says, “I’m sorry, Haruka.”

Haruka says, “No problem, Leafa.”

Makoto says, “We were getting sick and tired of his attitude anyway.” Makoto tells Usagi, “Sorry about that Usagi.”

Usagi says, “No problem. What a jerk.”

Haruka says, “We warned Leafa not to go into his party.”

Leafa says, with a sigh, “I know.”

Kirito asks, “Are you going to be okay?”

Leafa says, with a plain tone, “Yeah. I doubt that couldn’t have ended any other way.”

Makoto says, “Let’s go.” Soon after, the group heads to the top of the tower to take off.

On the platform, they look at the scenery and Kirito says, “Wow. This is an amazing view.”

Usagi says, amazed, “The sky is so close it feels like we can reach out and touch it.”

Leafa says, “I know. When I look at it from here, everything else seems so small. Anyway, the timing is perfect. I was thinking about leaving anyway.”

Makoto says, “With Sigurd, I don’t blame you, girlfriend.”

Haruka says, with a nod, “Yeah. You need to get away from him.”

Kirito says, “I feel kind of bad about that.”

Leafa says, “Like I said, I don’t think that could have happened any other way.”

Usagi asks, “What’s that renegade stuff?”

Makoto says, with a sigh, “It means a player that has abandoned their home territory either by choice or by exile. One of us, Hino, is a renegade from the Salamanders since she didn’t agree with the policies of the Salamanders and their leader, Mortimer, in which she felt that the Salamanders were becoming ‘bullies’ and she is right on the money. She left before she could be exiled. She lives in Alne now. Usually when you are branded a renegade, you are usually looked down upon, but many of the other races look up to Hino-chan not only as Hino, the Fiery Archer, but she is also known as the ‘Samurai Rebel’.”

Michiru says, with a smile, “The Salamanders don’t think about her in that fashion especially since Hino-chan has been employed as a mercenary to help the other races and she has crushed her former people quite well. They have a high bounty on her.”

Usagi says, nervously, “Yipe.”

Leafa asks, “I don’t understand why we people are trying to tie each other down. What’s the point of having wings, you know?”

Yui comes out of Kirito’s jacket pocket, lands on his right shoulder, and she says, “You humans are so confusing. Your psychology is so complicated. Why do you act so badly to each other when all you want is companionship?”

Leafa asks, “What do you mean?”

Yui responds, “If it were me…” Yui kisses Kirito on the cheek and she says, “I do that. It is straight forward, simple, and efficient.”

Michiru says, with a smile, “The human world is a bit more complex than that, Yui-chan. Everyone can’t do it because it could cause problems.”

Yui asks, “It is a matter of sequence and style, right?”

Leafa says, “That’s a remarkable AI. Are all private pixies like her?”

Kirito says, “No, just her. She is just weird.” Kirito then puts the pixie girl back into pocket.

Leafa says, “I guess that you would know.” Leafa says, more to herself, “All we want is companionship.”

Just then a familiar high male voice shouts out, “Leafa!” Everyone looks to see Recon coming up to them and Leafa says, “Hey, Recon.”

Recon says, “You could have said something before you left.”

Leafa says, “Sorry, I forgot.”

Recon asks, “So, you are really leaving the party?”

Leafa says, “Yeah.”

Makoto says, “Well, it wasn’t too hard, Recon.”

Recon says, “It doesn’t matter. My sword belongs to you and you alone.”

Leafa says, drolly, “I don’t need it thanks.” Makoto and Haruka both shake their heads while Michiru is giggling.

Recon says, “What I meant is that I would like to go with you…” Recon says, “…But I can’t. There are some things that I need to check out. So, I’m going to stay in Sigurd’s party for a while.” Recon glances at Makoto and Haruka in which they give gently nods in which Usagi notices. Recon then says, looking at Kirito, “Kirito, she has a habit of getting into trouble. Please keep an eye on her.”

Kirito says, with a smile, “No problem.”

Recon says, “And just so you don’t get any ideas, Leafa is my… Ouch!” Recon doesn’t get to finish as Leafa steps on his right foot causing him to yelp and hop around while holding his foot.

Leafa says, “We’ll be in neutral territory for a while. Message me if you need anything.”

Usagi thinks in her mind, nervously, “Ouch! Never get on her bad side.” Leafa’s wings appear on her back and she flies off with Kirito, Usagi, Michiru, Haruka, and Makoto following her.

When they catch up, Kirito asks, “Let me get this straight: In real life, he is your friend?”

Leafa says, “Yeah, something like that.” Kirito gives an ‘Hmm’ and Leafa asks, a bit annoyed, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Kirito responds, with a teasing smile, “Nothing really.”

Yui says, “That person’s feelings I can understand. He must like you a lot. Do you feel the same way?”

Leafa blushes and she says, “I don’t know! Geez!”

Michiru says, “Your daughter is definitely like a little girl. She is just so curious about everything.” Leafa looks back at Swilvane and she then looks at Kirito and smiles.

Leafa says, “Come on, everyone! Let’s try to make it to the lake without stopping!”

Makoto says, “Good idea!” The group flies off to get as far as they can to their destination as their wings would allow them.

January 21, 2025, Alfheim, the World Tree

Back within the World Tree, we find ourselves back in Asuna’s prison, she is sitting on the bed by Oberon, who is touching her shoulder and seemly try to get a rise out of her in order to use the excuse to use the system to bring them into submission. However, he frowns as Asuna just sits there emotionlessly.

Oberon asks, a bit irritated, “Unbelievable. You know I can’t really hurt you no matter what I do. That’s not your real body, so, why don’t you loosen up a little?”

Asuna responds, “I don’t expect you to understand. I don’t care if this body is real or virtual. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Oberon asks, a bit evilly excited in his expression, “Are you afraid that you are going to be corrupted somehow?” Oberon says, with a smirk, “Then you are going to need to take things a little less seriously while you are here.”

Asuna retorts, “I don’t plan on staying in this cage forever. You’ll see. They’ll come and save me.”

Oberon asks, “Whoever do you mean? Oh, you mean Kirito, the hero, right?” Asuna looks at him and Oberon says, enjoying the response that he just got, “Oh, please, you don’t think that I know. What was his real name? Kirigaya? I met him the other day in the real world. I can’t believe that little boy helped beat Sword Art Online. It took me a while to collect myself. And by the way, where do you think that I met him? He was in your hospital room. You should have seen his face when I told him that I’m marrying you in the upcoming month. It was like all of the color drained out of his face. You want to know what I think, huh? I bet that he won’t have the guts to put on the NervGear ever again! I should remember to give his wedding invitation. He would love to see you in your wedding dress. I should leave the hero a few ‘crumbs’. He laughs evilly as Asuna turns away and Oberon thinks that she is about to weep in which he says, deciding to ‘hurt’ her even more, “Maybe we should invite a mutual friend that we both know.”

Asuna asks, “A friend?”

Oberon says, “You know… the real hero or should I say, heroine of Sword Art Online. Yes, the one that defeated her uncle, Usagi.” Asuna looks at him and Oberon says, with a sinister smile, “Oh, yes. I know her all too well.”

Asuna asks, “What do you mean?”

Oberon says, “I’ve visited Kayaba-sempai many times and I’ve met your friend way before Sword Art Online. Her real name is Serena Tsukino, the daughter of Kayaba-sempai’s sister, Ikuko Kayaba Tsukino. Mister Kayaba wasn’t the only one with the brains in the family. Ikuko-san was a very bright student and could have been great as Kayaba-sempai and I, but she threw it all away to become a mere housewife. Oh, well. Her husband isn’t much to look at, but he pretty high up as an editor and manager of a popular magazine. I’ve seen that daughter of hers at Argus a lot. I can’t believe that there is a hairstyle like that, but then again, it is perfect for a Meatball Head like her. She showed that she didn’t inherit the brains of her mother. Personally, I was shocked to learn that Kayaba-sempai trapped his own beloved niece in the game. When she was a little brat, he fawned over her with love and affection in which he gave her the honor of having the first NervGear ever completed. Whenever they were testing new games, before the beta testing, he allowed her to be the first one to Full-Dive in there. I was also shocked to learn that it was her of all people that defeated her own uncle and beat the game. Her?! If you knew her as I did, it would surprise you to.”

Asuna thinks in her mind, with a mental sneer, “I’m not surprised that Usagi beat the game since you don’t know her as much as you think, Sugou.”

Oberon says, “The girl was nothing more the crybaby brat that wailed from even just a little ‘boo-boo’. Sure, she was an expert Full-Diver and gamer, but that’s all she had going for her. She can barely handle Japanese and English much less anything beyond that. She is just a plain klutz too. My brain racks over how she could beat the game, but then again, she had Kirito’s help. I doubt she could have done it alone.”

Asuna thinks in her mind, “Like I said, it shows how much you really know Sugou.”

Oberon says, “Unlike your Kirito, she doesn’t have guts to even come to your bed, but then again, she is probably hiding as usual since her family’s reputation is in ruins because of what her ‘precious uncle’ did. She can’t bear to show her face in public knowing that she is related to the worst criminal of the twenty-first century and took her dream of Sword Art Online and turned into a living nightmare that she went through for two long years! Without the government keeping her and her family safe, she would be nothing, but chum for those hungry lions looking for revenge. If your Kirito doesn’t have the guts to put on that NervGear, your Meatball Headed friend won’t even touch the thing, I bet!” Oberon laughs evilly and he says, getting to his feet, “Anyway, I have to go. I hope that you won’t miss too much Titania.”

Asuna thinks in her mind, “They made it! Kirito and Usagi made it back and they’re safe in the real world!” Asuna, while looking that she is weeping, looks through the mirror to see the code on the pad that Oberon uses for the door. After he is gone, she thinks in her mind, “You really think that you know them? You’re wrong, Sugou. Usagi and Kirito are stronger people than you think. They won’t turn their backs to what’s happening. Once they realize what’s going on here, they will come for me. I can’t play the prisoner. I know the exit code now and since he only has a few people helping him, I know there is a chance for me to make my voice. If I can avoid their gaze, I can make it back to the real world or at least send a message. You are truly a fool, Sugou. If you wanted to break my spirit, you should have said that you have captured them too. Now, I have hope. Kirito-kun and Usagi-chan made it home and they are alive and well back in the real world.” Asuna smiles as she is filled with new hope and resolve knowing that the boy that she loves and one of her best friends from SAO managed to make it back to the real world and are safe from Sugou’s grasp to allow them to help her once they know what’s going on here, not knowing that they already know and they are on their way to help her.

January 21, 2025, Alfheim Online, Ancient Forest

Within an area known as Ancient Forest, neutral territory in Alfheim, the group is now fighting Evil Glancers, giant one-eyed winged lizard with a nasty power to temporary reduce a player’s stats with Michiru is using her power to negate the ‘curse’ effect that the Evil Glancers inflict, but Leafa wonder if it was necessary as Kirito attacks the monsters in mid-air with berserk-like fury and cuts two of them down with ease with the third one running away, but Leafa uses a Wind spell, creating blades of wind, to cut the final one down. After going through what they gained from the screens that appear in front of them, Leafa looks at Usagi and Kirito, especially, amazingly.

Leafa says, “Nice work.”

Kirito says, “Thanks to you and the others for the awesome backup.”

Makoto says, “Didn’t look like you needed backup to me. You fight like a crazy person, you know that? It is like defense and evasion doesn’t mean anything to you.”

Kirito says, nervously, “Well, it got the battle done faster.”

Haruka says, “Fighting like a berserker might do well against monsters like that, but certain types of monsters or a group of players is a different story. They can hit you with long range magic.”

Kirito asks, “Can’t you avoid it?”

Michiru says, “Based on what kind of spell it is, Kirito. The basic heavy blasts of magic move in a straight line and that’s easily avoid as long as you see it in time, but there are also homing and area-of-effect spells. With a mage using those spells, you have to keep moving at top or time it so you don’t get caught.”

Usagi says, amazed, “Wow. There is a lot to figure out.”

Kirito says, scratching his head, “No kidding. There was no magic in the last game that we played. I guess we have a lot to learn.” Soon after, their fairy wings start to lose their glow.

Leafa says, “Our wings are about to run out. We had better land.” Leafa than points to a clearing in the forest and all of them land in which their wings vanish afterwards in which Leafa stretches and Usagi gives a sigh in which Leafa asks, “Are you okay?”

Usagi says, with a smile, “I’m fine.”
Kirito says, “Good to go here.”
Leafa says, “Okay, tough guy, but there isn’t going to be flying for us for a while.”

Kirito asks, “Why?”

Makoto says, pointing to the mountains ahead, “The mountains are above the attitude limits that we can fly in the game, so, we have go through the caves to get the lands surrounding the World Tree.”

Haruka says, “It is the trickiest part going this way to the World Tree.”

Leafa says, “Haruka and Makoto should know since they have been this way to visit Lady Hino in Alne. I never have been beyond this point.”

Kirito asks, “Are these caves long?”

Michiru says, “Pretty long, but this is the shortest route from Sylph territory to Alne. However, there is a neutral town in the middle of cave, so, we can rest there. Actually, we plan to meet up with Tomoe-chan.”

Leafa asks, “Lady Tomoe? You mean ‘The Beautiful Silent Reaper’?”

Haruka says, “Yeah. She and another friend of ours are waiting there.”

Makoto says, with a smile, “It’s no big deal.”

Leafa says, with a nod, “Okay.” Leafa thinks in her mind, “If the Great Nymphs of Alfheim are assembling together, there must be a reason.”

Leafa shrugs it off for now and Michiru asks, “We’re still good, but what about you Kirito?”

Kirito says, “It is a seven in the real world. Yeah, I can keep going for a while.”

Leafa says, “Cool. I can too, so, let’s keep going. But for now, let’s rotate out.”

Usagi asks, “Rotate out?”

Haruka says, “It is a technique that groups of players uses out in the field. You can’t log out right away unless you are in your race’s home territory, have special camping gear, or rent an inn room. While one person logs out, the others guard the person’s avatar.”

Kirito says, “Sounds like a plan: Ladies first, Leafa.”

Leafa says, “Don’t mind if I do. See you in about twenty minutes.” Leafa uses her player menu and uses the logout button in which her avatar slumps down to her knees.

While Kirito takes out something, Usagi asks, “The Beautiful Silent Reaper?”

Makoto says, “Yeah. Like us, Hotaru, who is using her last name of her avatar’s name, has her own special ‘nickname’. Hotaru… I mean Tomoe uses a scythe not much different from her Silent Glaive and she is an expert with Darkness magic, which isn’t surprising since she is of the Imp fairy race and all forms of healing and revival magic that non-Undine can learn. She is also pretty good with Illusion magic too.”

Kirito says, having some kind of candy stick in his mouth, “Hopefully, your skills combined can get us to the top of the World Tree.”

Haruka says, “It won’t be easy if what we theorized is right. Let’s hope that Mizuno-chan can figure out something.”
Makoto says, looking at Leafa’s empty avatar, “I really don’t like leaving Leafa-chan in the dark like this, but then again, she agreed to help Kirito and when she makes up her mind about something, nothing is going to change her mind.”

Haruka says, with a nod, “No kidding, Makoto. Anyway, it is for the best. The less that she knows, the safer that she will be.”

Kirito says, “Agreed. I don’t like this ‘cloak and dagger’ stuff either, but it doesn’t mean that I won’t do it especially to get Asuna back and stomp Sugou into the ground.”

Michiru says, “It’s for the best. However, she will get suspicious as we gather our friends. All of us are well-known and nearly all of us assembling with Darien, in his avatar of Mamoru, are going to get players curious.”

Haruka says, “That’s why I don’t like being well-known here.”

Michiru says, “We’ll have to make do, Haruka-chan.”

Usagi asks Kirito, “What are those?”

Kirito says, holding what looks like a candy stick, “This? I got a bunch of them from a shop in Swilvane. A NPC said that you could only get them there.”

Makoto looks at it closely and she yelps out, “What? How can you stand that stuff? That’s hot stuff!”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “Kirito seems to have a high tolerance for spicy foods. It is completely unreal.”

Kirito says, with a smirk, “Not unlike someone that I know that eats two picnic baskets worth of food per meal.”

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “Hey, I’m a growing young lady! And plus, it isn’t my fault that I have an accelerated digestive system!”

Haruka, Makoto, and Michiru look at each other and Makoto thinks in her mind, “Man! They are really like brother and sister.”

Kirito asks, “Speaking of that, how are you doing in that regard?”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “The others say that I’m past the point since I’ve practically regained my full strength.”

Kirito says, “That’s good. I’ve still got a ways to go. I really need to build up some more muscle before I am at the level that I was before.”

Usagi says, with a smile, “I’m glad, Kirito.” A good time afterwards, Leafa picks her head up to show that she has returned to her ALO avatar.

Makoto says, with a smile, “Welcome back.”

Leafa asks, “Anything happen?

Haruka says, “Quiet for once.”

Leafa asks, seeing Kirito chomping on a stick, “What’s that?”

Kirito says, taking it out of his mouth, “Usagi already asked me about that. I got them at a shop before we left. An NPC said that you can only get them at Swilvane.”

Leafa says, “I’ve never seen them.” Kirito toss it to Leafa and before Makoto can warn her, she put it in her mouth and she yelps out from a hot sensation racking her mouth.

Kirito says, with a smile, “Sorry to leave you like this, but it is my turn.”

Leafa says, “Get out of here before I hurt you.” Soon after, Kirito uses the logout button and his body slumps as he leaves his virtual avatar. Leafa looks at Kirito’s virtual avatar and she yelps as Yui comes out of his jacket pocket and lands on his shoulder in which Leafa says, “You can move without your master around?!”

Yui says, “Well, of course, I’m me. And he isn’t my master, he is my daddy.”

Haruka thinks in her mind, “It isn’t surprising that she can move on her own since she is an independent AI after all.”

Leafa asks, “About that, why do you call him your daddy? Did he set you that way?”

Usagi and Makoto become a bit nervous at this and Yui responds, “He didn’t do anything to my setting. He saved me. He told me that I was his daughter and he is my daddy. See how that works?”

Leafa replies, nervously, “Yeah, I guess. Do you know like him?”

Yui retorts, confused, “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand the meaning of ‘like’.”

There are surprised looks from everyone and Michiru thinks in her mind, with a smile, “She may be an advanced AI, but she has so much to learn like a child.”

Leafa says, nervously, “Well, it means that you want to be with him all of the time. And you are excited being with him all the time or something like that.” Leafa starts to blush and she then goes all red.

Makoto thinks in her mind, slyly, “Mina-chan would have a field day if she found out about this.”

Michiru says, “It seems you are thinking someone, Leafa-chan.”

Leafa yells out, nervously, “No! No! It’s nothing like that Lady Michiru!”

Makoto says, with a smirk, “Your red face says otherwise, Leafa-chan.”

Leafa shouts out, “I told you that it is nothing!”

Kirito’s voice says, “What’s nothing?” Leafa yelps as she sees Kirito’s head up and looking at her.

Yui says, “Welcome back, daddy! Leafa was explaining about how…”

Leafa yelps out, interrupting, “No! I said that it was nothing!”

Kirito asks Usagi, “Did I miss anything?”

Usagi responds, with a nervous smile, “Not really, Kirito.”
Leafa tells Kirito, “You got back quick. I hope that you got something to eat.”

Kirito responds, “Yeah, my family left me something.”

Leafa says, with a nod, “Great! Let’s get going!”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Okay.” All of them activate their wings, but then Usagi and Kirito look over their shoulders.

Leafa asks, “Is something wrong?”

Usagi says, “I felt like we were being watched.”

Kirito says, “Same here, Usagi.” Kirito asks Yui, “Are there any other players around?”

Yui says, “No, daddy.”

Leafa asks, “You felt it? Is there some kind of sixth sense in the game?”

Haruka says, “There is a theory about that. Remember, inside of a virtual world when a player looks at another player, the system has the scan you and read the data that it gives to them, right? Well, the theory goes that your brain can sense that process happening, but that’s only a theory and it hasn’t been proven yet.”

Makoto says, “Oh, yeah! Mizuno-chan told us about that theory!”

Usagi thinks in her mind, “Could Kirito’s and my two years in SAO combined with constant use of our Search Skills have given us some kind of ‘virtual sixth sense’ something Raye-chan’s senses in the real world?”

Kirito says, “Well, if Yui says that there is no one, we could have imagined it.”

Usagi says, with a smile, “Nerves, I guess.”

Michiru says, “Not exactly, Usagi-chan.”

Haruka says, “We could be watched by a tracer.”

Usagi asks, “A tracer?”
Leafa says, “It is a tracking magic that creates a small animal or insect-like creature that tells the caster the target’s position.”

Kirito asks, “Can you dispel it?”

Makoto says, “Sure, if you can find it.”

Leafa says, “However, if the user’s magic skill is high, the tracer can track you from far away and with a field this size, it would be a miracle to find it.”

Kirito says, with a sigh, “Great.” Kirito says, shrug, “I guess that Usagi is right and it is just nerves.” All of them then fly off into the distance in which they don’t see what looks like a sinister looking bat flying some distance away from them.

January 21, 2025, Alfheim Online, Legrue Corridor

At the entrance to a cavern known as Legrue Corridor, our group is assembled together with the entrance to the cave having a monster statue just above the top of the entrance.

Usagi says, nervously, “Creepy.”

Haruka says, “This is the Legrue Corridor with Legrue being the neutral city that it is named after.”

As they start into the cave, Usagi asks, “Any monsters?”

Makoto says, “Typically orcs, Usagi-chan.”

Haruka asks Kirito, “Have been using your magic, Kirito?”

Kirito responds, “Not really.”

Michiru says, “Your magic is actually best used for a situation like this.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Okay.” Kirito asks Yui, “Yui, do you know what kind of magic is best for this situation?”

Yui says, with a pout, “Oh, daddy. You should at least read the manual!” Soon after, Yui gives him the instruction on the spell and Kirito uses a Night Vision spell to allow all of them to see in the dark space of the caverns.

Leafa says, “Wow. So, this is Spriggan Night Vision magic. I guess that you, Spriggans, aren’t half-bad.”

Kirito says, nervously, “I don’t know to consider that a compliment or a diss.”

Leafa says, “You are practicing the magic that you are using. You are real good with illusions.”

Kirito asks, “Illusions?”

Makoto says, “Magic that creates illusions that you can trick people with.”

Leafa says, “But it really doesn’t in combat. However, who knows? Your lame Spriggan magic might come in handy.”

Kirito says, with an annoyed tone, “Okay, that was a dis.”

Makoto says, “Don’t take it personally.”

Haruka says, with a grin, “This is why I like her.”

Michiru says, with a smile, “I find Leafa-chan’s personality very enjoyable.” The group continues on and they are involved in fights with groups of orcs in which Kirito showed his power by cutting them down, but Usagi also showed her ability too. She uses quick strikes similar to Linear causing the orcs that she fought to stumble and she then struck back hard with something similar to the Vorpal Strike or Fell Crescent.

When they are done, Leafa tells her, “Wow! For a girl that doesn’t like to fight, you look like you are a master swordswoman.”

Usagi responds, nervously, “Really? I can’t be that good. Maybe I’m a bit lucky.”

Leafa thinks in her mind, “Lucky? Luck had nothing to do with it. Those moves were excellent. For a new player, she is really strong! Who is she?” Later on, both Usagi and Kirito were studying magic spells from the manual and not doing very well. Leafa tells them, “No, you are just memorizing the words. You have to learn the meaning of all the ‘Words of Power’ and then you can figure out the spells based on the combinations and their effects.”

Kirito says, “I never thought that I would be in a game and I would have to memorize words in a different language.”

Usagi says, “Yeah, aren’t you supposed to play games to get away from those kind of things.”

Makoto says, “And by the way, the top tier spells have about twenty words at least.”

Usagi face-faults and she yells out, in disbelief, “You have got to be kidding me!”

Kirito says, “Yikes. I’ll stay a pure fighter.”

Leafa asks, annoyed, “Would you quit complaining?”

Michiru tells Usagi, “Usagi, you are an Undine and Undines are healers. If I can’t heal the party, you are going to be there.”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “All right, but I barely can handle English and Japanese. French… Don’t remind me about figuring that out and all of this… Is Latin to me?”

Makoto says, “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Latin or Greek, Usagi-chan.”

Usagi says, sarcastically, “Thanks for cheering me up, Mako-chan.”

Leafa then hears a loud beeping and she sees a message icon in front of her in which she says, “Oh, someone is messaging me. I’ll have to get this.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Okay.” Leafa pushes the icon button and a message screen pops up in front of her giving her a confused look.

Haruka asks, “What’s wrong?”

Leafa says, “It’s Recon. It says, ‘Just like we thought! Be careful, s’ and that’s it.”

Haruka asks, “Can I see it?”

Leafa says, “Sure.” Leafa makes the message screen visible to everyone and Haruka’s eyes narrow at this.

Haruka says, “It looks like that he was cut off before he can complete his message.”

Leafa asks, “Could he have pushed the send button by mistake?”

Yui then says, “Daddy, I’m picking up movement behind us!”

Kirito asks, his eyes narrowing, “Are they monsters?”

Yui shakes her head and she replies, “No. They’re players. A huge amount and they are two dozen in total.”

Makoto asks, stunned, “Two dozen?”

Haruka says, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. We need to hide.”

Usagi asks, “Hide where?”

Leafa says, with a smile, “Leave that one to us, Usagi.” They go into two divots with Leafa, Usagi, and Kirito in one and Makoto, Haruka, and Michiru in the other with Leafa and Haruka cast concealment spells on them. Leafa tells Usagi and Kirito, “We need to keep our voices down to a whisper. Anything louder will break the spell.”

Kirito says, in a whisper, “Right.”

Yui whispers, “They will be coming into view soon.” They wait for a while and then Usagi and Kirito narrow their eyes.

Usagi asks, “What’s that?”

Kirito says, “You see it? It’s not a player.”

Usagi says, confused, “Yeah, it looks like a creepy bat with red eyes.” Leafa’s eyes widen and she looks in the same direction as Usagi and Kirito in which she then looks in the same direction and then sees the same eyes. Leafa then leaps out of the cover and breaking the concealment magic.

Kirito asks, “Why did you break our cover?”

Coming out of their concealment, Haruka yells out, “That’s a high level tracer! We need to destroy it!”

Leafa says, “On it!” Leafa uses a wind spell to create a rain of needles that strike home and destroy the bat.

Makoto says, “We need to get out of here now!”

Usagi asks, “What? Why?”

As they start to run, Haruka says, “They already know that we destroyed their tracer and any attempt to go back to cover will be useless since they will use tracking magic to easily find us.”

Usagi asks, “Who sent that thing?”

Makoto says, “It is a fire elemental tracer and that means…”

Kirito says, seriously, “The Salamanders.”

Leafa asks, “What’s a part of Salamanders doing down here and why so big a party?”

Makoto asks, “Could it be possible that they know that Michiru, Haruka, and I are with you?”

Haruka says, “Most likely, but I don’t see how. And I don’t get how they could get a tracer on us. They would have done it from Swilvane somehow.”

Makoto yells out, “That’s not possible! Since we recognize the Salamanders as enemies, the NPC guards would attack them the instant that they stepped into our territory!”

Michiru says, “It doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to avoid that, but I can’t see how.” The group then find themselves on a bridge in an underground lake with a city in the center of the lake.

When they see the city, Makoto says, “It doesn’t matter! Once we are in the city, we’ll be just fine! They can’t attack us in that city.” But then pair of beams of light flies over them and lands right in front creating something in front of the gates to the city.

Leafa says, shocked, “Oh, crap!” Kirito draws his large sword and leaps towards the forming obstruction in which Leafa yells out, “Hey, Kirito!” However, it is too late as Kirito strikes the large rock wall and flies back down to the bridge on his rear.

Usagi asks, concerned, “Are you okay?”

Kirito says, “Just my pride, Usagi.”

Leafa tells Kirito, “That won’t work, Kirito.”

Kirito asks, “Why didn’t you warn me that before?”

Michiru says, “Well, you were the one that flew off before allowing Leafa to warn you, Kirito.”
Usagi asks, “What is this?”

Makoto says, “An earth magic barrier. You can bash on it all day and you won’t get through it. We have enough attack spells to beat it down, but…”

Kirito says, “It would take too long.” Kirito asks, “What about the lake?”

Leafa says, “Normally, that’s not an option unless you want to be lunch. However, your friend and Lady Michiru are Undines and they can take those kinds of things on.”

Usagi asks, a bit nervously, “Really?”

Leafa says, “However, since your friend is a new Undine, Lady Michiru is the only one that we can really count on.”

Usagi says, with a droll tone, “Thanks a lot.”

Haruka says, “And the real problem is that they could snipe at us while we struggle against them even with Michiru-chan’s help especially since they have a high level mage. That’s really high earth magic spell.”

Makoto says, “And that means we can only fight.”

Usagi says, nervously, “I was afraid that you were going to say that.” Usagi, Leafa, Haruka, and Kirito draw their swords.

Kirito says, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but can you leave the fighting to me? I need the rest of you to stay back.”

Leafa asks, surprised, “Huh?”

Kirito says, “You are going with a sword, Leafa, but I need you and Usagi to remain back as backup. In fact, I need you, Haruka, and Makoto to attack with spells to keep the mages busy while Michiru focuses on healing. That way, I can fight with all of my strength.”

Makoto says, “No way!”

Haruka says, “I see.” When everyone looks at Haruka, she says, “That huge sword that you weld. It is hard to weld it in a confined space and even worse when you have allies close by. If we stay out of the way, he doesn’t have to worry about a backlash of hitting us while attacking them at the same time.”

Makoto says, with a nod of understanding, “Smart thinking.”

Usagi says, “Let’s try it Kirito’s way for now.”

Michiru says, with a nod, “Okay, Usagi.” Michiru asks Leafa, “Is that okay with you?”

Leafa says, nodding her head, “Sure.” Kirito steps forward while the others step back as they look ahead to see a group of 24 opponents with six of them being red armored warriors with large shields and maces while the other 18 are wearing robes and welding wands of mages. Usagi and the others can see that they are in for a hard battle.

And that’s the chapter, everyone! You must be thinking in this chapter that Serena is ‘way out of base’, but you have to remember: She had through two years of a deadly ‘death game’ without her beloved boyfriend and her very best friends in which she had to see a lot of people die and in this story, she is related and once beloved the man that created this ‘death game’. So, you can expect someone like her to experience some ‘trauma’ and in the anime, Kirito/Kazuto shows this kind of thing during the whole ‘Death Gun arc’ like the nightmares of the three Laughing Coffin members that he had to kill to save his and others’ lives. Sorry for the spoiler, but I am trying to give this story a ‘realistic feel’ to it. Anyway, tell me what you think and later and best wishes, Crossover Fans!