Kirito: I'm back, Asuna.

Asuna: ......Welcome back, Kirito-kun.

Klein: Every single time, great and fun time. You are the man ... ....
Silika: Kirito-san......!!
Lisbeth: Absolutely ... ... as usual he is unreasonable, or it is better to say trackless...
Gabriel: All of your emotions, memories, hearts and souls ... ... now I will eat you.
Kirito: —— Take this, Gabriel!!
Yui: The server indicated by this address, that is.....
Kirito: Alice. It is that world... that's where the Underworld runs!
Alice: So ... I can go, yes, I can go back. To that world ... ... to my world.......
Chapter 21 Awakening (Continued) 7th
July 2026 \ Human Calendar November
8th, year 380th
Part 6
"I’ll ... never... ...forgi......!!"

Ha-doom !!

With a dull sound, the second sword pierced Klein's back.

To such a mysterious thing as not being dry yet, the tears that did not stop
overflowing from both Asuna's eyes.

Even while sewed deeply, PoH, the head of the former murder guild "Laughin’ Coffin"
looked at the desperate-looking Klein who still move on the ground with his right
hand trying to reach the man wearing the black poncho.

"Oh, I have not seen it. A small fish is like a small fish, but I do not mind getting it
caught, it will come out so much, so I will see such a thing"

Spreading both hands, swinging his head just beside him, a red knight playing behind
Klein tells them something in an inaudible language to Asuna. One of the players
nods and sprinkles a new sword.

At that time, the third blade shone brightly to blow away Klein's HP, which seems to
be just a little left.

"Jungji!" — Ma-Tsu!

Along with a scream that seems to be in Korean language, a red knight, who ran
valorously from the back side of the crowd, took the slash that Klein was supposed to
take down with his own sword.

Shhhh ... ... ... why does it hurt so much?!

Jo Wol-saeng / Moonphase endured the back pain from a cut by a man in black
poncho, while falling on the ground.

The Amusphere used by the monthly student should generate only a very low level of
pain sensation. Indeed, in the "Shira Empire" which is playing by the time, even when
the avatar was crushed from the head at the end of a huge dragon, it was only
enough to feel a shock resembling numbness.

Nevertheless, Wolsaeng now feels intense pain like had been broiled with a burner.

No, the pain when I got the same wound in the real world is probably not this. The
black poncho man waved at a speed that was too slow to respond to the monthly
students who confessed a heinous weapon reminiscent of thick walled kitchen knife
as a veteran player who is a reasonable one. In reality, if you eat such an attack, you
probably will be killed instantly, and if you did not had been killed, you should have a
severe enough pain that you cannot keep conscious, so this pain is only a virtual
pseudo feeling in the end.

But even though I know that, unbearable things are unbearable. I want to abandon
the situation and log out right away.

However, the monthly student continued to endure the pain while curling his body
evenly on top of the black soil.

Because, I cannot persuade.

Japanese hackers "attack" the test server of a new work VRMMO-RPG jointly
developed by volunteers of the United States, China, Korea, and killing developers in
the game world. I want you to fight together to stop the violence of the Japanese.

Wolsaeng together with other Korean and Chinese players dive to this VRMMO in
response to such a call at the social network. And indeed, I saw a scene that the
group of Japanese players attacked and annihilated the group thought that it was an
American.

But — was it really the sight that the caller was explaining?

In the eyes of the Wolsaeng, the Japanese desperately wanted, the American who was
being attacked looked more like a game feeling. The impression is that the tactical
situation is reversed by tens of thousands of Koreans and Chinese, "reinforcements",
and the Japanese people are almost ineffective and still remains unchanged. Even if
the equipment is destroyed and HP is about to run out, they are still desperately
trying to do something... ...so, I feel like I'm trying to preserve it rather than to break
it.
A female player who speaks native Korean in the Japanese group, Siyne, just before
Wolsaeng was slain by a man of black poncho:

"You are deceived. This server belongs to Japanese companies, we are legitimate
connectors. You have been given fake information and are being deceived by the
development."

There was something that appeals strongly to Wolsaeng in the voice and expression
of the female player who calls Siyne. In the midst of fighting, he approached her with
difficulty and asked, "Is there a way to prove your story?", and when Siyne's
companion tries to say something in Japanese, the man in black poncho stabbed
Wolsaeng so it was impossible for him to get up.

The subsequent development was swift and unilateral. The Japanese players were
overwhelmed by the deep red army, most of them were forcibly logged out by losing
all their HP, and less than two hundred survivors were robbed of weapons and then
collected in one place.

The black poncho man who appeared again in the front row thought agaom whether
to make a victory declaration or a strange behavior.

I started with sitting in a wheelchair in a group supposed to be a support force of

Japanese players | and taking out a black clothing player holding two swords | and
started talking to them actively in Japanese.

In the case of which...

It felt something was wrong again that Monday's life was new.

In the virtual world - What does a wheelchair do within a VRMMO?

Even the "Shirra Empire" played by Wolsaeng sometimes which makes it impossible
to walk freely if you are hit by a regional damage on the foot or is subjected to
disabled debuff, it is still completely magical. Using medicines, or over time and it will
completely recover. If you cannot walk for as long as you need and require a
wheelchair, you cannot call it a game penalty anymore.

Besides, the young man in black clothes seems to also have some obstacles towards
his consciousness. Even if you shake your body to any reaction to the call of black
poncho, it will be kept as it is. It seems even if it is the NPC power, the aviator of the
crust without the flayer connected.

Eventually the man in black poncho, as if he is frustrated, hung a wheel on the

wheelchair's silver rings, and kicked it down without mercy. At that moment,
Wolsaeng lost his breath by forgetting his back pain, and a few slightly embarrassed
voices leaked from the surrounding Korean players.
The young man who fell to the ground showed a spontaneous response at last.

Of the two swords that he had held till then, he stretched his left hand towards the
white sword. At that moment Wolsaeng realized that his right arm was lost from his
shoulders.

But his hand did not reach it in time. It is because the man in black poncho who
picked up the sword first lifted it slightly to an elevated position so that he could
tinker with the child. The young person tries to regain his swords as hard as they
crawl. The man in black poncho grabs its left arm and pulls up roughly. Then, while
screaming for something, he hits the young man twice with his right hand, with three
hits each.

Unexpectedly, a new scream sounded.

A man, wearing an armor like Samurai, who is a Japanese player being restrained,
with a bandanna wrapped around his head, tried to grab the black poncho.

Immediately afterwards, however, the sword of the Korean players | was swung down
from behind and pierced deeply through the body of Samurai. Although he ought to
have suffered from severe pain much worse than Wolsaeng’s, he still tried to move
forward, but the second sword hampered it.

A black poncho turns a distorted smile to the samurai man who was skewered. He
ordered red knights in Korean language.

"He is an obstacle, kill him."

One of the Red Knight nodded, and swung the third sword.

I could not kept silent any longer. Although Siyne 's explanation is not convincing
enough to believe that it is true, at least the man in black poncho's obligation to
make a wheelchair as a footballing obligation is inevitable, and conversely from the
desperate behavior of the samurai man, a friend. The idea that I want to protect is
strongly conveyed.

Jo Wolsaeng cannot be said to have a good image toards the country Japan. Apart
from historical and territorial issues of the past, it is closed and despotic in many
ways, as if they were the first countries of East Asia to behave. It is the appearance
that The Seed consolidated body is blocked from Korea and China even though it is
open to Europe and the United States.

But.

The Japanese as a whole should not be considered equal with every Japanese. In the
PC games before the release of VRMMO, there was also a title that established a few
international services but there were also Japanese players that made unpleasant
thoughts, but conversely they enjoyed and played along well. Of course, of course.

Wolsaeng now hates the black poncho guy and hopes to believe in Siyune and the
Samurai man. Even it is a Japanese or a Korean, it does not matter. However, simply, I
hear a voice crying that I should do this.

The moment I moved, again my eyes got dizzy from my back and pierced my head,
but I stood up tying up my teeth and standing up. Pull out the sword and breathe in
my chest until it is full of air.

"Stop it!!"

While yelling at a loud volume to everyone, Wolsaeng kicked off the ground.

The status of a given Red Knight avatar is average, and it is heavier than the Speed-
type "Moonphase" usually used in Shira Empire. However, wondering what kind of
force it is, Wolsaeng is now running through the wilderness with gusty momentum,
and took the sword that was about to come down and kill the samurai man with his
own sword.

"You ... ... what are you?!"

The red knight in front of us was astonished and it was doubled when shouted in
angry Korean. If it was Chinese, it was impossible to communicate, but Wolsaeng tries
hard to persuade her not to waste this modest luck.

"Don't you think that something is strange?! The fight has ended already! Even so,
why do you need to imitate such a sentence like this?!"

The player who heard it became silent for a moment and turned his eyes towards the
young samurai behind Wolsaeng who was supposed to be executed. The eyes behind
the visor repeatedly blinks, as if he is watching the sun. After all, as this player's
enthusiasm to fight to go down, it seems that he is beginning to feel embarrassed.
The slashing force gradually escapes from the sword.

However, before Wolsaeng repeats his words, sharp voices came out of the crowd
surrounding that place.

"Traitor!"

"Kill him!!"

A red knight in front of me grasped the sword again as if his back was pushed by the
anger of his brothers.

But the next thing I heard was unexpected words that came up of his mouth.
In the case of:

"Wait! Let's hear the story!"

"Certainly, that poncho man is overdoing it!"

Looking at the people around the crowd, Korean players are starting to discuss with
the others. The burning flame spreads in the midst of burning field and the Japanese
who survived will also be killed, divided into moderate factions to wait until the
circumstances are explained to be reasonable. Similar conflicts also propagate to the
Chinese people, but they do not know the meaning, but a sharp shouting voice flies
in the wilderness.

What is this situation, how will the only commander put it?

Given that, Wolsaeng turns around.

A black poncho man standing by a young man who fell down to the ground was
distorting the mouth of the hood deeply while turning around with a thick knife-type
dagger in his fingertips.

A bit of time later, he took notice to realize that the facial expressions were not anger,
but laughter. On the back of the monthly lunar, a cold shiver ran over the pain.

A black poncho man is never a stakeholder of a game co-developed by Chinese,

Korean and US. It is doubtful that such a game exists in the first place. Although the
person's identity is unknown, simply letting the fight between each country's players |
in this battlefield where real blood and pain exist, ... let's kill each other. That is his
purpose.

"……Demon"

Jo Wolsaeng heard that such blurry voices cried out of himself.

Vasago Casals was born in the Tenderloin district, San Francisco's slum area, between
the Hispanic mother and the Japanese father.

In the United States, the obviously disadvantage of the child is rejected by the
receiving organization of the birth notification. So mother named Vasago instead of
Devil and Satan. The official accepted it without knowing that it was the name of the
minor devil called "the prince of hell".

There is only one reason for a mother to give a child a name of devil. Because I was
born though I did not want it - because I hated it more.

I do not know the details about how my parents met, but I do not want to know, but
if I express it briefly, it seems to be "bought with money". Pregnancy was unplanned,
mothers wanted abortion, but father parents ordered them to give birth. Then, only
father loved the baby, so it was not such a thing, sometimes it comes to checking the
state of health, I never brought any toys to the souvenir. What he gave to Vasago is
about the ability to speak Japanese.

I understood why his father did not abort Vasago and gave minimal child support
cost when Vasago became 15 years old.

The father's family had a child suffering from a congenital kidney, he was told to be a
donor for him. I could not refuse. But Vasago put out one condition. I want to live in
Japan, my father's motherland. As fulfilling the role of donor will no longer be worthy
of Vasago for his father, so I do not know how long he will get the money. I could
only imagine a future that would become a seller of Dragons even if I stayed in the
slums as it is, then I wanted to leave the country all the time and redo everything.

The father caught the conditions and Vasago got a passport and an airchat in
exchange for the left kidney. It was more severe fate to have been waiting for Vasago
who went to Japan without giving her mother a farewell speech.

Under Japanese law, complicated procedures and strict examination are imposed on
international adoption, and even if adoption is established temporarily, children older
than six years can not be granted status of residence. Therefore, from the beginning
Vasago had only the way to live in the back company.

Vasago was picked up by a Korean criminal organization and the organization

educated him as an assassin, giving fake ID to Vasago who can speak English, Spanish
and Japanese.

The tenth task of Vasago, who succeeded nine times of "work" in the five years until
becoming 10 years old, was completely different from that before.

If you can never approach the opponent in the real world, kill him in the virtual world.

I did not understand anything at all when I was said that at the beginning, but after
finally hearing the outline of the "SAO incident" that occurred a few days ago, I could
understand it. The target involved in the incident is nursing at home where security is
severe and never comes out absolutely. I do not know when I will die if I leave it to
the death game, there is a possibility that I will escape without dying. However, if you
dive into the same game and zero your opponent's HP, Naive Gear will kill you in the
real world.

Still, there were still three big problems.

The assassin, Vasago, can not log out until the game is cleared, that it really dies in
the game if it dies, and that Vasago himself can not attack the target. As long as there
was evidence of assassination remaining in the log of who attacked who, whoever
had the trouble, the organization presented a tremendous amount as compensation
for the task. Vasago thought that it is unlikely that it will actually be paid even if it
succeeds, but in any case he did not have the right to veto.

Most unused Nerve gears were seized by the police, but the organization has
obtained one from somewhere. There is no way for police or development company
to stop logging if there is only SAO's software and intention to jump into the game of
death by himself. The last and unexpected difficulty is the character 1 name, Vasago
without having played video game etc. decided the name, but it was "PoH" from the
origin of the real name given to the mother.

The true virtual world that I experience for the first time has transformed or released
the personality of Vasago. The surrounding Japanese players were able to remind the
fathers and their families who had forgotten for years and finally realized the power
of how much I hated them all East Asians.

Because it's work, I kill the target. However, other players | kill as much as possible.

Vasago decided so, organized SAO's largest homicide guild "Laughin’ Coffin" to take
away the enormous number of players in addition to the original target. When
getting tired of steering the guild which became oversized eventually, it hit the
capture group and destroyed it and destroyed it and decided to be the greatest prey,
and it was about to finally start to move oneself towards the killing of "Flash" and
"Black swordsman" It has been cleared.

The first thing Vasago returned from the death game to the real world was not joy
but collapse and disappointment. I decided to pursue the same experience and return
to America, knowing that I can never return to that dreamy world. Paying the
appointed fee, killing the boss of the organization who was reluctant, taking the
money and going to the United States, he crawled into the Cyber Operation section
of a private military company based in San Diego.

Vasago, who fully demonstrated the technologies forged by SAO in the VR battle
training of the guards and marines, was instantly selected as a teacher, but even if
you get a stable life that is not comparable to the past My heart was not filled.

Once again. I want to go to that world only once more. Everything is a digital
creature, hence human nature becomes exposed, to the truth world covered with lies.

As soon as I wished to do so, in a terribly realistic virtual world named underworld,

It is no longer a miracle to say that it was a miracle but to say that it was a fate that
we could meet again and again, "Flash" and "Black swordsmen".

It seems that the spirit is now being modulated for some reason, but if you kill the
surrounding players from one end, the swordsmen will surely wake up. As a result of
such a man, Vasago - PoH was more attracted to a Black Swordsman than any other
person I met. If you can kill this man with your own hand, you can think that you can
kill yourself shortly afterwards.

First of all, we will sink Chinese and Koreans who drew into underworld with fake
information and put them in the ocean of blood. Of course, I do not think that a quick
lie will last long. A considerable number of people already have a sense of
incompatibility in the situation and are beginning to argue with those who are still
burning with patriotism. Just scatter a small spark at the moment the tension reaches
the limit.

In a place that is a little far away, the Korean player who gave a strike earlier is trying
to persuade my brother. If you drop the neck of that guy and cowards who are
cowardly kill you, scream, you will easily sweat sweet patrippers swiftly.

"Wait, are you going to wake up soon?"

Vasago whispered to a black swordsmen who fell on the ground with an empty
expression. Now that the profile of the youngster resembles somewhere to the older
brother who had a glimpse of just a moment just before the kidney transplant
surgery, before he turned back to him.

First of all, if you kill "Black Swordsman" and "Flash" in this world and log out, I will
withdraw. Then find the two people who are supposed to be somewhere in the
Ocean Turtle, kill them as much as they pour out the greatest affection.

Just imagining that moment, I felt relieved pain on my left side, which had never been
erased since I was robbed of my kidney at the age of 15.

I smile at the back of the hood and whisper to the young man lying on the floor.

"While you are sleeping, everyone will die, I beg you, please get up early."

While swallowing sword "Friend cut knife" on the right-hand side, Vasago slowly
started walking.

I will do it.

Asuna who lost the power of the soul reached the sound where someone's shoe sole
was dry and stepping on the ground.

It's okay, it's okay. Machine sound like inorganic, but rhythmical to dance. Once, I
heard it a few times at a floating castle without now, footsteps of the deceased god.
As I raised my face, I saw a silhouette of black poncho walking towards here, from the
side of Kirito lying in a place about 20 meters away.

No, it is not Asuna that I am aiming for. Klein is penetrated by the two swords on the
right side. I wonder if you intend to stick yourself to a samurai who seems to be
almost dead only by aerial power.

Asuna who thought so for a while, I immediately felt it was different.

Near the fallen Klein, two of the red armor knights are actively discussing in Korean
that can not be understood by Asuna. If you notice, the survivors of the Japanese
players and the tens of thousands of large armies surrounding the underworld troops
seems to be fighting fiercely there.

Perhaps the player who still believes the word of POH is condemning the player he
noticed. With just this, something a little triggered, the former could pull the sword
towards the latter. If that happens, the chain of hatred will spread to the player of the
Allied Chinese and Korean Army. Possibly, POH is about to stop it.

Wrong. Wrong.

That man intends to put a fire on himself against a new conflict that is spreading to
the battlefield.

Like when he directed the capture group to the location of the hideout of the
homicide guild "Laughin’ Coffin" that he made, to produce a bloody slayer fight.

I do not know what it is going to get until I cut my own effort by half. However, I am
confident that something will be bad and something bad will happen.

POH instructed something in Korean while walking slowly.

The two who were detaining Klein grabbed another person to shake off a momentary
confusion and robbed freedom of both arms.

The death god of black poncho makes a sound rash and grips a thick knife.

To execute himself "traitor" and put its head down, in order to attack the buddies by
inciting incoming Chinese Korean players who believe in himself.

Do not allow such imitation. For the ultimate goal of protecting the underworld
people, you should not stop stopping fellowship of red knights, but it is still over ten
thousand where we have halved. Moreover, they will have more anger and hostility
than ever before, and they will try to turn it towards Japanese and underworld
people.
Above all, half of the Chinese-Korean players trying to be killed by PoH's incendiary
are aware of the neck truth of this world ... they are those who believed in the
Japanese player's words. I will never forgive them, such as abandoning them.

I have to move. Standing up and constructing a sword, I have to stop executing POH.

But, neither the hands nor the legs enter. Every time I breathe, innumerable scratches
I receive throughout my body suffered severely and I kill my energy.

...... No ... I can not stand it.

While kneeling on dry ground, Asuna exhaled breathlessly.

Roll slowly back. Dirt, frayed hair slides down from the shoulder and blocks visibility.

While listening to the footsteps of the death gods approaching at last, I tried to close
both eyes that tears blurred - at that time.

I love you.

I will stand it instead of you, Asuna.

Someone's voice hoarse faintly, but definitely.

Someone's hand wrapped both shoulders gently but powerfully.

Warm light flows into my body. A refreshing wind blows the whole body pain.

Now, stand up, Asuna. To protect precious things.

Asuna 's right hand moved swiftly, crawling on the ground, he smashed what was
standing there.

In the case of

Pattern of Genesis God 's sword "Radiant Light".

As I raised my face, the death god of black poncho sprinkled at least a kitchen knife
that flickers like blood like red. The restrained red knight squatted his whole body as
if he had been driven by fear. The bustle of the surroundings fell all the time,
countless sight lines concentrated on ruthless blades.

Asuna kicked the ground, stopping breathing, eating and tying the teeth, gathering
all of the remaining power.

"Aaaaaaa!"
Pull out the rapier on your right hand with a bullshit like a blood. A white flash flashes
from the top of the bottom. Basic skills, thousands, tens of thousands of times, sword
skill "Linear".

When POH notices the surprise attack of Asuna by the truly reaction,

"Wow"

I let the upper body warp while leaking voice like such. As I looked toward the
darkness behind the hood, Asuna thrust hard right hand.

Faint response. Black curly flying dancing in the universe, a few drops of fresh blood
splashed from dark-skinned skin ————— ducked!

It is the same for both Incrad and the Underworld that make a big gap after the
sword skill is invoked. At the moment, Asuna's torso imposed fatal rigidity, POH's
kitchen knocks up and strikes.

At the same time, however, Asuna was concentrating the image at the foot of POH.

The slightly rainbow-colored light emanates from the ground and disappears. Asuna
created a few centimeters of protrusions under the axis foot of POH by the power of
Genesis Stacy.

It was a small topographical operation, but a pain like lightning stroked through my
head. In exchange for the price, the black death god collapsed and the kitchen knife
did not severely slit the Asuna dress.

"Rats!"

Asuna, freed from rigidity, pulls back rapier again.

"Wow!"

POH which made Honcho greatly flash up, restores the knife directly above.

God speed technique and rigid slash technique crashed and sprinkled pure white and
deep red mixed sparks. While aspiring to possess the power of all, Asuna asked with a
blurted voice trying to push back the intersecting blade.

"You ... what do you want?"

The mouth of PoH peeking under the hood distorted grin and disturbing the rough
voice.

"It is decided, it is a guy of" black "... It is only this guy's hope from the time I could
not be killed trying to kill for the first time in five layers of Incrad.
"... ... why so much hates Kirito, what did he do to you?"

"hate……?"

Repeatedly outside, PoH somewhat made the face closer and whispered.

"I thought that I would understand how much I love him, but in a world in which it
was just a shit, only this guy was the only man who can believe unconditionally No
matter how hard I am, It did not break, it did not get dirty no matter how I invited,
always gave me hope and joy for me. So... I can not allow him to come to such a
place without me. I will absolutely wake him up, so for that I will kill thousands of
people, tens of thousands, no matter who they are "

The horrible words released from the god of death gods became dark black and
entwined with Asuna and tried to rob the fighting spirit.

"Hope ... ...? Pleasure, is that ... .... What did you do, no matter how much Kirito is ...?"

Although the words are returned hardly, the intersection of knife and rapier, which
intertwines, gradually approaches Asuna while intermittently scattering the sparks.

It is not just the fact that the fighting spirit of Asuna is shaken. A magical sword
presented to the right hand of PoH, Friend Knife is growing in thickness and size little
by little while trembling in living things.

It seems that PoH also noticed the startle of Asuna, the darkness behind the hood
slowly hurt.

"I finally understood the mechanism of this world, this place, the flowing blood and
the lost lives will be the energy in its moment." Light shrine maiden "sprightly Laser
dark territory army Be wonderful when burning down. "

As for the system which is the backbone of the underworld, Asuna also got an
explanation before dive. That is "spatial resource", but basically it should be able to
use complicated maneuvers or equipped with weapons with resource-absorbing
abilities. Even if the enlargement of friendship kitchen knife is due to the action of
space resources, POH does not tell the command, kitchen knife is probably a
compartment of character data of SAO era and has resource-absorbing ability of
under-field specification There is not no bad.

But POH continued the word as though he had read that thought of Asuna.

"This" friendship kitchen knife "is a specification that it specs up as much as to slash a
human by slashing a human player by speckling down every time Incradder knocks
down a monster .... Well, although it seems to evolve into a katana with a similar
name if you defeat as much as you can, it is obvious that you are not interested in
such a monkey. The point is that the inherent performance that strengthens by
sucking human life is underworld in this battlefield, the life of the American troops
killed by Anta and others, and the Japanese troops killed by Chinese and Korean
Allied Forces are swirling. When they kill each other in the middle Korean, Further
mass In the case of The life of me is overflowing. "

Even while the death god whispers, friendship knives keep growing gigantically while
growling. Asuna 's "Radiant Light" which is a GM equipped gentle to wonder if it
could not withstand pressure. Every background sound is distant, only my breathing
and the beat of the heart echoes in my ears.

As if the Lord of the Evil sword is getting taller, PoH said, hanging on Asuna.

"If you exhaust your whole life, the talent will kill the person Fluctlight of this world
from one end, only the people trembling behind ...... The monsters in the dark world
and the human world I do not know how many tens of thousands are there, but I will
probably wake up with sledge like that too, if the talented "black swordsman"

A cold wind swayed the black leather hood and exposed the twin clutches in the back
of the dark for just a moment. Slightly glowing, red eyes.

It's a devil. not human. Real, devil.

This is the nature of a man named POH. The mask of the "merry angel" who was
wearing in Einclad, and the mask of "a hard commander" who was wearing on this
battlefield were all lying. Indeed, a cruel vengeance who only torments all people,
torments, and kills ... ....

The power came out of Asuna's knee. Rapier fractures again, the knife blade
approaches the throat.

"Do not worry, I will not kill you in the end, just will not let it get in my way anymore
... I will have to see it to you ... ... This guy awakens and in my arms he will die. "

Friend Knife has already giantified to nearly twice the original size. “Radiant Light”
emits a high and clear scream and a faint crack runs on the blade.

The view of Asuna with a knuckle and a right knee on the ground was covered with a
jet-black fog from the hood. In the darkness, only the thick blade of steel and the
crimson eyes shone glitteringly.

Asuna's back on the verge of exhaustion.

Once again, someone's little hand supported it.

It’s all right.

Always because the Bota is near.(??? - いつも、ボタがそばにいるから。)

From the center of Asuna's chest, blue clear light shriveled and diced.

Asuna saw the pure white wings spread from his back reflected in the blade of a
friend cut knife.

All the sounds returned, crossed the battlefields of the battlefield, and the voices of
our companions were heard.

"Asuna !! Good luck, Asuna !!"

"Asuna-san !! Asuna !!"

"Stand up, Asuna !!"

"Asuna ...... Go!"

Lizbet. Silica. Egil. Klein.

It is not just fellows. The surviving Sakuya and Alisha and ALO association, Siyune,
Sleeping Kights, even the Human defense army knight Renri, Tiese, Ronie, Soltierina,
even a lot of juniors and monks have voice to Asuna come.

Thank you everyone.

Thank you, Yuki.

I still can fight. Everyone's heart will give me strength.

"I will not lose ...... I am like you, for humans who can only hate ... ... absolutely will not
lose!"

At the moment she cried, the wave of white light shook from the whole body of
Asuna, pushing back the body of PoH greatly. While standing up, pull the right rapier
to maximum. A pale violet flashes reminiscent of the flowers of time are released
many times from the blade and dyed the world.

"A depression !!"

Trying to step on the shinigami, trying to lose your body.

Asuna exercised the original sword skill that she received from "Yuki sword" Yuki.

Five times from the upper right. Ultra-fast pounding technique inscribes five bright
spots obliquely.

Five times from the top left. Cross with the previous trail, five more lights penetrate.
"Negative ..."

While spitting out the air mixed with fresh blood, PoH let the gigantic kitchen knock
out the crimson shine. If directly hit by the power stone 's great stuff, the few
remaining HP will definitely erase.

However, Asuna's attack had not ended yet.

"Oooaaaaaaa ... ...!"

Concentrate all the remaining energy at the tip of the rapier to the center of the
crossing trajectory, unleash the last ... ... and the biggest blow.

Ten series shoot OSS, "Mother’s Rosary".

A purple shine similar to a meteor penetrated the heart of PoH.

The death god of black poncho danced in the air at the highest, dropping a heavy
noise on the far away ground.

Asuna who ran out of all mental power once again asked in his mind while pushing
one knee again. ... .... “Thank you, Yuuki”.

There was no answer. Perhaps, from the beginning, it may have been a phantom
voice, a phantom hand created by Asuna's memory. Even so, in this world where
everything consists of memories, it is by no means fake.
Yes ... ... Originally, this underword should not be able to use OSS Mother’s Rosary.
Even if Higa and Kikuoka introduced the old SAO 's sword skill with The Seed, it is
ALO' s Undine Asuna who inherits the Mother’s Rosary, and Stacia Asuna was not
converted, so that data is not attached.

But OSS correctly triggered with light effect. If it is said that it is the power of
imagination, it is also the truth that Yuki who resurrected whenever from Asuna's
memory encouraged us. Because memories will not disappear forever.

PoH 's avatar is still lying on the ground. However, I can not believe that I can live
with elegance by ten series of shots by GM equipment. Unlike other players, you
should have used STL, so if you died it will not be diversified sooner but corpses will
remain for a while like human world people and dark territory inhabitants.

As she stood up to support rapier, Asuna looked back and confirmed the appearance
of Klein. Three players who were still detained by still sweeping their belly but still
looking at Asuna with a fourth red knight who came to stop executions There.

I wanted to hurry up to Kirito as soon as possible, but firstly she tried to step over
there to pull out the sword from Klein's body and heal his wounds ... at that time.

I felt the ground trembled slightly, I felt.

While stuffy breath, I turn around again.

The collapsed PoH does not move at all. However, a friend cut knife held on the right
hand emits an extraordinary light mixed with red and black. If you look closely, the air
in the battlefield seems to be slowly swirling around the kitchen knife.

"I do not ... ... I am absorbing divine power !!"

That's what I cried out was Soritina, a former head of the human force.

Asuna tied up her teeth and tried to run to destroy the devil sword.

But as soon as possible, the death god of the black clothes raised the body as if it was
pulled by a friend cut knife that appears in the air.

The front body of the poncho broke greatly, and the body wrapped in a tight leather
suit is exposed. A huge hole opens in the breastplate that hit the final shot of OSS,
and you can see the landscape on the far side.

Looking at the appearance of PoH who stood up while being blown entirely of the
heart, underworld people leak the voice of fear. Even the Chinese and Koreans who
recognize this as a normal VRMMO world are intensely gloomy.
Perhaps the friend knife will absorb a large amount of spatial resources and convert it
to HP of PoH. While presuming that, Asuna could not stop trembling the whole body.

PoH is diving using STL.

Then, you should feel the same level of pain as in the real world. Even when Asuna
was pierced by his spear with his spears, I could have felt pain like it was going to be
fainted, but I can not imagine what kind of pain it can open a large hole in the middle
of my chest.

But the god of death shrieked with a loud voice like a trembling laugh at the lips
dripping blood - shaking the whole battlefield.

"This is the nature of the Japanese! This is a weak traitor ... and destroy all the dirty
Japanese people, all alone!"

Although it should be in Korean, somehow the meaning of the word could be clearly
recognized by Asuna.

A red-black aura struck from a friend knife covered with PoH at the most, spreading
to the end of the wilderness.

Sai-sai-sai-sai…

Sai-sai-sai-sai-sai-sai-sai!!

Half of Chinese-Korean players pushed up the sword in the same way and made a
ferocious cry.

Means to stop attacking the moderates who were trying to persuade them ... and a
part of it to stop trying to attack the Japanese players survival and towards
underworld troops Asuna did not have any more.

Suddenly thrust away from behind, it falls to the ground. The rapier full of scratches
leaves the right hand and rolls on dry soil.

Before and after that, young people with black hair were trying to stretch their left
hand hard to Asuna.

"Kirito - kun"

Dazzling, Asuna also waited for the last time while giving a right hand to a loved one.
I merely snapped myself slightly in the classroom, but I felt like I had a very long
dream.

It is fun, painful, sad dream. I try to remember the contents while walking in an
unattended corridor, but I can not recall any way.

Give it up, change the shoes at the entrance.

When I left the school gate, a cool dry autumn wind rocked the bangs which were a
little too long.

I put a commuter bag on my left shoulder and put my hands in my student pants
pocket and I started walking down and down.

In front, the students at the same school are chatting lively. In order to block the
conversation overflowing with dreams and hope, love and friendship, deeply screw
the audio player's earphone into both ears, trace back home by rolling back.

Check all game information magazines released this week at convenience stores on
the way and buy the special page of "Sword Art • Online" formal service which will be
launched in about a month after selecting the most frequent one. In addition,
somewhat charge the electronic money account for online games.

Although I can save this trouble if I have credit cards, if I consulted my mother
implicitly, I was dismissed as being unfavorable until I became a college student.
However, even if only giving me monthly spending money that I am not a real child, I
am grateful, so I have no complaints about her judgment.

We are going to abolish the cash soon, let's digitize it completely ... etc ... while
passing through the automatic door and go outside the store.

Then, I noticed that a group of five people who were not at the time of entering the
store sitting in a corner of the parking lot. Perhaps they surrounded them while
concentrating on the magazine, around their surroundings that made a faint laughter,
bags of snacks, sweet buns, were scattered.

From the uniform I took the students at the same junior high school, but at that time
I ignored and tried to leave.

One of the group has turned his eyes to devour.

The boy student who is as small as the elementary school student is not like a student
clothes class, but the class is different but the face is known ... ... No, until a certain
time it was a friend.

He was also participating in Sword Art • Online Beta Test, which was held during the
summer vacation.
It was miraculous that there were two prizes in the same grade of the same junior
high school at a narrow gate nationwide which was a thousand people. Anyway, this
kind of sociable zero is listening to rumors and wanting to contact us from here.

The interaction with him started just before the summer vacation, and the summer
vacation - exactly ended at the end of the SAO 's beta test. While I was testing, I had
a party in the virtual game world once every three days and I was getting along as it
was, but as soon as I met my face at school for the first time since the beginning of
the second semester, my strange relation - the habit of thinking that "who really is
this guy who is supposed to be" to the person who should be familiar in front of
himself has gone out.

I feel like someone who is unknown in someone who is supposed to be a living

human being. Then, you can not get along with your heart. Even for parents and
sister, sometimes it is.

He seemed to want to keep socializing with her in SAO 's official service in October
and in real world schools, but eventually I took my attitude and went away. After that,
why does not he have exchanged words, why is he hanging out at a parking lot of a
convenience store with students in a category that seems quite far from?

The reason was revealed by his stingy eyes and the words that male students of the
purine head next to me threw.

"Oh yeah Tamee, what are you looking at?"

Immediately, the remaining three people also give a voice of intimidating "ur?" Which
is "A?" While eyebrows are brought down or refracting.

In the end he is watching the "Yanchaing system" group of classes, he is being

hooked or being being pursued. And I asked for help with my eyes.

Let's go home together, it was okay with only a word of. But my bros will absolutely
not move.

I managed to push it out of my throat as if glued,

It was only the glaring dazzle. And I abandoned my friend up to a month ago and
started walking again. He did not say anything, but it seemed at the edge of sight
that the young face distorted like it was about to burst out.

As soon as you leave the premises of a convenience store, walk down the street with
the back curled up the road where the color of dusk deepens. Walking just walking
while watching only asphalt as it is, thinking nothing, walking.
The sun set behind sinks with a terrible momentum, the city is quickly surrounded by
purple darkness. The lower school road that I should get used to is felt like a totally
unfamiliar place. Only my footsteps echo on the road where neither people nor cars
pass.

Flap, flap, flap ... ..., swish, swish, swish.

"Hey ... ...."

I stopped. Before we knew, the foot was changed from asphalt to thin and short
grass. I wonder if there was such an unpaved place on the school road and I will raise
my face.

Then, what jumped into my eyes was not a living road of Kawagoe City, Saitama
Prefecture, but a path through a deep forest where I could not know anywhere.

After looking around for a while, I look at my body.

The black student clothes that were supposed to have worn disappeared, changed to
indigo Tunic and leather armor. A leather glove with fingering hands on both hands
and a shoes boots with metal rivets on the feet. And on the back, instead of a
shoulder bag for going to school, a short but heavy, heavy sword.

"Where is this……?"

I glared, but I will not answer. Shrug the shoulders and start walking down the path in
the forest.

Within a minute I was inspired by memory chatter. The shape of an old tree
stretching twisted branches, the feeling of undergrowth of an ankle. This is in the
woods spreading northwest of the first floating castle Incrad, "the beginning city".
Then, if you proceed this way, there should be a village of horn power.

Go to the village as soon as possible and stay in the inn. I want to go to bed now. I do
not think about anything, I want to sleep again.

Only the dusk moonlight walks in the bottom of the forest floating in blue.

Suddenly, I felt I could hear a screaming scream.

Stop for a moment and start walking again. The grove is cut off on the right side of
the front, and the blue moonlight is inserted in the path. Once again, someone's
screams are heard. Moreover, the groaning voice of a creepy monster.

Go ahead and walk towards the end of the trees. Gently look into the far side of the
thick trunk.
There was a large vacant lot like a circular stage. While being illuminated by pale
light, bizarre shadow paintings are invading.

Plant-type monsters reminiscent of a huge Tsubo-kazura have five or six animals, a

wavy tentacle rustling. What is surrounded is a young man who looked the same as
me. I swing swords very hard, but the tentacle of monsters grows up even if I slash or
slash.

I knew the profile of a man.

It was a party with me to collect and collect the items that plant type monster
dropped. The name is ... ... Kopel. But why are they surrounded by so many monsters?

Whatever the reason, I'm a friend, so I have to help.

I think so, but my legs will not move again this time. As if roots grew on the ground,
we could not move forward one step.

The feet are paid off by the tentacles that hit from the back, and Koppel collapses in
the grass. Monsters closely approach Koppel while opening and closing the bowls to
which human beings have grown.

Koppel with the expression of despair stretched his left hand against me.

But its appearance was quickly hidden by a group of monsters, a little, a small
crushing sound and a blue light rose.

"Ah……"

When groaning with a loud voice, I gently departed to the point of forsaking a friend
in front of a convenience store.

While looking at only the grass of your feet, you stand up with the rush of. Change
the direction of the body and start walking on a narrow road. Only my footsteps echo
in the Moon Night Forest.

Swish, swish, swish...... Stomp, stomp, stomp.

I will stop. Before I knew it, my legs changed from a short grass to a bluish stone
block.

As I raised my face, it was not a forest of a further Incrad, it was a dark passageway
anywhere. Perhaps it is somewhere in the labyrinth ... ... But from the appearance, I do
not know how many layers of labyrinth are. Tomorrow is the only way forward.
Keep walking in a straight line without any consciousness of the whole body
equipment and the sword of the back being changed. Walk walking, walking just like
chasing your own shadow created by the wall lantern.

In the labyrinth of District of Incrad, the diameter is about 300 meters at most and
there is no way to have such a long straight line, but I keep keeping my legs moving
without stopping or turning around.

Suddenly, I felt that a faint voice was heard from my way.

It is not a scream but a joyful scream. Plus, there are several cheers.

It was a voice that I felt nostalgic somewhere. Hurrying to the source of voice while
walking a little earlier. Eventually we saw a square entrance where a warm yellow light
got on the wall on the front left side. For some reason moving the legs that feel
heavy, get to the entrance.

Looking into the inside of the aisle, it was a little wider room. At the back of the wall,
four players are turning their backs.

Without looking at the face, I immediately understood who they were.

The curly hair spear wearing a strange hat is Sasamaru.

A tall shield and a mace use are Tetuo.

Petite dagger use wearing a knit cap is Ducker.

And a girl with a short hair equipped with a shirt spear ... ... Sachi.

Everyone, a member of the guild to which I belong. While the leader's keeper went to
player home buying negotiations, he came to this labyrinth ward to earn interior
costs.

OK, were they all okay?

While thinking such a thing for a while, I will try to call out to my colleagues, but
again mouth does not move. Legs also stuck to the floor and can not be burned.

Four people will bend their upper body at the end of my eyes that stands standing.
They are looking into the big treasure box placed on the wall. As soon as I noticed it,
chill runs and chills on my back.

Thief's Ducker tries to get on the treasure box and tries to release the trap.

No. Stop. No.

I shout many times in my heart, but it does not make a voice. I try to jump into the
room, but my legs do not move.

Ducker vigorously opens the lid of the treasure box.

As soon as you hear a deafening alarm sound, the door hidden on the left and right
walls of the room opens. From behind, a myriad of monsters hungry on the blood
jumps into the straw.

"Ah……!"

From my throat, broken, cracked scream leaked.

That was it. The body does not move one finger, you can only watch the fellows
surrounded by monsters.

It was Sasamaru who first died. Ducker then broke up further as Tetsuo became a
blue particle, and the one that was left alone turned around and looked at me.

A sadly smiling smelling lips moved small.

At the next moment, monsters' weapons and claws rushed down and the delicate
body wrapped with blue light.

"... ...!"

In the presence of my eyes that pry out silent screams, Sachi also disappeared as
countless glass pieces.

Dozens of monsters also disappear like they melt in the air, and the room is wrapped
in darkness.

I finally kneel down on the spot where I finally started to move.

I do not want it anymore. I do not want to walk any further. I do not want to see
anything.

Collapse on the cold floor, close both ears and tightly close the eyelids. However,
after a while I get memories from cold water, without mercy, and swallow me.

Days of battle over two years in the floating castle of steel.

Endless sky aimed at the fairy country.

Crimson bullets flying across the dusk 's wilderness.

I do not want to recall anymore. I do not want to know the future.

Desperately so appeal, but the torrent of memory stays without staying.

Suddenly separated from the real world.

Wake up in a vacant lot surrounded by a deep forest.

I walked to be guided by the sound of the ax and at the base of the huge tree I
reached I met him. Battle with the Goblin. A huge tree cut down.

A long journey aiming at the center of the world. Two years have passed since the
practice at the academy.

He was always next to me. He was laughing calmly.

I could have done anything with him.

I got out of the dungeon, ran up the chalky tower, defeated the enemy one after
another.

At last it reached the summit,

Exchange the sword with the ruler of the world,

At the end of a long and painful fight,

He, his, Life ......

"Uoo ...... Uaaaaaaaa ... ...!"

I held my head with both hands and screamed.

It's me. My helplessness, my foolishness, my weakness killed him. Blood must flow,
blood flowed, and lives that should not be lost were lost.

I should have died. I have only the life of the riddle. If mine and his roles are reversed,
there should have been no problem.

"Aaa ...... aa ... ...!"

Screaming, searching for the sword that is supposed to be on the back, while striking.
To pierce your heart and to break the neck.

However, I do not touch anything with my fingertips. I will explore the surroundings
thinking I dropped it, but just spreading black mucus spreading just like it.

I torn the chest of the black shirt with both hands.

Put your fingertip of the right hand bent in the center of the chest, clenched on your
claws.

Skin breaks, meat tears off, but pain does not feel anything. I keep punching my chest
with both hands. To gouge and squeeze the heart.

That's the only thing I can do for him ... and for the people I have betrayed and
abandoned so far, the last ............

"Kirito-kun……"

Suddenly, someone called my name.

I stopped my hand and lifted a vague gaze.

Beyond the dark, a girl with maroon hair was standing alone.

I wet the eyes of the hazel-colored eyes and stare at me carelessly.

"Kirito ..."

Along with a new voice, another girl on glasses wearing glasses appeared on the right
side. It also shines tear drops in the eyes of the back of the lens.

"Onii-chan ... ..."

And one more person.

A girl who cuts black hair and immediately cuts it out of her big eyes and overflows
her tears.

The intention and emotion of the two girls shine with light and flow into me.

The warmth like a sunbather heals my wounds and tries to melt the sorrow.

— But.

But ... Oh, but.

I do not have the right to receive this forgiveness.

"Sorry"

I heard that such words would be spilled out of my own mouth.

"I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm sorry, I am sorry, I can not stand it anymore, I can not fight
anymore.

And I tried to squeeze the heart which emerged from my chest in my mind.
"Why ... ... why are you, Kirito!?"

Higa Takeru cried out with a hoarse voice, clapping her consciously with the blood
that continues to overflow from the gunshot wrestling with his right shoulder, as he
seems to be far away.

Three souls connected by Asuna Yuki, Asada Shino, Kirigaya Suguha connect with
huge mnemonic data to complement the damaged fluctlight of Kirigaya Kazuto from
the translator. Higa has been doing a lot of experiments so far, It can not help but be
surprised, even a miracle amount of data.

However, the 3D graph showing Japanese fluctlight activity displayed on the upper
left of the monitor of the mobile terminal is stopped just before the function recovery
line.

"This still is ... ... is not enough ...?"

Higa moaned.

Kirigaya Kazuto's recovering "subject" — self-image is not real in this way, it only links
with the painful memory that hurts him, and it will not be able to return from there.
What I'm waiting is a nightmare that keeps refraining forever. In this way, it can be
asserted that it is more happy to have been out of order.

At least, one more person.

Another person, if there is a person who has a deep scratch with Japanese people and
accumulates a strong image! However, per Kikuoka Seichiro-san, three girls who are
connected now are definitely human beings who know and love the most Kirigaya
Kazuto in the whole world. Besides, there are no more than 6 STLs that can be used
either in the RATH trees branch or Ocean Turtle.

"Damn it ... damn ......"

Higa bound the back teeth and grabbed the right fist just as he hit the wall of the
duct.

But quickly opened up his hand.

"... .... What is ......? This connection ... ...?"

While murmuring, bring glasses dirty with blood and sweat closer to the terminal.
I did not notice until now, but in addition to the three lines from the girls' STL in the
window showing the state of the fluctlight of Kirigaya Kazuto another one - a very
thin one extending from outside the lower part of the image I found a gray line.

Take the index finger of the right hand to touch the touch panel and flick upward, as
you can draw in. The screen scrolls and the destination of the gray line becomes clear.

"... From the Main Visualizer! Why ...?!?"

In the case of

I also forgot that I was seriously injured, Higa shouted.

The Main Visualizer is a huge data storage in the heart of a light cube cluster that
stores the soul of the underworld people.

What is preserved there is an object such as the topography, buildings, tools, etc.
which make up the underworld to the last, and there must be no soul of any person.

However —.

"Object ...... Object as memory ... ...."

While Higa rotated thinking at full speed, he uttered an unconscious word.

"The memories in Fluctlights and Underworld objects are the same as the data format
... ... if someone burns their intention or thought into some object ... ... it acts as a
pseudo-essence ... ... Is there a ...?

Higa was half-trusted while keeping her guessing so. If such a thing is possible,
underworld will be able to control objects without life with only the owner's intention.

But now this thin, unreliable connection line seems to be just one hope.

What happened — Higa could not guess at all whether the situation improved or
deteriorated, but still he thought and decided to go from the Main Visualizer to the
Japanese STL We opened a line connected with.

"Kirito"

Heart is destroyed, just before it.

A new voice called my name. Powerful, warm, wrapped, its voice.

"Kirito"
I slowly raised my face slowly I saw it.

it was his figure standing firmly with the two legs in the place where infinite dark
brown had spread Until a while ago.

There is no stain on blue clothes. Flax hair curls gently in the darkness, a gentle smile
floats on the lips.

And in the eyes of the deep green, as usual it was just filled with gentle and powerful
light.

I got up and released my hands from the chest where the wounds had disappeared
before I reached it. Soon my voice calling his name rushed through my lips.

"... ... Eugeo"

once again.

"Were you alive, Eugeo?"

Eugeo is my best friend and the best companion.

He smudged a little sorrow of the smile and gently shake her head.

"This is the memory of myself in you, and the piece of memory that I left."

"Memory ... ... ... ..."

"Did you forget it already? At that time, we were convinced, the memories are ..."

Eugeo spread his right hand and pushes it against his chest.

"……It is here"

I also performed exactly the same behavior as a mirror image and kept on with
words.

"Forever, here it is"

Again, Asuna came forward next to Eugeo who smiled and smiled, and said.

"We and Kirito are always caught in our hearts"

Shinon that progressed to the other side rocked the hair tied in the side of his face
and nodded.

"Even if you are far away ...... Even if someday farewell comes"

Next to that, Leafa popped out quickly broke in a self-confessed voice

"Memories and feelings will continue to rain forever, are not they?"

Finally, hot and clear drops overflowed from my eyes.

I stepped forward one step, I looked into the eyes of my eternal best friend hard.

"Is it okay ... ... Eugeo ... even if I start walking again ...?

The answer was prompt and it was unwavering.

"Ok, Kirito, a lot of people are waiting for you ... Come on ... let's go, together,
everywhere"

The hands presented from each other were in touch. There, Asuna and Shinon, the
hands of Leafa were also stacked. At the moment, the four people in front of us were
the waves of white light and flowed into me.

And —.
A red armored boot trampled on top of Asuna's right hand, which was stretched
towards Kirito.

As she looked up, a red knight, whose both eyes filled with horrible hatred in the
visor seemed to be shake, started gripping the long sword with both hands.

A sword is thrust down with a stinging screech.

She has no physical power in her to fight anymore, but Asuna still insisted on staring
at the steel blade as it attempts to pierce her.

Kin--!

Hard metal clashing sound is heard. Orange spark's are emitted.

The knight's sword bounced off into the air, as though it had been knocked away by a
colorless and transparent blade.

"Wow...?"

The knight who revealed a disconcerting voice swings down the sword again.
However, sparks scatters again, the sword is unable to reach Asuna.

Even for the third time, the fourth time, the results are still the same.

Before the fifth attack was executed, Solterina, who came running to Asuna, pushed
the Red Knight back greatly with the sword skill "Torrent", producing knockback
using the handle of the large sword. While helping Asuna up, Solterina asked
surprisingly in a small voice.

"Asuna...was that the "Sword of Mind" just now...!?"

"A "Sword of Mind"...?"

She shoke her head a little towards the words she heard for the first time.

"No, it is not me."

"Well, Renri is..."

As Asuna followed Solterina's line of sight as she turns around while saying that, the
male knight, who was terribly injured was giving instructions to the troops to
intercept the army of the approaching red knight, don't think he is able to afford to
keep an eye on her any longer.

However, while we are trying to solve this phenomenon, we must first defend as
many Underworld people as possible.
Asuna stood up with the help of Solterina, inspiring the exhausted spirit, as she assess
the circumstances.

And she felt something new, and full of despair came into her mind, like cold dark
water pouring in.

More than 80% of players in China and Korea, over ten thousand players have already
entered the battle between allies. Even if it is said, the morale difference, the main
faction is still overwhelimg the resisting factions. As avatar's disappear here and there,
effect in the form pillar of blue light rises, and every time it happens, a ferocious
scream echoes.

In addition, some of the resisting factions…… Little potential to fight is left in the
Japanese, and the underworld people including the integrity knight, Renri also which
are all running out of life. Even if there is an advantage from the possession of sacred
art and sword skills, I don't think the opposition can be repulsed much.

She cannot find any words anymore, she can only stand up while gripping Solterina's
arm.

Echoes of loud laughter from PoH arrives...

Beside Kirito, who was lying down, the death god who has a large hole in his chest
raised his right hand and all his five-finger extended and his left hand, which is
holding the giant Mate Chopper at its highest and laughed with his upper body
resisting its weight. Huge black clouds swirls in the sky at daytime, a funnel of life
resources dissipated in the battlefield forms a tornado as they all are absorbed into
PoH's body.

To be precise, it is the magic sword in his right hand that absorbs life resources. If we
can destroy that, the energy supply to the owner will be cut off, the death god who
lost his heart should die immediately.

However, the situation has already come to the point where even if one of the enemy
commanders is defeated it can no longer be salvaged. The main factions is driven by
PoH's inciting words and evil talent. Even if the commander leaves, they will continue
fighting until they kill all the Japanese and Underworld people who are also acting as
a source of further anger.

How should I act? What should I do?

As Asuna was being torn by frustration and despair, she noticed a strange
phenomenon.

On the ground where dark gravel has been drawn until a while ago, white fog is
spreading thinly on top of it. Sliding like ribbons made of thin silk, they go under
Asuna's feet as it continues to spread backwards. At the same time, a refreshing
sweet scent starts to tickle her nostrils.

This...The fragrance of the rose...?

Asuna and Solterina's gaze traces the ribbon-like mist.

And at the moment when I saw the source, I let out faint sigh from my lips.

"Ah……"

once again.

"Ah"

The source of the fog was a young teenager lying a few tens of meters away.

To be precise, it is the long blue sword, grasped with his left hand. The blade is
broken from the middle, but the mist wraps its whole, it seems as if it emits light
faintly.

"Kirito-kun."

At the same time Asuna calls the name of the person who she loves more than
anyone in a shivering voice.

"That “sword of mind” just now, was Kirito’s..."

Impressed, Solterina murmured alike.

The white fog reaches the feet of the Allied Chinese-Korean Army that surrounds the
peripherial space, and it still continues to spread. Although they do not seem to
notice it because as they are in the midst battle, they are already being swallowed by
pure white ribbons around the knees. At last, it seemed that POH who kept on
laughing has also noticed something strange.

First of all, he lowered his gaze towards the footsteps, and then, he saw Kirito behind
him. Wasting no time, he raised his right hand holding a Mate Chopper into the air,
and should he run and hit him, the damage would be absolutely fatal.

Unleash it down now, the damage will be colossal.

One step. Two steps.

However, before the third step starts being taken.

It sounds like a whisper, across the battlefield, like a quiet...but a confident voice
reverberated.
“Enhance Armament”

It was definitely the voice of Kirito, but in the head of Asuna sounded a second, lower
male voice.

In the next moment.

A a super phenomenon with a tremendous scale that is comparable to Stasia's terrain

manipulation, wrapped the entire battlefield.

In the midst of the white fog, blue vines made of ice grew. More than ten thousand
Chinese, Korean players, along with PoH's body was entwined. Even though the ice
seemed to be easily broken just with the touch of fingers, the players who had fought
fiercely stopped moving instantly as if a time-stop magic is casted on them.

After short silence, voices filled with surprise and anger emerged, but soon dies out.
Avatar's were wrapped by vines of ice was covered with white frost as they watch
each other froze in just a few seconds.

Asuna glanced at the red knight who came to help Klein behind the scenes, but he's
also turned into a statue. However, However, no pain was felt. The eyes deep behind
the visor were softly closed. This is a technique that stops movement but does not
bring pain and suffering.

Turning around again, PoH was also frosty white. As both Asuna's and Solterina's
eyes meet, she nodded.

"Thank you, Rina-san... I'm fine now."

When the female officer's hand gently departs, she steps quickly to Kirito while
stepping on the frost covering the ground. From behind, I also follow Solterina and
another girl, Ronnie, who ran from the human forces army.

Kirito who holds the sword broken with his left hand still has fallen down. But Asuna
knew. Indeed, at this moment, the heart of Kirito is about to revive. Touch your hands,
hug you, call, if you call me back. Tightly. Tightly.

A distance of only tens of meters is as far as the end of the earth. Just ten seconds, as
long as eternity. However, every time I move my exhausted legs hard, the figure of a
loved one gradually grows little by little.

Look, you can reach it in slightly more.

Asuna's stretched out right hand, trying to touch old-fashioned black hair, that
moment.

A sharp crushing sound roared as if I could catch the eardrum.

Asuna who looked at the face quickly saw it.

It was a figure of a god of death who shattered white frost and ice vine into pieces
and stepped one step fiercely.

While fluttering the black poncho's hem like a demonic wing, POH shouted like a
crackling bell.

"Tired of waiting ... ...! Now, let's dance ... Kirito!"

To the best of Asuna's knowledge, POH who called its name for the first time through
the former SAO era jumped like a monster, swinging a friend knife in his right hand.

While wearing a red - black death -A terrible thick blade falls until it is terrible. It is
not Kirito that is aimed at, but also Asuna.

"You should not……!"

It was Solterina, who first came out quickly, held the long sword wounded with scars
overhead and tried to pick up the blow of the god of death.

However, the magical sword that got enormous up to nearly triple the original did
not touch the blade, but crushed Solterina's sword into two with only the aura that
stuck together.

By the impact, the chief director collapses behind. Asuna and Ronnie desperately
support the back.

A fatal slash closes to the three people who are lumping on the ground.

Kiiiiii——n!

A terrible impulsive sound occurred, and Asuna made a butterfly rush.

But the knife blade has not arrived. I am trembling in the air that I crashed into a
transparent barrier. It is the same phenomenon that protected the Asuna from the
red knight's attack as before.

This time, Asuna also felt. It is warm, reliable, nostalgic feeling protected by both
arms. Just before the barrier, I could see something glittering a bit. It was drawn in
the air with grain of light gold, it spread the five fingers steadily - right hand.

It was then, and a faint sound was heard.

As if slowly sucked in, Asuna turned to see on the left.

Kirito lying downwards strikes the ground with a left hand, with a white sword broken
from the middle.
As a result of that, the body that touched slowly starts to get up slowly.

The black sleeve, the right sleeve with no contents shook in the wind. No, not. While
gradually recovering the bulge, approaching toward the right hand of the vision that
supports the barrier forward.

The moment when the cuffs and phantom hands touch.

The golden glow bursted and scattered the red-black aura swirling across the barrier.
Barriers hit the body of POH violently as it was and bounced back to the rear.

When the brilliance faded, what Asuna saw in the eye was the right hand that
regained completely. I traced back my somewhat sluggish arm with my line of sight,
passing by my shoulder - and Asuna saw.

A slightly long bang, shaking in a breeze. A calm smiley lips. And two black eyes
looking back from the same height.

The lips moved, that voice called a name.

"I’m home, Asuna"

I could not stop the tears from both eyes one after another, thin from the throat and
the high sound leaked. Grasping both hands in front of my chest, Asuna voiced the
feeling of overflowing.

"...... Welcome back, Kirito-kun"

Then I also call Solterina and Ronie at the same time.

"Kirito ...." "Kirito-senpai"

While smiling, they nodded deeply, and Kirito returned his gaze to the front.
Strictness returns to profile.

POH which was bounced off more than 10 meters was just about to rise with a
movement that does not feel gravity again.

The players in China and South Korea who had entered into full-scale squabbing are
supposed to have stopped the generation of new spatial resources because they are
all wrapped with frozen ice vines and everyone has been frozen, but in the sky still
black clouds It swirls like a living thing, POH knife seems to continue to absorb
resources. If we do not destroy the magical sword of all, the death god will never
stop.

Kirito who stood up a little behind the POH, staggered for a moment but stopped
stepping on. Asuna desperately tolerated the urge to rush to support the body.
Because I do not have the power to walk satisfactorily myself, even if I break into the
clouds, I will only be in my feet. I believe in Kirito now. Just believing is supposed to
be power.

When lifting up the right hand that Kirito regenerated, the longest sword of black
darkness which had been rolling in a remote place got out of the sheath by itself,
lifted up without sounds and fell into the palm.

The shape is different from the former love sword "Elucidator" and the white sword
on the left is broken from the middle, but still that figure with white and black swords
is defending, guiding and fighting Asuna from the day that we met It was no other
than "Black Swordsman" who gave me power.

From the white long sword on the left hand side, cold air including sparkle like
diamond dust continues to be released. Although it still maintains the transcendent
technique which froze over 20,000 players instantly, still quiet profile of Kirito does
not feel it. As if someone came close to each other, giving power.

I looked at Kirito who Hanging the two swords walked up slowly, with POH looking at
the twinning shining red from behind the hood. He spreads his hands not to mention
that he welcomes, and speaks words while exposing the large chest.

"...... you finally awakened. Since when was I looking at face like this ...?"

In the voice of the god of death like scratching a stubborn metal, Kirito responded
with a voice with a cold squeakiness in a stupid, reminiscent of the Incrad era.

"Well, I forgot, but this is certainly the last time."

“Phew”, POH whistled, "Okay ... Best of the tower, Kirito ... Come on ... continue, are
not you going to continue the show time that was interrupted by Incrad?"

He lifts friendship kitchen knife, which has been enlarged more than three times and
converted to Great Knife, with one right hand. The black clouds above the sky are
swirling violently and a red-black spark creeps around a thick iron mass.

Kirito confronts himself immediately sprinkling a black long sword on his right hand.

However, the moment the sword reached the peak, the shaky shake swayed again as
if the thin body was unable to withstand the weight of the weapon.

Asuna understands that the world of this underworld is not just a VRMMO world of
the standard of the seeds. All objects are "mnemonic visual data" - i.e. the memory
itself, interference by images can occur.

Integrity knight Alice said that Kirito had been in a state of mental loss for nearly six
months in this world where time has been accelerated. Whether or not there is
memories during that time is unknown, but you should understand that you were
almost bedridden. Perhaps the image that I am declining has weakened the body of
Kirito in reality.

No, it may not be just that.

Higa Takeru of RATH explained the reason why Kirito's subject — the self-image —
was destroyed as follows.

“Apparently Kirito seemed to have some collaborators, that is, companions. In the
battle with the Church of Axiom, his colleagues almost died, and as a result, he was
blaming himself violently when he succeeded in opening a line to here. In other
words, he was attacking their own fluctlight himself. In the meantime, the black men
cut off the power line and the surge current generated by the short instantly raised
the output of the STL. As a result, Kirito 's self - destructive impulses became reality,
inactivating his "ego"”.

Although it was hard to swallow quickly, in the end, Kirito lost an important person in
this world. The sadness was so big that his heart broke. Asuna already knows the
person's name. A name that came out repeatedly overnight in the tent by Alice,
Ronie, and by Soltielina. Advanced senior swordsman Eugeo.

Kirito has regained its mind by some miracle and still can not accept the parting with
Eugeo. A sadness that is not healed, shadow drops to the heart ... ... and to the body.

... ... Kirito.

Asuna called in the mind while watching the standing figure of a black sword.

No matter how hard you and sorrowful you are ... ... It can not be imagined by me now.
But, I can say only this.

Your precious friends are still alive in my heart. Just like Yuki lives in me. That
memories will surely give you strength. Once again take the sword and have the power
to fight.

Like the power that Asuna's thoughts conveyed as voice.

Kirito held the black sword with his right hand, grabbed a broken white sword, lifted
the left hand and pressed it against his chest.

Seeing the gesture as a gap, POH moved.

Instantly tilt the tall body forward, or instantly fill the distance of ten meters, as if
sliding on the ground full of debris. He sweeps the Onata (Silent Hill -> Great Knife -
> CH -> JP) with the movement that doesn’t suggest any weight.
Kirito tried to take it with a sword in his right instead of step avoidance. However, the
sharpness that was delivered had been lost in the former sharpness as seen from the
eye of Asuna.

The long sword that collided with Onata gave me a chance to escape from being
spared, but I could not bring it to the obligations of five minutes, and it got pushed
from directly above. Kirito's knee broke to the ground, his back bowed. Boots
stepping on the ground slide backwards for more than 30 cm.

"...... Hey hey, do not let it go on ... I have been waiting for you this day for nearly two
years ....?

If you whispered in a loud voice, the death god of black poncho put a left hand on
the handle of a friend cut knife like a blade as well as a blade.

The contact point squeezed with “giggitsu” (sound), Kirito's knee further sunk. If I
shift to both hands as well as PoH ... I think, a white sword is held on the left hand of
Kirito. Moreover, since it is broken in two, it can not attack it.

In the depths of the god of death's hood, the thick lips are martially distorted. Little
by little, but the steadily decreasing blade of Onata approaches Kirito's neck.

"... ... Kirito ...!!"

Solterina whispered in a hoarse voice tried to get up with a broken long sword.

Asuna pressed down her left shoulder.

"All right, Rina-san."

Whispering to the female deputy chief who was a leader of Kirito at the fencing
school of the human world while suppressing her own fear.

"Kirito is okay ... He will not lose to such a guy ... absolutely"

On the contrary, Ronnie who Kirito was the leader, nods while holding both tears in
both eyes.

"Yes, Kirito-senpai will not lose to him"

"... ... That's right."

Solterina answered so strongly, grasping the hands of Asuna who was on the
shoulder.

But shortly afterwards.

As if laughing at the conviction similar to the three prayers, PoH pushed the friend
cut knife a lot. Kirito pushes the left knee to the ground. The right arm supporting the
black sword trembles with trembling, and it makes us feel that the limit is close. PoH
approached her face again, on the face of Kirito who ties her teeth.

"... .... Nasty, discard that debris sword and use your left hand. And they freeze the
frozen Chinese and Korean fellows have killed each other of you, when you know that
these guys will kill each other Is not that true? "

To the whispering of the devil — Kirito repented coldly while resisting the pressure.

"I know your gimmick well, I will confront humans, sow seeds of hatred, cause the
next fight.

In SAO era I was scattered and scratched by his hands, but in this underworld, I will
not let you do like ... ... absolutely "

"Who ... ... what will they do?" The people will survive the Japanese survivors and
dissolve your important underworld people if the water melts There is no choice but
to kill them to prevent it. You can split off from one end while you are laying it in. You
ought to be able to do it if you are a friend of yours ... Come on, give me an order ...
kill the guys in China and South Korea and kill them. "

"............"

Kirito did not respond to poisonous fingers.

PoH's wicked plot was able to be perceived as an asian as well.

Chinese Korean players who are frozen by ice vines are not feeling any pain at the
present time, but if you break it up, you will have tremendous pain. Pain calls for
anger and will decisive hostility towards their Japanese players.

At the same time, PoH can suck up a large amount of resources released into the
space by the death of the Chinese-Korean player with a friend knife. You can have the
power enough to annihilate the remaining Japanese fighters and underworld people
who have won the fight against Kirito.

Kirito, who ought to understand it, can not get on the incentive of PoH. However, in
order to avoid decisive catastrophe, it is only necessary to maintain massive freezing
by the sword of the left hand, which makes the fight with the enemies more difficult.

Every time the right hand shaking the Onata trembles, the sparks are scattered from
the contact point. The blade of Onata keeps descending steadily and there are only
two fists to the left shoulder of Kirito.

"... Well, if you want to put on a nerve and die, that is good"
PoH said with a laugh smiling widely.

"Do not worry — after killing you, "Flash" and the rest of the guys will be caught in
the coffin all by themselves"

In the back of the hood, the god of death of God of death glows red like a big fire.
Bones visible through ripped cheeks, and a fang tooth peeped.

"Come on ... ... let me taste your blood and life, Kirito"

I licked my lips with a sharp pointed tongue like a reptile, and PoH put in my hands
the power to hold my friend knives in both hands. A black sword screams gently and
a lethal blade approaches a centimeter a second at a time -.

Unexpectedly, a slight faint prayer voice sounded just behind Asna.

"Please, Eugeo-senpai, help Kirito-senpai"

Three people who looked back were redheaded girl – Tiese holding hands in front of
their chests. At the moment, Asuna certainly felt. The hair of Tiese is spreading
fluently, and the waves similar to the gentle wind are released.

I look forward again.

A friendship kitchen knife that had turned into Onata was just touching Kirito's left
shoulder.

Only by that it was torn apart so that the fabric of black shirt could play.
Subsequently, I felt the sight of Kirito's blood, and Asuna stuffed my breath.

However.

So the descent of friendship kitchen knife stopped.

On the contrary, it gradually gets pushed back little by little, but surely. Such a force
is lost to anywhere on the right arm of Kirito who is exhausted, exhausted ......

"Ah ... ...."

It was Ronnier or Soltyirina who gave a close voice.

At the same time Asnas saw it. Another hand transparent to the gold color is gripping
firmly the handle of the black sword.

Slightly behind, Kirito was aware of his skill. Spread both eyes, then distort the face
with comb. Tears seeped in the outer corner of the eyes, scattering as light grains
scatter.
My lips moved small, but I could not catch the voice.

But immediately after.

"Oh ... oh oh !!"

The spirit of the fissure caught from the throat of Kirito and repelled the friend cut
knife violently. The PoH which was bounced up in both arms turns back while
revealing the murmur.

Suddenly Kurito stood up quickly from the posture of one knee standing. Shout at
least a broken sword on your left.

"Release • Recollection !!"

The dazzling flash exploded and dyed the world into pure white. As PoH does not
hate light, PoH retreats further while holding one hand in front of the face.

While narrowing my eyes, Asuna saw.

The blade of the white sword, which had been broken away from the midst of the
mind, is regenerated as if the light itself aggregated and crystallized.

A sword that regained its original appearance in just a few seconds shines intensely.

Shiyubatsu!! (chimes) And the sound flickers spread.

After a momentary silence, thousands, tens of thousands of bells trembled

throughout the battlefield sounded pure and magnificent sounds. The four including
Asuna who moved their eyes opened their eyes wide of their eyes.

Numerous flowers are blooming in the body of VRMMO players in China and Korea
who were frozen white. A clear blue rose that seems to have carved out from the lapis
lazuli.

The large flowers rose in bloom, and began to release silver particles from their
flower centers. Asuna intuited that it was a pure life resource ... ... that is, the HP of
players.

Players who were going to be furious just a few minutes ago and players who were
trying to kill each other are wrapped in a pillar of light, one person, one person, and
another will remain disappearing as if to sleep. There is neither pain nor suffering, the
quietest forced logout as far as possible.

The species of hatred that PoH tried to plant in Chinese-Korean players will not
germinate at this.
"Motherfucker ... ... doing funny things ...!!"

The god of death who was defeated the prospect harshly announced, but
immediately regained an undesirable smile, and raised the giant of the right hand.

Looking at its behavior, Asuna noticed PoH's aim.

Now, on this battlefield, the life resources emitted by countless blue roses - holy
powers are drifting densely in the style of underworld. I try to make it all my own with
friendship knives with resource absorption capabilities.

"Kirito-kun ... ... ... ...!"

While trembling, Asuna suffocated and called the name of the thought.

The Japanese player who was killed in the previous battle, sucking about the life of
about 1,000 people, the PoH kitchen knife has tripled and it exerts the power equal to
or higher than that of Stasia's GM equipment . Ten times that, if you take the lives of
ten thousand people, PoH becomes a real demon ... ... It becomes a demon king. If Kirito
can not move during the exercise of a large scale operation, Asuna should help -.

However, it was time to whip up on the withered leg and to stand up.

The way it is ... it looks like ...... Hey.

The voice of Yuuki who thought it had disappeared, like the breeze blew back my ear.

At the same time Asuna noticed. The silver-colored light that gathered in the air and
turned into several ribbons completely ignored PoH's friendship kitchen knife. No
matter how deeply God pushed up the Demon Sword, there was no sign of
approaching.

Again, a faint sound.

Asuna was saying that. Life carries the mind and tells it.

Even people in various countries gathered in this world, I really do not want to kill each
other.

Everything wishes the same. The throbbing, exciting world ... I want to go to a world
that is beautiful, fun, happy, like fairy country me and Asuna met ... ... that's all.

"... Yeah, that's right, Yuki"

Asuna's dazzling dazzle has become an indispensable thing.

Kirito kept the white sword completely regenerated as it was and the black sword on
his right hand side quickly passed over to the sky. The swirling black cloud that PoH
called is diffusing while rotating inversely. From the blue sky that peeped in the
center a bit, the golden sunlight gushed down and made the sword of the black
sword sparkle like a black crystal.

"Release • Recollection"

Kirito invited the same command as before to stop himself this time.

Numerous silvery ribbons slowly flowing through the battlefield sky began to be
sucked into the black sword while fighting each other.

"Suck !!"

PoH who sweared in English uttered a stroke of friendship kitchen knife as opposed
to it. But Ribbon avoids the Evil sword as if he had his own will and fuses with the
Kirito sword one after another.

"... Eugeo senpai said that Kirito's black sword was a big black cedar tree originally
born to the northern end of the human world."

In the back of Asuna, Teise said with a trembling voice. Immediately, as Solterina got
his mind, she nods.

"Okay ... ... So, the power to inhale the divine power ... ...."

The words and the whispers of the earlier Yuki melt in their heads, and the Asuna
finally realized the meaning that it is occurring in front of me.

Even if Kirito 's black sword has the ability to absorb resources, why does PoH' s
friend knife that should have the same power fail to absorb the resources released by
blue rose at all? That is because the power of kitchen knife is not "sucking out life"
but "sucking death".

PoH himself was saying. Friend cut knife is that it becomes strong enough to kill a
player ... ... if you kill a human being. If that imagination of the owner had given the
magical sword the ability to absorb resources, even though I could eat the "death
resource" released by the terrible killings, I could die by the power of the white sword
It does not absorb the "resource of life" directly released without passing through.

But Kirito's black sword is different. If it was originally a tree growing up with the
power of the earth and the sun, you should have the power to suck life, the sword,
and the imagination of the owner.

The white sword on the left froze a wide range of objects and unleash their lives in
the air.
The black sword on the right hand absorbs life force from the surrounding space and
turns it into energy.

It is tremendously simple, hence strong and unrivaled synergy. A pair that is perfect.
The best partner.

As it breathes a huge amount of ribbon, the center of the black sword starts glowing
gold. Resources also flow into the arms of Kirito through the handle of the sword.

The body which had been decayed like a stick, regains its original sternness suddenly.
The resurrection phenomenon is not limited to the body alone, the black shirt that
was torn apart in the fierce battle instantly reproduces, the hand gloves and the
boots with rivets on the feet appear.

Furthermore, the line of light goes down from the shoulder stroke to both arms and
back, and the leather that blackens slightly is realized. It appeared in the long coat
which was a trademark of SAO era. When the skirt that changes greatly gets settled,
the two sheaths that fell to a remote place come flying and are worn in a shape
crossing the back.

"...Kirito-kun..."

Asuna embraced the thoughtful feelings, Asuna watched the completely resurrected
appearance of "Black Swordsman" Kirito holding a sword over the overflowing tears.
Solterina on the right, something glittering also on the head of Ronnie on the left.
The Tiese on the back also leaks narrow stasis.

A few seconds later, Kirito slowly swept the left and right swords, which had absorbed
all the ribbons of life.

The players in China and Korea who had filled the battlefield seems to have logged
most of them. Asuna looked back and looked to told a gaze the red knight who help
Klein with. Immediately afterwards, he also disappears, the barren wilderness is
surrounded by the tranquility like a lie next to the death strikes.

I can hear only the dry wind and the sound like metal that gets hot at high
temperatures like kimono. Its source is a black sword that accumulates enormous
energy and wears a golden aura.

PoH finally gave up on resource absorption, put down a friend cut knife silently.

On the chest, The large hole hit by Asuna's OSS "Mothers•Rosario" remains open.
When the resources remaining in the devil sweep run out, the life of PoH ends.

It should be understood, but the god of death does not raise anymore, it stands
quietly upright. However, it seems that he do not intend to admit defeat, and from
the whole body aura like frosty of fierce is radiated, stabbing the skin of Asuna just
looking away.

In the back of the hood, the lips engraving a distorted smile moved slightly at one
end.

"After all you are the best, Kirito. only You can kill so much with your own will, after
all, you are the only one. I'm sorry to make it to the end, but I guess there will never
be any more opportunity ... ..."

Hold the rope of the right hand slippery and protrude the left hand forward. Beckon
with a long fingers as if to show the tattoo of "laughing coffin" carved on the back of
the hand.

"... ... Now let's have fun, Black Swordsman"

Kirito responded in a single word to an invitation as if he had condensed malice to

the limit.

"Oh, let's finish"

When you open your feet and lower your waist, you will hold a white sword in front
and a black sword behind you.

Fighting spirit of both the face to rises rapidly swelling, were scattered violently spark
at an intermediate point.

As two people say, it ends with the next shot. Asuna who felt so, opened his eyes
wide to the limit and stopped breathing.

At that moment the dry wind blew and stopped, the black swordsman and the black
death god moved at the same time.

PoH wrapped friendship kitchen knife, red-black mucous light wrapped. Immediately
after, the body of the god of death running at a horrible speed splits into three.
Asuna's unknown sword skill.

In contrast, Kirito left the sword of his right hand down and left the glow of Crimson
Red on the white sword on the left. Sword skill for one handed sword, "Seven Sins".

Kirito's continuous technique intercepts PoH' s slash that can be released one by one
from the front and the left and right. Every time blood red Onata and red ruby red
swords hit the, the ground and the atmosphere shake violently.

When three PoH attacked twice, six times in total, the left and right alter ego
disappeared. The remaining body steals a thick blade bluntly from the top. Kirito 's
oblique slash cuts it and catches the explosive fire and shockwaves.
"Deadly Sins" is a seven consecutive shoot. Here Kirito is forced to cooldown after the
technique. If PoH has the next blow, it can not be prevented anymore.

The reaction of the upper slaughter was bounced back and the death god's hood
turned up and the inner face was exposed for the first time since SAO era.

A dreadful smile on a carved face, somewhere apart from the Japanese - PoH tried
again to strike Kirito's shoulder with Onata who was dressed in a red - black aura.
Eighth hit.

However, immediately.

A black sword held in the right hand of Kirito shrieked the flash of crimson. It is
deeper, hot, flame red than deep light of "Deadly Sins ".

Cancel the rigid time that should have lasted longer than one second, and the black
sword will trigger God speed technique. Continued use of one-handed sword skills
with left and right hands, an exercise which is used only by Kirito

— "Skill Connect".

A single-shot heavy attack "Vorpal Strike" released with a metallic roaring sounded
on an external combustion engine crashed in the air with the last attack of PoH's
eighth consecutive attack.

The greatest shock wave ever released, the ground cracked radially. A blast of mixed
air and dust caught in, but Asuna tried to see the last scene of the fierce fight just by
narrowing his eyes.

When the blast got in, there were two people looking at them while they kept in
contact with the black sword and the tip of the red tassel.

The battle has not ended yet. Both are concentrating with full power to concentrate
the maximum energy at the extremely small contact point and push back the
opponent's attack.
If you compare only the amount of resources accumulated in weapons, Kirito 's black
sword who inhaled the lives of ten thousand people would be overwhelming PoH's
“friend knife”, but that is not so simple. In this world, imagination ... or as knights call
it “incarnation”, has the possibility to override any numerical spec.

PoH's mind is simple, hence strong. To kill ... That death god is fighting to fill the
world with discord, distrust, hostility and malice.

Then, why does Kirito fight?

In this world he lost his precious friend. Although it has external factors, it has tasted
enough sadness that it has been mindlessly lost for six months. But then he stood up
again and was holding a sword. What exactly gives the power to his mind and great
spirit?... ....

The answer could not be word to Asuna. However, I thought that it was not necessary
to do so. Kirito has been fighting back with so many things. Even in the former SAO,
ALO, GGO, it came. And tight, now also this moment.

Struggle, suffering, sorrow and becoming a force. I can turn tears into light. That light
can not be beaten by the darkness of PoH.

That's right, Kirito.

I could not tell if Asuna's prayers arrived. But shortly after, a faint and decisive sound
echoed.

Pi-kin.

Magic sword of PoH, a weak instrument born to kill people from "Friend cut knife"
From the tip to the root, the red shining crack ran like a lightning bolt.

Immediately afterwards, Onata became countless fragments and diverted.

Kirito 's “Vorpal Strike” blew up even the right arm of PoH, which was holding the
kitchen knife, into pieces and stretched for more than five meters.

Asuna who was blasted again and robbed vision, stood up without being tolerated.
Besides the Teise also standing at the same time, Klein, Silica, and Lisbeth, which were
undone from restraint in the back.

Soon the smoke faded and exposed the former SAO players closely approaching.

The black sword of Kirito is sticking deeply into the heart of PoH who loses its
weapons in hangs and arms as much as possible. However, Asuna was originally
leaving a large hole there, there seems to be no new physical damage.
Because his supply of resources was cut off by “friendship kitchen knife”, PoH still
smiled faithlessly smiling fresh blood from large holes and bronze.

“...... As expected, it is awful. But ... this is not over. Even if I log out from this world, I
will show up in front of you many times. I will scar the throat of "Flash" with you and
wait a couple of times until it breaks out my heart ..."

To the proclamation that cursed.

Kirito responded with a quiet voice, which hardly shows emotions.

"No, that's it, you will never log out of this underworld." Immediately afterwards, the
black sword gives off a blink of flash.

When the light fell, Kirito slowly withdrew the sword from the hole in the chest of
PoH and retreated several steps. Even when there was no support, PoH did not
collapse. I will try to say something further with a gruesome grinning laugh.

However, the boss that opened it became rigid with the sound of obscurity.

It is the same as limbs. The limbs that stop in a normal position will change the
texture while feeling squeaky with shshshsh. Lean black leather, finely cracked fibrous.
Metal rivets, raised noses.

Kirito spoke again to the death god who is trying to achieve a strange transformation.

"...... This sword was originally a big tree that was called "Demon Cedar"in the village
of Rulid, even if the villager shook the ax for two hundred years, it could not defeat it.
I poured the "memory of the sword " into your body "

As the word said, the body surface of PoH was transforming into a black bark of
charcoal more than mid. Both feet merge into one and are starting to stretch the
ground. Both hands are strangely twisted branches, the hair is sharp and pointed
leaves ... and both eyes and b are in three small rows.

"If you check the logout of the Chinese and Korean player, your colleagues will
resume time acceleration. You will not know how many years ...... decades before
getting out of the STL, but as long as possible. If you can make a pioneer village
someday, children with an ax might cut down you. "

I have not figured out whether that word has reached consciousness of PoH. It is not
a human being already in front of Kirito, it was an undesirable cedar tree about a
height of about two meters.

After seeing the tree for a while, Kirito turned around and saw the Asuna first. Smile
with a smile nod, transfer to the Japanese player and the wounded worlders who hurt
the gaze.
Keep the black sword still leaving a golden shine behind the blade, high again with
your right hand.

"System Call. Transfer Durability, Right To Area."

Saaaatz .......

And the battlefield filled with a faint, but infinite spreading sound.

It started raining.

Resources freed from the sword become materialized in the sky and fall as a drop of
light shining light. I will heal the body of the wounded, men of the men of the human
defense army who have been exhausted with a series of fierce battles with Japanese
players lying exhaustively.

Or, the mind too.

Kirito gently dropped the black sword that exhausted the accumulated resources and
the white sword on the left into the back sheath.

Asuna just watched the appearance of the sword fighter in the black clothes who is
stepping up with steady footsteps one step at a time under the rain that heals
everything.

I could not move or even voice. When I talked, I felt that everything would be a vision.
So, just spread your eyes firmly, with a smile on your lips, Asuna waited. Instead it was
Klein.

The trimmed left arm and the penetrated body wounds are completely restored.
However, in Katana use, as I feel pain again, while digging strongly around my chest, I
go forward.

"Kirito, so much Kirito."

The usual cheerful, but slightly damp voice sounded.

"Every single time, great and fun time. You are the man ... ...."

The word that was issued was almost crying.

When using a long-sleeved Katana, when you grasp the shoulders of the black cloth
warrior, pushed the remnants of bandana against the shoulder of the shorter partner.
The back trembled, thick fatty leaking.

"Wo ... Oooooooooooooooooooooooo"

Kirito also turned his arms over the back of a friend who cries. There was something
to shine even for the god of Kirito who closed the eyes and tightly bound the teeth.

"……Senpai"

As soon as this murmur Asuna, Ronier and Tiese began running. While grinding tear
drops in the air, they hit Kirito's right shoulder. Soon, Solterina will follow.

Egil's eyes were also wet. Lisbet and Silica cry, hugging each other Japanese players
gathered from the surroundings - drops of light rain and tears fall down the face of
the ALO lords Sakuya, Alisha, Eugene, Sleeping Nights' Siyune and Jun, and many
others.

Soldiers and monks of the Human Army who lined up in the distance went uniformly
turning their eyes. When they kneel all at once, they drooped deeply in the sky while
placing the right fist on the chest.

"... From the time I first met you, I knew ... When that man and the two swords
rescued everyone"

Suddenly, a gentle voice was applied from behind.

The turnaround Asna saw was a young knight Renri and a follower dragon behind it.
Both were supposed to have died deeply wounded, but their trace remains only in
the armor.

Asuna was chested whenever she could only nod once. When Renri nodded back
again, he walked up to Teyse with his knees on the ground and dropped his waist
next to her.

Once again looking around, VRMMO players in China and South Korea who had over
20,000 people all disappeared.

If they confirm their logout, the assailants will stop the strategy of drawing force from
the real world and raise the time acceleration rate again to the upper limit. Klein who
is diving with Amusphere will be automatically disconnected at that point.

Kirito may be aware of that, when he released his body by hitting Klein's shoulder, he
overlooked the surrounding Japanese players.

Then, he bowed his head deeply, he said.

"Everyone ... Thank you. I will never waste everyone's feelings and the blood and tears
they shed in. Thank you so much."

But….
The battle is not over yet.

Attackers from the enemy PoH and the United States, China, and Korea were
eliminated, but the emperor Vector which is the enemy's head still remains. Now that
he abducted integrity knight Alice, which is the essence of the Alisization plan, he is
now flying away for this moment as well for the "World End Alter" in the south. Asuna
breathed heavily and quickly stood up.

Go through between the players who are beaten by each emotion and stand up and
slowly walk up to Kirito.

Kirito who raised his face watched Asuna soon.

At the moment, she is attacked by the extreme ulterior impulse, and it breathes.

Now I want to jump into the chest of my beloved. I want to cry like a child, I want to
unleash the feelings I had been suppressing.

However, Asuna barely curtailed the overflow of feeling and told the concern of the
present.

"Kirito-kun ... ... Emperor Vector, Alice..."

"Oh, the situation is cheap but I am remembering"

Kirito also tightened his expression and nodded, holding out his right hand.

"Let's help. Now, help me, Asuna."

"... <”tsu” — sound of Asuna, surprised, taking a short breath in> ..."

It was already a limit.

Asuna rushed to the small run and took the hand and pushed herself to him.

Kirito's left arm was turned around and drew strongly.

A hug was instantaneous, but Asuna felt that as much information as could be
unlikely to be worded instantaneously to and from the two souls.

Kirito nodded again while keeping his line of sight from close range and turned his
eyes towards the south sky.

Raise your right hand in that direction. Five fingers move to explore something.

"…I found it"

"Wha ...?"
Asuna blinked but Kirito did not answer, he only smiled smallly.

Kirito looked around all over again and said to lightly tap the shoulder of Klein and
the head of Ronjie. "Well then, let’s go"

Let’s do it ….

Then Lisbet saw Kirito and Asuna wrapped in brilliant green light fly away to the
south sky at a terrifying speed.

After having blinked both eyes opened wide, Lisbet sighed a long, long. "Absolutely ...
... as usual he is unreasonable, or it is better to say trackless..."

Silica on the other side smiled and smiled.

Kline shouted at a waving with both hands in a rush.

"C’mon, show it to that bastard! — He is not it invincible, damn it. Revenge me ... "

A new kind of tears glows on the Katana of kind which use the name of the
protagonist of an ancient boys' battle manga. That was the very Kirito she loved with
since they first met at Incrad. Invincible, absolute, eternal hero.

And for me as well.

Lisbet also turned her eyes tears to the south sky.

I will log out shortly, to possibly memorize this world that would never come again.

To tell a lot of players who were disconnected in pain and humiliation that our efforts
were not in vain.
Chapter 22 “The Decisive Battle”
Part 1
7th July 2026 / Human Calendar November 8th, year 380th

"Damn !!"

Critter, an information warfare member of the Ocean•Turtle Raid Team, briefly

scoffed at the view of the large monitor on the front of the console.

the aggregation of red dots which has reached 30 thousand At the maximum, rapidly
disappears from the center toward the outside.

In other words, the VRMMO players in China and Korea that were put into
underworld by the secret of Vasago are annihilated by some means and are
automatically logged out.

At the center of the red circle, the human soldier displayed in blue and the white
Japanese troops together remain on the scale of one thousand people. It is too big to
ignore and it is even more dangerous if it is said that 1,000 people have the power to
destroy 30,000 Chinese-Korean coalition forces.

"... ... what is this vagabond doing ...?"

Critter gazed at a point on the monitor while tapping tightly.

There is only one strongly shining red dot in the immediate vicinity of the Japanese
troops. From the next STL room, it is Vasago who converted his own account and in
the Dive. Even though you are near the enemy, it does not seem like moving from
battle.

You can not move, with prisoners, or something? Or is there still a power behind to
manage a thousand enemy forces by itself?

Critter kept the urge to Rush into the STL room now and wake up Vasago and shake
the nape collapsing.

Under the current situation that the administrator's privilege on the underworld has
been locked up, it is not possible to reset the account. In other words, if you forcibly
log out Vasago, the account he is using now will never be used again. What is
possible is only the operation of the time acceleration factor which is an isolated
function from the seed program, but it is also necessary to carefully timed to do it.
After making a deep breath, Critter lowered the magnification of the map on the
monitor.

Another red dot which is moving at high speed still in the southern part of the
underworld. Captain of the attack team, Gabriel Miller.

The thing to think about now is whether he has secured Alice or at last the chief
Miller being tracked, the possibility that the human forces army will catch up.

As a result of sending large numbers of players from the United States, China and
South Korea, the southward movement of the human forces army was greatly
hindered. Now Captain Miller is hundreds of miles ahead of the inside distance.
Although it is a distance that can fly to Jet fighter as far as it is, it is hard to think that
there is such thing in underworld. At most, it will be about winged biological units.

They will not catch up with you.

Critter judged on a long thought of about three seconds.

Look at the clock on the left wrist. Nine o'clock in the morning of the 7th of July.

It is eight hours and twenty minutes until the afternoon six o'clock when the
command force of the SDF comes in from the escort ship. Instructions left by Miller
resumed acceleration for the rest of the eight hours - that is, at 10 a.m., but the
players who gathered from the outside almost completely wiped out Now, the
meaning of maintaining equal magnitude Absent.

Then, at this moment, you should accelerate the underworld time again to 1000
times, and captain Miller should earn time to secure Alice.

"Geez ... Hey, Vasago, I will step on it for a while now"

When talking to the red dot of the main battlefield which has not yet moved in a
minute, the critter stretched his right hand to the lever for manipulating the fluctlight
acceleration magnification.

I looked up the magnification slider on the main monitor, which works in conjunction
with the lever, and the line of sight stops on the horizontal scale gradually.

Now the needle of the slider is at the bottom, at x1. From there the scales are cut in
increments of x100, with a red divider drawn at x1000.

In fact, the scale continues even further above it, and it is delimited again at x1200.
Apparently there seems to be a safe line when a living human being dives using STL.
However, the magnification slider still grows upwards, eventually reaching x5000. If
human beings are not dive - the only people in the world who are fluctlights, the
internal time can be accelerated to that point.

The time acceleration magnification is determined by operating a physical lever on

the console and pushing a button with an open / close cover next to it. While careful
not to touch the button, the critter slowly pushes up the side-gripping lever like the
throttle lever of a ship or airplane.

The slider on the monitor rises smoothly, and the digital numbers are swiftly switched
next to each other.

At x1000, the sense of resistance felt hard.

When it was pushed strongly, the lever moved further and stopped again at x1200.
From there, there is no sign of moving any more, no matter how much power you put
in.

"Oh no ..."

Critter was inspired by curiosity and gazed at the metal large lever.

As soon as I realized that next to the decision button there was a silver shining
keyhole.

"I see"

I laugh with a single finger scratching my shaved head

The fact that the internal time safety limit is one thousand two hundred times is that
the actual dangerous area should be a little over.

It is not unlikely to try to release the safety device in case it is tight to the last minute.

The Critter turned around for each of the chairs snapped a finger pointing towards
the members who just returned to the control room.

"Is anyone a picking specialist?"

How soft it is ... it smells good ... ....

I definitely had the best sleep in the past few months. Higa Takeru therefore resisted
the limits to someone's voice trying to wake up desperately with his ear.

"...... Uh, Higa! Come on! Open your eyes, hey !!!"
But, pleasant it is desperately pleasant. It's as if I am dying.

No exaggeration would be too much exaggeration. It was barely stabbed, it was not
even a shot ... It was ... ....

"... .... Uoo!"

As consciousness awoke, memory suddenly revived, Higa opened up both eyes while
crying.

Then, in front of us, there was a thirty men 's face that shone black eyeglasses.

"Wow!"

Shout again.

I tried to retreat reflexively, but my body does not care what to say. Instead, a
tremendous pain ran to the right shoulder, Higa raised his third cry.

That's it.

I was shot at the cable duct by that man.

Blood came out a lot but I decided not to look at it and prioritized the operation of STL.
The fluctlight output of the three girls was directly linked to Kirigaya's STL, but it did not
lead to awakening ... ... then, there was something ... ....

"..., Kirito,"

While trying to keep away from the face of a glasses man looking into from a close
range, Higa asked.

The answer was a voice of a woman with a refreshing feeling.

"Kirigaya's fluctlight activity has recovered completely, on the contrary, it is too

active"

"That ... ... that, is it ...?"

Higa murmured with a sigh.

It is just a miracle to recover Self-image from that state. And it is a miraculous matter
that makes me live with that bleeding amount ......

Thinking that way, I will check the location where I was once again placed.
It was on the floor of the subcontrol room, being lying down. The upper body is
naked and the bandage on the right shoulder. Dropper on the left arm for
transfusion.

And on the left side of the body, a glasses man Kikuoka Seijirou-san. On the right
side, Dr. Koujiro Rinko who took off the white coat sits directly on the floor. In front of
the catheter, Aki Natsuki sergeant first class who is a nurse qualified is exchanging a
blood bag. She must have treated the wound.

When Higa returned his eyes, Kikuoka, which had been silent till now, breathed
deeply and breathed out.

"Absolutely .... I should not be so unreasonable .... No, I was responsible for not
knowing that the spy were at the technical staff ..."

Kikuoka's bangs are disturbed, and glasses lenses have traces of sweat drops. Rinko
was sweating, apparently, it seems that the two of you had been engaged in the life-
saving measures of Higa. Then, the favorable feeling felt in a dream is that time ....

……Hmm?

Which was the cardiac massage, which was population breathing?

Higa unexpectedly seemed to qualify it, but he hid himself in danger. There are truths
that should not be pursued in the world.

Instead of saying another, many times important questions.

"Underworld is ... ... How is Alice?"

Kikuoka answered touching Higa's left shoulder lightly.

"All the players connected from the United States, China and South Korea have
logged out - in particular, the number of players in China and South Korea has
reached nearly 30,000, but ..."

"Eh ... ... They came from China and South Korea ?! Not as a reinforcement ... as an
enemy !?:"

He tried to jump up in spite, and I panted hard from my right shoulder to the brain.
The scolding voice of Aki Natsuki suddenly flies.

"Do not push yourself! The bullets have penetrated, but it is finally where the
bleeding has stopped."

"Yes, ... ...."

Riko taught the situation when Higa got out of his body.

"...For China and Korea, we seem to have guided by using SNS to successfully dissent
dissatisfaction and conflict of online gamers."

"Is that so……"

Higa sighed a little. There are also some motivations for Korean friends ... who
participated in this Alicization plan, who had gone through the bombing in Iraq
during the military service and died. Nevertheless, it is nothing other than reluctance
to have overheated the conflict feelings of the gamers in Japan and Korea, which is
the work of attackers.

Hika asked questions after unconsciously shaking his head and frown again in pain.

"How long have they been coming from China and South Korea?"

"It has reached a maximum of 30 000. Thousands of players who came to reinforce
from Japan have almost completely wiped out."

Kikuoka continues after seeking a moment. '

"At that time, the Chinese-Korean player still had more than ten thousand, but
fortunately Kirito awoke, they made it in a moment ..."

"Well, what is it?"

Higa obstructed the commander 's words without thinking.

"There is no weapon capable of such a large-scale and high-power attack, such as

Kirito alone, can not be ineffective in a moment, underworld, with the great army of
the ten thousand, command does not exist, Okay? ... I do not expect ... .... "

When he said that, Higa revealed vividly the conversation before and after being shot
by Yanai at the canal duct.

Yanai, former subordinate of Sugo Nobuyuki, was a spy of assailants, and at the same
time he was deeply in love into Fluctlight, the "highest priest Administrator". Did you
get such a situation in the circumstances when it was good?

Also, "Fourth person" connected to STL of Kirigaya Kazuhito – Artificial fluctlight in

the “Main • Visualizer”. Well, no, he or she has become the key to reviving the
Japanese, but there was no assumption that a simple object without an entity would
function as a human consciousness in a pseudo manner It is.

"... ... Hey ... ... Kiku-san ... ...."

Higa murmured the commander while feeling the chills except things caused by mass
bleeding.

"Perhaps... ... We did... something terrible..."

It was then.

A sharp alarm sounded in the room from the console 's nested speaker.

That was nothing but the sound set by Higa to inform of the change in the time
acceleration magnification.

A gray cloud flows at a tremendous speed around me and Asuna. Overhead is a red
sky like blood, a dark wilderness spreads out under the eye.

Alias who was able to use aerial flying techniques, even the human world widely but
only the highest priest, one person - and the matching knight Alice said. Also in that
highest priest administrator, her "paired" wisdom power leader has already left the
underworld so there is no way to know what the actual technique of the flight
technique actually was. That is why I am flying in the sky of the dark territory is not
the effect of the technique, but direct manipulation of the event by imagination .... It
is due to the power of "incarnation" that the integrity knights say.

In the back of my ear, Cardinal's witchcraft, the great spider Charlotte' s words, who
have been watching me since leaving Rulid village, will revive.

—— Every manipulation ceremony is psyche ... ... It is only a tool for guiding and
preparing your image. You do not need expression phrases or media.
—— Now, wipe the tears, get up. And feel it. Prayers for flowers.
—— The speech of the world.

I fought with the administrator at the top floor of Axiom Church Central Cathedral,
until I recovered tens of minutes ago after I fell into self-closure shortly afterwards,
apparently I deeply caught up with "the reason" of this world She seems to have torn.

You can feel the sacred powers drifting in the surrounding space clearly and it is easy
to convert them to a predisposition without a surgical expression. As I mentioned
earlier, when I revived the fate of Klein and Lisbeth, I came up with a ceremony but
probably I could produce the same effect just by mimicking it.

I am now wrapping the body of Asuna with fumes to eliminate air resistance, and at
the same time fly flushing with continuous bursts of air bubbles behind like a jet
engine. It should be many times faster than the flying dragon, but it will take at least
about five minutes to catch up with Alice flying far in the south riding on the Amayuri.
Utilizing this time, there are plenty of things that I would like to say, apologize,
appreciate to Asuna. But I could not look directly at the Asuna that fly the right side
hand in hand.

Reason——.

It seems that as the almighty feeling faded as if whole body blood turned into light
just after awakening, it became organized and clearer as the memory of the last time
was seen.

The problem is the sight of yesterday at midnight.

Asuna, Alice, Ronnier, and Sortilina senior in a circle around me who was laid in the
center of the awed, memories memorable to me, all of us ...... exactly that we continue
to reveal a lot of evil rows in order What shall I say without saying the first act, living
hell?

—— Kirito-senpai bought a lot of honey pies of shuffing tea ceremony and tree nut
cookies of sunflower shops when they came out of the school, and gave me and
Teise.

—— By the way, when I graduated, he bought a lot of Zefiria flowers that should only
bloom in the West Empire. He said that he sprouted over a year.

When Ronie and Rina-sempai show off such anecdotes,

—— While climbing the outer wall of Cathedral, Kirito gave a steamed bun from
pocket and gave it half. I tried to warm up with heat, so it was nearly dark.

—— When you first met, you gave me a cream to give to the black bread. After that I
ate a variety of tarts like Prun berry, a huge roll cake, etc ... ....

Alice and Asuna also oppose with food stuff somehow. After that, even after that, the
story saying what I was doing but what to say, endlessly from after ... ...

"So sad ......"

While flying at high speed, I unexpectedly held my head with both hands and
shouted.

"Ugh ... ...!"

As soon as concentration of consciousness is disturbed, the formation and release of

air shield stops. An intense air resistance strikes the whole body and falls into a
dragon fly falling state.
While murmuring, while dazzled, change the shape of the long coat's hem to a larger
wing, and restore stability. But there was no time to relax,

"... .... Kyaaaaa": "

Asuna falls from the sky with screaming, so stretch out both hands to catch it.
Successfully caught in a dangerous place, the eyes met with a close-up distance of
the eyes of a halftone color that was widely spread. If you apologize it is only here.

"Asuna, it is not!"

—— This is not an apology but an excuse, but we can not turn back anymore.

"There was absolutely nothing with Rina-sempai and Alice or Ronie! Swear to Stacia
God, we did not even ~~~~!"

The face of Asuna who heard my desperate excuse ——.

It shined with sun. Squeeze my kind with slender hands, say something disgusted, in
a nostalgic voice.

"... .... You did not change, Kirito. Since I heard that he was working hard for the
second year, I wonder if he became an adult a little ... ... I thought ... ...."

Suddenly, transparent drops overflowed from both eyes of Asuna. The lips trembled
faintly, and the scattered voice was pushed out.

"Good ... ... Kurito-kun ... ... Anything has not changed ... my loved, Kirito ..."

That word reaches deep in my chest, something hot is coming up, somehow stopping
with a throat and answering.

"...... I am, I will not change "

"Because ... somehow it was like God ... I will freeze such awesome great troops in the
moment ... ... I will shoot two hundred people full-heeled with a single shot ... and,
additionally, fly to the sky ..."

I have no choice but to have a bitter smile on this.

"I am just a bit familiar with the mechanism of this world, about as much as flight,
Asuna will be able to do so quickly"

"...... I do not need to do"

"What?"

"I hope to hold you and fly,"

Asuna was crying and said so, I moved my hands from my face to my back and
hugged tightly. I forcefully return a hug and I will talk again.

"Really ... ... Thank you, Asuna. Until you get so much scratched, you guard the
underworld people ... hurting ... ...."

I knew the realness of pain in this world for the first time two years ago when I was
slain by the captain Goblin in the mountain range in the end. Although it was a scar
of degree that the left shoulder meat was squeezed a little, I could not get up pain for
a while.

Nevertheless, Asuna turned over the army that PoH would have drawn in over there
and fought while fighting terrible wounds throughout the body. Without Asuna's
hard work, the human forces of Teize and Ronnie would have been annihilated much
more quickly.

"Not... just me ..."

Asuna who heard my words gently moved the touching.

"Sinonon, Leefa-chan, Liz, Silica-chan, Klein, Egil ...., Sleeping Nights and Everyone
ALO, also worked terribly, Renri-san integrity knight and the human world soldiers
and clerics, Sortelina-san, Ronie-san and Teise-san... .... "

Inspiring to that point, Asuna made the body stiff by the time he did.

That reason, I was thinking before listening to the following words.

"... ... That's right, Kirito-kun! The Master Knight ... ... Bercouli-san chasing the enemy's
emperor, alone ......"

"... ...."

I nodded silently and shook my head slowly.

It was because he perceived that the huge swordsmanship of Bercouli • Synthesis •

One, who was the oldest integrity knight who had no chance to speak directly at the
end, had already existed on this earth.

Just before the start of this war, he made arrangements with the blade of imagination
— "sword of mind". In memory that gradually revives, Bercouli already has a feeling
that he was expecting his death at that time.

He chose the battle to protect Alice as the end point of his life that lasted three
hundred years.
Understanding the meaning of my movement, Asuna cried a little when putting more
power on both arms. But soon he pushed down his throat and asked.

"... Alice is ... is it safe ...?"

"Oh, I have not been caught soon, at the south end of the dark territory ... ... the third
system console we arrive at the, but huge signs are following Alice ..."

"Well ... if not ... we have to defend Alice, for Bercouli"

The face of Asuna gently released was wet with tears, but full of strong
determination. I also nodded slowly. And the eyes of Asuna shook slightly.

"But now, a little more, just a little more, just me, Kirito."

Lips approaching with whisper closed my lips.

Asuna exchanged a long, long kiss while the black wings fluttered gently under the
red sky of the different world.

At this moment, I finally remembered why I woke up in this world two and half years
ago.

The real world, the last Monday in June.

As soon as we sent Asuna to her house, we were attacked by Johnny Black, the main
culprit of the "dead gun incident" executive, third in Red guild "Laughin' Coffin". The
gun-type high-pressure syringe, memory is interrupted in the scene where the muscle
relaxant was injected. Perhaps I got breathing stopped, suffered some damage to my
brain, STL and underworld would have been used for that treatment.

"Laughin' Coffin"s head PoH, who was lost in the people who attacked Ocean Turtle,
is now fixed to the ground of the dark territory in the form of a tree like Gigas Cedar
miniaturized. If time acceleration resumes, it is uncertain how many days or weeks
you will spend without seeing your eyes or listening to your ears before being
forcibly disconnected from the outside, but not a few in spirit There should be
damage. In other words, it is about the same as me in this half year. I think it is cruel,
but I do not think it's overkill.

That man, tried to kill my precious people ......Asuna.

A couple of seconds that the existence fuses together passed by, Asuna and I
released their lips.

"Remember, that time ... ...."

Asuna sought so and unexpectedly caught b. I quickly understood why.

Immediately after the Death Game SAO was cleared, you may have remembered the
kiss you brought under the sunset sky against the floating castle that collapses. That
was, it was a farewell kiss.

I told a smile, once and for all, to shake off the premonition.

"Now, let's go, beat Emperor Vecta, help Alice, everyone in the real world ..."

Before that word was over.

In the mind, the imminent voice resonated directly.

<<Kirito!! Kirigaya! You can hear it! Kirito!>>

This shabby voice is.

"Eh ... .... You, Kikuoka-san? System? How do you do without a console ...?"

<<I do not have time to explain that! Time became serious!! Time acceleration
magnitude ...... They, FLA limiter ... ...!">>

While crushing his face, Critter watched Brigg's beard surface, knitting the two wigs
thrusting into the keyhole, feeling a bit uneasy.

Although it ran as a candidate with an impressive dialog as if picking, it seems that

there was only a safety mechanism of time acceleration indeed and it was different
from the old cylinder lock. The movements of the fingertips are getting more and
more violent, and the volume of swearing words spiraling out also rises. Hans
standing right behind the brig gently looked into the digital wristwatch on the left
wrist.

"Ha, it's about three minutes, so it's only fifty dollars in two minutes"

"Damn you, shut up! After two minutes ... After opening the guy, swim a swim in
Hawaii, return home ...... This is it ..."

Where the sound that the wire stirs through the keyhole has begun to become
vandalism rather than unlocking, the critter tried to pinch it as "after all it is OK". But
as these two people started gambling, no one can stop stopping until the settlement
arrives.

"After one more minute. You better prepare the riff soon."

"Holy shit !!" (original English)

Suddenly Brigg stood up with a crying voice and beat down the tip of the wire on the
floor.

It was a brief period that Critters relented relieved that they finally gave up.

A combatant who dyed the beards in red and black pulled out a huge hand gun
silently from the waist holster and turned the muzzle to the keyhole.

"Oi Oh, wait ..."

Roar. One more shot.

Brigg returned his pistol to the holster while everyone other than him was watching
over, Brigg first shook his shoulder after seeing Hans first, then Critter.

"Open up"

While Critter’s mouth widely opened, the console looked at the large hole of the inch
diameter opened in the panel.

In the back of the darkness, three sparks scattered, immediately afterwards, the
operating lever which had been stopped in an oblique state began to slowly tilt.
Wherever it moves, it stops with a faint sound. When you check the monitor, the
number that is originally set to be set by Critter a little over x1,200.... In fact, the upper
limit x 5000 is displayed with a bold number.

"... Go...., gosh ... ...."

In the head, a dull metal sound echoed again at the time of reflective mental
arithmetic as to how many seconds of the real world would be the underworld.

The lever that should have stopped at the limit value is further inclined to the back.

"You’ve... got to be ...... “

Before the eye of a murmuring Critter, the monitor's digital number also exceeds
5000 - more than x10000 ....

No, it's still okay. If the processing execution button is not touched, the magnification
never actually fluctuates.

It is still possible to return the lever and return the lever.

"Hey ... ... Do not touch! Everyone back off!"

He cried so with a flipped voice, and the Critter moved away from the console with
hands Hans and Brig. Get close to the lever with an enemy foot and gently stretch
your right hand.
Boom.

A brief explosion sounded just before the hand of the Critter touched the lever.

In front of me, the red execution button blew down with the transparent cover.

EEEEEEEEEEE! A huge monitor set up full of the walls in front of the main control
room dyed red and echoed with an unpleasant alarm from the speaker. A countdown
of the remaining 15 minutes was displayed and began to decrease at a rapid pace.

At the moment when an alarm informing that the time acceleration function was
operated again reached the ears, Higa got up again and distorted his face to a severe
pain.

"Higa Kun! Don’t ... ...."

Dr. Koujiro ran to the station and placed his hand on Higa 's back, immediately after
that.

The main monitor of the sub control room dyed red at a stroke.

"Why ...?!"

It was Kikuoka who shouted. Higa, who raised his upper body with Rinko's hands on
the shoulder of a commander jumping to the console, tried hard.

The gothic characters are displayed with a message that tells that the limiter which
was also provided with three stages in the time acceleration function is canceled and
that the entire underworld enters the critical acceleration phase and a countdown for
15 minutes.

"What ..."

On behalf of Higa panting and panting, Dr. Koujiro asked a sharp question.

"What is limiting acceleration, what is it? The magnification of FLA has not reached
the limit of 1,000 times! "

"...... That is the limit when people of real world don’t dive ...... If only artificial
Fluctlights, five thousand times the upper limit ..."

When Higa answered almost automatically, the cool eyes of the doctor stiffened.

"To say that five thousand!? .... This one second is inside for about eighty minutes ......
It is 18 seconds and there is not a lot of ridicule over the day!"
Although it was truly mental arithmetic ability, Higa and Kikuoka shook their heads
with a shaky move as they looked away.

"Well ... what is different?"

"1,000 times is the upper limit of safety that takes into consideration the" life
expectancy of the soul "of human beings in the real world ...... The upper limit of
observation of the underworld from outside is ... ... Both are hard No limit at the limit
of ... ... "Higa pushed words hard from the throat burning from the ground. Doctor's
arms that support the back tremble trembling.

"If it is ... ... Hard upper limit ...... what on earth ..."

"As you know, the underworld is built and computed by optical quantum, whose
communication speed is theoretically infinite within the main module geometric ... ...
ie the limit is limited by the architecture mounted on the subordinate server It is
prescribed ... .... "

"So good soon! How many times!"

Higa moved the gaze from the monitor to the face of Rinko, he said.

"In the marginal acceleration phase ...... FLA magnification slightly exceeds five million
times. The STL of Roppongi branch connecting by satellite line will automatically
disconnect from the space that can not correspond to such speed ... ...

For Kirigaya-san and Asuna-san who are using STL inside the Ocean Turtle ... "

One minute in the real world — a decade in underworld.

It seemed that Rinco's eyes opened to the limit seemed to have mildly convulsed,
that momentum would have been accomplished instantaneously.

"Nothing ...... ... Faster ... ... as soon as possible I have to take Asuna-san and Kirigaya-
san out of the STL!"

Higa pressed Dr. Koujiro’s rising arms this time.

"Rinko-sempai! If you are already in the initial acceleration phase, if you pull it from
the machine forcibly, the fluctlight will be corrupted!"

"If so, start forceful logout process!"

"I thought that it barked a while ago why he crawled out of the corner duct! The STL's
operation can only be done from the main control!"

Higa also caressed with a reversed voice and saw the commander before the console.
Kikuoka already seemed to be guessing what Higa was trying to say. "... Kiku-san, I
will go down again."

As soon as I heard the words, he talked something with a face that Aki Natsuki
worried about, but immediately closed the mouth. She came up and whispered by
saying "Cathether, I will pull it out".

The commander also nodded with a bitterness expression and said.

"I understand, let me go, I have physical strength enough to get you down on your
back carrying you."

"Don’t, don’t do it, lieutenant colonel!"

Who cried out was Kazuyuki Nakanishi who is the leader of the escort team.
Changing blood circulation, proceed while sounding boots.

"It's dangerous, that mission is me ..."

"No, you have to get the defense of the stairs, because it opens the bulkhead again ...
Ichiemon can not be used anymore, Niemon will not move"

In the words, they all glance look at the left corner of the sub control room.

The humanoid silhouette supported by the holding frame of the coat hanger is not a
real person. Higa is researching and developing as a part of the Alicization planning
human type machine body, Electroactive Muscle Operating Machine, so-called
"Niemon". The appearance that is much smarter than the first car that was used for
the opening bulkhead opening strategy and destroyed is because this niemon was
developed as a light cube loaded type.

Of course the socket of the head is now empty, and in this state it will not move even
if you turn on the power. In other words, it does not become a shield to self-run like
Ichiemon.

Kikuoka who returned his line of sight from a soulless robot ordered and commanded
Nakanishi with a more severe expression than ever before.

"The degree of danger is surely higher for you who fight against enemies, but you
have to go get it."

In the commander 's words, Nakanishi pushed the lower jaw a lot and bowed short
for a moment.

"Yes sir!"
While listening to the exchanges of the SDF officers, Higa lifted the right hand in a
frightening manner. Although it hurts, the fingertips seem to move properly.

The countdown to the limit accelerating phase rushing displayed on the monitor is
about ten minutes left. However, it takes about thirty minutes to estimate how to
break the pressure-resistant bulkhead, get off that lagging ladder, and disconnect the
STL from the connector.

For the difference of twenty minutes, the time elapsed with the underworld - indeed,
two hundred years.

Hundred fifty years, which is the soul life of human beings, is far beyond years.

Before that, to spend such infinitely equal years inside the underworld ... ...

For real world people, what can be tolerated ... ....

Underworld inside ... ....

"That ... ... so power!"

Higa shouted and swung the left hand just pulled out of the blood transfusion
catheter toward Kikuoka.

"Ki…, Kiku-san!! When I operated the STL earlier, I secured a communication channel
with Kirito! Please call me on line C12!"

"But, but ... ... what to say ......"

"We will escape from the inside!! Previously it was enough to reach the system
console, or if HP goes to zero, STL will automatically start the disconnection process!
But, it entered the marginal phrase. The console may not work, and it is even worse to
die!! To spend two hundred years with all sensory cutoff ... ... please strongly warn
that! "

"Two ..."

Two hundred years!?

I almost fell out of the mouth, I swallowed the words at risk.

In front of my eyes, Asuna has a blatant look. She does not hear the voice of Kikuoka.
<<Good, Kirito, it's enough! Have arrived at the console until then, please logout! If
there is absolutely impossible, there is a way to completely lose the HP himself ... but
this is dangerous for uncertainty, the reason is ... >>

Because there is a possibility that you have to spend two hundred years with a
pseudo death situation.

I realized it, I interrupted the words of Kikuoka, and it was a translation.

"I understood, I aim for escape from the console somehow! Of course I will bring
Alice, so prepare me for that!"

<<... I'm sorry. But, in this case, give priority to the escape of you two more than to
secure Alice. Even if you can erase your memory after logging out, the time of 200
years is far beyond the human soul life! The possibility of successfully recovering
consciousness is ... ... which is equal to zero ...... >>

To the voice of Kikuoka that suffers from suffering. I quietly responded.

"Do not worry, I will definitely go back, and Kikuoka-san, six months ago ... No, the
last night was bad to say a horrible thing"

<<No ... ... We were oblivious and did the right thing. On this side I'll prepare an
adhesive plaster for when you beat me. ...... Higa is ready for you, I have to go. >>

"Oh, uh, well after that, Kikuoka-san"

And communication broke.

I gazed at the Asuna in the arms while hovering with the hem of the coat flapping. "...
... Kirito, did you hear from Kikuoka-san? What is it ... tough?"

Shook his head slowly and slowly, I replied.

"Okay ... ... as time acceleration resumes after a long time, I'm talking about hurrying
as much as possible"

Asuna blinked with a crack, nodded small with a small smile.

"Well, forever as such, it is bad for Alice, sir, to help!"

"Oh ... I will fly once more"

I hug an Asuna tightly, and again generate a large amount of wind. A glowing green
springs up, wrapping the two.

To catch Alice, who goes south in the sky, and a huge and heterogeneous mark
following her - I flew.
Part 2
He catches up.

Alice looking backwards on the saddle of the Amayori shaved small lips.

The ominous black spots floating in the red sky are definitely larger than five minutes
ago. Not the speed of the enemy increased, but the Amayori and Takiguri are finally
running out.

Naturally it is close to a miracle that she worked hard so far rather than to say - he
kept flying without having to rest. From the central capital Centoria to the last
mountain range, that is, a distance several times larger than the radius of the human
world, we moved in a half day. Both heads are obviously continuing their marginal
flight while intensely consuming our Life.

However, why do not those pursuers get exhausted as soon as?

It was confirmed by hyperopia with crystalloid, and seems to be on the back of a

bizarre creature that is different from a dragon. I have never seen such creatures that
only have to express as the wing 's raw disk, even in the human world as well as in the
dark territory.

The archer, named Shinon, who came from the same "real world" as Kirito was saying.
The pursuer is the dark territory emperor and the dark god Vector himself, his identity
is a real world person in a position to hostile against Kirito and Shinon.

Emperor Vector once lost to the knight's sword of Bercouli - possibly the sacred
treasure time sword release recollection technique. But with the new life he got down
to this place again and chased Alice.

The anger that you can not forgive a bullshit "resuscitation" that ridicule the death of
Bell Couri never vanishes.

But Alice found something to be done during a single flight.

If an enemy is said to be immortal in this world ——.

Before we kill it in real world.

For that reason, at any rate, we reach the "altar of the end".

Returning the line of sight to the front, it seems a little strange that cliffs of
irreconcilable size climb up far beyond the red sky. It is a "wall of the end of the
world" transmitted to Genesis myths. Unlike the mountain ranges of the human world
that can be crossed over by the dragon, that cliff that surrounds the dark territory
continues to infinite heights.

Before the cliff, nearly as high as Alice flies.

Only one small floating island is drifting.

It is impossible to guess what island that is shaped like a sharp cup at the bottom is
floating in the empty space with any force.

As you close your eyes you can see some artificial structures in the center of the flat
upper surface. It is probably the "altar of the end" that aims for. As the exit of the
world, the entrance to Real World.

The remaining distance is cut off by 10 kiloliters, but unfortunately it will be slightly
faster for Emperor Vector to catch up behind Alice than to arrive at the Alter.

Alice slowly breathed in and breathed.

Gently stroke the neck of love dragon with your right hand and order.

"Thank you for everything, Amayori and Takiguri at the end so far, you should
descend to the ground"

Two heads crowed with a weak voice, entered a spiral descent while lined up.

The underlying terrain has changed a bit ago into a cold dark gray desert. While
drawing a long trajectory in the desert and continuing sand of the sea as if God got
tired of the creation, the dragons landed halfway down.

Altering quickly jumped from the back of Amayori that leaves the giant leaking voice
from the back of the throat. Exploring the waist bag and taking out a small bottle of
the remaining spirit remained.

Pour half of the blue liquid into the Amayori's mouth that has become half open and
pour the rest one drop into the mouth of the next brother dragon. Although it is a
spirit made by an axiomatic church, it is totally insufficient to heal the enormous Life
of the flying dragon, but still the power to take off once more should return.

Alice gently shriveled the under chin of the dragon's woolen hair with the left and
right hands.

"Amayori, Takiguri"

As soon as I called, tears floated in nature and both eyes. Continue it hard, keep on.
"Here is a farewell, the last command ... ... Fly to the human world, return to the
dragon's nest in the western region, find the fellow Amayori, Takiguri-san, find a
bride, give birth to a lot of red and strong I will raise up to a child, strong one strong
kids as long as I can catch another knight again. "

Unexpectedly, Amayori lifted her head and licked Alice's lump.

Takiro got on the nose face on the right waist and sniffed the smell of the Eradrigue
's treasure instruments falling there.

Alpine ordered strongly as two brains released their heads.

"Go, come on! Do not look back, go straight on !!"

Come on!

The dragons raised their heads at the same time and they sang crowd.

When you make the giant stand up, start running in the direction of west straight
without seeing behind. The widely spread wings plucked the wind in the desert, the
fluffy and big body floated.

The brother and sister dragon fluttered strongly in the closeness that the tip of the
wing touched, and took altitude at once.

And there ——.

Amayori turned the long neck back.

A beautiful eyes like a crystal of love dragon saw Alice straight. A large droplet
gathered at the edge, shining brilliantly and scattered in the sky.

"Ama...... yori ...?"

Alice 's dazzle has not ended.

Flying dragon who returned the head direction and his elder brother, tilted the body
to the right and turned direction at a sharp angle. It roars a violent roar and rises
straight in line with the northern sky instead of the west. Aiming for a black pursuer,
which is getting close enough to be clearly visible.

"No, no ... No Amayori, no good!"

Alice screamed and ran.

However, the desert fine sand entangled in the boots.

At the end of the line of sight of Alice who fell down with his hands, Amayori and
Takiguri rushed to the high altitude that the immortal enemies awaited.

Silver scales shine like flames with red sunlight.

The sharp tusk - like doves open all the way.

As soon as the pursuer entered the range, Brothers and Sister dragons launched hot
weapons, the largest weapon. The pure white light that penetrated the sky seemed as
if the dragon's life itself was burning.

The enemy who rides on the back of a monster did not try to change the flight
trajectory as if looking at the approaching ultra-high temperature flame.

Stretch the left hand casually, spread the five fingers.

It can not be prevented. Flying dragon is the highest priority attack in this world except
for the complete arms control of integrity knights and the multi-operation type by
group of high-level operators. And there are two of them. In such a short time, he can
not afford to cast a counterprotective technique.

So Alice speculated.

However.

Two heat rays that resonate the sharp resonance sound, it seemed to swallow
enemy's body and burnt up, just before that. A bizarre phenomenon occurred
beyond Alice 's understanding.

With the left hand of the tracer as the center, the jet black darkness swirled and
spread.

The surrounding space distorted as though it were falling down to the dark. Even the
heat rays of the flying dragon, which should include the tremendous power, were no
exception. A straight trajectory draws an arc and is sucked as it is to the man 's left
hand.

Just scattering small light, no flash and no explosion, 2 heat rays were as swallowed.

Alice surely saw a thin smile on the mouth of an enemy that was only a black dot,
flying high heights that none of the art and sword skills could reach.

Immediately after.

Along with the harsh sound like grinding the sand, from the darkness of the man 's
left hand, the jet black lightning crushed a few lines.
Swallowing the heat rays of the dragons and attacking as if it had spit out into my
own power, that attack attacked the Amayori wings and limbs of the Takiguri without
mercy. The head of the head swayed sharply, and still more brilliant blood than the
red sky suffered in the air.

"Ah……"

Alice pant pants, yelling out to the sky with two hands.

"Amayori ......! Run away! Alright, please run away ......!"

Screams were surely delivered to the dragons. But two head dragons struck the wings
as if they were struck by listening to Alice 's voice and rushed again.

Mouth is opened wide. An enthusiasm like hot air rises from the gap of the fangs,
white light twinkles irregularly. Zu~ba~tsu!!

The heat ray burned the sky again.

Again, the man developed a shield of darkness and received a flame.

Although it was obvious that the same counterattacks as before came, the dragons
boldly continued their assault. While continuing to emit light from the snouts, the
wings are furiously flapping and thrusting towards the enemy.

Blood splashed from the wounds in two bodies changed into a flame. Silver scales
detached one after another and became light grains and danced in the sky.

The existence of the dragons themselves is transformed into light.

Heat rays that continue to be released with burning life will fill the black vortex and
begin to saturate. Whether it could not resist the raging enthusiasm, white smoke
rose from the man's left hand.

But — that time.

The whole body of the enemy was enveloped in the beige of blue-black darkness.
The vortex of emptiness emanating from the left hand also gained momentum, and
immediately after that, the black lightning struck from the center pushed back the
white heat rays.

The conflicting white and black forces competed for only one second between the
two and reversed reluctantly. Numerous black lightning jumps in Amayori and
Takiguri that relaxes the momentum of the wing as it is exhausted.

"Amayori! Ama .. yori....(gasp)!!"

It was that moment when Alice's scream spread to desert air with tears.

A star fell.

From the red sky, two sparkling lights fall at a terrible rate.

One aim aimed at the ground as it is.

And the other stopped perfectly at the middle point between the dragons and the
pursuer. The light scattered at once, revealing the figure of what was hidden inside it.

Human.

He is a swordsman.

A black hair with a slightly longer length and a coat of black jet turns into the wind.
On the back is a long sword of black and white that is equipped in a crossing shape.
He combines his arms in front of his chest and is staring at the dark shadow of
thunderstorms approaching.

Bang !! Bashitsu !!

The lightning struck the swordsman with the impulsive sound. No, exactly it was
played without touching. Just before the swordsmen standing in the air with his arms
folded, the thunder was obstructed by an invisible barrier, spreading power in vain.

Alice stopped breathing and opened his eyes a lot.

A swordsman in black dress looked around and saw Alice on the ground.

The face with little juvenile disappears small, the black eyes have a strong sparkle.
Alice felt the spark scattering in the back of her chest. That fever expanded
instantaneously and made the heart burn violently.

While conscious of new tears overflowing from both eyes, Alice got dizzy.

"Kiri ...... to ..."

A swordsman awakened from a long sleep for six months is powerful, but when he
nods with a smiling smile somewhere, he reversed his body and raised his right hand
straight.

Beyond that hand, the dying dragons are winging their wings with their last power.
The ends of the wings and the tail of the long tail are already erasing as they melt in
the light.

When the Amayori saw Kirito who lived together in a hut in the outskirts of Rulid
village for half a year, it cried a little while.
Kirito also nodded and closed the eyelids.

Unexpectedly, the iridescent film covered the two dragons. It's as though it was
wrapped in a huge soap bubble. But the dragons are not afraid, fold the wings, bend
the neck, round the body a little.

The rainbow colored ball slowly descends Alice 's head.

A strange phenomenon occurred at Alice 's line of sight that forgets breathing and
looks up.

Amayori and Takiguri split wearing the light of a color of seven colors are getting
smaller as the milky side is seen. No, like young, I seemed to get older.

Small claws are rounded. The thick silver scales are replaced by soft feathers. Both the
tail and neck are shortened, and the smaller wings are covered with fluff.

The dragons were no more than fifty centimeters when they fell into the arms of the
spread Alice. Takikuri wrapped in bluish white fur seems to be asleep as soon as he
closes his eyes.

And Amayori that went back to the same appearance as when I first met in Central •
Cathedral like a greenish fluff ball looked straight up to Alice and opened a row in
which pearl-like teeth are lined and a short voice.

"Ki-yuru!"

"Ama...yori..."

Through the murmur Alice 's bowl, the tears fell down, glittering with the dragon' s
feathers fluttering.

Immediately after, the rainbow-colored light which envelops the two head dragons,
increased its strength at once. The feeling transmitted to Alice's arm changes from
softness of the feather to smooth hardness. When I blinked over and over, there were
two big eggs in my arms.

Silver-colored eggs steadily got smaller and eventually erased the shining colors of
the seven colors until finally lined up in the palm.

Alice put his head on two small eggs and speculated on the meaning of this
phenomenon. Kirito judged that the Amayori and Takiguri bodies can not fully
recover from the enormous amount of its maximum value, Kirito will reduce the
upper limit itself to the limit - in other words, by reducing it to eggs, It has escaped.

I can not even imagine Alice, who should be the world's finest sacred craft, now what
kind of technique can be used to realize that effect, but I did not feel uneasy.
Someday I can see the dragons again, only such conviction has warmly spread to my
heart.

Gently wrapped the two eggs with both hands, and Alice looked up at the sky again.

"Thank you and welcome back, Kirito"

Whisper with a tear-crying voice.

It was not supposed to reach the far higher sky, but the shadows of the black clothes
firmly nodded and smiled again.

I heard a nostalgic voice in my ear.

<<Long and worrisome time it was. Thank you, Alice.>>

<<Let's meet the next time in Real World.>>

And Kirito turned his body slowly and opposed the pursuer who dressed in darkness.

I could not resist the intentions of both of them, I can play an intermittent spark in
the empty space.

"... ... Kirito ..."

The enemy, even you, you can not defeat by an ordinary attack.

Alice was so concerned and shrugged her lips.

And, suddenly she heard a voice from behind.

"All right, Alice-san."

When turning around, there was a real-world girl wearing herself in pearl-colored
equipment, standing there.

"Asuna ..."

Asuna smiled while touching long brown hair in the wind, touching Alice's back.

"Let's believe in Kirito, we have to hurry to the World End Altar."

"Yeah ... ...."

Although he nodded, it is not so easy now.

Alice turned to the south, looked up at the "end wall of the world" which stands from
the far horizon and the white floating island floating in front of it.

"...... I think that the altar at the end is probably on the floating island, but I can not
get on with the dragons already, how can I get to such a high place ..."

"Okay, leave it to me"

Asuna nodded, she pulled out a brilliant fine sword from her lower back.

Direct it straight ahead to the floating islands of the other side, face down the long
eyelashes.

Suddenly, the singing of the angel heard even when the dark armed forces of the
night last night reverberated with La.

The light of the seven colors falls from the sky to the gray desert in a straight line.

Along with the heavy sound, a white lithograph floated up from the sand just in front
of me.

Gon, go-go-go-gon!

Sounds echo in a sudden manner, a little more height is increased, another one, and
one more litho appears.

A staircase of white stone appeared before the eyes of breathtaking Alice and the
time taken for the floating islands over the sky was only ten seconds.

After finishing terrain manipulation, Asuna who unleashed the sword gave a knee to
the sand and the gulp.

"Oh, Asuna ...... !!"

"Hur ... ... Let's hurry ... until the altar is shut down, it's only about eight more minutes
..."

Shut down……?

Alice did not understand the meaning of the word, but before he asked, his right
hand was shrugged. Rising, hand was pulled by Asuna who started rising white stone
steps, and Alice also ran. While running, I looked back at the black sword fighter who
confronts the pursuer with the sky behind, turning around only once.

Kirito. There are a lot of things you want to say and want to hear in you.
Absolutely win. Win it, and come back in front of me.
The appearance of the floating staircase leading to the gray desert and the two
female swordsmen who are running up at a speed that fly above it are seductively
beautiful, poetic and symbolic .

I burned that sight to my mind and glared at the back of my chest.

Alice. Asuna.
With this ... ... It is a farewell.

To Asuna, I did not tell that I ten minutes acceleration will reach 5 million times as
much as reality, and if I can not escape, I must spend 200 years in this world. There is
a reason.

Knowing that, it is because Asuna and Alice are about to fight with me. Even if it can
not escape by the time limit because of that.

The moment I perceived the details of the enemy following Alice, I shuddered at the
heterogeneity.

No, expressions like details are not suitable. Because there is no, there is only it. A
black hole that swallows any information and does not escape even a single light.

The possibility of being able to escape safely with all of the kneelers is very low,
destroying such opponent by the time limit. Then, my action priorities are nominated.

Secure the log out of Asuna and Alice from the underworld.
There is no priority other than that. None.

I firmly memorized a beautiful sight in memory as one picture, changed the face
direction and saw the figure of the enemy hovering in front.

At last the encounter "it" was a completely unrecognized entity.

It is a man. That is probably certain.

However, it only understands.

If facial features are made by your own avatar, you probably intended "the average
appearance of white men". Although it is in order, there is not any characteristic
element. However, it can only be said that the skin is white, the eyes are blue, and the
hair is gold.

The physique is also ordinary as a white species. Military jealousy clothes are
wrapping bodies that are not fat or naughty. So if this man is a soldier, that is not
sure either. Because black and gray camouflage painted on the top and bottom of
the Jatcat is constantly moving around like a kind of mucus. Moreover, on the left
waist is equipped with a long sword considered as a sacred grade.

I heard from Asuna that this guy is a member of the special forces that attacked
Ocean Turtle during the move. Then, it should be a mercenary hired by money to
organizations and businesses who wanted to capture human 's Fluctlight related
technology. However, from a place that is a little far away, I can hardly believe that a
man watching me with twinning like glass is such a realistic interest. No, I do not even
feel it like being human in the first place.

After observing and thinking about one second, I opened mouth.

"... ... Who are you?"

The answer returned instantly. A smooth, but somewhat metallic sounding voice, the
man said.

"I'm asking, stealing, robbing you."

As soon as the aura of the blue-black horse surrounding the whole body of a man
increased the momentum of peristalsis. I feel a breeze blowing from behind. Air ... ...
No, information constituting the world is being sucked into the darkness.

"What do you want?"

"Soul"

As you answer questions, the suction power also increases. It is not just world
information. My consciousness itself also feels being pulled by the empty gravity.

And, suddenly I found something irritated on the man 's mouth. A smile that is
irrelevant to emotion, a rarest smile: "Who are you, why are you there, what rights do
you stand in front of me?"

I am - someone?
The brave who descended to underworld? —— No way.
Knight who guards the human world? —— No.

Every time I have a negative word on my mind, I feel something is being sucked out
of me and being deprived. But for some reason I can not stop thinking.

A hero who cleared Death Game SAO? —— No.

The strongest VRMMO player? —— No.
"Black swordsman"? "Two swords"? —— No, no.
None of them are the ones I wanted.
Then, who am I ... ...?
Suddenly, that moment when consciousness faded.

I felt that someone's nostalgic voice called the name.

I gently picked up the face I had been falling down unnoticed and caught on as it was
called.

"I am Kirito, swordsman Kirito"

Ba~chi~tsu!

White sparks burst and cut off the dark tentacles I was about to keep on me.
Thoughts instantly regain clarity.

What on earth is the phenomenon anyway?

May this man directly interfere with this consciousness through the two STLs?

While firmly sticking the barrier of the magic, staring at the man's eyes. It is very
empty that there is there. Sucks off the hearts of others, the bottomless darkness.

"... Your name is..?"

I was asking so unconsciously.

A man thought slightly, he said.

"Gabriel. My name is Gabriel Miller."

I intuitively perceived that it is not the character name or the handle name but the
real name of a man.

Because the appearance has changed for only a few seconds. The eyes get dull and it
gets water ruthless. The lips are thin and tight, and the gills are scraped.

At the same time as returning to the original make-up face, the aura of the darkness
spewing from the whole body of a man increased thickness at once.

At this stage, I finally noticed that the man's right arm was missing from the
shoulders. The ambiguous darkness that I had wandered like my arms extended as I
wandered and grasped the left waist sword.

The sword pulled out with a damp sound did not have a real blade.

Only the empty darkness rises like a black flame with a length of about one meter.
Indeed, it is existence of absence.

The sword of the darkness held by the arms of the shadow, the man cut off with a
bizarre tremor sound.
I pulled out the double sword at the back while taking a slight distance. The sword of
blue rose on the left. And on the right hand, the sword of the night sky.

If it is a dark color, the sword of the night sky that shaved out from the Gigas Cedar's
shoulder is also not defeated. However, while the blade reflects light like a black
crystal, the man's sword is as black as if the space had just been cut off. It is not a
level such as PoH 's friend knives and the same resource absorption attribute.

But no matter how unfamiliar it is, there is no way backward. Because it is necessary
to stop this enemy until Asuna and Alice finish climbing the stairs several hundred
meters high.

"......Let’s go, Gabriel!!"

Daringly shouting the name of the enemy, I flapped the hem of the cloak that
transformed the wings.

While crossing at once, cross the two swords in front of the body.

"Generate • All • Element!"

When I generated dozens of predispositions of all attributes due to the surrounding

space itself as a terminal, I shoot them all at the same time with a sudden drop.

"Discharge!!"

Arrow of fire, water spear, wind blade, and many other colors run through the air.

Sprinkle the left and right sword to follow the sacred art.

Gabriel Miller did not take any avoidance action.

While laughing, just spread your hands on the spot.

Eight colors of light pierce the body that wears the blue darkness.

I did not miss the gap that slightly wobbled the upper body, I got off the man's torso
with the right handed sword and pierced his breast with my left handed sword.
Mucous darkness scatters, leaving cold air on my skin that makes me pass.

Flight as it is, take distance and turn around quickly.

My eyes were widened.

When I dragged the darkness that flowed out into irregular shapes, I pulled back and
it was the appearance of Gabriel turning around to not have anything. There is no
scar on the Jacquard wrapping the body.
Also.

Attribution of that man is absorbed against slashing, piercing, flames, freezing,

whirlwind, water bullets, steel arrows, crystal blades, light rays and dark curse.

The moment of crossing, from my right shoulder that has been stroked to the edge
of nothingness, the fabric and flesh of coat disappears to be gouged, fresh blood is
splattered.

Gabriel Miller got a glimpse of the appearance of Alice and another girl who is going
up a pure white aerial staircase, and the remaining time until they reach the system
console is five minutes. Estimated.

Then, he can not afford to be caught in a battle with a disturbing person who
appeared abruptly. It will be a logical decision to instantly neutralize and take express
to floating island. But Gabriel kept staying on the spot with just a few interests in his
new enemies.

At first glance, it looks like just a child.

Compared to a master fencer who fought ahead and became a partner, it is equal to
without intimidating feeling. Perhaps, like "Shinon", it is a Japanese VRMMO player
who is cooperating with RATH, but even that girl is inferior in terms of pressure.

Because black hairy young people do not release much of the fighting spirit.

Only at that moment when I asked someone, I was able to suck up my mind slightly,
but that circuit was immediately shut off. After that, it keeps playing the tentacles of
Gabriel's spirit as if it were wrapped in a transparent shell. Even if you fight an enemy
who can not enjoy your heart, it's not as fun as it is.

Then it immediately thought to eliminate immediately and pursue Alice.

But as soon as he saw the young man changing the hem of the long coat to wing
shape and manipulating various magic of various attributes at the same time, my
mind changed a little. It is because he felt that he was accustomed to this world.

After securing Alice and escaping to a third country with STL technology, work to
build your own virtual world to suit everything is waiting. In order to do it efficiently,
it is not bad to deprive the youth of the operating technique.

For that, first of all, we need to destroy the shell of magic.

Gabriel spoke with a thin smile, to a Japanese boy in a black suit.

"I give you three minutes. Amuse me."

"... ... how generous."

I murmured with a stroke of my fingertips blocking the wound on my right shoulder.

But there is plenty of support for Gabriel Miller's margin. Anyway it's unbeatable
against attacks of all attributes.

No, only one, there will be no offensive attributes to pass. It was Shinon who was surely
preceded that he blew his right arm. It was aiming for her love guns with imagination
force to create a Hekata II and shoot through it. In other words, if you attack the "shoot"
attribute, you can not absorb Gabriels.

The reason is that it is not unrelated to the fact that he is in the form of a military
jacket in its entirety. Through experience in the real world I knew the power of the
objective sniper rifle, but maybe I could not cancel the damage when I was shot by
the will.

However, this departure, such as embodying firearms with this underworld, was
possible because Shinon handles the guns as hands and feet. I can not imitate it very
much, even if I was able to create one handgun, very much power is not involved.

In other words, in addition to the shooting attribute, I need to find out what
something that bizarre man will recognize as damage.

That is to say, I know Gabriel the human being. You have to figure out how to live,
what you want and why you are here.

I held the swords right and left and I smiled at the edge of my mouth.

"It will be nice, let me entertain you"

What on earth is the basis for that confidence?

It he certain that logging in to the underworld for a long time and being accustomed to
the world system, becoming not it a child of the game player at all? Why is it that you
can laugh at all, even though you have just been told that all of the swords that you
have set up exaggerated and all of the flashy magic attacks are helpless?
Gabriel thought that while feeling a slight discomfort to the attitude of a boy who
would not show fear, he thought so, and concluded that he was brutal for earning
time.

Even if he dies in this world, it does not hurt any wounds to the physical body of reality.

On top of that, I am thinking only to prolong the battle until a girl who would be a
friend can secure Alice. After all it is a silly child. It is too long to go out with three
minutes.

Grabbing with a right hand that was built with will, swaying swaying blades swiftly -
Gabriel casually stabbed it on the back of a winged creature that he rides.

Originally this monster, like a sword and a stone bow, the jetpack possessed by
"Saturater" was replaced by this world at the time of convert. Although it can be
controlled with intention, riding with both feet lacks sense of stability. For that boy, it
is more rational to just use wings.

A monster skewered his back, suddenly being sucked into emptiness by simply
screaming a short screaming quickly. Gabriel moved the data that flowed into the
right arm through the sword to the back and focused his intention.

Besides the shoes, the black wings extended from the shoulder blade as well as that
of the boy. But this is not a coat type of bat, but that of a bird of prey with sharp
feathers. For myself with the name of an angel, this one is better.

"... ... you, I'll steal it"

Gabriel whispered coldly towards the youngster.

In the next attack, I thought that an enemy riding a disk-shaped flying organism was
going to fall down, I was instantly struck and my decision power declined for a
moment.

Gabriel slipped into the sword's gap, not missing the gap, and flaring the wings of the
black bird of prey.

The speed of thrust technique delivered with no motion was surprising. As for sword
tricks I was staring at an amateur, but nothing. Receive the two swords crossed to
cross, to scoop up from below. Gutta Yuu!

And with a strange sound, the sword of blue-black darkness stopped at my nose.
Blue rose sword and night sky sword grudge. It is not barely eroded, but it is so to
speak as a fight with emptiness itself. It is easy to imagine that a huge burden is
placed on the sword.

However, it was a strategy that did not avoid in the backstep and dared to cross-
block.

I did not resist the ability of Gabriel to slash the dark sword in a brute force, I let my
body flow to the right and I got a whole body high kick.

"Ra !!"

With the spirit, the toe that jumped while pulling the orange light caught the sharp
jaw. Both and darkness scatter, Gabriel rebels against the upper body.

How can it be?

I struck the air strongly with the wings and I took a distance with the back dash while
I checked the state of the enemy. If it is a "blow", if it is a soldier of a special forces,
even though it does not go to the shoot and even if it does not go up to it, there is a
possibility of recognizing it as damage, since he will of course also undergo training
of fighting technique.

Hell, Gabriel who returned his head, but was superficially innocent.

The black darkness which splattered from the jaw quickly agglutinated and
regenerated smooth skin. While stroking with the left hand, the enemy laughed
grinningly.

"I see, but unfortunately such a great skill is a substitute for show-up TV.
Real Martial•Arts ... "

Cut!!

And in the mid-word, Gabriel crawled in at such speed that the whole body was a
flow of black. I played the sword swung down from the upper left in a reflexive
manner with the sword of the blue rose and at the same time fired back with the
sword of the night sky. The blade bites into the shoulder of the enemy, and it will not
move with just how much it was wrapped in high concentration mucus.

There was something tangled to the right in my right arm, which grew. Gabriel's left
arm. Wrapped around like a thick snake, the joint was immediately extradited.

Along with the unpleasant sounds, my brain stunned a severe pain similar to the
current.

"Gu-a ... ...."

I peeped into the face of groaning me nearby, Gabriel whispered.

"—— is this."

Immediately after that, a furious rush was started.

The empty sword blows a continuous technique of the infinitely many times at ultra
high speed. I managed to manage it with just the sword on my left hand, but the
blow from the defense got me scooping around the body shallowly. There is no time
to concentrate the spirit to restore the deflected right arm.

"Wow ... ... Oh ..."

I sprang out unconsciously, I made the wings strongly flapping to take a distance.

Just grasp the sword while rolling backward with full power and put my left hand
fingers on the right arm.

White light gathered at that time.

Gabriel swept the left hand a bit and bent the five fingers like a claw, it opened at a
stretch.

More than ten jet blackening spreading radially, bent at an acute angle on the way
and attack it.

I tied up my teeth and developed barriers for imagination. When I played the same
against technique that attacked Alice 's dragons, I had absolute certainty, but now the
recognition itself that I devote half of my concentration to the treatment of my arm
decreases the strength of the shield ——.

Dull vibration occurred in several parts of the body.

Three rays of darkness penetrating the barrier protected the torso and legs. Prior to
pain, terrible coldness runs through sensations. Looking at it, blue-black emptiness
sticks to the point where it penetrated, trying to eat my existence itself.

"Gu ...... !!"

While growl again, breathe in heavily and let out the breath. Finally the emptiness
disappeared, but a large amount of fresh blood was scattered from a new wound.

"Ha ha ha"

When raising his face to a dry voice, Gabriel Miller was distorting a vague look and
laughing.

"Ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha"

No, this is not a laugh. Even though his lips are lifted, his eyes do not move at all, and
only hunger is swirling in the eyes like a glass ball.

Gabriel crossed the arms slowly in front of the body and showed a gesture like
gathering power.

The dark aura trembles heavily. It shakes violently like a flame, and it increases in
thickness.

"Hah !!"

Along with intense spirit, arms opened wide

Zuck —— and two new black wings extended from the already existing wings and
spread widely. Another pair from the bottom side.

Gabriel gradually increases in altitude, with huge wings of six in total, fluttering in
order from the top. A jet black ring appears on top of it, camouflage clothing loses its
shape and turns into a dark-colored thin cloth.

Either way, both eyes were not only those of people. In the eye socket, just only blue-
black light is filled.

Just - an angel of death.

A transcendent who hunts and takes away the soul of a person. What kind of attacks
do you want when you have such a soulophile?

I removed the line of sight from that appearance which embodied the fear, confirmed
the appearance of Asuna and Alice running hands in the aerial staircase by holding
hands. It's still half past half past. It will take two more minutes, three minutes to
reach floating island.

I am not convinced already I can earn that much time.

Oh, what a sense of almighty.

Gabrielle laughed a third laughter at a very strong intensity of power running through
the whole body.

Imagination in this world — this is the power of "incarnation" if you borrow the words
of a master swordsman.

It is the same as that swordsman who slashed Gabriel back in time and the dark
general who transformed into a giant tornado ... ... No, he finally got it. Gabriel had
thought that their skills are based on unknown system commands, but it was not so.
The point is, how strongly you can convince yourself. It was also because I noticed
that the black-haired kid performed in front of me and demonstrated.

In the sense of appreciation, I will give you only one more minute.

Gabriel widened the six wings wide and raised the sword of the dark at the highest.

In a minute, cut out the body of the boy, extract the soul and eat it. In order to make
further power my mind.

While wearing a blue purple spark throughout the body, Gabriel entered into a
charge attack.

I looked up at the figure of the enemy who was no longer a human.

I can not think of anything like that man who fears and perceives it to be a threat. As
a proof that even shoots have become ineffective, the right arm, which should have
been blown away by Shinon, is playing completely altogether.

In the end, it was insufficient.

I did not see Gabriel Miller sweet. That heterogeneous sign was worth the greatest
vigilance. But that is why I may have given up victory, maybe before starting this fight.
If you can earn even time —- that if you extend the fight until Alice and Asuna
escape, I will be prisoned here in the time of two hundred years, so I will never come
back to reality.

Oh, I see.

Perhaps I thought that I wanted it?

A true different world beyond Incrad. The ideal village that Kayaba Akihiko wanted
and tried to create. The underworld is just right to call it.

I always asked myself whether I really wanted to escape for two years when I was
caught by Death Game SAO. I kept fighting at the forefront as a member of the
strategy group while hesitating because I had vaguely anticipated that there was a
strict time limit in daily life in that world. Lying on the bed of a hospital, the living
body that connects life only by drip will someday exceed the limit of weakness says.

However, there is not it in the underworld where time has been accelerated. If the
magnification reaches 5 million times, it becomes unnecessary to think about the
physical body in reality. I will stay in this different world until the life spirit of the soul
runs out. Can we really assert that it did not think so unconsciously?

As a result ——

Suguha, mother, father.

Yui, Klein, Egil, Liz, Silica ... ... and many others who saved me. And Alice.

Asuna also.

Do not even think about how lament, sorrow tears flow.

After all, it is a human being who can truly know the person's heart.

From the time I abandoned my friend who asked for help when I was a junior high
school student, nothing changed.

No, Kirito.

A nostalgic voice.

Frozen like ice Left hand on the left, faint warmth.

If you think that you do not want to leave this world, that is not for yourself. It is
because you love the people you met here.
Selca, Tiese, Ronie, Rina-sempai, people of Rulid, people who met in the Centoria and
Academy, integrity knights and warriors... Cardinal and possibly Administrator ... ... And
maybe us (me?).
Your love is big, wide and deep. It is enough to carry everything in the world.
But that enemy is different.
That man is the one who does not know the person's heart. Can not understand. So it
asks. I will try to rob. It tries to break. That means ... ...

I am afraid.
Gabrielle Miller saw a thin tear strip traveling to the boy's head. The hands holding
the sword got shrunk in front of my chest as if it were frightening.

Finally, did you fear?

The fear and despair of those who died were the feelings of others who Gabriel could
only sympathize with.

Gabriel caught a lot of human beings in search of sense of the soul from that day
when he killed Alicia Klingerman at a young age in the forest behind his home. But
never again did I see something like a cloud of light that came out of the forehead of
Alicia. Instead, he felt hesitation by tasting fear.

What kind of taste is the fear that a boy who has been so confident enough to
deceive it is dead?

Gabriel lifted the fingertip of the left hand high while feeling a hunger rising from the
bottom of the body and licking his lips with a tongue tip.

Several small black spheres appeared, and buzzed like a fly.

When I lowered my fingers, an extremely fine laser struck from the black ball and
stuck in and around the boy 's body. Blood leaves for a while and drifts like fog.

"Ha ha ha ha ha !!"

Gabriel who caught himself quickly while smiling, pulled out the empty sword.

Carelessly, I pierced the boy's belly.

The black shirt and the body covered with the coat were torn apart by the raging and
empty, which was unintentionally disintegrated. Scattered blood and meat. Bone. An
organ.

Gabriel pushed his left hand into the glow that is beautiful like a red ball.

Hanging from the upper body of the boy, still pulsing biggest jewel - dig the heart
and cut it a thousand.

In the palm, as if to resist, the dragon which continues trembling is gently stuck to the
mouth, and Gabriel whispered toward the dying boy drifting in the air with an empty
expression.
"All of your emotions, memories, hearts and souls ... ... now I will eat you."

I was watching from the bottom of the eyelid closing the half-eye, as I said, the figure
of an angel of death to say.

Gabrielle Miller opened a large undid lips and set up a sharp pointed tooth on the
heart that I robbed from me, as if I were holding a ripe apple.

Zaritsu.

A terrible sound sounded like a scary sound.

The white surface is greatly distorted, and a lot of blood that is not mine is
overflowing from that mouth.

Of course.

Because I ate a myriad of small blades that I had made from steel in my heart.

"Huh ... ...."

Randomly, I pressed back and retreated to Gabriel, I said with a broken voice.

"Is there such a thing ... that there is a heart and a memory, a body ...... just a vessel,
memories are ... ... forever ..."

It is here.

It melts with the consciousness of me, it is united, and it can not be separated forever.

The pain that was by the torn down heart was such a terrible thing as to no longer be
called pain. But this moment is the greatest last aircraft. There is no second time if
you miss it.

Eugeo has fought even after being divided.

I spread the swords of both hands to the left and right and exclaimed with flying
blood splashing.

"Release • Recollection !!"

Pure white and jet black burst at the same time.

From the sword of the blue rose aiming at the front, several lines of ice vines are
released, and the body of Gabriel is tied up in double and double.

And from the sword of the night sky that he raised just above.
A huge dark colored pillar stood up to the heavens.

The jet black light that stretched up with roaring sound penetrated the sky of blood
color and reached far reaching height - as if it had crashed into the sun itself, it
spread to all directions.

The sky is being covered.

Blood red is filled with tremendous speed, daytime light goes out.

The darkness quickly reaches the horizon and continues to spread further.

No, it is not an empty darkness. With a smooth texture and a slight temperature,

Infinite night sky.

An uninhabited wilderness, Shinon lying alone at the root of the forested rock
formations, waiting quietly for the moment when the HP runs out.

Scratches on both legs blown off are constantly puffed, and mental consciousness is
halved. I will continue to clench the tip of the chain that remain in the chest as
strongly as to sit on a lifeline, but gradually the power does not enter the right hand
as well.

At that time, it seemed that fading thought was foretelling logging out, or it got to
real fainting.

The color of the sky has changed.

Although the sky was midday, the sky that was stained with the eerie blood color was
covered with jet black at a terrible speed from the South. The light of the sun was
shut off, the gray clouds were extinguished - and the darkness filled wrapped Shinon.
Wrong. It is not perfect darkness.

The gentle phosphorescence that pours down from somewhere, lightly rocked
overhead rocky mountains, dead trees, and neck chain. A refreshing breeze blown
across and shook the bangs.

It's night. Narrative of the night which wraps the world gently, warmly and gently,
healing.

Unexpectedly, Shinon remembered a distant past scene.

Overnight in the desert of a different world different from here. Shinon threw out and
bashfully threw out, bashing, and crying, suffering from the memory of the incident
encountered when he was young. The strength and gentleness of the arm holding
the back and holding back at that time is full also in the overnight night sky.

Well, this night is the heart of Kirito.

That man is by no means a dazzling sun. You stand at the top of people and never
shine gently.

But, when you are in difficult times, when you are in difficult times somehow you will
support me at the back. Heals sorrow and dries tears. Modestly, but like a sparkling
star. Like the night.

Right now, Kirito will be in a decisive battle with Emperor Vector / Saturather to
protect the world, people living here. I wish to pile it on an enormy that is too big,
keep piling, and I'm wielding the last power.

Then, please - deliver, my heart also.

Shinon looked up at the night sky with pride in his eyes wet with tears hard.

A straight blue sky appeared on the head straight ahead.

Leafa laid down surrounded by countless orks and fist fighters, waiting for the last
time as well.

There is no power to step on the right foot to exercise the resilience of Terraria
anymore. The whole body that has been chopped up and penetrated is cold like
freezing, and even his fingertips can not move.

"Leafa ... Do not die! It does not seem like dead!!"

Orc chieftain Rirupirin kneeling beside her, shouting to cry. Leafa smiled thinly and
whispered the transparent tears that gathered to the limit in a small eye.

"Do not cry ... I will surely come back ... again."

Leafa thought that Rirupirin heard it, rolling his body and trembling his shoulders.

I could not help the older brother directly, but it was okay with this. I played the role
properly, did not I? That's right ......?

And that moment. As if to respond to the voice of the heart of Leafa.

The color of the sky disappeared.

A surprise voice to the fact that the red daylight sky of the dark territory suddenly
changed to the dark night was filled among orks and fist fighters. Rirupirin also raised
its wet face and opened both eyes.

However, Leafa did not surprise or fear. It blown from the south so as to follow the
darkness, and felt the older brother's smell in the night breeze gently stroking the
stone.

"Onii-chan ... ..."

Murmuring, inhale a lot of air.

For Leafa / Suguha, Kirito was the nearest and the most distant existence at any time.

My brother probably thinks that he felt unconsciously before he saw the truth by
himself. My parents now are not my true parents. By the time Suguha learned, Kirito
had already put the shadows of isolation and isolation together. I never tried to
deeply connect with anyone and kept breaking on my own from the edge where
friendship was born.

That idiot makes his brother indulge in the net game, and the fact that the
indulgence gave his brother "the brave who should release SAO" gave the role, but I
do not believe that Suguha is coincidental irony. I do not think that it is a scheduled
relief at the same time.

That is the way my older brother picked themselves. I will never escape, I will try to
keep going on my back. That is the strength of the human being Kirito.

This night sky is nothing but a testimony that Kirito decided to carry this world all
over the people who live there. Because ——

"...... Onii-chan is much more a swordsman more than I am."

Leafa swept the last force, moved both arms with no sense, and assembled to hold
the bamboo sword on the chest.

And it took a while. To my brother 's sword, my heart' s power, delivery.

On the far side of the head, I saw a green star shining brightly.

Lizbet looked up at the silent sky, silently disappearing, while holding the hands of
the Silica.
The scattered spectacle that entirely fills the red sky of the darkness land inevitably
reminded me of that day.

Two years after the start of SAO, the early winter afternoon.

Lisbet, who jumped out of her store, knew that the death game was finally cleared up
in the list of system messages filling the bottom of the upper layer. I realized that it
was Kirito at the moment. Kirito shook my forged sword and defeated the final boss.

After returning to reality, Kirito has said to Lizbet.

"—— I was really losing at that time. Pierced through Hitcliff's sword, indeed HP
became zero. But, for some reason the avatar did not quit. It was only a few seconds
but my right hand moved and I brought it to the opposite. I think that the time that
gave me that time was Liz, Asuna, Silica, Klein and Egil. So, it is not me who cleared
SAO in the real sense. Everyone including Liz is a brave man."

At that time, I laughed and smacked my back on what I am humble, but it was
probably Kirito's true heart. He wanted to say: the truly strong power is in the guts of
lots of people.

"...... Silica."

Lisbet got her eyes off the night sky and glanced at a friend next to her.

"Hey ... ... after all, I like Kirito."

Silica also smiled and answered.

"Me too."

And the two of them returned their faces at the same time that they took a faint
phosphorescence.

On the verge of closing his eyes, Klein pushed his way up high in a distant place, I
saw Egil's silhouette dazzling somewhat by putting my hands on both hips.

Likewise, Lisbet listened to the voices of Japanese players who pray and wish in each
way.

We are diving in this world with Amusphere ... but, it can be felt, Kirito. My heart is
shining.

Overhead, hundreds of star sparks quickly expanded.

Integrity knight Renri looked up at the night sky suddenly visited while forgetting to
breathe while holding the left hand on the neck of the love dragon, Kazenui, with the
right hand holding the left hand of Tiese.

It is a terrible phenomenon, not described in any historical documents left in the

church, such as changing daytime to night. However, there was no fear of Renri.

When two spears pierced the body and was about to accept the imminent death, the
rain of light rained from the sky and healed a fatal injury without a trace. This evening
contains exactly the same warmth as that rain.

There was also a feeling that Renri was surprised that he was the weakest senior
knight who survived to the end, and that he could not forgive. Like the Knight Dakira
and the Knight Eldri, it was only the way to reclaim his deceased friends who can not
remember their names anymore by being scattered all the time in the battle.

However, Renri felt while being healed by the light rain.

A black-haired swordsmen who could not get up from a wheeled chair. He also lost
only one friend. And suffered from suffering that he was responsible for his death, he
was shutting his mind.

Nevertheless, that swordsman stood up. And, like the sacred treasure of Renri Twin •
Edged Wings, he manipulated the two swords, which are the birthplace of self and
friend, exercising tremendous power and returning tens of thousands of enemy
troops to the outside world. He taught Renri on his back.

To live. To live to fight, to live to break down my heart. That — it's just ....

"That's the only proof of strength."

Murmuring, Renri put a little effort into the hand holding the hand of Teise.

A brown-haired girl who stood alongside Sortelina and a redhead girl striking the
other's hands, looking up at the glance and Renri, softened the glowing eyes in the
darkness and firmly nodded.

Four people looked up again at the black sky and devoted their prayers.

In the hundreds of stars, four strong sparkles twinkled as constellations.

Fist fighter group leader Isukan watched the daughter of a green armor that is about
to die from being surrounded by kneeling orks and warriors from a place a little far
away with unexpected feelings.
That girl's fighting was such a terrible thing that I could not catch up with calling it a
demon. When I saw it, I thought that Isukan finally understood why the orcs violated
the emperor's order and rushed to the rescue of the fist soldiers. The chieftain
Rirupirin and three thousand orks judged that the girl is stronger than the emperor.

However, it was different.

All the ork obeyed the girl — no, because the only reason why she was appointed
was that she told them that they were humans, Rirupirin was telling to the lead. From
the eyes of Rirupirin when proudly told so, the hatred for the people who had swirled
in that way was falling out like a bell.

"Well, she's…… not a woman, Sheita."

Isukan called the name of a gray female knight stand by.

"This strength ...... what is it that makes her so strong....?"

Sheita who became a knight of now swaying the long hair bundled and tilted her
head. The cool eyes were returned to the leader fighter after seeing the dragon
standing behind and the giant damper wrapped with bandages on both shoulders,
and then the lips collapsed small.

"I already understand to you that anger and hatred have strong power"

That moment ——.

The sky of the blood color of the familiar dark territory sunk into the dark.

Breathtaken, she swayed over the head of the leader fighter which he swayed over
the head, there was only one green star, there was no sound and he instantly blinked.

The Sheita's hand extended and pointed at the star.

"... That ... That's true power, true light"

"... ... Ah ... ... Oh, that's right."

The leader fighter nodded. The green color of the star blurred owing to the bleeding
on the left eye.

It was not just to hit a wounded fist, but to hit it for the first time in birth, the fist
fighters' leader prayed for something other than victory.

A place slightly away from the green star, a crimson star burned up in a single flame.
Immediately next to it, a gray light floated in a cuddle.
Immediately afterwards, surviving fighters responded to the bamboo at the brief
note, hundreds of stars gradually spread.

Together, thousands of orks also looked up at the night sky and joined in prayer.

And also the dark knights sitting behind will join. Some of them, in keeping with the
talents, protected the fighting team from mysterious armies.

The number of stars exceeded one thousand and immediately exceeded ten
thousand.

The Human World Defense Army Corps remaining at the Great Eastern Gate, the
Apprentice Knight Linel and Fizel and Integrity Knights Fanatioio, Dusolbert, and even
a few lower ranking knights lost their languages uniformly and looked up at the
unprecedented night sky.

Their thoughts of departing in their chests were different, but the strength of prayers
and wishes was the same.

Fanatio prayed for the world that the world has loved by the Aligned Knight chief
Bercouli who left the world, and for the world where a new life living in our body will
live from now.

Dusolbert gently wrapped the little ring shining on his left finger with his right hand
and prayed for the world where he lived with someone who had fitted the same ring
once.

Linel and Fizel prayed that the swordsman who taught the real strength to them can
meet again.

Other knights and masters also gave peace to the world you love and prayed for
eternity to continue.

In the mountains in the northeast of the Dark Territory country the mountain Goblins
prayed and in the wilderness in the west flat ground Goblins prayed.

In central wetlands pray for husbands and fathers returning Ork tribes prayed and the
Giant tribe prayed at the southwest heights.

Imperial Palace In the castle town of Bushidia, there are people of dark skin, and in
the southeastern meadow zone the Ogre tribe closed his eyes and prayed.

The darkening crossed the mountain ranges of the end, even reaching the human
world in a moment.
The apprentice sister, Selca, who was drawing well water for washing at the church in
the village of Rulid in the northern part of the Northern Empire, was taken away by
the sight that the clear sky was covered in the dark from the direction of the
southeast, Stood out. The rope slid from the palm and the wooden bucket that fell
into the well made a faint sound of water, but it never reached the ears.

Whispering from the lips, trembling.

"... .... -sama... ... ... Kirito"

Right now, this moment ——

Selca took the night breeze that the two loved by everyone are fighting a hard fight.
In other words, Kirito awoke again. From the abyss of sorrows that lost Eugeo, once
more it got up.

Selca kneeled on a short grass, combined her hands in front of the chest, closed the
eyes and murmured.

"Eugeo... please give my sister and Kirito uphold"

In the night sky I looked up again with prayers, one blue star caught my eye.

Around the periphery, colorful stars quickly emerge. If you look at it, the children who
were playing around in the courtyard until the end got knees on the ground silently
and clenched small hands.

Merchants and housewives at the square in front of the church.

Farmers in ranch and wheat fields.

Alice's father Gasupht in the office of the village office, and an old man Garitta prayed
in the forest out. No one was afraid to be afraid.

Numerous stars filled up the skies of Rulid.

Likewise, a lot of stardust spread to the sky of the city of Zaccaria, where I went a little
south. Even in the nearby Wolde farm, the ladies and twin daughters Telin and Telulu
came praying side by side at the window.

The villagers scattered throughout the four empires and residents of the city also
uniformly offered silent prayers.

In addition, citizens of the huge city Centoria located in the middle of the human
world. Students of the Sword Master Academy, teachers.

Even monks and priests belonging to the Axiome Church were no exception.
A girl acting as an operator of a lift board connecting the 50th and the 80th floors of
Central • Cathedral did the first thing through her long life. During her duties, she
took her hand from the glass-made wind tunnel, looked up at the infinite starry sky
spreading behind the skylight, and combined his hands.

She did not know the world other than Cathedral. Neither the highest priest's death
nor the dark territory army invaded the girl's life.

So the girl prayed for only one thing.

Again, I would like to meet those two young swordsmen.

The number of colorfully colored stars spanned over 100,000 in the nocturnal night
sky wrapping the whole vast underworld.

The stars started flowing in order from the outermost marginal one, playing a sound
like a bell, aiming for a certain point.

The southernmost point of the world.

To the end of the floating island known as the altar of the end, to the source of the
black-and-white sword, which was drawn in the sky immediately.

Alice, who had been rushing up the stairs which finally saw the end, saw his own
shadow falling on the marble of the suddenly melting suddenly in a huge shadow.

Alice looked back while running, it was an unimaginable sight.

An enemy that sprinkles ambiguous empty sword and spreads six black wings.

Vine of ice that wraps around the body many times and seals movement.

It is the sword fighter of the black dress carrying the wing of the flying dragon that
grasps the pale yellow sword which is the source of ice.

The sword fighter's body was completely lost from the chest. The momentum of total
destruction in a natural condition, the ability to continue fighting is amazing.

However, there was a true miracle over the two of us.

From the longest black sword of the sword fighter 's right hand, the torrent of
darkness rises straight into the sky and covers the entire world.

But that is not the darkness of the unknown.

Innumerable light spots begin to blink in the northern sky. The flock of stars shining
in color, sky ... ... coloring the night.

Unexpectedly ——.

The stars began to move.

While playing the pure tone of harp, which is like a bell, it gathers aiming at the
southern end of the world. Pull white, blue, red, green, yellow light thin and long,
draw a huge rainbow in the night sky.

Alice got intuition that the stars were the power of the hearts of all the people living
in this world.

People world people also.

Dark world people too.

Their families as well.

And people diving.

Now the world is one under prayer.

"Kirito ...... !!!"

Alice called the name of the sword fighter and held the high left hand.

My heart also. As an artificial knight, it is the heart of a living thing only a few years
ago, but this feeling — the impression full of this chest is surely real.

From the left hand, a glittering sparkling golden star was launched and flew in line
with Kirito 's sword.

Asuna did not look back.

The only way to respond to the sacrifice of Kirito was to understand that she was
aiming for a system • console without wasting a second of time a second.

So Asuna pulled out Alice's hands, continued rushing up the stone steps with all her
mental power overcome.

However, she could not stop merely having a hot feeling filled in the back of my
chest.
Her feeling became two drops, slid over the eyelashes, passed through the cheeks
and fell into the air.

Brought in the night wind, the soared droplets blended and turned into stars that
give off seven colors of light.

Looking up the star that flying over the aurora's trajectory for a moment, Asuna ran
without looking back. While running, she just believed.

Gabriel Miller does not care why he is restrained like a ice crisp.

The next moment is not a magical attack of every attribute and even a kid that
completely disabled even a sword attack by a sword.

It certainly hurt him in numerous blades charged in the heart of a boy. However, it is
only the chewing dummy realized mouth. Right now I am rewrapping the whole body
thickly over the dark barrier.

I am the one who reap. Every heat, light, deprive the existence.

Abyss.

"NU ...... LLLLL!"

A heterogeneous groan that is not human's stuff came from behind the throat.

All of six black wings extending from the back changed to the same empty blades as
the right hand sword.

Make them fluttered violently and cut through the surrounding space. Pale ice vines
are cut and body freedom returns.

"LLLLLLLLL !!"

Gabriel spread the seven void blades that added the sword to the wing in all
directions while releasing dissonance from a wide open mouth.

At that time he tried to release the dark wires to protrude his left hand with nothing
in front and to restrain the boy.

That moment, Gabriel noticed that the red color disappeared from the sky.

And also to innumerable meteors falling down one after another.

When I released the memory of the sword in the night sky, I could not imagine a
specific damage. Just in the mind only the word of Eugeo echoing far away when he
gave me a name for this sword, which I only called "black fellow" for a long time.

"—That's it. Kirito 's black sword, "Night sky sword" is named. How are you?"

"—This small world ... ... gently ... wrapping around the night sky ... ...."

The darkness that caught from the sword changed daytime to night and produced
the night sky according to its name.

The moment when the stars that flowed countlessly from the northern sky became
rainbow-colored waterfalls and flowed into the sword, I saw what happened.

The power of the sword of the night sky is the resource absorption power from the
extensive space.

And the strongest resource in this world is never the space sacred power that is
supplied from the sun and the earth as specified in the system. It is the power of the
person, the heart. It is the power of prayer, wish, hope. The last one of the stars
considered to keep raining infinitely was sucked into by the sword.

And the golden and rainbow - colored star melted in the blade, only a couple of
times soaring from the ground, that moment.

The sword of the night sky shone in the color of seven colors, reflecting the thoughts
of many people.

Light flows from the handle into my arm and fills my body. The lower body which was
destroyed by Gabriel also instantly reproduces in a warm glow.

The light of the star also gathered on the left arm, the sword of the blue rose that was
held also dazzles glittering -.

"Oh ... oooooooooooooooh !!"

I widened the two swords wide and shouted.

"LLLLLLLLL !!"

Gabriel Miller, who broke the ice binding in front of me, shot a bizarre roar.

The appearance of Gabriel is not completely human thing altogether. Blue otter
wrapped in an eerie shining nudity like fluid metal and emitted from the orbit. Blue
light is a fire that leaks out of hell.
I hold the long blade of emptiness, grasping on the right hand, at a height, and
extend the six wings that turned into similar blades to all sides.

Immediately afterwards, numerous dense black wires overflowed from the left hand
pointed to me, jumping over.

"... .... Oh !!"

Expand the walls of light with the fighting and spread the wings that the deformed
skirt of the long coat playing them.

Stay behind the sword on the left and behind the sword on the right, kick the air with
grudge.

My distance was a little, full speed rushing should have been less than a second. But I
was enveloped by the acceleration feeling that the time would be stretched to an
end.

Someone's shadow appeared on the right side.

It's a black armor knight with a long sword. That man holding a shoulder of a female
knight with a dark-skinned skin lining meat looked at me and said.

<<Young man, throwing out murderous intent. An obscene spirit of him can not be
killed by the mind of killing.>>

Next, a short-haired brave fighter appeared on the left side. he is wearing a long
sword of steel color in a blue lining figure. It is the integrity knight chief Bercouli who
smiles a bold smile on a grueling appearance.

<<Do not be afraid, boy. Your owned sword has the weight of the world itself>>

In addition, a girl who runs long silver hair on pure white skin appears next to
Bercouri.

The highest priest Administrator whispered the silver eyes and a mysterious smile to
me.

<<Now, let me show it. All the power of your divine power, inherited from me>>

And finally, just before my chest, a robe and a young girl with a scholar's cap appear.
Another highest priest Cardinal with a small spider on the shoulder where brown
curly hair flows.

<<Kirito, you must believe. In your love, and in love to you, in the hearts of lots of
people.>>
In the back of the small eyeglasses, the eyes of the dark brown gleamed gently.

And their appearance disappeared.

The greatest last enemy Gabriel Miller has entered the sword fight.

I trained the most in both arms filled with unprecedented power, and released the
most relied sword technique. Starburst • Stream. Continuous attack sixteen times.

"Ooooooooooooo!"

A sword filled with the light of the star is shot out while drawing a dazzling trajectory.

At the same time, one blade of Gabriel's six wings attacks from all directions.

Every time light and emptiness crash in a row, huge flash and explosion tremble the
world.

Fast.

Even faster.

"Oh ooooooooooooooooooooh!"

While roaring, I accelerate the body assimilated with consciousness anywhere and
wield the sword.

"NULLLLLLLL !!"

Gabriel also screams and shoots seven blades back.

Ten shots.

Eleventh shot.

The crash and the released energy saturates the surrounding space, and it roars as a
lightning bolt.

Twelve shots.

Thirteen shots.

There is nothing like anger, hatred, murderous intention in the chest. Only the
enormous prayer power full of the whole body is moving me.

In this world,

Fourteenth shot.
Brilliance of people's hearts,

Fifteenth shot.

Receive it, Gabriel!!

The final sixteenth was a slash in the upper left corner of full motion with a one-tenth
note behind schedule.

Gabriel convinced of the victory, was narrowed slightly pair of eyes or.

The slashing of the whole body which I released also flew for a moment and the black
wing which stretched from the enemy's right shoulder cut my left arm from the base.

Arm filled with light blasted, and only the blue rose sword flowed in the air.

"LLLLLLLLL ——!"

Along with a loud laughter, the sword of none embraced by Gabriel's right hand was
swung down in black lightning.

Pleasantly, with a sound that sounded reliable, two hands that were not mine grasped
the handle of the sword of the blue rose drifting in the air. Along with the
tremendous burst sound, white and black flashes burst.

The blue rose 's sword took hold of the blades of nihilism.

Eugeo holding the sword rocked the flax hair and saw me.

"Come on - now, Kirito!"

"Thank you, Eugeo!!"

Shout back in a certain voice.

"Oooh ... oooooooooooooh ——————!!"

I knocked down the right upper row slash, which is a seventeen shot, with the power
of whole body on the left shoulder of Gabriel Miller. While sweeping away jet black
fluid metal, the sword deeply slashed just stopped at the position of the heart.

That moment——.

All of the light of the stars that fill me with Eugeo, the sword of the night sky and the
sword of the blue rose turned into a rainbow colored wave and flowed into the heart
of Gabriel.
Gabriel Miller felt energy having infinite color flowing down into a deep abyss that
spreads inside of himself as a large waterfall.

Vision is covered with a rainbow-colored glow, and hearing passes through multiple
voices one after another.

"— Gods, help that man ……"

"— Have that child safely ……"

"— End the war ……"

"— Love you……"

"— The world……"

"— The world,"

"— Protect the world ……!"

"... ... Ha, ha, ha"

Gabriel expanded his arms and six wings to the full while lapping his heart through
the boy's sword and laughed.

"Ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha !!"

Wouldn’t work.
Trying to fill my starvation of unlimited nihilism with light.
It is only similar to attempt to warm up the universe itself with human hands.

"I will swallow it without leaving a drop, I will eat it !!"

Gabriel cried, with both eyes and blowing the blue-black light.

"What you can do! You are just afraid of the power of a person's heart, you just being
terrified!

The boy gave the whole body a golden wave and shouted back.

The sword glows intensely and shines the infinite heat and light into the frozen heart.

The field of view glows hot and the hearing is saturated.

Nevertheless, Gabriel continued to release laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha, ha —— ha ha ha ha ha!"

I was not afraid.

The emptiness that fills the inside of the enemy was just a black hole, but among me
also the huge galaxy produced by the people's prayers is swirling swirlingly.

Gabriel's orbits and blue-violet light extending long from the oral cavity gradually
began to shift its spectrum.

From purple to red. To Orange. Through Yellow — And to pure white.

Ptsss...

And a faint sound echoed, only a small crack ran into the body of fluid metal
wrapping the sword of the night sky. Another one. One more.

White light overflows even from cracks. The six wings on the back are wrapped in
flames from the base.

The lucky mouth was largely lost, and a hole also opened in the shoulder and chest.

Gabriel will not stop laughing while stretching the pillars of light in all directions from
the cracks of the whole body.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha aaa aaaaa ——"

Voice will be higher and higher and eventually it will be a metallic high frequency and
no longer power.

The entire black angel's whole body is surrounded by a white cracks.

For a moment, it collapsed and contracted towards the inside.

It was released.

A terrible explosion of light rushed up far into the sky drawing a spiral.

"—— Hahahahahahahaha

Gabriel Miller jumped up loudly with a smile.

What came into his eyes was the wall with a gray metal panel. A Japanese notice
sticker is attached to wiring and ducts that crawl around the walls.

"Ha ha, ha ha ... ...."

Gabriel repeated blinks while breathing his breath and holding the aftermath of
laughter. When breathing settles, look around the left and right again.

There was no doubt that it was the first STL room of Ocean • Turtle. Apparently, it
seems that it automatically logged out due to unexpected factors.

What a funny ending. Even though I was drinking a huge stream of light and thinking
that I should also eat the heart of a boy.

Will it still be in time if I re-dive now?

Gabriel who turned his face looking around and saw it.

It was a figure of a tall white man lying on the seat of the STL and closing her eyes.

……Who.

He thought for a moment.

Were there any such members in the attack team? Besides this, what on Earth I am
doing to dive.

From that point of view, I finally realize it.

This is my face, this.

Chief technology officer of Glowgen Defense Systems, Gabriel Miller.

Then, who is looking at it, who am I?

Gabriel lifted both hands and looked at them. What was there was a lump of light
that was vague and opaque.

What is this? What happened?

At that time—.

Behind me, there was a faint voice.

"... ... Finally, you came here, Gabe."

He turn around quickly.

What was standing was a young girl in the form of a white blouse and a navy blue
pleated skirt.

Because he is deeply curled, he can not see his face hidden in fluffy blond hair. But
Gabriel quickly understood who the girl is.

"... Alicia"

Call that name for the first time in almost twenty years, let the face collapse.

"What are you doing in such a place, Ally?"

Alicia Klingerman. A girl whose childhood friend who Gabriel Miller killed for the first
time for the sublime purpose of exploring the soul.

At that time, having failed to capture the spirit of Alicia surely saw Gabriel long ago.
However, it has not been lost. It stayed nearby.

Gabriel also forgot about the strange situation where he is located and stretched his
right hand.

Alicia's left hand moves at a tremendous speed, and a small thin finger grips Gabriel's
hand tightly.

Cold. Like ice. Cold air becomes a sharp needle and pierces skin and meat.

Gabriel tried to deflect it reflexively. However, Alicia's small hands are not trembling
like vice, Gabriel extinguishes the smile.

"... ... It's cold, please let go of my hand, Ally"

When it got voiced, blond hair was shaken swiftly to the left and right.

"No, I do not want to let you go, I will go with you."

"Go where..? Where are you ..? No, I have something to do yet."

In answer, Gabriel pulled his right hand with the power of whole body. But it does not
work. On the contrary, it gradually gets pulled down.

"Let me go, Alicia."

Almost at the same time, I got a bit stern voice.

Well, Alicia lifted her head.

That moment when the face under the pretty cut trimmed forelock got into sight.
Gabriel was attacked by the feeling that the heart would shrink.

Internal organs rise. My breath gets rough. My skin glows.

What is this? This feeling, what this feeling is?

"Ah ... “

While raising a strange groan, Gabriel slowly shook her head to the side.

"Let me go away ... Stop it."

Unconsciously he lifted his left hand and tried to throw Alicia off, but his hands were
grabbed instantly. A finger like a cold metal digs into the skin at the last minute.

“U-hu-hu.”

Alicia laughed.

"That is fear, Gabe, real feeling you wanted to know. How's that, nice?"

Fear.

Many people who killed for exploration and experiments are the source of expression
that floated in the time of the death. However, that feeling to taste for the first time
was not very comfortable. On the contrary, it was rude and uncomfortable. I do not
want to know such things. I want it to end soon.

However —.

"No, no, I will keep on coming all the way after now. You will continue to feel only
fear forever."

Zururi — and with this sound Alicia's small shoes sunk into the metal floor.

And Gabriel's legs too.

"Ah ... ... oh ... ... Stop it ... come off ... ... Stop it"

He mumbled like in delirium, but descending did not stop.

Suddenly the white arms jumped out of the floor and wrapped around the legs of
Gabriel. Another one. Further. More.

Gabriel intuitively realized that they are hands of preys he killed so far.

Fear grows to the fullest. Hearts pulse at a horrible speed, and sweat sweats forehead.

"Stop it ... ... Stop it, stop it, stop it!"

Gabriel screamed at last.

"Here, Critter! Get up, Vasago!! Hans!! Brigg!!"

He called his men, but the door to the main control room in front of him is still cold
closed. The Vasago that should be dive in the neighboring STL, there is no sign of
getting up.

Somewhat translucent bodies are swallowed to the floor to the waist. Alicia, which
draws both hands, can only see the shoulder.

The face of the girl gladly laughed just before she disappeared completely.

"Ah ...... ah ... ... Wow aaaa - t !!"

Gabriel screamed.

Many times. Many times.

White hands wrap around the shoulder, neck, and face.

"Ahhhhhhh ...... aaaaaaaa ...... Aaaaa ......"

With "topun" sound, the sight was covered with darkness.

Gabriel Miller realized the fate awaiting him and made the scream that will continue
to be released in the future eccentric at any time.

And —.

The frequency of the underworld started to accelerate again.

At the moment synchronization is lost, hundreds of Japanese players logged in with

Amuspheres are automatically disconnected and waking up in their rooms and
Internet cafe booths with empathy in their chest It was.

All of them tried to grasp what they had experienced in other world for a while
without saying, thoughtfully thoughtfully thoughtfully, but when they wiped away the
tears that soaked in the corners of the eyes, they operated the mobile terminal and
the Amuspheres again. To communicate everything as it is to friends who first logged
out collapse in a battle in a different world.

Sinon and Leafa left the underworld by themselves due to total loss of health just
before accelerating began.
Two people who awakened at the RATH Roppongi branch nodded deeply, looking at
the eyes while waiting for the rest of the pain that remained constantly to fade away.

Both Shino and Suguha believed that Kirito resurrected, defeated the last enemy,
saved the world, and doubted that he will return soon.

Next time, that time is —.

Even if it does not arrive, let's make a word of chin and feelings.

They decided their minds, they saw each other and smiled a little.

However.

The FLA function, which was completely released from the limiter, was trying to
accelerate the frequency of the underworld to the area that had never been reached.

It is over 1000 times. It is over five thousand times.

Towards the end of the wall of time, which is called the "Critical Acceleration Phase",
which is five million times the reality ratio.

As the light of the stars disappeared, the energy filling the whole body also left, I let
the exhausted body lie on his back.

The left arm that was supposed to be blown and disappeared was playing unnoticed.
While holding the sword of the blue rose in my hands with the power left behind, I
endured the tears trying to fade away.

I had realized that the soul of Eugeo who has lived in the blue rose sword, rescued
me many times and encouraged me, finally caught the blade of Gabriel in the end.

Even in the real world, and in this underworld the dead will not come back.

So memories are precious and beautiful.

"... ... That's right, Eugeo ..."

I got dizzy, but there was no voice to answer.

I slowly lifted the two swords and put them in the back sheath.

Immediately after, the overhead sky started to fade away.

Darkness melts, spreads and regains its original color.

...... Blue.

The dark territory sky that appeared again, however, was not the color of the former
blood.

Only clear blue was spreading out like no matter.

It is uncertain whether it is due to the influence of the "Critical Acceleration Phase"

which was finally started, or a miracle brought by prayer of tens of thousands of
people.

Whatever the reason, there is a sense of transparency, the vision is so beautiful that
she wanted to cry. I felt that nostalgia and sentiment were shaken strongly, I sucked
in the blue to my heart.

Close the breath, breathe in for a long time, gently change the direction of the body.

It was a white staircase that collapsed without sounds from below before the open
eyes.

Make the wings fly lightly, chase down the falling stairs and slowly descend. Aiming is
a small island floating in the sky.

In round floating islands, colorful flowers were in full bloom as well as overflowing. A
white stone pavement extends through the flower garden and continues to a building
that is covered with a central shrine.

When I landed in the middle of the stone pavement, I looked around as I returned the
wings to the hem of the original coat.

Sweet, refreshing fragrance of honey tickles the nose. Small butterflies with lapis
lazuli dance fluttering in the sky with lots of small butterflies and birds rush in the
trees of the trees that live here and there. Under the clear blue sky and calm sunlight,
that sight was like a masterpiece of a single width.

And — the island was unmanned.

There was no person on the trail, nor in the temple where the column next to it
stands.

"... Good luck to you.”

I muttered.

Immediately after the Gabriel Miller was swallowed by the spiral of light and
disappeared, I recognized with the sensation that the acceleration by FLA was
restarted. Whether Asuna and Alice successfully escaped from the console to the real
world was a subtle timing. However, the two rushed through that long staircase in
time and got away.

Alice — The soul that is the sole reason why this world was born, that female knight,
who is the limit breakthrough fluctlight, has finally left for the real world.

Alice will have many hardships in the future. She must fight against the world
dominated by completely different laws and common sense, the body of the disabled
machine, and the power to try military use of authentic artificial intelligence.

But Alice will do it. Because she is the strongest integrity knight.

"... ... Ganbare ......" (see urbandic, e.g. "do your best")

I looked up the blue sky and prayed for the golden knight who can never meet again.

So —.

Now that the marginal acceleration phase has started, the means by which I could be
logged out voluntarily from the inside was completely lost. All of three systems •
consoles in the world stop functioning and even if you destroy whole Life, you have
to wait for the end of the phrase in insensitive darkness.

Right now, staff of Kikuoka's RATH outside should be struggling to stop my STL, but
it also will take twenty minutes at the shortest.

Meanwhile, in this world, as long as two hundred years pass.

Whether consciousness disappears by exhausting the life spirit of the soul, or it can
not tolerate an acceleration of 5 million times for a long time, it disappears at an
earlier stage.

The only thing that is certain is that I will never return to the real world any longer.

Parents and Suguha. Sinon. Klein, Egil, Liz, Silica.

School friends and ALO friends players.

Alice.

And, Asuna.

I can never meet the people I love.

In a white cobblestone, I poked both knees.

The upper body that seems to collapse was supported with both hands.
Blurred vision, shimmering light shook, I fell on a polished marble and I cried. And
again. Many times. Right now, there will be the right to cry a little.

I was crying for the important things lost and never to return again. Leaky throat
leaked from the tooth tied and changed tears one after another into drops.

Drip, drip.

Only sounds of water droplets striking the stone pavement reach the ears.

Drip.

— Step.

Step, step.

Suddenly, a sound with a certain density overlapped and sounded.

Step, step. It approaches. Faint tremors are transmitted to the fingertips.

The air shakes. A fragrant, nostalgic smell drifts in the aroma of flowers. Step.

... ... Step.

In the immediate area, the sound stops.

And someone called my name.

Chapter 23 "Return home"
Part 1
July 2026 / People's world calendar November 7, 380

Rinko Koujiro seated at the operation seat of the sub control room and stared at the
small glass hatch offset slightly ahead to the front of the console.

In the liquid crystal window at the top of the hatch, the letter [EJECTING ...] flashes
red.
The sound with which compressed air escapes low heard.

Eventually a small black square appeared in the direction of the glass window. The
liquid crystal changes to [COMPLETE]display.
Rinko extended her trembling hand, opened the glass hatch and took it out.

Rugged metal packaging. A cube about six centimeters on a side is surprisingly

heavy. A six-digit number is engraved on one of seamlessly sealed faces, and a fine
connecting connector is provided.

It is enclosed in this the soul of "Alice".

A light cube set at the center of the main shaft of the Ocean•Turtle. One cube was
ejected from the cluster according to the system's instructions and it was transported
through a long air pipe after being sealed in a protective package .

At the same time, it is a journey from the inner world called the underworld to the
outside world called Real World.

Rinko lost her words for a moment because of her unexpected feelings, but
immediately regained control and cried for the microphone while holding a
packaging.

"Asuna-san, Alice's project completed, afterwards you and Kirigaya-kun just hurry!"

She looks down the countdown of the main monitor stained in crimson and
continues shouting.

"There is only 30 seconds remaining until critical acceleration starts !! Log out
quickly!"

A momentary silence.
It was words that I did not want to anticipate that came back from the speech
eventually.

"Sorry, Rinko-san."

"What ... ... what?"

"I'm sorry. I ... will remain here. Thank you very much for all your time. I will never
forget what Rinko-san did."

The voice of Yuki Asuna resounding from the speech power was calm, gentle and full
of determination. "I only ask for Alice. Alice is a kind person. She has very big love
and is loved by many people. For the souls who disappeared because of Alice ... And
for the sake of Kirito please never make military use possible."

Rinko's lost her word as the last word of Asuna reached her ears.

"Please tell everyone. Sorry, I can not help ... Thank you ...... If we couldn’t... "

Immediately after, the countdown reached zero.

Following the sound of a long siren, the roaring of the heavy machines echoed on a
narrow cable duct.

On the 7th of July, 10 AM The countdown of 15 minutes has ended and the cooling
system beyond the wall started full operation. Many large fans are sucking hard the
waste heat of the machine group that supports the underworld. If you look at the
Ocean•Turtle now from the sea, you can see the hot flames shaking at the top of the
pyramid.

"... ... It began ... ...."

Higa Takeru muttered low.

"Aye"

Shortly responding is Kikuoka Seichiro who is down a thin ladder with Higa as his
back.

The two prepared immediately at the time when judging that the limit accelerating
phase rushing inevitable and without hesitation got into the checking duct again, but
it took eight minutes to fix the injured Higa's body with a harness once it was
confirmed.
Kikuoka continued descending from the ladder with the momentum that sweat blown
out, but finally the limit acceleration of the underworld began before reaching the
pressure resistant bulkhead.

With the feeling of praying, Higa put on the intercom switch and called to the Koujiro
Rinko of the sub control room.

"Rinko-san .... What happened?"

Following the noise, although there was a line connection sound, it was a heavy
silence that arrived.

"... Rinko?"

"……I'm sorry. Alice’s light cube could be secured safely. However……"

Dr. Koujiro told him something in a hellish voice.

Higa swallowed and strongly closed his eyes.

"... I understood ... I’ll also do my best, I will contact you as soon as we open the
bulkhead hatch."

Higa switched off the line to Rinko and spit out the air gathered in the lungs
elongated.

Guessed from the conversation, Kikuoka tried not to ask the situation. Just silent, it
keeps muscular backs moving.

"... .... Kikuoka-san ..."

A few seconds later, Higa squeezed out whispering voices and passed the words of
Dr. Koujiro to the commander.

Critter watched the newly opened window on the main monitor and the message
displayed there silently.

A short string tells that the light cube has been discharged from the cluster and
carried to the sub control room across the pressure resistant bulkhead.

That means that "Alice" was secured on RATH side.

In other words, more than ten hours of strategy to discover and take Alice inside the
underworld is totally failed. Vasago and Miller dive himself, led the army of the dark
world, invaded the human world, with war fiercer than Hollywood movies, and even
tens of thousands of Americans and Chinese and Korean players... All efforts negated
and let the battle fell into water bubbles.

Caressing the shaved head, and briefly sniffing, Critter switched thought.

Is there a possibility that we can physically reclaim Alice in the remaining 8 hours
remaining until the destroyer comes in?

There is no means to destroy the pressure-resistant bulkhead of the composite

material which is sturdy enough from this side. However, as before, the talk is
different if RATH side opens the bulkhead.

In the first place, why was the bulkhead opened earlier? One smart and clumsy robot
and some smokes. Have you really thought that you can suppress us by just using the
grenades?
Could it be that... If there was any other aim of opening the bulkhead, what on earth is
it?

Critter turned around to the members who restarted the force game again.

"Hey, was the robot that came in from a while ago, did not the bombs come out?"

Then, tall Hans answered while twisting his mustache.

"Of course I've confirmed that, of course, it did not have any explosives, no fixed
armament, no ballistic. It was not substitute for shielding either, it did not move as
soon as I shoot it, the soldiers who were behind it also withdrew."

"By the way, the SDF's guys are not soldiers and they are members ..."

He added trivial "whatever" and Critter returned the direction of the chair.

After all the robot fuss could have been a sun. But no matter how much smoke
grenades you use it is impossible to pass by narrow stairs, without noticing Hans or
Brigg.

If so, —.

Lift the tablet type terminal that was left on the desk and display the inside view of
the ocean turtle.

"Well ... this is the main shaft, the bulkhead has crossed here ... the stairs where the
robots crawled is this ..."

At that time, the countdown displayed on the monitor became zero, and a sharp
alarm sounded. Time acceleration of the underworld resumed. Earlier, Brigg in the
brain stab destroyed the control lever, and the magnification has become ridiculous.
However, it does not matter what the underworld does. The fact that the Alice collection
operation failed means that Vasago and Captain Miller would "died" during the battle,
so the logout process should be proceeding in the next room in the meantime.
Then, before Captain Miller comes back, it will be the first decision to find the next
strategy option.

Critter quickly noticed, by enlarging and scrolling the intricate plan.

"Here, there is also a small hatch ... ... What are you named, cable duct ...?"

Rinko who finished telling the situation to Higa Takeru left her body on the mesh
chair while letting out a sinking sigh.

To the Kirigaya Kazuya who was unable to escape before the start of acceleration,
Yuki Asuna’s determination to remain in the underworld is too young,
straightforward, and — to be precious it was beautiful.

I just can not help remembering.

A man whom she loved used to leave Rinko in the real world and disappeared into
the virtual space. If she had the opportunity to go with him at that time, what did she
do? Like him, could she have chosen to burn the brain with prototype STL and leave
only a copy of consciousness?

"Akihiko-san ... you are ... ...."

She close my eyes and whisper with a voice that does not become voice.

It was only his creation that Akihiko Kayaba would have created the floating castle
Incrad and the "true different world" by the ten thousand players trapped there.

However, in the era of the floating castle that spanned two years, he found
something and understood something. Something changed his mind.

And this understanding was a future.

He noticed that SAO is not the end point, but only the beginning. That is why, with
mountain ranges surrounded by the virgin forest of Nagano, he advanced the
densification of Nerve Gear and completed a prototype that would eventually kill
himself.

Rinko who entrusted its development data designed a medical precision full dive
machine "Medicuboid".
RATH and Higa Takeru completed the STL based on the vast amount of data
provided by a single girl who became the tester of the Medicuboid prototype No. 1
for three years.

In other words, depending on the idea, it can be said that the ultimate different world
called Underworld was born with the dream of Kayaba Akihiko as the cornerstone.

Then, with the completion of the underworld, is it that all the hope of Kayaba has
come true?

No, it should be different.

Because, yet, it's not clear yet know where in the puzzle the piece, another seed left
by him - the "The seed" package will fit.

Certainly, because the standard of VRMMO of the seed standard was standardized, it
can be said that it was able to compete against overseas attacks by converted
accounts of Japanese players.

However, Kayaba Akihiko did not expect that situation several years ago. Relief with
the compatibility function should have been a side effect to the last.

If so, which purpose is it? Why was it necessary to interconnect several VR fields under
common standards ...

On the console is a storage case made of duralumin containing Alice’s light cube
package.

Although the light cube itself, which is a collection of photonic gating elements, is
nonvolatile, the gate drive circuit built in the package requires electric power, so
Alice’s soul can not act in the case.

Rinko touched the silvery case on the right hand and saw the humanoid silhouette
standing in the left corner of the sub control room - the machine body "Niemom".

If you put Alice’s light cube package on the head socket of that robot, Niemom will
be Alice' s body, it should be able to move and talk.

Rinko shook his head lightly and dismissed the momentary urge to put the
imagination into practice and talk with Alice. It is not the case that Japanese and
Asuna are in a crisis situation now, it is not the case when doing such a thing, and
even if it is better compared with Ichiemom Alice will be shocked when waking up in
such a monster as Niemom.

Suspended a short meditation, and released his right hand from the duralumin case.

"Dr. Koujiro."
Called from behind, she turn around quickly.

Who was standing was lieutenant Nakanishi who came back to the sub control room
unnoticed.

"I have completed the preparation for reopening partition wall hatch, .

"Ah ... yes ... Thank you very much"

While answering, check the time display on the monitor. One minute has already
passed since it entered the critical acceleration phase. In internal time ...... ten years.

Incredible. The "soul age" of Kirigaya Kazuto and Yuki Asuna has already exceeded
that of Rinko.

I have to log two people as soon as possible even one minute or so. If you can escape
before you run out of your soul life, it is possible to erase all the memories since the
marginal acceleration phase was started. However, the grace time for that is only a
mere less than a dozen in theory.
Higa-kun, Kikuoka-san...
— Hurry!!

Rinko shrugged his lips and pressed them.

The throat of lieutenant colonel Kikuoka is ringing suddenly at best. A sweat like a
waterfall discolors the shirt and soaks in Higa’s clothing.

Higa swallowed the words that he would get off on his own from this time many
times.

The right shoulder shot by Yanai's bullet is dull despite drinking the analgesic to the
limit amount, and the body that has lost blood in mass is heavy like lead. I can not
even support my own weight.

Anyway, Higa thinks.

In this situation, it seems to be honest unexpected that lieutenant colonel Kikuoka

would desperately get to such a point.

The ultimate goal breakthrough fluctlight "A.L.I.C.E." as the final objective of the
Alisisation plan has already been secured. Afterwards, if structural analysis of Alice
and other differences from fluctlight is found, mass production of genuine bottom-up
AI is ahead. In the era of the unmanned weapons, the objective of establishing RATH
which finally establishes Japan's unique technology infrastructure and to get out of
control by the military system of the United States is achieved at last.

That should be the human wish of Kikuoka Seiichiro.

That was why he crawled into the SAO case until he was seconded to the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and since he himself made a character called "Chrysheight " and
continued to interact with VRMMO players.

Therefore, from the action priority order of Kikuoka, it is now likely to continue to
block the pressure barrier and to choose to defend Alice’s light cube until the Aegis
ship's inrush time. Even so, the fluctlight of Kirigaya Kazuto and Yuki Akira Asa left
behind in the underworld will collapse. Do not forget to hold down Dr. Koujiro who
would oppose it strongly somewhere.

"... ... surprised, I suppose ... ... aren’t you ...?"

Unexpectedly Kikuoka said such a thing from under a rough breath, so Higa gave out
a strange sound as heard.

"When, when, oh, that ... ... kinda, not that I want to learn all secrets of Kikuoka-san,
but ..."

"Abso...lutely"

Kikuoka laughed a short while descending at full power in the ladder which became
several meters remaining.

"But say that, please also ... this is also calculated ... this action,"

"Hehe"

"I ...... always think about the worst, in principle, ...... now it is better for me to think
that enemies have the possibility of re-taking Alice"

"Is it the ...... worst case?"

Would it be the worst thing that the enemies noticed this failure duct and attacked
from below while the pressure resistant bulkheads were being opened?

However, before Higa goes ahead of that guess, finally the shoe sole of Kikuoka
reached the titanium alloy hatch.

On behalf of the commander who stops movement and repeats intense breathing,
Higa pressed intercom call switch.

"Rinko-san, we arrived! Airtight bulkhead, please unlock promptly!"

"Wow ... ... really unlocked!"

Critter looked up at the pressure barrier warning notice displayed on the main
monitor and shouted.

Why on earth? For what purpose?

Whatever you think, it does not fit the scale. Now that she has secured Alice, there
are reasons why the RATH bother to take the trouble to release the defense.

However, there is no time to think about anything now. Critter rotated the chair and
instructed the crew members.

"Well, ok, leaves only Brigg, Hans go to the stairs! Shoot down anyone trying to
operate the bulkhead!"

"That we can do ... ..."

While Hans squeezed his tongue for a long time, he carried an assault rifle. A dozen
staff members follow it as well.

"Oh ... right, what should I do?"

Critter pointed his finger towards Brigg where his lips were accidentally sharpened.

"There is work to be done properly, an important mission suitable for yours arms"

Inside, I think about different things. It is better to keep an eye on this brain muscle.
(or You should keep your eyes as far as possible from this brain muscle.)

"Well, buddy and I are going to look at our cable duct, apparently I guess that's what
is the enemy's favorite,"

"Oh ... oh, that's it. That’s right."

Smile and laugh, making a loud noise and checking the magazine of the assault rifle,
Critter tapped while killing a sigh.

Next to Hans and others from the main control room, I went out into the boat
passage and began to run in a different direction, Critter took a glimpse of the door
— I saw the first STL room.

That's right, Vasago, still doesn’t logout, lazy fellow? No wonder he smoked so much
not even only tobacco.
He thought he should check it for a moment but already Brigg has run out of the
aisle. Inevitably Critter also follows.

Arrived at the target in just a few minutes. At first glance the passage extends along
the inner wall of the main shaft. However, according to the sketch, it is supposed to
have a churning duct on the upper part of the shaft beyond the small hatch on the
left side wall. Of course the duct is also separated by a rugged partition, but if the
guess is correct —.

Grasp the rotary opening and closing handle with a sweaty hand and turn it to the
left.

Critter that opened the heavy metal doors first saw the tunnels about a meter deep,
lit by dark orange light, less than a meter high. Simple steps are installed on the wall
of the tunnel extending vertically at the end of the street.

And, underneath the step, there is something of cloth lump.

"... .... whoa!?"

As soon as he noticed the identity, Critter was overrepresented greatly and hit the
back of the head against the Brigg jaw standing behind him. However, both eyes are
spread apart without being aware of the pain or the swearing voice of the giant.

Cloth, yea clothes contained contents. Somebody is crooked as a result of collapsing

your body. Brigg who pushed the critter pushes the rifle, but immediately points out
with a low voice.

"He won’t live anymore"

Certainly, the cervical vertebrae of the crawling man is twisted at an unnatural angle.
While making the largest frown plane, Critter thrusts into the tunnel fearfully and
confirmed the face of the dead.

"That ... ... This guy is not that ... Information provider of RATH... ... Even a spy was
carried out and executed ...? But how to kill this ..."

Reluctantly touching the skin of a man, a sticky feel comes along. From the
temperature, it is probably when the bulkhead was first opened. In other words, the
opening of the first time was this guy going to escape to the bottom of the shaft?
And crashed to death by stepping out the ladder?

If so, why was the bulkhead reopened?

I would like to check the partition wall hatch at the top of the cable duct, but in order to
do so I have to pull out the corpse. However, it is dismissed so much.

When he retreat from the tunnel and exit the aisle, he instructed Brigg.
"For the time being, if it happened on the duct, try to confirm it’s clear."

The big beast of beards sounded a nostrils and thrust the body into the tunnel, and
pulled out the corpse of Spy to power. Returning to the tunnel again, looking into the
vertical duct at the end while twisting the upper body.

It is the moment that Critter thought while being an amateur, whether he came in
from the head or not.

"Shit!!"

At the same time, Brig lifted the assault rifle and fired.

The yellow flashes burned the retina of Critter and two kinds of shooting sounds hit
the tympanic membrane.

In front of the eyes that swallowed the screams, giant Brigg has bounced on the
tunnel floor as though it was hit by an invisible hammer.

"Wow! What is it!?"

Critter screamed and fall backside on the floor of the aisle. Brigg will not move as
quickly as he fell to the place where Spy's corpses had been contained until just ten
seconds ago. It is obvious that he had the same destiny as a spy, without seeing a
blood pool that would spread to the floor. There was a RATH fighter on the upper
part of the challenge, he was shot by him.

Well, what is it?

Critters thought while sweating cold sweat like a waterfall.

Collect the assault rifle from Brigg's right hand and shoot with the enemies at the top of
the duct and take enemies? No, no, I am just a computer talented, work is just thinking
and hitting keyboard. Continue thinking further as if crawling halfway while retiring to
the Main control room.

At least this, he just understood that there is an intention of aggressive attack on

RATH side. However, we are obviously superior in terms of strength. If you fight, victims
will naturally come out over there. Alice is taken again, why are not you all occupied
the upper shaft and stick to it?

Is there any further "worst", the commander of RATH thinks? Do you even think that
there is enough firepower to blow the whole Ocean • Turtle? With a C4 explosive on
hand you can not blow off a pressure-resistant hatch ... ....

Thermal power ...

Unexpectedly, Critter inhaled the air sharply. Two corpses rolling behind the aisle also
disappeared from consciousness.

That’s it.
There is only one way to destroy the whole Ocean•Turtle and convert Alice's light cube
and RATH staff into sea algae.

If it is judged that securing Alice is impossible, it is client's order to completely

destroy it. But for that reason, is it allowed to make this huge self-propelled mega
float and dozens of crewmen get along?

There is no way I can make such a terrible decision. It is necessary to suffer from a
lifetime nightmare.

Critter went up and ran to the main control to seek the judgment of the commander.

"Ki ... Kikuoka-san! Are you OK, Kikuoka-san!"

Higa asked, with a voice that killed him. At least three enemies who emerged from
the hatch at the bottom of the duo must have left Rifle.

There was no reply. Carried Higa, hung on the right hand, and lieutenant colonel
Kikuoka grasping the pistol on the left hands down with a shoulder pushing against
the wall.

You must live. Hey, stop it. You are still a necessary person.

"Ki..."

— Kikuoka Saaaan !!

At that time that was going to shout out, lieutenant colonel took coughing violently.

"Keeh ... .... Well, no ... ... I wore a bulletproof vest and it was the correct choice ... this
is ..."

"Ahh, sure! I am seriously going to leave the Aloha shirt once a day"

Oh, and exhilarating the breath of relief, I look down on Kikuoka's back again.

"Well, you did not get injured?"

"Well, it seems to have just hit one shot, which is why you are safe?

"Eh ...... Yeah, that does not apply to the body or the terminal"
"If so, let's hurry, the inspection connector is almost there."

As Higa was shaken by the back of Kikuoka who began to descend the step again,
Higa again murmured in the inner heart that it was surprising.

Kikuoka-san thought that he might be badly suffering from physical skills, but the
muscles that undulate on a wide back are steel and shooting like sniper — despite
the bad condition that hanging on the ladder and aiming at the just below with a
single left hand, the second shot of a double tap shot the enemy's knot and chest
accurately.

Absolutely, he's still full of surprises, no matter how long we go together.

Shaking his head a little, Higa protruded the cable to pull out the inspection
connector that came in the sight from the pocket.

Critter, who came back up the aisle, jumped into the main control room, ears ringing
with the rifle's sound coming from the staircase.

In the room, there are no figures of Commander Miller and Vasago. I wonder if they
have not left the STL yet. Even though more than five minutes have already passed
since time acceleration has already begun.

Whether the explanation of the idea that came up to him was clear, Critter was still
hesitating. It was because he was convinced that they would say that if they were told
they would do it immediately. They are not type of people who care about civilian
casualties if they are to carry out their duties.

Without a conclusion, Critter opened the doors of the first STL room vigorously.

"Captain Miller! Alice to the enemy ... ...."

The word to follow caught in the back of my throat and stopped.

On the near side, Gabriel lying on the gel bed of the STL No. 1 machine and covered
with a machine above the forehead. On the mirror's face, a look that he had never
shown before was emerging.

No, Critter never saw such a facial expression on any human face.

Blue eyes are wide open all the way. Mouth is expanded as if the temporomandibular
joint has come off, and it is distorted obliquely. The tongue that protrudes for a long
time seems to be a different creature.
"... Co... rp... se....?"

While panting, Critter shook his knee. Now, if Mr. Miller's protruding eyeball moved, I
was convinced that I would scream.

Take a few seconds to somehow calm breath, stretch the right hand awesome, touch
the left wrist hanging from the bed.

There was no pulse.

And the skin was cold in the water. Commander of the ambush team, Gabriel Miller,
was completely destroyed even though there were no bruises on the body.

Desperately pushed back the thing that came in from the stomach, the critter cried
out in a hoarse voice.

"Vasago ... Get up quicly! Captain ... ... is dead ... ...."

Walk around the gel bed with trembling feet and put the second Unit in sight.

This time, Critter screamed high pitched.

Vice-principal Vasago Casals was seemingly sleeping calmly. There is no expression

on the face whose eyelids are closed, and both hands are stretched beside the body
straight.

However—.

The long hair that waves undulating, which was so black like that.

Right now, it turned into a dry gray hair like a hundred years old superior old man.

Not feeling like checking the pulse of Vasago anymore, Critter slowly moved back.
Being Critter who should be the hack power to believe only logic and source code As
soon as I also met the same as two people anyone would leave this room as well.

Roll out rearward from the entrance of the unopened, close the door with the right
foot.

While repeating a deep breath, Critter worked hard to think back.

There is no way to investigate what happened to the captain and Vasago, and I do not
want to know. It can be inferred that there is something in the Underworld and as a
result the two fluctlights are completely destroyed.
In the end, the strategy has failed. As commanders have died, we can not judge the
power whether to destroy Alice on each ship. There is no point to stay in this place any
more.
Critter picked up the communication device from the console and pushed out the
strange voice.

"Hans ... return, Brigg, Vasago and the captain died"

A few hundreds of seconds later, the expression of a glittering knife appeared on the
face of the team's Dad, who ran into the control room.

"Brigg got dead! Why !?"

"... ... in the cable duct, shot from above, ... ...."

Critter desperately stopped Hans trying to run with a rifle as soon as he heard it.

"Stop it! Alice's light cube has been deprived, there is no point in fighting anymore ..."

Hans was silent for a while. Suddenly, he made a terrible sound by hit the walls, and
said quickly.

"...... No, there are still instructions left, so if you can not take it, you should destroy it,
you have something about idea, are not you?"

The trembling beard which was beautifully arranged, trembling at the enraged Hans,
Critter faintly nodded.

"Ah ... ah, there is something, but no, no, I can not judge without a captain"

"Say it!!"

Hans shouted, pointing the muzzle of Assault Rifle into the throat of the critter. A
swordy line of mercenaries who seemed to have formed a combination with Brigg for
many years before being hired by Glowgen was not to help Critter.

"Ok ... it's an engine ..."

"Engine? Is this ship?"

"That's ... ... The main machine of this big ship is a nuclear reactor ..."

Too fast.

Rinko Koujiro stared at the digital number being heartlessly increasing while firmly
holding both hands wet with sweat.

Years passed in the underworld since the start of the marginal acceleration phase —
indeed, a hundred years. I can not imagine how much Kazuto Kirigaya and Yuki Asuna
experienced that enormous amount of time anymore. One thing is certain that the
memory capacity of the two fluctlights is getting closer to the limit.
According to Higa's prediction, the human soul can not operate properly at the time
when accumulating the memory of about 150 years, collapse begins. Of course it was
not confirmed by experiments. Actual limits may be ahead of time — or it may be
early.

Now she just hoped that the logout process will be completed earlier than the soul
will self-destroy. If it can be cleared, the hope of returning to the original two still
remains.

Higa-kun, Kikuoka-san. Please hurry.

Rinko praying did not notice that the gunshot sound that had arrived faintly from the
downstairs was interrupted beforehand. It was lieutenant Nakanishi who came back
to the subcontrol room and was informed her.

"Doctor! The enemy has started withdrawing from Ocean Turtle!"

"... ... withdraw !?"

Raise your face and repeat silently.

Why at this time. Now that the bulkhead is open again, is not it the last chance for
assailants to secure Alice? It is too early to give up. There are still eight hours left until
the escort ship "Nagato" comes in. (//translator: how did she know? they could
speculate but they don't know time)

Rinko asked the lieutenant while running fingers on the keyboard and inviting the
status window to notify the situation of various parts of the ship.

"Have our people been injured in the battle?"

"Ah ...... slightly injured two names, seriously injured one person, is in the treatment it
seems that is not life threatening."

"So……"

She exhale a small breath, which I was stuffing. If you look at a glance, a big patch is
stuck around Nakanishi's ruffled braid that draws a sturdy line, and it is thinly blurred.
One could wonder if he himself is among the minor injuries.

In order not to waste their fierce battles, we must surely rescue the two young
people.

At least it's a good news that enemies began withdrawing. Following the status
window with a gaze, Rinko watched the raiders to rush Ocean turtle. I confirmed that
the dock in the bottom of the turtle was open.
"The guys seem to escape with a submarine, even then, it is a shameful ... ...."

Rinko frowned her eyebrows, then.

Heterogeneous tremors shook the entire main shaft.

Loud moan, like a woodchair, runs through a huge self-running mega float. The ball
pen on the table rolls and falls to the floor.

"What ... What happened !?"

"This is ... ... No... ... No way, they ... ...!"

Liutenant Nakanishi shouted a groan.

"This tremor is due to full power operation of the main machine, Doctor!!"

"Main... ...."

"Main engine ...... That is, the pressurized water reactor of the shaft base"

The lieutenant who flew to the console on behalf of Rinko who is stunned and
opened her eyes, manipulated status window with unfamiliar hands. A new window
opens one after another, an unclear image emerges in one of them.

"Damn!! All the control rods are up!! Those guys, what sort of men!!"

Dan!

Rinko asked with a blunt voice to the first lieutenant hitting the console.

"But there are safety devices, right?

"Of course, before the reactor core reaches criticality, the control rods will
automatically enter and nuclear fission will stop ... Just look at this here ..."

The first finger pointed a part of the real-time image of the nuclear reactor storage
room displayed on the monitor. It is difficult to understand with red light, but it
seems that something small white sticks to a part of a large machine painted yellow.

"This is probably C4 ...... Plastic bomb. This size will not rupture both the containment
vessel and the pressure vessel, but just under this place is the electric CRD (//Current
Reset Device e.g. https://selinc.com/products/CRD/ ) for inserting the control rod
cluster into the core ...... That is, there is a drive unit. If this is destroyed, the control
rod can not drop its own weight ...... "

"What will happen if I can not stop nuclear fission ... What will happen ...?"
"Firstly, the primary cooling water explodes and steam explodes and breaks down the
pressure vessel ...... In the worst case, the melted core breaks through the
containment vessel and the bottom of the ship, falling to the sea surface, generating
a large amount of water vapor, and blowing the entire inside of the shaft. Let's fly ...
Main control room power and LightCube Cluster and this sub control room "

"What ..."

Rinko unexpectedly looked down on the floor. Ultra high temperature steam will
spurt through this rugged metal floor —?

If such a thing comes to mind, the personnel of RATH who have been endured
without giving out victims so far, too, as well as the Kirito and Asuna who are
connected to the STL, and tens of thousands of people Fluctlights sealed in the Light
Cube Cluster, too, there is no one ... ....

"I will remove C4."

Unexpectedly, lieutenant Nakanishi said in a low voice.

"They should have set a detonation time with enough time for the submarine to be
sufficiently away from the Ocean Turtle, and five more minutes ... there should be
plenty of room."

"But, Nakanishi, the temperature inside the engine room is already ... ...."

"What, I will not change from a hot sauna, it's as easy as running and pulling a
detonator out"

That 's only if you are wearing protective clothing properly. But there is no time to
prepare such anymore.

Rinko could not put the word out her mouth. The wide back of the lieutenant facing
the door was forced to make a determination like steel.

However.

Just before black leather lace boots reached the slide door.

A sound that she have never heard in this room has hit Rinko's earlobe. Seeing the
left side of the room at the same time as Nakanishi stretch reaches the holster on the
right waist quickly.

With a metallic motor driving sound like “weiin”, it stepped the right foot from the
holding frame —.

It was a machine body made of metal and plastic, Niemom.

Rinko and Nakanishi watched the machines of the human type who gradually walked
up slowly while shining the sensors of the head red.

It can not move.

Higa, the designer, was not saying. Unlike Ichiemon packed with a large amount of
balancers for walking, Niemom designed from the beginning as a person fluctlight
type can not walk a single step without inserting a light cube. And Alice, the only
fluctlight taken out of the cluster, is kept in a tabletop desk. The socket in the head of
Niemom is supposed to be empty.

"Why ..., prototype No.2 ... ..."

Nakanishi who gave out astonishment voice pulls the handgun out of the holster. But
Niemom who came straight towards Rinko did not give an eye to it and stopped at a
place about 2 meters away, a little electronic resonance from the speaker that was
being somewhere in the head .

"Let me go"

That voice.

The smell of oil drifting from the body of Niemom stimulates faint nose.

On the evening of the day when she flew to the Ocean Turtle, Rinko heard the same
voice, felt the same aroma, in her dream of seeing it in the bed in the cabin.

Somehow she stood up with trembling legs, walked up to Niemom, and asked with a
blurry voice.

"... .... Ah ...... Akihiko-san, is that you ...?."

The blinking sensor blinks as if it blinks, the robot nodded small. Rinko, who took the
last step as if being sucked in, touched the aluminum exterior with a pair of trembling
hands. Both hands of the robot lifted with the motor sound touched Rinko's back.

"I am sorry for making it alone for a long time, Rinko-kun"

Even if it was electrosynthesized, its voice was no doubt surely one of the one Rinko
loved — Akihiko Kayaba's one.

"This is where... you are"

Rinko whispered in a dialect that should have been forgotten (//no idea, 「こんなと
こさ……いたのけ」). Tears overflowed from both eyes, the light of Niemom 's sensor
blurred.
"No time. So, I only say what I need. Rinko, I was happy to meet you.
Only you have kept me stuck in the real world. Hopefully ... I hope you can proceed in
future. Where my dream ...... the two worlds ...... separated from each other now, ...... "

"Yeah ... ... Of course course ... ... of course."

The face of a machine staring at Rinko nodding many times smiled lightly.

The robot released the body, changed its direction with a smooth center of gravity
movement and went out of the sub control room to the aisle at a speed that almost
runs.

In front of Rinko who tried to chase after it unconsciously, the sliding door closed.

Breathe in heavily and tighten your back teeth. I can not leave this room now. It is
myself who was entrusted with monitoring the situation at various places.

Instead, Rinko looked up at the image of the engine room, clenched the chest
pendant. Lieutenant Nakanishi, in a stunning appearance, heard a muttering saying,
"Why now ... ...." in a sigh-like voice.

Certainly, there have been many crises. However, Rinko felt that she understood the
reason why Kayaba abandoned the role of the observer with this timing.

"... It's not for the Underworld, he does not intend to intervene in the simulation, so I
revealed himself to protect Kirigaya and Asuna ... ...."

Higa Takeru realized the identity of "worst" which fearfully faced Kikuoka when
hearing the heavy turbine groaning from under the cable duct.

"... ... Kikuoka-san, those guys, nuclear reactors ......"

Higa's groaning voice was blocked by a resolute instruction.

"I know, now take the full control to shut down STL"

"... ... Yes, but ... ...."

Higa felt cold sweat spreading throughout the whole body while inserting the
connector of the cable to the inspection panel in the wall.

If nuclear reactors runaway, the meaning of this work also goes away. On the
contrary, both Underworld and Alice's light cube are destroyed by high temperature
steam and high-level radiation. Many lives together.
But exploding nuclear reactors is not so easy. Dual metal containers covering the
reactor core can not be torn very much by rifles and so on, and there are also many
safety controls in the control system. If we continued full reckless driving, the safety
device will work soon, the control rod will go down and stop nuclear fusion.

At that time, Kikuoka asked with the usual relaxed tone.

"Hmm, Higa-kun ... Will you manage alone?"

"Well ... if you fix the harness to the step, work is possible, but ... but, Kikuoka-san, it's
under ... ...

"No, no, I will just look at shaft, I will not do nothing stupid, I will return soon."

Kikuoka quickly removed the harness fixing the two, passed multiple nylon belts
through the steps and fixed the buckle again. Confirm that Higa's body was retained,
and get off several steps.

"Well then, talk later, Higa-kun"

Behind glasses, thin smart black eyes smiled.

"Please, be careful! From those that they may still have left!

To Higa's voice, I thrust out my thumb on my right hand with a gown that does not
suit, and Kikuoka got off the step at a tremendous speed.

When he arrived at the lowest side hole, carefully peek into the back and slide your
body.

Moreover, Higa realized that after the appearance of Kikuoka completely

disappeared.

While tapping the keyboard of the laptop with the right hand, the feeling of
lukewarm was transmitted to the left hand, trying to adjust the position of the
harness that digs into the belly. The palm looked down at the head was wet with
liquid that looks dark under an orange emergency light.

It was obviously obvious that it was not Higa's blood.

Most of the shipboard surveillance cameras of the lower shaft which had been
occupied by assailants until a few minutes ago were destroyed, but those in the
engine room area where nuclear reactors were stored were safe.
Rinko looked up at the main monitor who showed the image from the camera and
wrapped the h both hands together and waited.

Immediately left, lieutenant Nakanishi clasps both hands on the console hard. Behind
the scenes the security staff and technical staff who have pulled up from the
defensive line downstairs are dedicating their prayers in their respective attitudes.

Rinko requested them to evacuate at least to the bridge of the bow. However, there
was no one who left the main shaft as one person.

Everyone here is dedicating everything to research and development in RATH who is

a disguised company that does not hit the day. True, opening positive Bottom up AI
of a new era, each dream is entrusted with a wish.

Rinko had always thought that she was only a customer who visited this ship to the
last. Kikuoka Seiichiro, I felt it was unlikely that I would feel like being in sync with the
purpose of a human being who can not see the true heart.

Anyway, Rinko finally came to RATH to visit. And realized it.

Human's fluctlight is not a good thing to push into narrow research objectives such
as AI for mounting unmanned weapons.

Likewise, the Underworld is not just a social development simulation, for example.

They are the beginning of a huge paradigm shift (//self-reference to Accel World
vol.20).

Another reality that reforms the real world that is just blocking. A world that
embodies the invisible power of the incarnation of young people trying to break
away from existing systems.

That is what you aimed for, Akihiko-san.

You noticed and found in the two years in the floating castle, their infinite possibilities.
Shining brightly, the light of the heart.

The greatest and worst crime in the history of mankind who locked ten thousand
people in the electronic prison and have let four thousand of them lose their lives is
not permissible for whatever reason. Rinko's sin who cooperated as a result of that
crime never snows forever.

But now, now ... I want you to forgive me for hope.

Please, Akihiko-san. Please protect everyone ... ... the world.

As if responding to Rinko 's prayers, there was a movement in the remote image on
the monitor at last.
A silver machine body appeared in a narrow passage leading to the engine room
containing the pressurized water reactor.

Whether the output of the battery is already starting to decline, the gait is slow. As it
struggles with our own weight, it will move forward with a loud noise.

It was impossible for Rinko to know from when Kayaba's thought imitation program
was latent in that body. But only one thing is certain that the program in the memory
of Unit 2 should be the only original. Every intelligence can not endure the
recognition that it is a copy that exists more than once.

To what extent can the electronic system of the prototype unit that will not have heat
resistant treatment burned to the high heat of the engine room can endure? Plastic
bombs can deter explosion even if a detonator is pulled out, but if the memory of
Niemom is destroyed, Kayaba's consciousness disappears at that moment.

Please, Rinko stiffly touched her lips, trying to pray that you released the bomb
successfully and returned to me a moment.

Probably Kayaba Akihiko is ready to disappear here.

He once kept copies of thought until burning the birth of a living body, finally fulfilled
the purpose and found a place to die.

Well, the actuator of the joint mouth roars.

Then, and the foot of the metal foot steps on the floor.

With a hard but steady walking, the machine body finally reached the door of the
engine room. Stretch your right hand and operate the open and close panel
awkwardly. The indicator turns green and a thick alloy door opens in the back.

At that time.

A shadowy rifle's fire shouted from the speaker. While Niemom protects the body
with both arms, it retreats with an awkward foot.

From the back of the opened door, a soldier in black combat clothes jumped out
shouting something. It is definitely a member of the raiders. I have not hidden my
face with helmets and goggles in the past. The man who grew a thin mustache on the
eldest man's face can be seen to have a terrible appearance even with a coarse image
of the surveillance camera.

"Why ... did he have one person left !? Why! Is he going to die ...?! "

Lieutenant Nakanishi felt quietly.

In the Unit 2 that takes a defensive posture, the man mercilessly shoots bullets.

Sparks can be played, and a number of holes are made in the aluminum exterior.
Lubricating liquid splashes from the cylinder of polymer muscle tears off nerve canvas
at various places.

"... ... Stop it !!"

Rinko screamed unexpectedly. However, enemy soldiers in the screen cried

something again in intense English, and pulled the trigger of rifle three times. The
robot waggles, one step, another step backward.

"The exterior of Unit 2 can not bear with it!!"

It was certain that I could not make it in time, lieutenant Nakanishi tried to rush a
handgun in his hands.

That moment.

A new gunshot echoed from the speaker in a row.

From the near side of the aisle, the third person shoots running while shooting a
handgun. The body of enemy soldier shakes greatly to the right, to the right. From
right behind, it is a brilliant arm to keep shooting without firing one machine body at
all. Who on earth.

At the end of Rinko's line of sight where he forgot his breath and opened his eyes, he
finally burst his blood from the chest of the enemy soldier, collapsed and stopped
moving as it was played.

Immediately after, the rescuer also slowly knees at the middle of the aisle.

I sat down in the sideways direction. Rinko manipulated the mouse with trembling
hands and zoomed the camera.

Bangs on forehead. Black eyeglasses that are diagonally off. The mouth seemed to be
laughing slightly.

"Ki ... Kikuoka-san!?"

"Colonel lieutenant ... ...!"

Rinko and Nakanishi screamed at the same time.

This time, the SDF members will run out of the room with such a rolling momentum.
Several security staff will follow. Rinko could not do any more to stop them.
Instead, one of the technical staff jumps to the console. The keyboard is repeatedly
hit, and the status that you think is the one of Unit 2 is displayed.

"Left arm, output zero. Right arm, sixty-five percent, left leg right leg, both are
seventy percent. Battery remaining, thirty percent, it can move, it can still move!"

Unit No. 2 resumed its forward movement as if the staff's screams were heard.

Right, Left. Right, Left. Along with awkward walking, sparks splash from a chestplate.
At the same time as a ragged body dives in the door, Rinko switched the camera to
the image inside the engine room.

The second heat-resistant door was physically locked with a large lever. The right arm
of Unit 2 strikes the lever and tries to push it down. The elbow actuator runs idle, and
a large amount of sparks scatter.

"Please ... ..."

At the same time Rinko dazzled, cheers came up from there in the sub control room.

"Ganbare, Niemom!"

"Good luck, there you are!"

However, this time.

The lever descended with a heavy sound.

Instantly, a thick metal door opened to be pressed by the pressure from inside. The
terrible hot air spouted out was perceived through the monitor as well.

Unit 2 staggers. A thick smoke flows from the back sparks intensely.

"Ah ... ... Oh, no !!"

Unexpectedly, one of the technical staff cried.

"What ... what's wrong !?"

"Battery compartment is damaged!! If it runs out, the power supply to the whole is
stopped ... ... it will be impossible to move completely ..."

Rinko and other staff uniformly exclaimed.

Kayaba himself residing in Unit 2 probably noticed the serious damage. Hold the
shaking plate with the right elbow and resume walking slowly.
The inside of the engine room which he at last reached, reached a high temperature
which can not be tolerated by very human beings, because it can not discharge the
high heat released by the nuclear reactor which continues full power operation.

Probably, the safety device will work soon, the control rod will automatically rush to
stop the nuclear apparel clothing.

However, if plastic bombs burst faster and destroy the control rod drive. Large
quantities of neutrons released from nuclear fuel continue to collapse the uranium
atom in a chain and eventually lead to a critical state that is uncontrollable.

The molten core destroys the pressure vessel by steam explosion of the primary
cooling water and the core penetrates the containment vessel and the bottom of the
ship while being pulled by gravity and reaches the sea surface.

Rinko's mind briefly glimpsed the image of white smoke spouting through Ocean
Turtle.

Close your eyes and pray again.

"Please ......Akihiko-san......!"

Everyone resumed cheering as soon as well. Unit No. 2 approached the nuclear
reactor so as to be pushed by them. Switch to the last camera.

Instantaneous noise flooded from the speech power. The image of the monitor stains
red in emergency lights. There are only two and six meters far from the Unit 2 which
separates hot air and moves forward to drag one leg and the plastic bomb sticking to
the top of the containment vessel.

The right hand of the robot is lifted toward the detonator. Sparks are scattered all
over the body from time to time, fragments of the exterior fall to the floor one after
another.

" Ganbare... Ganbare ... Ganbare! ...!"

The sub control room was filled with only one word. Rinko also grabbed both fists
and shouted with a voice.

Another 4 meters.

Three meters.

Two meters.

Suddenly an explosive spark caught from the back of Unit 2.

A tear-off, black hanging black cliff seemed to be a gutted viscera.

All sensors on the head lost the light. The right arm sank loosely.

Both knees bent and folded —

Unit 2 was completely silenced.

The output graph of each part which was swaying side by side in the main monitor all
fell down and blacked out.

Technical staff told in a whispering voice.

"...... All outputs, disappeared ...... It happened ..."

— I did not believe in miracles.

Formerly Death Game SAO was cleared much faster than scheduled and all the
players were released, Kayaba Akihiko who awakened in the mountain bed said that
to Rinko.

The eyes were full of calm light, and the mouth surrounded by the beard has a faint
smile.

— But you know. It was the first time since I was born I saw a miracle today.
— He refused to disappear, even though he was pierced by my sword and had a hit
point to be completely zero, as if against the system...... Move the right hand and stab
the sword against my chest, he did.
— Perhaps, I might just have been waiting for that one moment ... ....

"... .... Akihiko!!"

Rinko cried without noticing that blood dripped from the right hand clenching the
pendant.

"Just be Heathcliff the "Holy Sword"! If you try be the biggest rival of "Black
Swordsman" Kirito too, do something about a miracle ... please do it!

Chi-ka.

Chi-ka-chi-ka…

A blinking red light is a ranging sensor of the head of Unit 2.

The exposed muscle cylinder shakes small.

Purple light shimmer at the lower end of the blacked out status window.
All the graphs showing the limbs and trunk outputs grew at a stretch. The actuator of
each joint rotated with scattering sparks.

"Num ... ... Number 2, restart!!"

At the same time the staff screamed with screaming voice, the full-body creation
machine body rose again. Tears overflowed from both eyes of Rinko.

"Oh yeah, yeah!"

"Proceeding forward !!"

All members of the sub control room shouted.

The right foot that drips the oil like blood, one step forward.

While dragging the heavily damaged left leg, stretch your right hand high.

One step. Another step.

Small explosion at the battery section. Limbs and body shake. But one more step.

The fingertip of the right hand extended to the limit touched the plastic bomb
attached to the containment vessel. The thumb and the index finger put the electric
detonator inserted.

While scattering the sparks from the wrist, elbow, shoulder joints towards the end,
Unit 2 pulls out the detonator together with the IC timer, raising its right hand at all.

A flash of light burned the screen white.

Unit 2, which was blown off by the finger of the right hand to the exploding
detonator, slowly tilted his body to the left -.
It crumbled down to the floor like a thread broke. As the light of the sensor blinks
and disappears, the output graph also blacked out again.

For a while, no one said anything.

A couple of seconds later, the loud cheers shook the sub control room.

The turbulence of a turbine like withering winds slowly weakened and goes away.

Higa exhaled large heavy breath. The nuclear reactor which continued catastrophic
full power operation finally began to lower the output.

Wipe off the forehead sweat with your left cuff and stare at the laptop's monitor
through dirty glasses.

The shutdown process of the two STLs has finally completed about 80% of the entire
process. The elapsed time since the critical acceleration phase was started has already
exceeded 17 minutes. Underworld is equivalent to over 160 years.

It is a huge amount of time that Higa expects as well as the marginal lifespan of
fluctlight. Considering only by reason, it is highly likely that the soul of Kirigaya
Kazuto and Yuki Asuna have already self-destroyed.

But Higa acknowledged that he was actually equal to not knowing anything about
underworld and fluctlight. Certainly, he designed it, built it, and let it run. However,
the different world brought up by artificial souls seems to have reached the heights
that no one of RATH engineers imagined.

And now, the real world people who know the world deepest are definitely Kazuto
Kirigaya. He was supposed to be a high school student at the age of seventeen,
adapted to the underworld which had been thrown out without any prior knowledge,
evolved, and reached the power to surpass the four super accounts.

It is not a capability given in congenitally to a human named Kazuto.

All of the RATH staff recognized the people who only saw them as just experimental
programs, Kazuto Kirigaya from the beginning, the same person as you. We touched
each other, fought, defended and loved.

So, Underworld - the people who live there chose him. As a guardian.

If it is, Higa can possibly withstand even some 200 years, due to some unexpected
miracles.
I guess, Kirito-kun.
Now, I also understand why lieutenant colonel Kikuoka asked for your cooperation to
such a degree. And also that I still need you.
So ... ....

"... ... Please I beg you, come back"

While whispering, Higa stared at the last few percent of the shutdown process
progressing.

Rinko remained in the sub control room.

All the other staff all jumped out to rescue lieutenant colonel Kikuoka and restore
control of the main control room.

Rinko also wanted to protect Kayaba Akihiko’s thinking imitation program that
should remain in its physical memory and the second unit that flew to the nuclear
reactor containment room and falls on the floor. However, I can not leave my
possession yet. As soon as STL's shutdown process by Higa finishes, there is a role to
check the state of Kirigaya Kazuto and Yuki Asuna who sleep in the next room.

Rinko believed when the two awoke as if nothing had happened.

I would like to say that you guarded, letting Alice's Lightcube be held in their hands.

And I also want to tell the two who protected the underworld in the real world.
Kayaba Akihiko-san who once obstructed them, let them fight, and tormented,
moved the body of the machine with the battery pack cut off, and protected the
Lightcube Cluster and Ocean Turtle itself.

Pardon me, can not say.

The crime of Akihiko Kayaba who killed 4 thousand young people is never a good
idea.

However, I want them to understand with intention and think just about the ideas
which Kayaba left behind and what he aimed for.

Higa's voice echoed from the income of Rinko's ear who puts both hands on the
duralumin casing of Alice's light cube and closes the eyelids.

"...... Rinko, the logout process of the two will end in another sixty seconds"

"OK, I will send someone to pick you up soon"

"It is impossible for me to climb this ladder by myself ... It seems impossible .... So,
Kikuoka-san went to the shaft down, what's going on? Looks like he was injured.
What is it? "

Rinko could not answer soon. It was three or four minutes ago that lieutenant
Nakanishi went to rescue Seiichiro Kikuoka who fought with an enemy soldier in the
aisle leading to the engine room, but he has not heard from him yet.

However, that Kikuoka can not fall down in the middle of the purpose. That guy who
constantly overcame the invisible attitude and got overwhelmingly suffering any
difficult situation.

"... .... Yeah, it was a great success in lieutenant colonel, Hollywood action movies are
going down."

"Well, this suits him... ... remaining, thirty seconds"

"I will move to the STL room, if there is anything I will contact you."

Rinko disconnected from the console, leaving the console and heading to the next
room holding the duralumin casing in her chest.

Just before touching the slide door, the speech in the room gave a story of the staff
heading downstairs.

It was not even from lieutenant Nakanishi or the technical staff heading to the main
control room. As a precaution, the security staff's voice towards the removal of the
plastic explosive body was in the nuclear reactor chamber where the temperature
began to fall.

"Here is the engine room! Doctor ... ... Can you hear it, Dr. Koujiro!?"

Rinko switched incoming channels, shouting while holding down the heart that
bounces naturally.

"Yes, I can hear! What’s going on!?"

"Well, that is ... ... C4 could safely be removed, but that ... I do not have that ..."

"What ... ... what ...?"

"Unit No. 2 Niemom's body could not be found anywhere in the engine room!"

A timer set for a cheap digital watch sounded a small electronic sound.
Critter who crouched at a corner of a military transportation section of a small
submarine (ASDS) and was listening to external sounds confirmed that no matter how
long he waited for an explosion sound that would be a fallen apostle of megafloat.
He breathed out my trembling breath.

He did not even understand whether it was a sigh of relief or that it was discouraged.

One thing is certain is that the C4 bomb that was set up in the reactor of Ocean
Turtle did not explode for some reason, and the control rod drive unit was not
destroyed and meltdown never occurred.

If Hans remaining in the engine room of the Ocean Turtle were okay, even if trouble
occurred in the detonator, he would have exploded himself, so he probably was
eliminated.

It was quite a surprising thing that it was absolutely deemed that mercenary, only
gold should be the target, would die without boarding ASDS. The situation was
strange from the time when Brigg’s buddy was informed that he died, but it was none
the way he was going to die together to death.

"... Well, I guess it was incredible ......"

While returning the watch to the time display, it gets dazzled by a voice that no one
hears.

Yes, probably there were motives and circumstances other than money for captain
Miller and Vasago who died ahead of Hans. Such a form of death killed them.

To say that, other crew members on the Critter or the submarine came in with huge
troubles as this strategy ended in a complete failure. Private security company
GLOWGEN DS who is the employer is a company that became big after underwriting
the wet work of NSA and CIA, behind the scenes, there is no hesitate to truncate the
agent on the ground. At that moment when I landed on the mainland, it is possible
that everyone can seal mouthes all at once.

As an insurance to protect yourself, the micro memory card which I brought secretly
from Ocean Turtle is attached to the middle of the chest with a skin tone waterproof
tape.

I do not know how far you can compete with such things, but at least when you are
killed at least it will end with a single shot, so it's somewhat better than a horrible
death by Vasago or Miller.

"Whew, but ... ...."

Sounds a nose and turns his eyes towards two carcass pouches stacked at the end of
the transportation section. A miserable death face of Miller Commander revived in
the mind, and trembling with tremor — at that time.

"... .... two?"

Frown at the eyebrows and gazes at the darkness of the stern, but the stacked corpse
bags are just a couple of things to see.

But this does not suit the number. Apart from Hans who left himself, the attacking
team issued victims of Commander Miller, Vasago and Brigg, three in total.

"...... Hey, Shack."

Pick the elbow of a member who is holding an energy bar nearby.

"What is it?"

"It is your team that housed the corpses, is it not better to take all?"

"Haa? Brigg on the aisle and Captain Miller in the STL room, who else died?"

"No, ... ... STL room, one more person ..."

"It was only the captain who was dead there. It seems like a nightmare, that face."

".................."

Critter stunned the right hand and looked around the transportation section.

There are nine people sitting in a narrow space and having a uniformly exhausted
expression. Among them, there is no figure of vice-captain Vasago Casals.

Certainly, confirmed the death of Miller Commander in the first STL room, but he only
saw Vasago. However, I do not want to lose my mind, I can not believe that living
person can have hair in that state of gray. If you were alive in the first place, why are
not you on this submarine?

The brain refused to think ahead from that, Critter hugged both knees silently.

After tens of minutes, until the ASDS docked with the Seawolf class submarine
"Jimmy Carter", the talkative power did not emit a single word.

From the start of the critical acceleration phase, after 19 minutes and 40 seconds.
The shutdown process of the Soul Translator Unit 3 and Unit 4 installed in the second
STL room of Ocean Turtle has ended.

About three minutes late, the acceleration of time itself was stopped, and silence
returned to the ship along with the deceleration of the cooling system.

A boy and a girl, Kirigaya Kazuto and Yuki Asuna, were released from STL by Dr. Rinko
Koujiro and nurse Aki Natsuki — but did not wake up.

It was obvious that the activity of fluctlights has declined to the limit, and the mental
activities of the two have almost disappeared.

Still, Rinko kept holding the hands of both of them and continued calling hard with
tears.

A slight faint smile appeared on the lips of Kirigaya and Asuna who had a deep sleep.

Step.

... ... Step.

In the close area, the sound stops.

And someone called my name.

"……Kirito - kun"

Gentle and clear, voice that I thought I will never hear it again.

"As usual, when you are alone you are a crybaby ... ... I know because you are what
you are"

I slowly lifted the face wetted by tears.

Asuna who turned his hands behind and tilted his head slightly stood there with a
smile.

I did not know what to say. So I kept looking up at Asuna's face forever and everyday
in that hazel eyes.

Fluffy and breeze blown, butterflies fluttering in between us got on that wind and
disappeared into the blue sky.

Asuna who watched it returned her gaze and gave me the right hand.

I touched it, I felt like disappearing like a vision. But the gentle temperature that
comes from the white palm tells me that my loved one is indeed there.
It was understood to Asuna. This world will be closed soon. Being able to return to
the real world again is a part of the flow of endless times.

So, she stayed. For me. If the position is reversed, it is for me who will make the same
choice.

I also extended my hand and gripped the small hands of Asuna firmly.

I stood up to with support of her hand and again looked at two beautiful eyes from
near.

No words came out after all.

However, I did not need to say anything. So, I just attracted a thin body and hugged
strongly. Asuna who kept her head on my chest told me in whisper.

"... When we return over there, will Alice get angry?"

I imagined the situation where that victorious golden knight scolds us with a
sparkling shine on the blue eyes.

"If she remembers us it’s OK, we must not forget even the one-second time spent
with Alice."

"... Yes, that's right, it's okay if Alice remembers Liz, Klein, Egil, Silica and ... well,
Eugeo."

We solved the embrace, nodding, at the same time I saw an unmanned temple.

The "altar at the world end" which stopped all functions was on a quiet sleep under
the soft sunshine at the end of the world.

Turn around and start walking down the marble trail with another hand.

After a while traveling between colorful flowers, I reached the northern edge of flying
island.

Under the sky that dyed deep blue, the world spread no matter how far.

Asuna looked at me and asked.

"How long do we spend in this world?"

I kept silence for a while, and I told the truth.

"It seems to be one hundred years at the shortest"

"Huh"
Asuna nods and smiles like a smile as if it were a long time ago.

"Even if it's a thousand years it's not long, if I am with you ... ...., dear, Kirito-kun"

"... .... Let's go Asuna. There are many things to do ... This world has just been born."

And we keep holding hands, spreading the wings and taking the first step to infinite
freedom.

There is a shadow that crawls slowly, carefully reaching the ocean floor where all light
does not reach.

It looks like a large flat crab. However, there are only six legs, and from the belly is
pulled a thread like a spider and the whole is covered with a metal pressure sheath
painted in dull gray.

Pacific light submarine crossing cable "FASTER" connecting Japan and the United
States (//real thing! google it./). The maintenance deep sea working robot was the
identity of the metal crab.

From three years before deployment at the ocean floor maintenance terminal, crab
just kept sleeping without a single turn. However, at the end of the day an activation
order was issued, he moved the solidified joints of grease, and left behind a
residential home.

However, crab does not know anything, but it was not the company that owned him
to give orders. Following a non-regular order whose source is unknown, crab keeps
walking towards the north as soon as drawing a FASTER repairing bag behind.

What is calling crab is a faint artificial sound that can be issued periodically. Stop
every minute, check the location of the sound source with the built-in sonar, and
move forward again.

How long have you been repeating it?

Finally, crab was convinced that it reached the specified coordinates and lit the light
equipped on the front part of the body.

It floated in the circle of white light —.

It was a silver-colored humanoid machine lying on the deep seabed.

In the simple exterior of the aluminum alloy, there are many open pits. The barrels
exposed at various places burnt down and torn, the left arm pulled out from the
middle, resistant to water pressure, or the head was crushed halfway.
And the slightly lifted right hand held the same deep-sea fiber optic cable as crab
pulled from his belly. The cable extends straight upwards, melts in the dark darkness,
and you can not see the source.

For a while crab was looking at the remains of the robot that is the same kind of
himself.

But, of course, he never felt any emotions or fears, stretched the manipulator
according to the orders, kept the tip of the hand with the right hand of the humanoid
robot in it.

Another manipulator pulls out the end of the cable similar to the one that has been
laying on the ocean floor endlessly from the cord reel built in it’s abdomen.

And crab pressed the connectors of both claws firmly in front of me.

All the instructions that were given were executed.

He never consciously wondered where the cable humanoid robot grasped was
leading.

Move the six legs alternately to flip a big body, the metallic crab started walking
towards the submarine terminal again to get a long sleep.

Behind the scenes, only the remains of a completely damaged humanoid robot were
left.

It’s right hand still held the firmly coated optical cable.

Saturday, August 1st, 2026, 2 PM.

The day before the typhoon passed through the Kanto region and today the blue sky
spreading through it spread.

To Roppongi Hills Arena in Minato Ward, numerous media both domestic and
oversea crowded, and now it was waiting for that time late.

A live stream went on the TV and the live stream went on the net has already started
broadcasting at the press conference hall. An excited voice of a reporter or
commentator overlaps the noise of the hall.

The remarks of the experts are largely negative tones.

『... .... So, no matter how close to the real thing it is, forever there is no real thing to
be real. It is similar to medieval alchemy. Where you have cooked or baked iron or
copper, you can not make gold absolutely!』
『But according to a pre-press release spread, they succeeded in reproducing the
human brain structure itself ...』

『I say that it is impossible! Well, in our brain, there are ten billion brain cells. Do you
think they can reproduce it on machine or computer program? Seriously?』

"Of course ...... Can’t watch this from home. Saying shit like that I thought."

Cursing, Klein loosening the tie sloppily and without hesitation having a gin tonic
glass already at noon.

A coffee shop/cafe that hides between shops in the back streets of Okachimachi,
Taito Ward, "Dicey Café" was filled with a number of people and had no room for a
standing cone. Even if there are no ads or tags on the door, customers were still
arriving.

Sinon, Leafa, Lisbet, Silica and Klein sit side by side at the counter in front of the
shopkeeper Egil. The four tethered are also surrounded with former SAO players and
ALO Lords Sakuya, Alisha, Eugene; Sleeping Nights Siune and Jun; Thinker, Yulier and
Sasha.

Everyone was watching a large television set on the back wall with beer, cocktail and
soft drinks in hand.

Lisbet returns sighing mixed words to Klein who still complains about their criticism.

"You can not help it. Actually I still find it hard to believe myself because they made
artificial intelligence in that virtual world in the server."

The next Sinon also mumbles while touching the temple of the glasses.

"It's true, something like the smell of air or the texture of the ground, it was more real
than it was in reality"

When Leafa nods, Silica smiles bitterly.

"It was a privilege of Sinon-san and Leafa-san who dive with STLs ... Well ... at least
the fields and objects were ordinary polygons for us with AmuSphere"

"But, it is obvious that the Underworlders are not just NPCs, are not they?"

Egil summarized it, that time.

The voice of the caster flowing from the TV took on the color of the tension.

"Huh, apparently the meeting seems to start! Then I will return the screen to the relay
of the Meteor Center's immediately! "
The inside of the store gently and calmly comes back.

Dozens of VRMMO players drank their breath and the light of flash felt in the picture
of a press interview. That moment that what they hardly kept is finally open to the
public at last.

The first thing that appeared before the guns of TV cameras and still cameras that
filled the vast venue was a woman who looked like a late twenties in a calm pant suit.
Makeup on her face, brown short hair on her head.

Before the woman who stopped in front of the podium in which dozens of
microphones lined up, there is a nameplate named 【Ocean Resources Exploration
Research Organization, Dr. Koujiro Rinko】. Despite narrowing her eyes on the flash
flood, doctor bowed with a dignified attitude and opened the briefing.

『Thank you all for having gathered during the busy day, today we are going to
announce the birth of genuine artificial general-purpose intelligence, which is the first
in the world.』

The place suddenly caught up in the theme, the noise flutters big.

Doctor lift the left hand with a cool face and showed good performance on the stage.

『Then, let me introduce ... ..."Alice"』

In the gaze filled with expectation and doubt gathered, it appeared from behind the
silver stage panel. —— Long golden hair. A skin that is whiter than snow. It was a girl
who wrapped her slender limbs and thin body in a dark blue blazer.

While the flashing flash of the relay video was fired, the girl did not try to direct her
face to the press seat rather than bow, and walked with the spine stretched
outstretched. Successive shutter sounds and roar of murmured a faint motor sound
that echoes with the girl's walking completely.

Cross the stage with a smooth gait, and stop at the side of Dr. Koujiro.

Finally, the girl turned around her body. The blond hair that she rocked is sparkling
and glittering.

The eyes of a girl who overlooked the press seat silently was crystal clear blue.

The noise will gradually calm down focusing on beautiful face, both western and
oriental type can not decide.

All people in the hall and countless viewers watching the relay realize intuitively that
they are not the appearance of a living human being. What was made with human
hands — a robot that covered the metal skeleton with silicone skin, that is no doubt.
And if you are a feminine robot of similar type, you can see as many as you want at
various theme parks and event venues.

However, in addition to the early smooth walking and perfect posture control,
something that girls got from blond hair gave a long shock by giving unspeakable
shock to humans.

Perhaps it was due to the deep shine hidden behind the blue eyes. The light of
intelligence which never lives in a simple optical lens.

At last the reporter's seat completely quieted, the girl showed a strange smile and a
strange gesture. Hold the lightly held right hand horizontally and touch the left part
of the chest and bowed. The loose open left hand to the left waist as if to touch the
invisible sword.

She quickly returned both hands and upper body, and when she laid her hair back
down on her shoulder, the girl opened the lips of a light cherry blossom color. A clear
voice drifts sweetness and purity, it flowed from the speech of the meeting place and
myriad TV.

『Real World, nice to meet you. My name is Alice. Alice • Synthesis • Thirty. 』

"Ah ... ... that, our school uniform!"

It was Silica who shouted. Spread the eyes a lot and compare the blazer she was
wearing with Alice in the screen.

"It seems that she herself wanted"

Next to her Lisbet says while pinching the uniform ribbon.

"The same knights’ clothes as of those who came to the rescue of the human world
defense force are said to be good, at least the same golden armor as wearing over
there."

"No matter how much you guys in RATH tried, you could not prepare it as expected"

A peaceful laughter is born in the words of Leafa.

On the TV screen, Alice and Dr. Koujiro were seated in chairs behind the podium.
Before Alice, the nameplate 【A.L.I.C.E. 2026 — Alice • Synthesis • Thirty】 will
automatically rise up.

"...... Even so, it is a terrible degree of reproduction. I talked with her a bit in the
Underworld, but when it comes across the screen, there is almost no difference ..."
When Sinon got dizzy like that, Dr. Koujiro inside the screen gently smiled and threw
a word.

『Well then, although it is somewhat exceptional, I would like you to begin with a
question and answer session first.』 That arrangement was informed in advance, and
countless hands rise from the press seat quickly.

It was a male reporter who came from a major newspaper company that was
nominated first.

『Er ... ... I will ask you about basic things, but how is Alice ...... different from the
existing robot controlled by the program?』

It was Dr. Koujiro who responded.

『At this conference, Alice's physical appearance is not an important issue. Her brain
... I dare to call it not the brain, but the consciousness staying in the photon brain
stored in the skull is not a program that can be replaced by the binary code, it is
essentially the same as that of ours. That is an absolutely different point from existing
robots.』

『Ha ... ... I would like to show it to us and viewers in an easy-to-understand way ...』

Dr. Koujiro's eyebrows are faintly frowned.

『The result of the Turing test is stated in the document handed』

『No, that's not it. For example, if you can show me the inside ... .... open the skull and
the internal photon brain directly』

Alice responded directly, after a momentarily disgusted facial expression, before

saying something with a tough face.

『Yes, I do not mind.』

Keep smiling and a natural smile, keep on.

『But before that, can you prove that you are not a robot, too?』

『Huh……? Of course, of course I am a human being ... ... even if it is said to prove』

『It's simple. Open the skull and let me see your brain.』

"Wow ... Alice is angry at you"

Leafa smiles snuggly while shrugging his shoulders.

Players gathered in Daisy • Cafe have already got the opportunity to interact with
Alice on-line in Alvheim • Online. Therefore, they knew a lot about her rugged
character.

Of course, Alice created a new ALO account, so avatar's appearance is somewhat

different from her. Still, the awesomeness of swordsmanship that can only be
described as superhuman, and the inherent — that is, the pride of being an authentic
knight, awoke and attracted many players.

In the screen, a reporter with stupid expression seated and the next questioner is
standing up.

『Er, I will ask Dr. Kojiro. Already, some voices of concern from partly unions are
raised that industrial utilization of advanced artificial intelligence brings about a
further rise in the unemployment rate etc ... 』

『That fear is an outrageous thing. There is absolutely no intention of the

organization to provide authentic AI as a simple labor force.』

In a doctor 's comment that denies it quickly, a female reporter kept talking for a
while and continued to feel more enthusiastic.

『But it seems that expectations are also being applied from the economic world.
Stock prices of industrial robot-related companies are on the rise, how about that.』

『Unfortunately, as mentioned in the document, the organization created the

product called "human fluctlight", but they are not something that can be mass-
produced in a short period of time. Born as a baby like us, growing while acquiring a
unique personality from children to adults under parents and brothers. We believe
that such intelligence should not be incorporated into industrial robots to force them
to engage in labor. "

Occasionally the hall was silent.

A female reporter soon asked with a hard voice.

『In other words, Doctor said that ... should we admit human rights to AI?』

『I know that it is not the topic that will draw a conclusion in a short time.』

Dr. Koujiro's voice was gentle, but it touched an unwavering reverberation backed by
a strong will.

『But we should never repeat the past once again. That is certain. ...... Many years
ago, many developed countries called colonial power colonized the developed
countries to compete, let people in the country trade as products and engaged in
forced labor. Even now after 100 or 200 years have passed, the grudge continues to
drop a big shadow on the international community. At this moment, even if it is said
that we want people to recognize artificial fluctlights as human beings and give them
human rights, there will be a large number of people who feel discomfort. However,
after a hundred or two hundred years, we should of course live in the same society as
them, interchange without separation, or even take marriage or building a family. This
is my conviction. Then, do we need a lot of blood and sorrow as in the process
leading to that situation? Do you want to add histories that must be sealed back to
human history again, which everyone does not want to remember?』

『But, doctor!』

A female reporter cried as though she had forgotten herself.

『They are too different from ours too, that our presence exists! How do you
recognize things that have a body of machine without body temperature, like the
same human being!?』

『I mentioned earlier that Alice's physical body is not the essence of existence.』

In a cool tone, Dr. Koujiro answers.

『Surely, she and we have different materials, different body of mechanisms. But that
is only in this world. We already have places where we and human fluctlights can be
recognized as completely identical.』

『Where is the place ...?』

『It is a virtual world. Currently we are shifting a significant percentage of our lives
into a virtual space generated by "The Seed Package", a general-purpose VR spacing
standard. This press conference today also hoped that everyone at your press wished
to do it at VR, but it was decided to hold it in the real world at the request of this
organization. That is because I wanted to recognize the difference between people
and fluctlights for the first time. However, it is not so in the virtual world. Alice's
artificial fluctlight photon brain has complete compatibility with The Seed standard
VR spacing.』

Again, the hall is very noisy.

Many reporters understood that if AI can dive into virtual space — that is, on the
other side there is nothing to distinguish whether the other party is a human being or
an AI.

A third questioner stood up after the female reporter who lost the words and seated.
The man who wears a thin color sunglasses and wears a stylish jacket is a famous
freelance journalist.
『I would like to confirm first, but I did not know the name of the marine resource
exploration research organization, I did not know it, is this an independent
administrative corporation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology? In other words, the funds invested in your research and development
are taxes paid by Japanese citizens. If that is the result of that development ... will that
human fluctlight not be said to be the property of the citizens? Whether it is a
genuine AI or not, as an industrial robot, is it not in your power but the people who
decide?』

Dr. Koujiro's mouth, which has been continuously responding to questions without
delay, has been lightly tightened for the first time.

She was reaching to face the microphone, but a white hand from the adjacent won.
Alice who had been long silent.

A girl with a machine's body nodded rocking a long blond hair and opened her
mouth.

『I acknowledge and accept that you are a Real World person, my creator. I am also
thankful that you have created me. However, once, one person who was born in the
same world as I said this:
— Is Real World also a created one? What if further creators existed beyond it?』

In the depths of the eyes of Cobalt Blue, light like lightning blushes.

Alice looked up at journalists and a lot of media who were drawn in unexplained
pressure. Alice got up slowly.

The hands are stretched and the figure with both hands in front of the body reminds
me of the original knight figure despite being wearing the school uniform. With a
slightly lying eyelashes, clear voice with a sense of transparency, the world 's first
genuine AI kept on speaking.

『If one day your creator reveals you and orders you to belong, what would you do?
Put your hands on the ground, swear allegiance, beg for mercy?』

So Alice loosened the raging eye and made a smile on her lips.

『... ... I have already interacted with many real-world people. They encouraged me
and cheered me up alone in this strange world. They taught me various things and
showed me various places. I like them. That's not all ... ... I even love a single real-
world person. Considering that person I cannot meet now ...... this, tears my chest like
a steel......』

Stopped words, Alice closed her eyes for a moment and got down.
Such a function should not exist, but many people felt as if they saw a droplet that
traveled to the white stork.

Soon golden eyelashes are raised, a gentle line of sight pierces the hall immediately.

The golden female knight said, lifting the right hand with supple movement.

『... I rise this right hand that I will serve to the people of Real World. However, I do
not have a knee that sticks to the ground and a forehead to rest. Because I am a
human being.』

Higa Takeru looked at the press conference from RATH Roppongi branch, which is
close to the hall.

The shoulder of the right hand shot at the Ocean • Turtle raid incident was severely
cured and the cast was also taken away. However, scars penetrated by the pistol
bullet still remain clearly. It seemed possible to erase it if you undergo plastic surgery,
but Higa is going to leave it as it is.

TV switched from the live broadcast of the press conference to the studio, and the
castor began to explain this "major incident".

『...... This organization of marine resources exploration research is that we were

conducting research on autonomous submarine for deep sea exploration within self-
propelled mega float "Ocean Turtle ", but recently a massive reported raid We are
also talking about the relationship with the story.』

The commentator nods deeply and comments.

『Yes, in one theory, it is said that the purpose of the attack itself was to take this
artificial intelligence. Although it is difficult to conclude in the current situation and
even the identification of the criminal group is not done ...』

『There is also the question of why the SDF escort ship "Nagato" was berthing in the
neighboring waters at that time, why did not you go to relief for twenty-four hours?
Although the defense ministry responded to the National Assembly that the security
of the hostage had the highest priority, however, in reality, the victims have been
exposed to security personnel …』

The screen switches there, and a face picture of one man appears.

Black clothes, glasses hide facial expressions underneath the SDF's first type of
ceremonial clothes hidden in the eye for a minute without any gaps.

Title appears next to the picture.

【Seiichiro Kikuoka-san who sacrificed himself in the raid incident. 】

Higa pushed the words with a long sigh.

"No way ... ... you who did not think she would become a victim of a lady, Kikuoka-
san..."

Then, a person standing by the side shook his head.

"Oh yeah, really it was ... ...."

Cotton three-quarter length pants, sneakers came out and a bad taste pattern shirt.
From the shorter head of the shaved head, a thin beard stinging from the ear to the
chin is stored. On the face, mirror lens sunglasses.

A monster who took out a cheesy ramune candy container from his chest pocket and
finally threw it into a single grain mouth kept smiling and finally continued.

"But this is the best hand, Higa-kun. Even though I kept being left untouched I could
literally be erased when I got stuffed or I could literally disappear and it was only
when there was a pressure that a dead man came out in the case of an attack, so I
could drive the domestic disturbing forces over there. Well, it is surprising that the
defense secretary of defense of that Teippen was a big deal.”

"It seems that a considerable amount of money has flowed from the American
weapons maker to the vice-minister, but ... as it is ..."

Higa returned his eyes to the TV and asked while shrugging his shoulders.

"Really, do not you publicize this human fluctlight extensively like this? Well then, the
plan to install the unmanned weapon, which is the final goal of RATH, is a completely
undoable, Kiku-san."

"The good thing, in short, even you can tell it to the US side even that it is possible."

RATH commander who was able to escape injury to the organs and to recover sooner
than Higa, while piercing through the flank with the ballistic bullet in bullets fired
from the attacker's assault rifle • Seiki Kikuoka finally barely finished and laughed.

"With this weapons maker in the other side will not be able to manage such as
pushing the technological release publicly on the vertical AI development. When the
human fluctlight has already been perfectly completed, see this interview. Well, they
will have no choice but to give up ... No, altogether ... Alice's beauty is more than
human ...... "

Kikuoka looked up at the image of Alice once again displayed on the TV screen, and
Kikuoka glanced at the thin eyed eyes of the sunglasses.
"That's right ...... exactly, the crystal spirit of the Alicization process ..."

For a while, even though closing all together, Higa thought in a corner of his head.

Speaking of which — RATH was aiming to realize "high adaptive artificial intelligence",
who gave the initial letters "ALICE". That girl was raised with the name of Alice even in
Underworld Was it eventually just a miraculous coincidence?
If not by chance, what reasons could exist there. Like Yanai, is it the result of someone
interfering inside secretly by RATH staff? Or ... ... In addition to the staff, I logged on
someone to Underworld......

Higa stopped thinking, when turning around, I watched the two STLs lining the back
of the large room.

He himself — Kazuto Kirigaya lies down on the same machine used for three
consecutive days of continuous diving just a few months ago.

A catheter for infusion on the left arm. An electrode for electrocardiogram

monitoring on the chest. The face whose eyelids were closed seems to have more
meat falling during the coma of three weeks than since it was transported from
Ocean • Turtle.

However, the sleeping face was calm. In the mouth, it seems that even satisfaction is
drifting.

That was the same as one young girl sleeping immediately next to him — Yuki Asuna.

The fluctlight activity of the two people is continuously monitored by STL.

Not all reactions have disappeared from the brain. If the fluctlight is completely self-
destructed, even breathing will stop. However, the spiritual activity has declined to
the limit and the hope of recovery is no longer being declined.

That is also natural. Kirigaya and Asuna should have experienced a huge time of 200
years before the marginal acceleration phase is stopped. Its length can only be
imagined for Higa who lives only twenty-six years. It is already a miracle that the
heart is still moving after the years that exceeded the theoretical lifespan of fluctlight.

Explanation and apology for the two families were carried out by Higa and Dr. Koujiro
as soon as they were transferred to Roppongi. They revealed almost all the truth,
except that the entity of RATH is partly composed of a minister and a members of
SDF and related workers.

The parents of Kirigaya Kazuto did not disturb the things and just showed tears. It
may have been because the sister had already heard the rough circumstances. The
problem was father of Yuki Asuna.
In any case, he is the former President and CEO of that gigantic enterprise. Angry is
fiercely, but was the momentum just does murder the same day accused, was the
mother had stopped it surprisingly.

Asuna’s mother who is a professor at the university, stroking the sleeping daughter's
hair, said.

— I believe in my daughter. My daughter never does something that will silence and
disappear to us. She surely will come home cheerfully. So, I will wait a little more.

At this time, the two parents will also be watching a press conference broadcast. The
figure of new human beings that their children kept safely.
Alice — It can not sacrifice this memorial day, when artificial fluctlight took the first
step into the real world daringly.
So, please wake up, Kirito-kun, Asuna-san.

Kikuoka suddenly pushed the arm of Higa with his elbow.

"Hey, Higa-kun"

"... .... what, Kiku-san. I am concentrating now."

"Higa-kun, if you see that ... ... look"

"If it is a press conference, let's finish already, the reporter's question is almost within
the range of expectation ..."

Higa, who raised his face while mumbling, realized that the arm of Kikuoka holding
the Ramune container points to the right sub monitor, not the relay screen.

The two windows displayed there are real time monitoring information of the two
STLs.

A vaguely light white ring is floating on a black background. Its gloomy shimmer that
does not move in a minute, the afterglow of the sleeping boy and girl ... ...

Pi-kin.

And a very small peak protruded from a part of the ring and soon faded away. Higa
blinked under glasses violently and panted with a throat pinched.

The voices of Dr. Koujiro echoed in the vast press conference hall again.

『... ... It will take a long, long time. There is no need to rush to a conclusion. I would
like you to interact, feel and think through the virtual world with people who are
supposed to be born after a new process in the future. That is the only thing the
organization wants this viewer to watch. 』

After finishing the speech, the doctor seated, but there was no applause.

On the reporters' face, still more embarrassment still floats.

Immediately, the next questioner raised his hand and stood up.

『Doctor, how do you think about the danger? In other words, it can be said that AIs
absolutely have no way to extinct human beings and rule the earth? 』

As if killing by a look, Dr. Koujiro answers.

『Except for one case, it is impossible. It is only when we try to extinct them from us.
』

『But in many novels and movies from long ago ... 』

At the time the question was about to continue, Alice, who was seated, all of a
sudden rose strongly. Pulls the body as if the questioner were pressured.

Alice opened her eyes wide and looked in the empty space as if he listened to the
distant sounds, after a few seconds he said shortly.

『I urgently need to leave. I will excuse myself here. 』

She turns her long blonde and quickly disappears to the sleeve of the stage at the
maximum speed at which the body of the machine can come out.

Reporters, as well as countless viewers in front of television, also lost their words
quietly.

Urgently — said Alice, is there more important than this meeting?

Dr. Koujiro who was left alone on the stage looked like she was surprised, but
eventually changed her expression as thought of something. There was no press who
breathed heavily and noticed that a faint smile had gone past its exhilarating mouth.

It is not a mistake to see.

Pulses generated concurrently at the Kirigaya and Asuna fluctlights keep steadily
increasing their peaks with a slow cycle of about ten second intervals.

"Ki ... Kiku-san!"

While Higa panted, he turned to STL behind.

There is no change in their sleeping faces.

But —.

Even while Higa watches over, the color of blood gradually rises little by little to the
two heads. The beat of the heart is getting stronger. The display on the monitoring
device tells us that the body temperature is rising little by little.

I wonder if I can expect it. It is said that they are trying to resuscitate from the death of
the soul awakened by some miracle.

For the next ten minutes, for Higa, it was a time that felt as long as the time of the
marginal acceleration phase.

While convoking the vacant staff in the branch and making that and this or preparing
it quickly, I looked up at the monitor and confirmed that the two fluctlights
approached normal state. Otherwise, I felt that the synchrotron radiation pulsed in
rainbow colors disappeared like a vision.

It is a nutritional supplement jelly, which is an oral rehydration solution, as soon as I

can think of it, I am ready and when there is no longer anything other than waiting.

The door of the entrance slid and the unexpected figure appeared there. Higa and
lieutenant colonel Kikuoka shouted out loudly.

"A ... Alice?!"

A girl with blond hair, who should be in the press conference of the century at
Roppongi Hills, ran to the two STLs while driving the whole body actuator high.

"Kirito ...... Asuna!"

Call the names of two people with a slightly trembling voice and kneel down by gel
bed.

Higa directed the eyes that he opened up to the huge wall-mounted TV. The screen
was switched to the studio, and the caster comments on what happened to the main
character of the interview who suddenly disappeared in such a hurry.

"... Well, Dr. Koujiro will manage it"

Kikuoka smiling murmured this, and turned off the TV screen.

Certainly, it is not a press conference now. Higa checked the state of Kirigaya and
Asuna, then watched Alice looking backwards as she prayed silently next to them.
Alice was brought from the Ocean Turtle to RATH Roppongi branch in a dormant
state in a light cube package. And it was installed in the machine body No. 3 which is
Unit 2 modified to Alice 's appearance and woke up in Real World.

As she whitewashed at a press conference, the shock suddenly thrown out to a

strange world would have been serious. The only thing that made her adapt so far to
a drastic change in the past three weeks is that there was only one strong
determination. Specifically — to meet Kirito and Asuna again.

The time has come at last.

Both hands of Alice lifted up with a faint motor sound, wrapped the Kirigaya right
hand lying on the gel bed.

His fingertips moved small.

The frown eyelashes shake wiggly.

Lips slightly opened — open — opened wider —.

The eyelids lifted slowly and weakly.

I can not see the light of mind in the black eye that reflects the daylight lamps light.
He took a moment to say something slowly.

From the opened lips, a respiratory sound similar to a sigh leaks. Eventually the vocal
cords shake the sound.

"... ....ee ... dee .........."

Higa’s back was covered by running ice-cold shivers. That sound resembles
somewhere with the bizarre screams that the cloned fluctlight releases, just before the
collapse ....

Licked lips.

"... .... be ... ... o ...... rai"

What followed it was a different sound.

It will be alright. (//Kirito says tries to say this in English/.) Kirigaya said this. Definitely.

Another voice gently flowed into the room where it stopped quietly.

"Sure" (//Asuna says this in English./)

It was Asuna who opened the mouth with the next STL.
They crossed the eyes and gently nodded.

And Kirigaya who turned his face in the opposite direction smiled at Alice holding his
hand.

"... ... Hi, Alice, it's been a long time"

"... ... Kirito ... ... Asuna"

Alice called whispering voice for their two names, and they also smiled and
repeatedly blinked violently. As if to regret that there is no function to shed tears.

Kirigaya told such a wonderful line to Alice looking at him.

"Alice, your sister Selca chose the way to wait for your return in the deep-frozen state.
Central Cathedral, Eightieth Floor, on that hill, still sleeping."

"... ...!!"

Alice's body violently shakes, hearing the words that can not be understood by Higa,
blond hair hid the expression slide down to the shoulders.

Swish — someone put her hand on the back of Alice who turned up her face.

She looked at Kirigaya and Kikuoka first, and then met Higa's eyes.

At that moment, there was a strange feeling in Higa's soul. It's not impressive. I am
not interested either. In such a wai...fu?

Two hundred years.

A soul passed through infinite years.

Towards freezing Higa, Kirigaya got a word.

"Come on, Higa-san, please delete me and Asuna's memory, our role is over."

"Fua", I yawned and woke up.

As usual, mind is attacked by a slight misconception. Where is this place and when is
it now?

However, the sense of incompatibility will fade away from day to day. That is to say
that the past is getting away, like the water that flows away. It is sad and sad.

While lying in the bed, look up at the clock on the wall.

4 PM. After rehabilitation after lunch, it seems that I slept for about an hour and a half
after taking a shower.

In the hospital room, the white light and the dark shadows falling from the blinds
illustrate a sharp contrast. If you listen carefully, faint child crying somewhere will
arrive. Also, the hustle and bustle of the city, produced by various machines and
countless people.

I inhale deeply the air that smells of the sun and the antiseptic, spit out over time, I
got out of bed.

Cross the wide room which is not wide, and move to the south-facing window. Open
the curtains with both hands.

While narrowing my eyes on an intense west day, I looked at the gigantic city
spreading under his eyes. Real World that consumes enormous resources, continues
to work intensely and intensely. The world I was born.

On the other hand, I feel like returning to this world. Someday, the time will come for
this hometown to disappear.

A slight knock sound arrived in my ears. As I turned around and responded "Please,"
the door slid to reveal the appearance of visitors.

She bundled long chestnut hair in two. White stripes and a summer-like ice blue flare
skirt. Mule is also white.

Instantly blink both eyes in such a standing shape that sunlight particles remain.

Three days ago, she was discharged from the hospital a bit earlier than I. Laughing
loudly while shaking a small bouquet of flowers held on the right hand.

"Sorry, I was late for a bit"

"No, I also helped, I got up just now."

Return a smile and lightly embrace Asuna that came into the room.

Then the left hand of Asuna stroked my arm and back.

"Well — it's still about 90% of the standard Kirito. Are you eating enough?"

"I'm eating, I'm eating everything. It can not be helped, I slept for two months as
well."

I lift my hands with a bitter smile, and shrug shoulders.

"Besides that, they also decided the day of releasing me, date is the day after
tomorrow"

"Really!?"

The face was made to shine, Asuna continued while stepping in to the vase in the
side cabinet.

"Cool, I have to celebrate a cheerful moment with you, first in ALO, then in reality"

Quickly changed the water of the vase, removed the wilted flowers, then add the two
rose of the vivid Purple and return it to the cabinet.

After staring for some time at clear color roses as if they are trying hard to get close
to pure blue, I returned to previous posture.

When I sit down on the bed, Asuna comes next to me and sits down to the lap.

Nostalgic. However, I do not feel sharp puncture pain like that before.

I embrace the shoulder of Asuna who is leaning backwards, I forward my

consciousness to the other side of memory.

That day.

I and Asuna left behind in the marginal acceleration phase entered the underworld of
the ancient ruins first, and flew away from the "altar of the end" where flowers
bloomed, crossing the jet-black desert and the flock of red rocks It joined the human
world defense army.

Klein, Egil, Lizbet and others. There were no reinforcements from the real world in the
area. They automatically logged out at the same time as acceleration started.

I appeared before young integrity knight Renri and Sortelina-sempai after soothing
Tiese and Ronnie who cries. We reorganize our troops with them and follow the way
to the north.

I returned to the "Great Eastern Gate".

I found the integrity Knights leader deputy Fanatio, the Knight Deussolbert, and the
apprentice knights Fizel and Linel who remained in that place and the tense feeling
reunion with the integrity knight Sheita, from whom I received a message from the
fist I fighter head group chairman, temporary commander of the Dark Army.

Once the dark world army was returning to the imperial capital of the far east, with
the surviving generals finishing the postwar processing, it was that he wanted to face
a consultation with the human army forces one month later. After seeing Sheita who
brought the ambassador's role herself and got off on the gray dragon flying east, all
of the human forces defenders' troops came home to the central city Centoria.

The inhabitants of the towns and villages along the road somehow already knew that
the war had ended and peace had come, and the defense army was caught up with
terrible cheers.

After arriving at Centoria, it was already an eye-catching day.

We were busy by helping Fanatio who is the highest rank knight after the death of
Bercouli with the rebuilding of the postwar, compensation to the family of the
warriors who was sacrificed in the war and the axioms church, the holdback of Four
Emperors and the Great aristocrats who tried to expand authority, and soon one
month passed.

Again encountered the chairman Isukan which formally became the commander
officer of the dark world army at the place of the farewell negotiations which was
held again in the site of the the Great Eastern Gate.

A burning red warrior, a little younger than me, told me on the spot.

— You’re older brother of "Green swordsman Leafa". They say you slayed Emperor
Vector.
— I do not doubt, let me try once.

And I and Isukan cried out each other without fight at the conference room and after
that he nods as if he was convinced of something.

— Certainly you are better than the emperor, and stronger than me. So, I will
appreciate it ... .... If the praise is the first ... ....

At that point, my memory is interrupted dully.

In the next scene, Higa Takeru-san of RATH is saying "I erased the memory, it was
completed successfully" to me who woke up at the STL's gel bed.

According to Dr. Rinko Koujiro, me and Asuna said they have continued Underworld
simulation for more than 200 years, far beyond the capacity limit of fluctlight. But I
can not remember what I was doing for such a long time and how I avoided the
collapse of fluctlight. The terrible thing is that after the awakening at the RATH
Roppongi branch, I have completely forgotten the conversation that I exchanged with
both Higa and Kikuoka.

It seems that Asuna is similar.

But she said with a usual honed smile.

— Because it is about Kirito, it is definitely that he was going to run into various kinds
of disputes and I had to rush away girls here and there.

I do not feel like forcibly remembering when I say so, but I can not erase just the
painful feeling of loneliness.

Because it is probably already at this moment also in the underworld which should
continue to operate at the same magnification time, Fanatio and Renri integrity
knights, Isukan leading dark world men, Ronier, Tiese, Sortilina-sempai and Azurika-
sensei are not alive ... ....

Asuna whispered suddenly as if I read my mind.

"Even if memory disappears, recollection remains"

— That's it, Kirito. Do not cry ... Stay cool.

A nostalgic voice echoes gently in the back of the ear.

That's it. Recollections are not saved only in the memory field of the brain. It is
engraved firmly in the fluctlight network that spreads throughout the whole body of
cells.

I shaken off the tears that blew me off with blinks and stroked Asuna's hair while
responding.

"Oh, someday... .... you can meet again."

A gentle tranquil time lasted for several minutes.

The western sun which falls on a white wall gradually makes its color shade darker.
Occasionally the shadows of the birds returning to the roost cross the wall.

It was knocking again that broke the silence.

I grazed my head lightly. Although I should not have scheduled meetings at this time,
I will be forced to take your hand off the Asuna's shoulder and answer.

"Please come in"

As soon as the doors slid, that nostalgic sound harshly felt.

"Hey, you finally leave the hospital, Kirito-kun! This means I don’t have much time. ...
.... Well, oh, I guess you packing things already?"

I returned the words with the sigh.

"...... Do you know the entire schedule of discharge or is that you just asked Aki-san? I
am not in hurry, Kikuoka-san"

Former second-ranking officer of the Virtual department of the Ministry of Internal

Affairs and Communications, Seichiro Kikuoka, the former commander of the
disguised corporate RATH, came in the hospital room with a strange appearance that
was beating with a bad tasteful shirt form the other day.

Although it is midsummer, he wears a suit that seems to be high-class, he is

tightening up a necktie. It gently strokes short hair and does not float one sweat on
face with thin frameless glasses.

Even when viewed from any direction, it is ruining the appearance made by a foreign-
owned company's elite businessman as usual grin laughter and smelly paper bags
lowered on the right hand.

Kikuoka said lifting the bag with grace.

"This is a present, because Kirito is to have physical fitness, it is quite hard to make it
here, because Dr. Rinko absolutely says with a scary face against any common food.
But, for fermented foods to recover, I can not yield this much, so I made a lot of
assortments. First of all, I bought fresh Nigorobuna from Lake Biwa. And it is
Okinawa's Tofuyo, it is awesome to do Awamori with this. And even if it is said that
this cheese, it is not just cheese, the bright gem of the direct import of France,
Époisses! While every day while aging for a long time, a nice microorganism on the
surface propagates breeding fortune, a little smell like Tamaran ...... "

"Refrigerator, there it is"

I cut off the long and wide tongue that Kikuoka is stabbing with a fascinated face and
pointed at the corner of the hospital room.

"What is it?"

"Thank you for putting in, thank you and refrigerator, there"

"Well, let's open it"

"The window of this room, it is a locked dead! What do you think will happen if you
open such a thing?"

A fragrant scarcely drifts from the paper bag already, Asuna retreats with delicate
expression.

"I think that it is a good smell ... —— I always say it, honestly think it’s OK. Kirito-kun
is strangely calm today."
Kikuoka sat down in the chair for the visitor when putting the insertion in the
refrigerator while saying sweet things.

Quickly get back to the usual smile, and align the fingertips of both hands on the
knee you braided.

"Anyways, it was really good, thoughtfully, Kirito had been in a coma all the while
since physically injured by an accomplice of the "Death Gun case" at the end of June.
It is truly young to be reassured by weekly rehabilitation. "

"Ah ... ... well ... ... I am indebted to you, I guess it should be said that ... ...."

I groaned, closing face with hands.

I've recovered to this point as a result of a stroke in cardiopulmonary arrest, thanks to

STL's activation of fractal stimulation. But for this reason this guy carried me from a
hospital in the hospital with a camouflaged ambulance and airlifted all the way to
Ocean Turtle off the Izu Island all the way by helicopter.

I understand the circumstances that I could not get the formal procedures. My STL
treatment would have contended for a moment and RATH is a secret organization
that can not reveal its existence. Rather, thanks in all to Kikuoka who crossed the
dangerous bridge so far to help me.

— Although there is something.

"......Kikuoka-san. When I dived to the underworld for the second time, was it a really
unexpected accident that the memory block did not work and I woke up in the
northern border of the human world as it was? "

"Of course"

Kikuoka diluted his smile and nodded.

"At that point, there was no meaning to drop you in the underworld as it is to the real
world, as simulation was contaminated. Well actually, you corrected the trajectory of
the world that had already been contaminated by Yanai... .... " (//WAT!? I thought they
did it on purpose to restore Kirito’s brain activity by direct writing there, hence no
memory block and other blocks which actually caused Kirito’s fluctlight to be
damaged later, no?/)

"Astonishing, I wonder how did you allow the subordinate of that Sugo to RATH......"

A glimpse of the Asuna standing next to him.

Asuna blew away a different kind of hatred and rubbed her shoulder lightly with his
palm.
"I think it's horrifying to think that I was being for hours in the room next to one with
this slug, who shoot Higa ... ... I really wanted him to be caught properly and be
judged on all confessions but……"

"But, that way of dying may have been rather lucky."

Kikuoka quietly answers.

"If Yanai joined the assailants as scheduled and could escape to the United States as
planned, it would not seem that NSA and Glowgen Defense Systems, which were
clients, allowed him to keep his mouth shut, regarding STL and human fluctlight.
After having discharged the knowledge by any means, he would have been sorted
out, the dark side of an American military company is not a person to which one
person can crossover."

"Is it reason why Kikuoka-san is supposed to die?"

"Oh, come on now."

In contrast to his own words, a man who continues to challenge a single enormous
enemy, laughed a smile and spread his hands.

Asuna said on a face that seemed to be bothering, looking at its grueling gestures.

"... What are you going to do now? The official responsible for Lars has been
delegated to Dr. Rinko and can not you face too much at the Roppongi branch?"

"Worry not, I have something to do but for now we must do our utmost to preserve
the Ocean Turtle and the Underworld"

The story that I wanted to know the most was suddenly coming out, I instinctively
started.

"So, what happens to the Underworld in the future ...?"

"... ... the situation is not quite optimistic"

Kikuoka looked outside the window while getting up.

"Ocean Turtle is currently anchored and blocked off the coast of the Izu Island, there
are only a few staff members for reactor maintenance and security inside the ship, the
escort ship strictly monitors the surrounding waters. Speaking of ...... I can hear it, but
the point is on hold. The country can not make a decision. "

"On hold……?"
"To tell the truth, the government will immediately dismantle RATH, or the Marine
Resources Exploration Research Organization, and would like to put human fluctlight
related technology under control. When mass production, ultra low cost labor is. All
we can produce still can not compete with Asia's large-scale factory, but it will make
it clear that that raids and occupying case is the truth. The master of the case is
American NSA and military enterprise, that got the backing money and made the
escort ship wait for 24 hours was the biggest scandal of being the active defense
secretary general. It was also flowing to some ruling party agents, It is coalesced with
major weapons makers of Japan. When these are completely exposed, the regime's
backbone will shake "

The expressions of Kikuoka are alarmed by the stout words.

"Shaking ... Is it only?"

"Yes, there it is, but it will not go until we resume ... ... The ruling party should make a
decision to truncate a few vice-ministers and parliamentarians, at the same time
RATH was dismantled and all related technologies Alice brings it to the big company
of the conglomerate system, Alice gets handed over, the destiny of Ocean Turtle and
LightCube Cluster is inevitable ... "

"That ... ... That can’t be!"

Asuna cried out sharply. In the eyes of Hazel, a spark of anger glows a little.

I urged Kikuoka to keep going ahead while letting her arms touch his fingertips.

"Is there a way to avoid that situation already in your mind?"

"Hope, I wonder rather than measures ......"

An unusual honest smile spread to Kikuoka's mouth.

"The hope is that there is a favorable public opinion formed in us ... while the
bargaining is continuing within the government ... That is to approve human rights to
the human fluctlight, We must have people in the world to interact a lot more and for
a long time with human fluctlight. The significance of existence of The Seed
consolidation was exactly there.

"... ... That's right ..."

"But for that, the existence of a large capacity line for underworld people to connect
to the seed consolidation is a prerequisite. The satellite line used by Ocean Turtle has
been disconnected by the government. From now on I will aim for the restoration of
the line because I made the first step at a news conference the other day, there
should be a temporary grace for a while now. "
"Line ......"

I also looked up at the orange sky spreading out of the window.

Beyond that sunset, countless communication satellites are flying in their orbit.
However, if the throughput is such that it can communicate with the underworld, the
number should be considerably limited. I understand that Kikuoka's plan is rugged
and difficult.

However, once you reach this point, there is nothing I can do for just being a high
school student. Believe it, only trust it.

When I gazed back, I advanced one step and lowered my head.

"Kikuoka-san ...... I beg you, please protect the Underworld"

"There is no need to say"

Kikuoka also got up and smiled barely.

"For me too, underworld is now a dream that made a bet on life."

Seichiro Kikuoka-san leaves only a smelling gift paper bag, the one that came when
him, and went out like a wind.

Asuna breathed a light breath, saying.

"Words and attitudes are also worthy and dependable ... but this time I feel like there
seems to be a back side in Kikuoka's words...."

"Obviously, how many times we can be fooled"

I laughed briefly and sat down on the bed.

"True, but I do not think that Mr. Kikuoka has given up yet. Deploying a domestic
fighter equipped with human fluctlight to the SDF."

"Oh ... .... Yeah!"

"Of course, I would not forcibly incorporate it as an AI without free will, but how
about if you let an Underworlder find employment voluntarily? Integrity knights and
dark knights are originally born as warrior and that’s it. "

"Ah ... ... well ... ... hmmm"

At the same time with Asuna to think about, I also make vague thinking.

The true purpose of Seichiro Kikuoka. That would be something that I can not even
imagine at the moment. Something that is not far beyond politics and defense,
perhaps as far as Kayaba Akihiko ... ....

"Oh, I must leave! It is such time already!"

"Oh, the meeting time is still ... ...."

"Not so, today it is, ALO, Nine Race Joint meeting!"

"Ah ... so run."

I also meet both hands with a flap.

Last month's Ocean • Turtle raid incident.

Approximately 2 thousand VRMMO players in Japan made death-bailed relief by

character conversion to counter the measures of massive launch of VRMMO enemy
players from abroad that PoH commanded. Results: they have almost completely
wiped out with only a few hundred people left.

Today it is supposed to hold a large-scale conference to report facts to the players

who participated in that so-called "volunteer". Me and Asuna must participate
naturally as special guests.

"Well, I guess there is no time to go home."

A little dazzlingly, Asuna took out the AmuSphere from the tote bag she brought.

"Can’t help, I also dive here."

"... ...."

I blink twice, I instinctively snag.

"...... Um, Asuna, whatever you aim at, I will do it for the first time..."

"Come on, it's different, just do not care about small details!"

For a moment I made my lips sharp, I smiled and suddenly collapsed on the bed to
cover me. While thinking that Aki-san would come to the temperature warmer, I also
turned his arm around a thin waist and bowed slowly.

In silence, only each other's breathing echoes.

There is no way to know what kind of means overcomes the time of two hundred years
that me and Asuna left behind in the underworld far exceed the limit of fluctlight.
Perhaps we spent a long time sleeping like the highest priest administrator and may
have continued to organize our memory by STL operation from inside. However, we can
only affirm this. Because Asuna was by my side, I could come back to this world as I am.
Through touching skin I felt like hearing the voice of Asuna.

— Whatever world you go to. No matter how long it will pass.

— Anytime, it's the same ... ....

"... ... Oh, that's right."

I murmured by the real voice. Stroking the hair of the smiling Asuna, I gently put the
Amusphere on her small head.

Locked the straps and powered it on, and I also wear it the same way.

Our eyes met, we nodded a little and we chanted the command at the same time.

"Link start".

"Dad - !!"

As I logged in to ALO, I accepted the small figure that jumped swiftly with both
hands.

When lifting up at most, holding it in your chest, you will slide your clams while from
a throat murmuring like a cat "Uur~".

As a daughter of me and Asuna, Yui which is a top-down "strong AI" is met daily from
a week before I was allowed to use Amusphere. Nevertheless, the degree of
sweetness does not decrease.

But, of course, I do not plan to scold at all. Anyway, Yui was a big success, as she
tracks where I disappeared and predicts that the people who attacked Ocean Turtle
will use VRMMO players from other countries and take countermeasures. That’s true.
Whether you were satisfied with a single sweetheart, the white dress in the arms
melted away in the light and instead a palm-size Pixie appeared. Shake the
transparent wing and fly up and sit in a fixed position on the left shoulder.

Again, I looked around the log house of the 22nd floor Incrad new generation in our
house — ALO.

Even though we are visiting every evening, the nostalgic feeling that comes in is
undiminished.

Perhaps it may be somewhat similar to a cabin near Rulid where lived with Alice in
the Underworld for half a year. At that time, I was almost in a state of mental loss, so I
remember the memory is unclear, but I feel that the feel of calm daily life still remains
in my mind.

Alice's sister Selka who brought me food everyday said that she chose to freeze
herself for a long time to meet Alice again. it was only thing I told Alice that before I
was erased memory.

Since that time Alice does not put it out of her head and is looking forward to the day
when she can return to the underworld again. I also want to fulfill that hope soon.
However, there is still no line connected to the Ocean Turtle under the blockade off
the Izu Island. We have to wait for Kikuoka's plan to be fulfilled.

Switching thinking with a short sigh, I turn around with Yui on the shoulder.

Then, my eyes met with Asuna smiling as if I was all looking forward to my emotions.
I join hand with her with light blue hair and leave home.

It was a time when Alvheim was getting faded away at night. The dawn light which
started to be inserted from the outer circumference is received by the widened wing
and it flies farther.

A lot of players were already gathered at the base of the world tree, the square
before the gigantic dome. I find the usual faces in that corner and descend rapidly.

"You are late, Kirito!"

Bear my fist lightly against Klein's fist that is sent out as soon as I land.

As usual, he smiled grinningly under a bad taste bandana, continuing with katana's
use, in a funny tone.

"Since you can teleport, shouldn’t you appear in advance, like a decent hero-sama?"

"That is not a teleportation, it's super-fast flying technique"

"It’s both, both!!"

Hit back on a grand scale.

Egil standing with his arms folded next to Klein has also presented a huge fist. When
we exchanged greetings with him, I will catch up with this as well as breaking the face
of the beard.

"If you become accustomed to such super-performance accounts, do not you have
trouble in normal skills? After the meeting maybe swing it a little…"

"Well ..."

It is irritating. If you fight at ALO now, you forget that you can not do psychological
attacks or incarnation, it seems that you will try to play the sword only by fighting.

"... .... Here, I will show you the technique I prepared for the second time visiting
Underworld."

For the time being, I turned sideways after I heard that, there was a smile of Leafa,
which shines a long ponytail to morning sun, and Sinon smacked a long bow on my
shoulder. In turn, meet and palm and greet.

Of course, the two of us face each other many times right after the awakening.

From Leafa / Suguha, I heard the she helped the chief of Oak chief Rirupirin and till
the end they fought together. She pictured like it all ended with that cried face with
people crowded around when you stroked your head as "Good luck", the fight with
the devil god of the "green swordsman" leaving a strong impression on the men of
the dark territory, is a pretty bad fight. But at the same time I was deeply convinced.
Anyway, Suguha is a true swordsman who continues to push forward the way of the
sword that I dropped out without losing its side.

The chief of the Ork declared that he will continue waiting for the future for the
second coming of a green swordsman who called them as human beings at the
battlefield. Even now, 200 years have passed, the intention must have been
transmitted without any alteration.

Sinon talked to me a pattern of a single battle with Gabriel Miller, and revealed that
he was himself, "Saturatier" who defeated Sinon with the 4th Bullet • of • Bullets. It is
said that ‘the talisman’ saved her from being paralyzed by Gabriel's psychological
attack who was able to dangerously absorb consciousness.

She did not tell me what it was exactly, but I also told Sinon the trend of the decisive
battle with Gabriel and what happened to that man in the real world.
After the raiders withdrew in the submarine, there was no figure of Gabriel in the first
STL room and another enemy Laughin’ • Coffin head PoH, but I understand a certain
thing from the STL log.

First of all, Gabriel Miller was lost just after battle with me, as much of the fluctlight
was swept away by excessive information. Immediately afterwards the heart stopped
and it is certain that he died.

PoH seems a bit more complicated. Even after the marginal acceleration phase
started, he kept mental activity for about 10 years at internal time. After that the
fluctlight activity gradually declined, and it seems that intellectual activity has almost
disappeared after thirty years.

This is a terrible imagination, but after winning PoH, I transformed the avatar to a
simple tree to prevent him from logging in again, and left it as it was. In other words,
he has spent several decades with inputs other than skin sensation completely cut off.
It is natural for fluctlight to collapse, and Higa said that it was definitely made into a
vanity, even though he was physically alive.

Although indirectly, it is no different that I robbed their life. But, even if I take the
crime, I do not regret it. Because I think that it is to bless many underworld people
who died in the beliefs killed by the highest priest administrator.

After finishing greetings with Sinon and Leafa, I also shake hands with Lisbet and
Silica standing side by side next.

"It was all Liz that persuaded Japanese players, a speech, I wanted to ask you too"

As I said so, Lisbet laughed at him like a shy boy.

"There is no such a great speech, what are you saying... ...."

"I was, it was sooooooo a great spirit!"

The triangular ears of the interrupted silica are pulled tautly by Lisbet.

"Silica, thanks"

As I laughed and my head was lowered, a small beast tamer did not say a word
through sharp teeth.

'Well, then, please take a reward'

As soon as I say it, I embrace it with both hands. Until the light blue small dragon Pina
from her right shoulder flew to my head while singing "Ku-ru~!" (//Yes, Pina makes
same sound as big dragons of Underworld/)
"Oh! What are you doing!"

Lisbet, in turn pulled the tail of Silica draggingly.

Fugi-yo! A strange sound and saying, laughter is filling all the surroundings.

When I looked around, there were several folds of stairs around us.

Below the lord Sakuya leading the players of Silph. Alicia Rue and Cait Sith.
Salamanders led by Eugene. Also, I can see the appearance of Siune, Jun from
Sleeping Nights.

— It came back.

I felt the strongest since I woke up at the RATH Roppongi branch at this moment.

With this, it’s far from complete happy ending. The destiny of the Underworld is
totally uncertain and there are many problems to be solved, such as improving
relationships with VRMMO players in the US, China and South Korea that have
deteriorated.

I quietly asked Lisbet hanging on the right arm against Silica.

"...... Restoration of items lost in the Underworld, is it possible?"

"Oh ... yeah ... ...."

Always a healthy face, slightly cloudy.

Fortunately, the ALO, GGO, and many other seed worlds accounts of players who to
Underworld for their relief are not lost, they were recompiled into the original
VRMMO they made it in.

Unfortunately, we did not return weapons and armor which were destroyed or
robbed in the battlefield. They are rare items that can not be easily obtained, and it
seems that Lisbet is currently requesting the operators of each VRMMO whether they
can recover the data somehow.

"... Most of the operators say related to convergence ‘items Lost is self-responsibility’,
it's stance, but it is because there is a possibility of restoration if data is left on the
Underworld server. I checked with Higa-san from RATH. He seems to be waiting for
reconnection of the line .... "

"Okay ... but ... I think Higa will do something with it ... and the players in China and
South Korea ... ...?"

"It's difficult, but possible"

The expression of Lisbet sank even further.

"Because it was a terrible battle .... But, it was not until now that there were causes for
it that made things that far. There is also an opinion on the Japanese side, too, the
Japanese seed nexus. We shut off all overseas connections, so this time the story is
raising trying to open up ALO in order to make the dialogue resumption a reality.
Today, that is also discussed I think”

"It's nice, the walls, even if we exacerbate the relationship, there is no other way
around ..."

In my brain that answered, there was the prospect of the mountain range that ended
with the underworld's human world and dark worlds separated by hundreds of years.

After seeing the horizon of Alvheim which is hazy blurred for a while, turn my eyes on
the root of the world tree. The marble gate opens wide and the players enter the
internal dome one after another.

"Well, let us also go"

When I urged my surrounding colleagues to step on foot.

Suddenly, an icon notifying the incoming voice chat from outside the ALO pointed
out to sight.

"Got a phone call... sorry, please go ahead"

When I walk a little in the opposite direction, Asuna who started moving, I tap the
icon.

"Hello?"

It was that nostalgic voice that I heard.

『... ... Kirito. It’s me ... Alice. 』

"Alice! Hi ... I have not heard that you will come to the meeting today with Alvheim ...
for sure."

『That is right ... .... Sorry. The party attending here is still not going to end ... ....
Please tell everyone that I'm sorry. 』

"...... That time"

Nod, gaze lightly.

Alice, the world's first genuine artificial intelligence, is busy days to attend various
receptions and parties every day to impress its existence to real world people. Dr.
Koujiro also apologized and he understood that he himself was inevitable as well, but
apologizing, for high knights there is not anything pleasant to treat like a spectacle.

"Let me know, I will tell you everything, Alice too much, do not dislike what you
dislike."

『... Because I am a knight. Whatever, I will fulfill my duty.』

Even in that resolute story, it seems that there was no past tension. But now I do not
have much to do for her.

『Well then, Kirito ... ... Best luck』

"OK ... .... Then, see you again"

I answered yes, I waited for the call to run out.

However, after a while's silence, a faint voice was heard again.

『Kirito .... I ... ... I'm getting wilted. 』

Vocal chat was disconnected earlier than I answered that word.

Higa Takeru was late for nearly an hour.

An old-fashioned keyboard placed on the knee. Of the right end, the Enter key, which
became slippery and worn out, he hesitated if it should be pressed to not.

His 8-tatami apartment in the Higashi Gotanda is buried without a gap with the
machinery that has been hoarding since I was a student. The waste heat released by
them can not be completely processed by one old-style air conditioner, and the
interior is gentle and hot. Because I am not turning on lights to reduce even one heat
source, the red, green and blue LEDs are irregularly blinking in the space sinking into
the darkness.

In front of Higa, where a chair is crowded, the 32-inch monitor installed on kotatsu
emitting a dazzling light. There is no movement on the desktop screen. It is only a
solid plain window is displayed in emptiness.

Higa leaves his back in the seat chair while sighing tens of times. The loaded frame
gently weeps.

He said to the technical staff at RATH to go getting a change of clothes at home, so

after 30 minutes he must have returned to the Roppongi branch again. Since Dr.
Koujiro is dedicated to dealing with external work on a daily basis instead of
lieutenant colonel Kikuoka, Higa is now effectively the manager of the Alisiation plan.
However, that by taking advantage of that position, he stole something from the
branch secretly, — nobody knew.

That thing is now connected to a complicated mysterious device that sits on the right
side of the TV. The device that is crammed in a handmade frame with the wiring in
the foundation is definitely the most expensive and advanced gadget in this room.
Apart from the blocked Ocean Turtle, and the one in Alice's machine body, it is the
only existing interface for light cubes.

The connected item is a metal packaging with one side of six centimeters.

Higa glared while watching the cold gloss of the cube.

"... ... it’s not gonna work"

Retract the index finger from above the enter key.

"It will collapse soon. Copies of me and Kiku-san were also. The human soul stored in
the light cube is absolutely resistant to the recognition that it is a copy of itself. No ...
Even if so... ....”

Higa breathed a lot and my chest without saying that. He struck the Enter key with
the fingertip that he put forward again.

The program runs. A large fan of a full tower PC increases rotational noise.

In the center of the black window displayed on the monitor, a rainbow-colored

synchrotron emerges as if a star were born.

Numerous peaks are sharp, powerfully penetrate the darkness. Shaking, trembling,
shining.

Eventually the familiar voice echoed quietly from the speech placed on both sides of
the monitor.

『... ... Perhaps, Higa-san?』

Higa drank some water and given out the answer with a sweet voice.

"That ... ... is so, yes."

『You did not erase me. To be exact ... ... I am a copy, should I say?』

"How could I ...... It can not be erased, no way!!"

Higa cried out with a voice that killed any attempt to excuse his acts.
"You are the first fluctlight that survived the time of 200 years! No ... ... In human
history, it has become the human being who lived the longest time! You can not be
erased ... That's right, Kirito!"

Higa called the name of the opponent while feeling the perspiration spreading in
both hands.

In the upper part of the window, digital numbers indicating the elapsed time from
startup are swiftly switched.

Thirty two second ... thirty-three seconds.

Kirigaya Kazuto in Underworld survives the limiting acceleration phase as long as 200
years, and his fluctlight immediately after awakening realizes that he is already a
duplicate of himself.

In our previous experiments, all the copying behaviors lost their calmness from the
point of getting its recognition, fell into a depression, it came to a collapse without
exception while releasing a bizarre cry. Higa restrained his teeth and waited for a
response from speaker.

After a few seconds —.

『... ... I was expecting that you will do such a thing...』

Quiet words similar to dazzling.

『...... Higa. Is it only my fluctlight that was copied?』

"Ah ... ... Oh, during your memory erase operation, I have distracted Kikuoka-san and
Dr. Koujiro for long enough only to duplicate you..."

『Really……?』

With the silence again, the reproduction consciousness sealed in the light cube talked
in a gentle voice to the last.

『I have talked with the Queen...... to Asuna. If we reach this situation, what should we
do? Asuna said. If it’s only me who is duplicated, shall be promptly erased. If we were
both replicated, I would like to use the remaining time for real world and underworld
reconciliation...』

"Well ... What if you alone, what would you do then?"

Higa asked me to be caught.

When I heard the word I returned, I learned a deep shiver.

『So far, I will fight for the underworld. Because I am a guardian of that world ...』

"... ... Fight ... ....?"

『Underworld is currently in a very unstable situation. It would be so?』

"Surely ... ... that’s something ... ...."

『That world is sadly helpless in the real world. Energy, Hardware, Maintenance,
Network ...... It is necessary to depend on the human beings of real world to maintain
all the infrastructure. So, very long-term safety can not be guaranteed.』

Already, the elapsed time exceeds two minutes. However, the tone of the replicating
body is calm, it can not be seen in particular it is going to collapse.

While Higa stretched his spine on the seat of chair, he unconsciously refuted.

"But that's not going to happen, the underworld's entity, Lightcube • Cluster can only
be powered from the Oshayan Turtle, and that ship is now under the control of the
government. If it is decided, there is possibility that power will be dropped tomorrow
and clusters will be completely initialized..."

『How much nuclear fuel do we have?』

Suddenly, I got hit by an unexpected question, Higa winked.

"Well ...... Well, that was originally from the pressurized water type for the submarine
... ... If you want to keep the cluster, perhaps the next four or five years ..."

『So in principle, there is no need to refuel for that period. In other words, if every
interference from the outside is prevented, underworld can survive, right?』

"However, even if it says to prevent it ...... Ocean • Turtle has nothing to do with
arms!"

『I said, it’s gonna be fight』

Quiet, gentle, but the voice reminiscent of the steel blade sounded briefly.

"... ... fighting ... ... but now, the satellite line is also shut off, we can not even
communicate with Ocean Turtle ..."

『There is a line. There should be some.』

"Where, where ... ...!?"

Higa who instinctively began to hear the answer that he did not anticipate.
『Heathcliff ... No, Akihiko Kayaba. I need the power of that man. First of all, I have to
look for him. Higa-san... ... Do you cooperate?』

"Ka ... Kayaba-sempai...... !?"

That man should have died ... no, he should have died twice.

First time, at the mountains in Nagano. Second time, in the engine room of Ocean
Turtle.

However, Niemom's body which Kayaba Akihiko's thought imitation program was
hiding in was suddenly disappeared.

"Are you alive……"

Higa who moaned, forgot to check the time display of the windows already, he was
relieved.

What is going on?

Copies of Kayaba Akihiko and Kazuto Kirigaya, which should be former enemies.
These two ... No, what happens when the two meet.

Perhaps ... ... I’m opening the lid of the Pandora’s box... ....

For a moment, such thinking haunted the mind, but it was quickly blown away by
overwhelming excitement.

I want to see. I want to know the future.

Higa breathed heavily, exhaled, and said with a shivering voice.

"...I ... I’ll find out ... there are some old friends from the old times... ... I will send an
encrypted message ......"

That’s it, I can not turn back.

Hira closing both eyes, wiping the sweaty palm with a t-shirt, and started to beat the
keyboard steadily.

On the monitor, a gigantic synchrotron radiation that did not fit in the window frame
periodically shook the rainbow shine to watch Higa's fingertips.

I looked around my room that I came back for the first time in two months.

The PC desk and the wall rack. Pipe bed, plain curtain.
Nostalgic ... ... I think it is strange for its stormy view before I think. As a matter of fact,
it is the first time in a year and eight months in a subjective sense to see this room.
And in total, I spent two and a half years in Underworld.

In my room at the North Centoria Sword Art Academy, it was cozy with plenty of
wooden furniture, beautiful carpets, paintings' foreheads and flower arrangement and
made me entertain the eye.

As a matter of fact, Ronnie and Teise, who were our valets, and then ... the beautiful
smile of Eugeo, next to them.

Painful feeling in chest, which should have changed into memories, vividly revives, I
clog my throat.

Drop clothes bags on the floor, make a few more steps and sit down on the bed. If
you lay the body sideways, it's just dried up, there is a smell of sun from the sheets.

Close your eyes.

A faint voice echoes in the back of my ear.

— If you are taking a nap, do not do it until the practice of sacred art is over. Are you
planning to copy me again?

— Yes, I've tried tweaking the technique I learned during this time. Let's go to the
training ground later.

— Oh, I went out again and bought some sweets! Here, have some!

— Look, get up, Kirito.

— Kirito ... ....

I slowly rotated the body and buried my face in the pillow.

Since I woke up at RATH Roppongi branch, I still enduring this.

I grasped the bedsheet, tied it and bound the teeth. I cried up with a loud voice. Tears
flowing without stopping like a child, trembled, cried alone.

Because —.

Can’t be worse, all the memories were erased!

All, since I woke up all alone in the forest, walked around the banks of the stream, led
by axe sound, and met a boy under a black big tree, all of the memories of two and a
half years!
No matter how much I cried, I kept crying, the tears never ran out.

Eventually, the door was knocked with a low-key sound.

I did not reply, but following the sound the knob turns, a small footstep sounded. The
bed got slightly sunk in the immediate vicinity of me staying in the pillow.

The finger caresses my hair carefully.

For me who stubbornly keeps his face down, a gentle but firmly coaxial voice was
applied.

"Talk, brother ... That was the world, fun things, sad things, everything"

"... ...."

I was still silent for a few seconds.

When I turned my face to the right after a while, in the field of shedding tears, a smile
of a single leaf of Suguha came up.

I came back. Home. To the family.

The past is far away, and it is going on now. Just briefly, to the front, to the front.

After closing my eyes and wiping my tears, I opened my lips shivering.

"... When I first met in the middle of a deep forest, he was just a lumber.

I thought it was incredible, he was trying to cut down only one cedar tree over 300
years, for generations ... "

It was August 16th 2026 when I came back home in Saitama Prefecture Kawagoe City
after rehabilitation.

That night, spending a whole round, I told Suguha about what happened in the
underworld (//I guess he told her what he still remembers only, right?/). The next
morning, I was woken up by a phone call.

It was a news from RATH Roppongi branch that Alice had disappeared.

Monday, August 17th 2026, 9am.

"... ... ... disappeared!? Fluctlight, is that what you mean?"

I kept clutching the mobile terminal pulling on t-shirt.

Dr. Koujiro across the line answered with a constantly strained voice while being
suppressed.

『No ... ... entire machine body, OK? According to the video of the surveillance
camera, it seems like she got out of security lock by herself last night and stole the
security guard's keys and got out .』

"Did it herself ...?"

I exhale a little bit of my breath.

Currently, organizations and groups that are not happy about the existence of Alice
will not be counted with fingers of both hands in Japan. Furthermore, if you count
individuals wanting to destroy her for pragmatic, religious, creed or emotional
reasons, you can not guess that number. If you were kidnapped by such a person,
you can not use the sword or the sacred art, so now she has no means of protecting
herself.

Because RATH also recognizes it, the security system of the Roppongi branch has
been raised to the firmness of a little fortress. However, indeed it was a blind spot
until Alice voluntarily disappeared.

The other point is why Alice ran into such a ruin —.

One week before, as soon as the vocal chat received in ALO is cut off, the word she
leaked out revives to the mind.

In my ears, a painful exaggerated voice of Dr. Koujiro arrives.

『I was worried that Alice had an overwhelming burden. But are not you tired? Do
not want to take a day off? Whatever I ask, she just shake her head with a smile .... 』

"Oh yes ... ... That's right, that proud knight will not blow someone a weak tone."

『Except only one person, except you. ...... Kirigaya, I think Alice will definitely contact
you. So .... Although you just went out of the hospital, I'm sorry, but ... 』

I quickly replied to the doctor who makes the ending muddy.

"Yes, I understand, if I’m contacted by Alice, I will be able to get there soon .... But ...
Doctor, Alice can move so long distance?"

『We are also worried about it. With built-in battery alone, even if it is full charge, if
you walk for about eight hours, if you run it will not keep that half. If you can not
move anywhere near Roppongi ... ... If you find it there to an unfriendly person ... 』

"Because of her look ... ...."

It pulls a face again to a new uneasiness factor. Alice's dazzling blond hair, clear white
skin, and a beautiful face finished with a spirit of expert craftsmen are noticeable
despite being a robot.

『Now, all of the available staff are searching around this area. I am also monitoring
the writing of the net, I am also going into the public surveillance camera network
and recording checking. 』

"If you do, I will go there for the moment as well, so it would be better to move
immediately when there is contact."

『I will be saved if you do so. Please do it, Kirigaya-kun 』

And the call was disconnected in a hurry.

I pulled out the clothes appropriately from the closet and as soon as I thrust my
hands and feet, I took off the backpack and the mobile terminal, the keys of the bike
and jumped out of my room.

Running down the stairs, the first floor is quiet and rebounding. Father and Mother at
the Obon Festival, had said that they would go out with two other people; and
Suguha would be doing a morning practice of the Kendo. It seems that my family will
celebrate my return with energy tonight, but honestly it is not so late.

Drank the orange juice in the fridge and dash to the entrance with the mouth full of
bagel sandwich seems to have left specially for me. I thrust my feet in the shoes and
grabbed the door knob, and the intercom near me immediately rang.

For a moment my heart jumps. No way — did Alice move so far by some means?

"Ali ... ..."

I was standing on the other side of the door that unlocked while mouthing.

There was nothing but a courier who solidified himself in a blue uniform and a hat.

The bad thing between the bad things. Although it is unlikely, if you see the sweat
balls floating on the face that greets you brightly, saying "Hey, got a parcel for you!"
It can not be said that you can leave it behind.

To my grabbed stamper style standing on top of the shoe box, the courier added
further trouble.

"Luggage, cash on delivery, I say!"

"Ah ... .... hi"

After trying to remove the wallet from the backpack, I remember that this world
certainly had a useful thing called electronic money. Pull out the mobile terminal from
your pocket and hold it over the tablet you give to courier.

"Next time!"

I went out waiting to see my parcel left behind and I confirmed it is left at the front
door. Unexpectedly heavy. A corrugated cardboard box that has about seventy-five
centimeters on a side. If you are not empty, I will leave this way and check your
invoice while thinking about going out. Goods are electric products. The sender is —.

"None ......"

Ocean Resources Exploration Research Organization, printed on the boxd with

Mincho font. Is it a box that is stocked at RATH Roppongi branch? In the address
field, my address and full name. Handwritten in awkward letters.

If the luggage that Dr. Koujiro issued, I would have touched it on a previous phone.
Then, was it sent by Kikuoka or Higa? When it comes to content, underworld, or some
mechanical related STL? I plucked my lips and got a finger on the seal of the gum
tape.

Pull carefully. Lift the lid slightly lifted, gently to the left and right - open ... ....

"... ... Wow Aaaa !!"

And I screamed in horror.

It was packed tightly in the box and bent in an unnatural direction, it is human's
limbs.

I spread my eyes wide open my eyes and I was forced to scream a second time.

"Gaaa!"

With the darkness of the gap between the limbs, one eye opened up and the stare at
me straight.

The white wrist that stretched out of the corner of the corrugated cardboard box was
stretched out from the box.

Before I screamed the third time, I heard somewhat known voice.

"Do not you pull me out quickly, because it is not that bad here, Kirito"

Three minutes later.

I sat down in the hall of my house and held my head with both hands.
Although I tried to struggle in order to make my thought somehow struggle to this
situation that the motif, "beautiful girl robot delivered by parcel delivery service"
which has been used in many fiction for a long time, has become real.

"……Can you do it!!"

Shouting, abandoning efforts, standing up quickly.

At the turning point, a beautiful girl robot who dressed in a familiar uniform is
shouldering in the corridor a pillar casually.

Eventually, seeing me in the morning, robot — exactly named "Electroactive Muscule

• Operating Machine No. 3" authentic bottom-up AI, Alice Synthesis • Thirty Integrity
Knight of the Underworld Axiome Church stands with a smile.

"This house is built of wood, as if it were a house in the forest of Rurid, it is much
better than that one"

"Oh ... yeah ... ... Maybe seven or eight decades will pass ..."

When answering without power, I will focus on the blue eyes so long.

"Well, of course it’s all about destiny! But I’m sure they use fine trees...."

"That's right ...... I mean ......"

In a nutshell I walked through the corridor, grabbed Alice 's shoulder, and when I
tried to ask her what I wanted to know when she smiled again.

"First of all, could not you please restore the power of this steel body? Uh ...... In this
word, I think that it’s called " Charging "”.

That’s right.

"The beautiful girl robot sent by courier charges with household outlet" is reality.

While I was diving to an underworld, Real World came to the future as well.

"Oh ... recharging ... ... please, as much as you want ..."

I pushed Alice 's shoulder and took me to the living room.

Alice was standing with her spine leaned over the sofa with one end of recharging
cable stuck in the wall power outlet and another end of plugged in left hip bone, and
still looking around the surroundings.

— In the meantime Alice will not eat or drink at last after she charges on so I can’t
even brew tea, what to do... It seems that I'm still violently fluctuating.
In order to calm down, open your mouth to dissolve from doubt as imminent in the
near future.

"Well ... ... First of all, I wonder how I realized how to make yourself with courier
service away, from there ..."

Then a beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes said that hearing hesitant things said,
shrugging his shoulders and replied.

"It's easy"

Of course.

In the Roppongi branch, Alice who prepared the invoice payment invoice, packing
tape and strengthened oversized cards cardboard boxes, firstly recorded the image of
the surveillance camera who left the room on the video of the surveillance camera.

After that, assemble the box outside the entrance camera view, paste the invoice with
my address, and enter the box while unlocking each joint. Paste the tape only on one
side of the top lid, and tighten the lid by pulling it from the inside. Furthermore,
temporarily fix the lid with tape from inside.

Do so, ask the courier to collect the cargo by e-mail. Of course, the dealer got
checked by a security guard at the gate, but the mail was certainly sent from inside
the building, and the entrance has the baggage properly. Without knowing that a girl
robot lurks in there, the dealer tightly patches a little sticky tape, collects the luggage,
puts it on the truck, and delivers it to Kawagoe-shi, Saitama prefecture the next
morning ...... .

"……I see……"

I dull while slipping down into the sofa.

After all, Alice did not go out of the building of Roppongi branch in a way even one
step. It is no wonder that you can not grasp the steps taken.

However, it is surprising that Alice which was only one month after visiting the real
world could have thought of it rather than the cleverness of the signature. When I put
the question up, the girl in her uniform wears her shoulder up and down again.

"When I was apprenticed just as a knight, I had sneaked out of cathedral with this
hand and saw the city."

"... ... that, that sort of thing"

With this, when will Alice become proficient in information technology, when will it
be? In a sense, she is a child of a network that can instantly dive into virtual space
without AmuSphere.

— As I felt aside the terrible imagination aside, when I properly sit on the sofa, I gave
a fundamental question to him.

"But ... .... Alice ... When do you want to, why, if you just came to my house, if you
talked to Dr. Rinko, I think that time has been made"

"That's right, that person is a nice person ... ...She is very concerned about myself.
Even though I got the opportunity to visit Kirito's house, I suppose it was supposed
that a platoon of black ops comes along.

I can not believe artifacts, thin eyelashes are lying down.

"...... I think that I am sorry that I imitate escaping like this ... Dr. Rinko is very worried
and I am searching for me, apologizing how I got it from the way back But ... ... I just
got this time by all means I have time to interact with you Kirito who is not a
temporary figure and is just for themselves but a genuine body "

A big eyed pupil shot me from the front.

The two blue eyes are supposed to be optical devices composed of sapphire lenses
and CMOS image sensors, but they have a breathtakingly beautiful sparkle. It might
possibly be connected by a short circuit, the light emitted by her fractal itself.

Alice played with a faint motor driving sound, but got up with smooth motion.

Wrap around the glass table, one step, two steps, approaching me.

So, the chargeable battery stuck on the wall tightly stretched, impeding walking. A
faint emptiness appears on a white face.

I breathed in heavily, I got up in the same way.

Go two steps and stand right in front of Alice.

Twin eyes, which are slightly lower than I, have a strong will, and they twinkle. The lips
moved, sweet and clear, but a voice with a slightly electronic sound was emitted.

"Kirito. I am angry."

Even without being told what, I got the meaning of the word.

"Yeah ... I guess."

"Why ... Why did not you tell me ... at that time that we might not meet anymore ...
This may be an eternal farewell, separated by two sides of the wall of two hundred
years, If you tell me one thing at that "altar at the end" that we can not rejoice again, I
... ... I would not escape alone! "

Alice screamed, with a facial expression that would have been colored by a drop that
definitely would not stop unless the machine body had a function to shed tears.

"I am a knight! My way is fighting! Even though ... Why did you choose to confront
that terrible enemy alone, did not you hope for me next to that! For you I ... ... Alice •
Synthesis • damn it Thirty!! "

A little fist lifted clasped my chest. Once again. One more time.

A small head slumped trembling and the forehead hit the left shoulder.

I gently wrapped golden hair with both hands.

"You ... is my hope"

I slowly murmured.
"It's not just for me, it's an irreplaceable hope for a lot of people who lived and died
in that world, so I absolutely wanted to protect and I did not want to lose ... hope ...
for the future "

"……future……"

A wet voice sounded in my arms.

"What kind of shape is the future, I will continue to endure the loneliness that will not
run out in this chaotic real world, the body of the disabled steel in the endless feast.
In the end, what is there? "

"... .... I'm sorry, I do not know it now."

With power in both arms, I tried hard to convey my emotions and thoughts at least
for a long time.

"But when you are here, the world will change, you will change, at the end you are
going to change, Cardinal, Administrator and Bercouli, the Eldri ... ... when the wish of
Eugeo will be rewarded I do believe that you come. "

That is not all. Once in another world ...... The lives of many young people who lived
and fought and died in the virtual sky floating castle were also caught in this place,
this moment.

Alice kept silent for a long, long while holding his forehead on my shoulder.

Eventually, the different knight who gently released his body smiled a smile with a
resolute smile, just as it was when he met in the Tower of Chalk.

"... ... I have to contact Dr. Rinko, I am sorry if I let her worry too much."

I continued watching Alice 's eyes for a while still. I felt that I felt tightened feeling has
not disappeared yet.

But what more can I do for you? Or it may be a problem that can only be solved by
taking time.

"... Yeah, that's right."

I nodded, I pulled out the mobile from my pocket.

Dr. Koujiro who was up-to-the-point on the phone, as expected despite quitting
about five seconds, the word that she first said was an apology to Alice. After all, she
is a really nice person. The only woman whom Kayaba Akihiko has allowed in his
lifetime.
"...... I did not care enough, rather, we were forcing Alice."

Following herself, Dr. Koujiro told me unexpected directions.

I turned off the phone and smiled at Alice looking at me carefully.

"So she said “Sorry”, then was “sorry for that”, okay, then “I am so sorry”, so.... Today
you should stay overnight "

"Is it true?"

Alice's face quickly changed to happy expression.

"Yeah, but I told her you will turn on the GPS tracker for sure."

"It's a modest price at that prize"

I nodded, once she made a long blink, Alice got up quickly.

"If you decide so, please show me this house and garden first. It is the first time to
actually see the real world's traditional buildings."

"Oh, no problem ... ... but it's just a private house, so I do not see much of it ..."

After twisting my neck, I can think of it.

"Oh, come on, do you go out in the garden for a moment"

Waiting for Alice to finish charging, get out of the entrance and go to the yard of the
ball grass.

To the knight who turns interests to carp and goldfish's swimming ponds, the pine-
tree walls, etc., whilst explaining these things, it is —.

It was a quiet dojo built in the northeast corner of the site.

Alice, as he took off her shoes and went up to the boarded floor, seemed to have
seen what it was building for. Look quickly and tell me to hurry.

"This is ... .... It's a training ground, is not it?"

"Yes, we’re calling it dojo here,"

"Dojo ... ...."

Alice who mumbled this and turned to the front went through the underworld
integrity knight greeting: hit the right hand to the chest and the left hand to the
waist. I also bowed in the Japanese style, then go side by side.
The deceased grandfather who built the floor, which only Suguha uses of the kendo,
was polished by the black light. Even though it is midsummer, my bare feet are coolly
cold. It feels like somewhere different up to the air.

Alice first saw the hanging scroll over the front wall, then walked up to the shelf next
to it.

Stretch your right hand and lift the old bamboo sword one time.

"This is ... .... It is a wooden piece for training, but it is quite different from that of
underworld."

"Yeah, they made it out of bamboo and devised it so that I do not get hurt seriously.
The regular wooden sword could cut down about 30% of my life."

"Well ... .... There is no immediate curative technique here, so it will be a hard work for
the sword's training ... ...."

After nodding deeply, Alice was silent for a few seconds.

And suddenly.

She turned around and, surprisingly, I handed out the handle of the bamboo sword I
had.

"What? ...."

"There is only one thing to do at the training ground."

"Oh ...... Yeah! Really!?"

At that time Alice was grabbing another bamboo sword with her left hand. I will be
forced to grasp the protruding handle.

"And ... ... Alright, you, your body ... ...."

"Do not care!"

Harshness.

And a sharp but hilarious word.

I looked at a machine girl walking on a boarded floor, while holding a half open.

Certainly, the machine body given to Alice is rich and sophisticated in light of the
current level of 2026 year. Because the balancing function which is the biggest
difficulty of the humanoid bipedal walking robot could be omitted entirely because
the power performance exceeding the No. 1 and No. 2 prototypes produced in
Oshayan Turtle could be mounted on a far smarter body It seems ... ....

While we are upright, we constantly control the weight on the left and right legs
unconsciously and maintain balance. When trying to reproduce its function
mechanically with a sensor, a gyroscope and a program, the volume of the related
device can not fit into a very real human type silhouette. But Alice does not have that
limitation. Because her fluctlight already has the same level of automatic balancer as
you have with us humans. It is just a matter of leaving control of the actuator and
polymer muscle built in each joint to the signal output from the light cube.

— That's what they say.

At the moment, she has never caught up with the behavior of a living human being. It
is clear if you look at the awkwardness of the letters written on the invoice of that
parcel delivery service. In addition, I can not imagine being able to withstand the
complex motivation fast movement, such as swinging a..... bamboo sword.

I thought for a moment and I was a little confused.

But when Alice moved to a position about 5 meters in front of me without any
hesitation, she held the bamboo sword by both hands perfectly overhead.

High • Nolgea style, the sword skill "Heavens and Mountains Break".

Suddenly, cold wind stroked my skin. I instinctively take my breath and go back a half
step.

Sword of the mind.

It is a bluff, it is impossible, I thought quickly.

My body was moving naturally. Hold the bamboo sword by both hands horizontally
on the right side. Drop the hips as they are and put the left leg forward. Selrut style,
the sword skill "Whirling Current".

If you think about it, I am in the real world not healthy and only a weak internet
gamer. It is not the position that the performance of the machine body could be
compared to. Then, it would be courtesy to have an opponent who is at full strength.

Alice also responded with a smile to me who smiled thinly.

"I remember .... When I first sworded with you in the garden of the 80th floor of
Cathedral,"

"It was amazing, but it's not going to happen this time"
At the beginning, there was no referee who spoke, but I and Alice simultaneously
moved.

Both sides struggle little by little while keeping their stance. The air is charged tightly
and the voice of the cicadas keeps crowing actively in the garden.

The silence that the ear hurts increases its density endlessly.

Alice 's blue eyes narrowed to cuts.

A light resembling a moment 's thunder flash, blinking in the back of the pupil.

"Iaaaaaa !!"

"Seiiaaa !!"

At the same time, while releasing the frenzy of the fissure, I just watched the figure of
the knight who slashed the golden hair and slashed the sword straight in front of
him.

Weeu~ng!!

Following the roar that the maximum output actuator shoots, a tremendous shock hit
my hands. Immediately after, the dry sound sounded throughout the dojo. Two
bamboo swords that slipped off from both hands dropped to the right and left, and
they slid on the floor board while turning round.

Me and Alice could not completely halt the momentum of the batting, had frontal
collision, and fell to the right side. Reflectively turn your body down.

The back hits the floor. Then it was heard Gong-Gon and a dull sound twice. The first
is the sound that Alice's forehead hit my forehead. The second time is the sound that
my back head crashed into the floorboard.

"Well ..."

Alice was smiling when looking down at me from the close range.

"I win, I guess. The fixed hands secret skill "Steel headbutt"

"Such... ... Such a skill, I don’t recollect..."

"My new invention"

After giggling and laughing so funnyly, the white cheek descended again and
touched mine. At the ear, a voice like a spring breeze rang.
"Kirito. I am fine now, I can live in this world, as long as I swing the sword, wherever I
am, I am what I am, now I understand ... my battle is not over yet. Also your fight. So
look at the front, just look at the front and go straight ahead. "

On that night, it became tense with a sense different from the game.

In the living room of my house, four family members can’t remember for how long
have not been together — and another guest was introduced, a cheerful celebration
was held.

Suguha and Alice, who had already become friends with ALO, were immediately able
to break into one side, and the talk of kendo made a great deal of excitement.
Mother and Alice gently chatted while mainly making my work a part of the story.

However, between the me and the father who faced at the right end of the table, a
very tight air flowed.

My adopted father, Kirigaya Minetaka is a person who has a personality opposite to

me in almost every sense. Serious. Diligent. Brilliant. He left the prestigious university
and studied at a business school in the US, he got a job at the largest securities
company in the field as it is, almost never returned to Japan in recent years. With a
difference of my exciting mother, and without giving a lot of warmth both ways —
yet it is still possible to continue a hot love couple.

Father has finally turned into the main subject of this evening, when had already
opened a lot of beer and wine. He turned the face to me, which nevertheless didn’t
change the appearance.

"Well, I have something I'd like to talk about in various ways, but first of all I'd like to
hear the words from your mouth."

That moment the left side of the dining table also gently shivers back.

I put the chicken wing on the dish, cleared my throat and stood up. Put my hands on
the edge of the table and slowly lower your head.

"...... Father ... Mom ... I was worrying you again and again, it was bad."

Then mother Midori smiled cheerfully and shook her head.

"Kazu used to do a huge job this time, huh? Man, once you have undertaken a job
you do have to accomplish it properly. Should you need to write a manuscript, you
will protect the deadline you said to protect. "
"Mom, I'm entering personal opinion"

The air loosened by jumping in Suguha was tightened again by father.

"Your mother tells so, but the mental labor of you mother was disappointing while
you were disappearing. The circumstances were explained by the people of the
marine resources exploration research institution, and you have an important role.
Even though I met with that lady there, I understand it, but I still don’t get, what on
earth are you going to next?”

Swordsman! I think I will feel somewhere if I can answer, but there is no way such a
thing can be said at this place.

"High school student,"

It is this thing to do. It is like a child that is preached by his parents. Alice 's gaze that
spreads her eyes wide and steady hurts. I also came across numerous enemies with
underworld, and this is the way in the real world.

Given me a nod, he kept on with a tough voice.

"If so, then it is obvious what you should pay most."

"... ... to study and go on to higher education"

"It's already the summer of your second year of high school ... I certainly have asked
your mother if you wish to study abroad in the US, but are you preparing?"

"Ah ... ... that's what it is ... ..."

He questioning, first saw my mother, then my face, I lowered my head again.

"I already defined how I'd like to change my path."

At the back of the glasses of the metal frame, the eye of the father increases the
severity.

"Try to say"

I was inspired and I told them a new course that I only said to Asuna before.

"I would like to go to the University of Electrical Engineering in Japan ... if possible I
would like to go to Toto Industrial University, and in the future I would like to work
for RA... no, ocean resources exploration research organization"

Ga~tan!

It was Alice that ran up with a chair.

Grasp both hands in front of her chest and open both eyes. I glanced at the blue eyes
and smiled for just a moment.

I feel like a long time ago but actually only two months ago, I said to Asuna, I wanted
studying abroad in America and learning about Bio Implant Chip. The reason was that
BIC seemed to be the correct evolution of full dive technology beginning with
NerveGear. Because of attachment to a full dive machine handling conventional
polygon data rather than STL using a heterogeneous data format called a Mnemonics
• Visual data.

However.

The days I spent in Underworld reversed my recognition from the ground.

I can not leave that world any longer, nor do I intend to leave. Because I finally found
the theme to be realized over my entire life.

It is said that the fusion of Underworld and real world.

Alice looking straight at me, with a smile like a big flower, moved her eyes to the
father and opened her mouth.

"……father"

She closed her eyes as if her eyelids were too heavy.

"My father did not forgive me lastly that I walked the path of the knight, but I have
not regretted that fact anymore, I shown my own belief in action. Kirito ...... Kazuto is
also a person who can do it, because he is a student in this world, no doubt the
strongest in the world. Because he was a fighting swordsman, hero who guarded
countless people "

"Alice……"

I tried to control her words about myself. It was because I was convinced that my
father would not understand what she said that she is a knight or about a fight.

But.

"Alice-san"

I saw the smile at the mouth where I always saw heartbreaking heartlessness.

"Both myself and mother already know that, because Kazuto is already hero in this
world. Yes, "Black swordsmen"”

"Wha…"
I got hit by more amazement, I am overrepented. No way, did they both read the
"SAO Incident Full Record" full of that childish talks?

The smile went out, my father looked at me with a straight line of sight included in
America and said it.

"Remember: It's all about the process of deciding course, studying, taking exams,
going on to higher education, and getting a job, but at the same time it's a fruit that
life gives us. Even if there is a lost stray shake, do not regret to live it.”

I close my eyes and breathe in heavily.

Then bowed my head and replied.

"I will definitely do. Thank you, father, mother"

Raise my face and add a smile on the right side mouth.

"Although I do not ask for appreciation for a valuable advice, but ...... Father, if you
have a stock of Glowgen • Defense Systems or its affiliates, you'd better sell it soon,
because recently they did a big gamble and it seems it have done a big loss to them.
"

To my modest counterattack, but a father only lifted one eyebrow.

"I’ll take it into account"

In this way, the reality will regain itself little by little.

While thinking so, I got into my bed in my room.

The home party ended successfully, and the father and mother retracted into the
bedroom on the first floor, and Alice decided to go to bed in Suguha’s room on the
second floor. It is a bit scary to imagine what we are going to talk about just by
themselves, but it is a pleasure to be friends. I think that Alice would like to be
familiar with the real world step by step.

The summer vacation is over soon, the second semester starts.

I have been away from the high school class for more than two years in the sensory
time, so the remaining two weeks of the summer vacation are to be overwhelmed by
Asuna. English words and mathematical expressions are overwritten in the memory
with the sacred art studied at the North Sentoria Sword Art Academy.

Alice told me that, perhaps I would never take the sword again to fight in the true
sense.
From now on it is necessary to spend all the time and energy only to realize this real
world goal. Studying, going on to the university, regardless of whether hope will
come true or not, I must get a job and walk as straight as possible.

That is also an important fight. It is lonely though.

One day, childhood certainly ends.

The golden age colored with sunshine and refreshing winds, cheers and excitement,
adventure and many unknown things, when you realize that preciousness you will not
go back again.

Perhaps I was a lucky child.

Because I kept running a lot of different worlds sweet sword on the right hand side,
white map on the left hand, and chest throbbing. Because I was able to carve the
glittering memories of the colorful jewels into the soul so full of it.

Outside the window, somewhere far away, there is a noise that the last train crosses
the bridge.

In the garden grass, insects play the late summer songs.

A slightly cooler wind enters from the screen door and shakes the force-ten.

I sucked in the real world sound and smell all the way and closed my eyes.

"... If the time has come"

With dullness, with words of parting.

One era passed by.

—— So I thought.

Until certain moment in the night of August 17, the moment when I fell into a gentle
sleep in my bed.

"... ... Kirito, please get up, Kirito"

I shook my shoulder and I was pulled back from a slump full of sweet acidic
sentiment.

"……Hmm……"

While leaking a scratched voice out of my throat, lift the eyelids unpleasedtly.
Immediately there, I found the azure eye colored with golden eyelashes and froze on
the sheets.

"What the ......!? ... .... Oh, Alice ...... !?"

"Shoo, do not make a loud voice"

"This is a bit, so to say, inappropriate ... ..."

"What are you thinking about?"

She pulled my left ear with ‘HMmmm’, so the conscious begins to awake.

With the sleepy eyes, once again I looked at the bedside clock, it turned a bit after 3
o'clock. Outside the window, there is still a moon shining at a high position.

Return the line of sight.

Alice kneeling at the bedside while being illuminated by the dazzling moonlight, was
a very unfavorable appearance with only a blue T-shirt. From the long hem, white legs
as if themselves emitting light are undoubtedly exposed. The junction lines which
should run thin on the silicon skin can not be seen in this darkness at all, and it was
hard to believe that elegant curves is a man-made object at all.

"... ... Hey, do not look too much"

I pulled my throat and jumped up again while a figure pulling down the shirt's hem.

Although I forcibly lifted the line of sight, this time bulges that lift the thin fabric and
hair like molten gold that flows over it will enter the eye and the thought will
decelerate suddenly.

My understanding was it is the first time I upset her so easily, but Alice apparently
also feeling embarrassed at last, said looking sideways and sharpening her lips.

"...... I do not remember that, when you and I were sleeping in the same bed for six
months, you would have such a reaction at all."

"Oh ... ... that, is that so?"

"That is right!!"

After crying, she held her mouth with both hands. I also shrugged my head and
looked at the signs of the next room, but fortunately Suguha did not appeared. She
does not get up till 30 minutes before doing the morning practice even if an
earthquake and a typhoon come together.

Alice cleared her throat, and surely glared at me.

"Your strange reaction, we can get to the main subject when it passes"

"That ... ... That's rude ... Eh, oh, yeah, it's okay now."

She stood up with a light sigh and a faint motor sound, and Alice opened the mouth
as she changed her expression.

"About five minutes ago .... The message of a strange content reached me via the
network, not a remote telecommunication ... ...."

"Email? From whom?"

"There is no name of the sender, the content is better ...... It is better to look at the
sentence as it is said in message."

Wiggle and move your eyes and stare at the printer installed on my desk.

Suddenly the printer began to rotate the exhaust fan, being warmed up. Definitely,
Alice gave a printer an order by wireless connection. How long did you learn this kind
of thing?

I was surprised with that.

But when I took the paper spit out by printer and put my eyes on the sentences
instantly blew off surprise to the horizon.

Horizontal text, its contents —.

【Climb the white tower to reach that world.

The Cloudtop Garden. Large kitchen Armory. The Morning Star Lookout. Sacred
Staircase Great Corridor of Spiritual Light】

I could not understand what I was seeing for more than five seconds.

As the head that was in a semi-awake state starts to work, I realize the word Alice's
"unusual thing" word.

The contents of the first line was clear.

The problem is the second line. List of familiar names that are engraved black there.

The Cloudtop Garden...... The Morning Star Lookout... These are definitely the names
from the Axiom Church Grand Cathedral which was standing in the center of the
Underworld human world capital Centoria.

But then, who the sender of this mail is?

In the real world, there should be only two people who know the internal structure of
Cathedral in detail. In other words, it is me and Alice.

Even though Kikuoka and Higa and RATH staff could monitor from the outside the
governing body called the Axiom Church, the name of the floors could not have been
studied very much. Also, many VRMMO players logged in Underworld as
reinforcements like Asuna and Klein, but they appeared in the wilderness of the dark
territory far from Centoria and logged out almost on the spot. They should have had
no chance of seeing Cathedral with their own eyes.

Well.

I traced the text again in detail, I realized that I could hardly believe it.

The name "Sacred Staircase", visible in the second half of the second line. Even
though I recognized the name of such a floor, I do not remember passing through. In
other words, the sender of this mail is writing down content that I do not even know.

I turned my eyes to Alice of a tense expression and asked.

"... .... Alice. Is there a place called Sacred Staircase in Cathedral?"

"Yeah ... ... it definitely exists"

The knight nodded and gripped the white hands tightly and kept on.

"But ... ... it is kept secret ... Though Sacred Staircase is within the majestic hundred
floor Cathedral, it is remnants of a small church when it had only three floors long
ago! It is sealed down and can not be seen easily, there should be only three persons
who know of its existence being the head elder, me, and ... ... the highest priest
administrator ... "

"What ..."

I panted by a further surprise.

Alice took a step and tightened my right hand tightly. Due to the malfunction of the
EAP cylinder, its fingertips are trembling finely.

"Kirito ...... No way ... ... No way ... I can’t think she is alive ......? That half-god man ......
Highest priest ... ....?"

A deep awe was gathered in the voice that was issued.

I gently hold down a delicate shoulder with my left hand.

"No, it is impossible ... The highest priest surely died, I and the former head elder
Chyudelkin together with her, I saw them burning in the light, surely saw ... Now, look
here."

Show to Alice a print on the right hand.

"On the first line, it says: ‘Climb the white tower and lead to that world.’ The white
tower is Central Cathedral, and ‘that world’ means the Underworld. If I am an
Administrator, I will never write like this, ‘my world’, I would write then. "

"Yeah ... it is, certainly, one can be confident."

Alice nods at such a distance that golden forelocks are likely to touch my skin.

"But ... ... Who is this document on ... ...."

"I do not understand, the material to guess is too short ... And even... ... If I know the
sender, I still don’t understand the meaning of this sentence..."

"Meaning……?"

"Yeah, if you read well, there are many strange places"

I urged Alice to sit on the bed side by side, traced the print sentence with my
fingertips.

"In the first row, it writes about climbing the tower, good so far...Then, line 2 is
something wrong, is not it? The first "Cloudtop Garden", this is the floor you and I
fought for the first time. However, next is "Large kitchen Armory". Although I do not
know the big kitchen, it is supposed to be down there close to an armory I know,
which on the third floor. "The Lookout of the Morning Star". This is the floor where
we hardly managed to climb the outer wall and to go back inside of Cathedral, mostly
the top of the tower. The order is too random."

"Yeah ... that was ... ... nostalgic .... When we were swinging on a sword stuck into the
outer wall of the tower, you said to me those things"

"You do not have to remember that far"

Looking up at me shrinking my neck, Alice smiled faintly.

"But, in reality, I was a little happy, because it was the first time I spoke to someone
from the bottom of my heart,"

In spite of myself, I openly smiled.

It is because of the sapphire lens's eyes looking as if it is slightly moist.

From the shining like that deep bottom, I gazed at all my mental power and moved
my eyes away. Continue to explain with a slightly hoarse voice.

"... and the location of reading points is also weird... why there are ones around the
‘Large Kitchen Armory’ , and there is no point between the ‘Sacred Staircase’ and ‘The
Great Corridor of the Spiritual Light’?"

Alice echoed low driving sound and gazed back to print.

"... ... ... forgetting to write ... is not it ...?"

Two people tilt their heads in the same direction, but no further ideas came out.

Inevitably I took out a small device from the wall rack in order to summon a helper
who is good at deciphering such things.

The black hemisphere that can be placed on the palm is a high-performance network
camera that is called "audiovisual bi-directional communication probe". Turn on the
power, mounted on the right shoulder, and then checked with desktop PC to confirm
that it has wirelessly connected.

"Yui, are you awake?"

Then, in about two seconds, the voice of what I had heard sounded from the probe's
speaker.

"Fuai ...... Good morning, Daddy"

The camera rotates in the dome and also greets person sitting next to me.

"Good morning, Alice"

"Ah ... good morning, Yui"

This is the first time that Alice looks at the probe, but she had a conversation with Yui
many times with Alvheim. Understanding that my right shoulder device is Yui's
terminal in the real world, immediately returned a greeting with a smile.

Yui was still turning the camera around, but then after some silence she asked with s
sort of raised voice.

"... .... Dad. What is the situation you have there?"

"No, no, nothing foolish, everything is normal."

"The time is three o'clock in the morning, and it is unlikely that you can judge the
situation that Alice-san alone in the room of dad as ‘normal’"
"No, no, it is certain that it is irregular, but even though I was in a different situation
..."

On behalf of me trying desperate excuses, Alice explained the situation with a smiley
look.

"Yui, it's not really anything, it’s just we received a strange email, I am consulting with
Kirito."

"If Alice says so, I'll record it that way. But daddy, you can not keep secret from mom.
"

"Of course, for sure."

On the right side of me quietly breathing in relief, Alice explains the contents while
showing Yui a printout of the problem.

Looking at the scenes that these two people are talking about, I always enveloped in
unexpected feelings.

Yui is a top-down type AI evolved to the limit whose program executed on the
existing computer architecture.

And Alice is a down-top type AI with a totally new architecture imitating the human
brain called the LightCube.

The scene where two artificial intelligences born from the opposite approaches meet
and have natural and happy conversation seemed miraculous ... ....

I secretly caught a tear, while they exchanged opinions with each other, but
eventually Yui noticed something.

"That ... .... If you look closely, the shapes of the points are different on the first line
and the second line"

"Oh, really?"

I bring my face closer to Alice's printout and stare at the black spot of 1 mm or less.

Certainly, Yui is right. The first line, between "climbing" and "that world" is the usual
reading point. (//katakana word separator, ‘•’, not in the original text though/)
However, what is struck three times in the second line seems to be a period (//he means
‘。’, Japanese full-stop sign/) rather than a reading point. Or a dot?
Dot…….

"Ah ... ... Ah!"

I shouted low and I sat down.

"Well, that's right, because cathedral has only one hundred stories ... so connect the
two ... ... that is ..."

Grabbing the ball pen from the head board. Pull off the cap and ask Alice with a
nervous voice.

"Alice. What floor was the Cloudtop Garden?"

"... ... Did you forget the place where Kirito first fought with me?"

"No, I have not forgotten, um ... ..."

"It's the 80th floor"

In the margin of the print I make a note of what is told to me with a slightly rebellious
voice.

"It seemed to be so ... So what about the Kitchen?"

"It's the 10th floor"

I was writing the numbers told on paper one after another.

"The Lookout is ... .... ... Sacred Staircase is on the first floor ... ... Great corridor ... ...."

When I stopped, the white paper had four numbers separated by three dots lined up.

It’s visual appearance resembled something — very close. A kind of form that my race
is familiar to on a daily basis.

The moment I saw it, Yui also shouted a little.

"Hey ... this is the IP address, Dad!"

"I think so"

As of 2006, almost for everything the IPv6 format is utilized, instead of the old
generation IPv4 format. But it is not that v4 is unusable.

This mail points to a server that exists somewhere in the real world.

When I jumped out of bed, I sat on the mesh chair in front of the desk and grabbed
the mouse. Launched a browser on a monitor broke from sleep mode, first attempt to
connect to the problem server by HTTP, then FTP. But neither connection succeeded.
"RSTP ...... no, telnet? ...?" (//FYI: he means RTSP for sure (media streaming), but
original says RSTP (low-level 802.1w network tree spanning)/)

While saying grumbling, I tried to launch a command prompt, when from my right
shoulder—

Yui gave out a serious voice again.

"Dad! Once again, remember the text of the email! "

"Wha ...?"

From behind, Alice gives prints. Yui says while watching it with the camera.

"I think the ‘climb the white tower’ is pointing to the composition of address itself on
the second line."

"Hmmm"

"And, as far as by ‘tower’ you get to ‘that world’, the server indicated by this address
is ... ..."

"A ... ...! That was ... that was!"

While I felt my fingers cold and numb, I turned around.

"Alice. This is that world... that's where the Underworld runs!"

As soon as I let out that shout, Alice's eyes, standing behind me, opened wide.

"... .... to connect...... the way ... ... I can go, yes, I can go back to that world ... ... to my
world ..."

To a whispered word, I nodded deeply with conviction.

The driving sound of the actuator sounded high, and the body that jumped straight
in, I accepted with both hands.

It seems that perhaps it was an illusion caused by the feeling of the natural female cry
close, but it seemed like the droplets touched my ear.

Because it should not have such a function in a machine body made of metal and
silicon.

I did not have enough patience to wait until commonsense time, neither had Alice.

Therefore, I strongly feeling sorry that it was early in the morning after midnight, still
mercilessly called Rinko's mobile terminal.
Fortunately, she seems to have stayed at the Roppongi branch. At first it seemed not
to understand what it is, but as soon as my explanation came to the point, the voice
of mixed screaming returned, "Is that so !?"

"Really, tracing of the originator of the message is impossible first, but it can be
thought of as real based on the content."

『That ... ... That's right. Then, I have to make preparations now ... 』

That's right, to the doctor who tossed out, I flew back.

"That role ... ... Please let me do it together with Alice."

『Eh……』

Next breathing I heard will be half astonished half sighing surprises.

『Kirigaya-kun ... your..., I have met such eyes ...』

"If you are a person who is discouraged by that, you are not doing a byte in the first
place from the beginning!"

Again, long breath.

『... That's right, right. It is because this is so a special case, This time you can do it.
But please ... let's get permission from the parents properly next time.』

"Of course, please leave it to me .... I want you to check with you something... ....
When Alice connects to Ocean Turtle from there, will she use STL?』

『No, it's not necessary. Alice's LightCube Package works exactly the same as your
combined living brain and STL. All I need is a cable.』

"Well, if it is, if ... ... Uh, please wait a moment."

I looked at the face of Alice clenching both hands next to me.

"Alice ... That's bad, but maybe she can take me with you ... and Asuna too"

One eyebrow moves, above one's eyes.

Light motor sound, instead of sighing.

"... Well, let's do it, if it comes to an unexpected situation, a fighting power is never
enough."

"Well, I will take it, .... Uh, that's why, doctor ...."
After a short dialogue, I switched off the call, ringed up Asuna and told the situation.

She seemed to realize the future development just by saying that a connection path
to the Underworld was found.

Finish the call in just one or two minutes, finally remove the right shoulder probe and
look into the lens.

"... I'm sorry, Yui, I have not found a way to take you to the Underworld ..."

Apologizing, hoping the girl will understand... ... but she answered it a bit lonely.

"Yes, I know, Dad. Please be careful and go. "

"Someday I will take Yui with me."

Promised and put the probe on the desk.

Next to that, reference books and texts etc. which were supposed to be able to
proceed from today are accumulated tightly. Those unwillingly will come in a while
ahead.

Pull out a piece of blank paper from the built-in tray of the printer and quickly run the
ballpoint pen. Together with Alice, who had collected uniform from Suguha’s room,
changed our clothes standing backs to each other and leaving the room slinking.

Get off the stairs and put handwritten note on the living room table.

Carefully opening old sliding doors, I and Alice stepped outside into the atmosphere
of early morning which made me feel a little cool.

Push the 125cc bike far enough away from home and then straddle the seat. Alice
wears helmet that Suguha uses, and when she is also ready, turn the ignition.

Despite leaving it for almost three months, Tandem started up the engine at a
moderate pace.

"Do not be afraid! It’s same like riding a dragon!"

Alice responds while turning his hand to my belly.

"Who do you think I am!"

"Haha, that's it, you are an integrity knight ... Well, let's go!"

The sentence left in the living room at home is as follows.

【Father, Mother, Suguha. I have an adventure outside in Chiyoda. I will leave soon so
do not worry】

Running through the early morning empty Kawagoe Highway, 7th Ring way, then
246th road, arrived to RATH Roppongi branch. In front of it has appeared Asuna who
had already arrived by taxi.

She tried to shake hands with a smile, and notices Alice riding behind me and
changes the expression a lot.

"... ... Kirito-kun, what does this all mean?"

"Well ... ... Uh, that briefly, it was various, but nothing ...... ..."

"Details about the contents of ‘nothing’, ‘various’, please?”

It was understood that this would happen. While understanding, I dare to come here
without any problem. Because there is no reason to be able to explain moderately.

"I will make a detailed story soon, I will absolutely! .... Old tea ceremony etc. ..."

Add an ending tail and stop the motorcycle in the staff parking lot.

In the eye I looked back, the fearful scene came into my eyes.

Asuna standing with both hands against her waist. Alice stands with arms on her
chest. You can see the electric light burning the air tightly in between the confronting
sides.

I was afraid to speak to them.

"...... Hey, you guys, I thought it was already over ...... Back then, in the camp of the
Human world defense army ... ...."

"That was a ceasefire negotiation not the end!"

"Ceasefire is what is done on the premise of resuming war!"

At the same time, I moved my sight between two.

Stared at the appearance of the two swordswomen for a while — ready to fight the
full battle.

I did the only thing I could do on this occasion.

In other words, it disappeared as much as possible, and gradually retreated while

trying to escape to the inside of the entrance.
However, as soon as I finished authenticating the ID card, fingerprints and retina in a
strict security system, a shrill sound was heard, and the two turned quickly at this
point.

『Ah, hey, Kirito-kun!』

"We came as fast as we could !!"

When I heard her voice, I'm already jumping into the building.
I breathlessly arrived at the STL room, together with Asuna and Alice who did not
exchange a word but the temperature between them was rising, Dr. Koujiro
welcomed me with round eyes.

"... ... I understand you are impatient, but if you do not run so much, STL and the
underworld will not run away, right?"

Answered to a doctor who gives a shaky voice with a smile.

"Well, I'd like to connect as soon as possible! Whatever the reason, if this dive
succeeds, it also greatly affects the security and the future underworld!"

The bizarre voice of Asuna was the result of pinching the right flank.

Before being pursued by Alice, she retreats to the adjoining changing room to
change into the sterile garment for the STL dive.

As a matter of fact, the words she told doctor is also the truth without exaggeration.

Ocean Turtle berthing off the Izu Islands is currently in a very subtle situation. There is
only one way to maintain its operation and independence at the moment.

Human fluctlight — that is to promote the exchange of underworld people and

people of the real world, and to develop a friendly relationship. If the majority of real-
world people admit that underworld people are also human beings, countries and
companies can not be brute force either.

Impossible ——.

Specifically, there are other abusive subjects to be aware of.

Acquisition of practical defense capability. It is "light cube mounted type unmanned

fighter" which should already be under development, independent of country.

Nonetheless, it is still a delusion. How long will it take for underworld people who
know only dragons to be able to control supersonic fighters to get UAV, ... ... or how
to put up maintenance costs, how many months? There are too many hurdles to
clear.

Either way, absolutely necessary is a large capacity circuit other than the
communication satellite under government control. In order for the underworld
people to connect to The Seed Nexus for them and to inform the real world people
of their existence.

Whether it will be possible or not depends on one IP address that is written in the
note I put in my chest pocket.
After finishing changing clothes, I left the changing room and offered a note to Dr.
Rinko.

Doctor was a little hesitant to receive. But immediately pick up the right hand and
took the piece of paper.

"... ... could it be that person is involved, is not it?"

I quietly nodded in a word that was silently emitted.

I do not know who would knew the unique name of each layer of Cathedral. But that is
only possible for that man, things such as establishing a secret line that connects Ocean
Turtle and the Internet.
Kayaba Akihiko ... or Heathcliff.
Think about it.
My battle can not be over without direct confrontation with that man. This time,
Heathcliff passed past me sleeping in the STL, and he went out again to the darkness of
the network work again. But someday it will show up again. In order to collect a large
number of fragments born from steel floating castle and to settle everything.

I turned away from Dr. Koujiro who began preparing dives and I started my mobile
device.

"Yui. Did you know something about the address in the message?"

Yui reflected on the screen shook her pretty face sideways.

『The location of the server is Iceland, but it seems to be a simple relay point. The
barrier is tougher and we can not explore further.』

"Okay ... thanks ... Did you track the sender of the message that arrived at Alice?"

『That is ... ... I found a trace of it at The Seed Nexus node 304, but then I also lost it ...
』

Shay the head of Yui, who drops her shoulders, with my fingertips through the touch
panel.

"No, it's enough ... Three hundreds are in the US, you do not have to chase any more
... Direct contact, even for Yui, is dangerous, because it should be almost same as Yui.
"

"My side is better!"

Showed puffed cheeks with a bitter smile.

"Well, I will go there for the time being, next time I think there is no more danger of
this or that ..."

"If something happens, I will go to help immediately! "

"I'm counting on you, huh, well, again."

Touched the extended little hand with my finger across the screen, I turned off the
terminal. At that time, Alice and Asuna who changed clothes came out of the
women's changing room.

Fortunately, it seems that he signed a second armistice agreement, and both faces
are shining with expectations.

I looked at two people in turn, and said.

"... .... After two hundred years, I have no idea what the human world and the dark
world are like. Well, it is shorter than the 300 years that the administrator dominated
the human world, so I do not think there is such a drastic change... "

Alice nods deeply and answers.

"At least it seems certain that Central Cathedral exists, so let's think that the human
world also is."

Asuna smiled while touching Alice's arms.

"The first thing I should do is let Selka awake"

"Yeah!"

Once again, nodding deeply.

We got to the two STLs and one legged reclining seat respectively.

I put my body in a cool cold jelly bed. By the operation of Dr. Rinko, a huge head
block gets down and falls and covers over the forehead.

"Well then ... let’s go"

Responds came to the doctor's words in different voices.

"Yes!"

A huge machine raises a low roar.

A photon network that constitutes my consciousness — the Fluctlight — is separated

from the body, and the five senses and gravity are lost.
Consciousness is translated into electrical signal and jumps out to a vast external
network.

It rushes a large capacity optical line at ultra high speed and flies to a nostalgic world.

To a new adventure.

Into the next story.

First we saw the light.

Extremely small white sparkle, becoming a rainbow-colored synchrotron radiation, —

further spreading, covering the sight.

In the end, pure black appeared.

I dived straight to the darkness ahead of the tunnel of light.

No, it is not perfect darkness.

With a black backdrop, a dreadful number of colorful light spots are quietly blinking.

It is stars. Night sky……

Both are wrong.

Because.

"... .... um, wow ah !?"

I screamed at the moment when I looked down on the feet.

Because the ground does not exist.

In a panic, I let both legs flutter, but the bottom of the boots does not touch
anything. Infinite starry sky will only last around. Even if you look sideways, look up,
stars and stars.

"Kyaaaaa!?"

"Th — This is……!?"

I heard such voices on the right and left.

My hands spread all the way up at the same time.

Looking to the right, the pearl half-armor and the same color skirt, Asuna who was
dressed in Stacia’s garb with the brilliant rapier, floating.

On the left, Alice equipped with a golden breastplate and white long skirt, white silk
whip and waist braid and long sword on the waist.

Both of us looked at the endless starry sky spreading in front of our eyes.

Impossible.

This is not just a starry sky.

"……space……?"

I was dreadfully scared.

As soon as this, I felt the ferocious cold. Alice and Asuna also, started sneezing and
coughing. It is a furious low temperature environment where you can feel that the
Life is suddenly decreasing.

No, it is not real space, I couldn’t hear the voice of two people if it is, but it is nearly
unlimited.

We are living there and floating.

I concentrated my consciousness and develop defensive walls of light attribute in a

spherical shape, enclosing everyone.

As soon as we were wrapped in a thin sparkle, the cold that pierces me went away.

Finally relaxed, I looked around the spectacular sight before my eyes again.

From the upper right to the lower left of the field of view, a dense group of close
stars continues in bands. No matter how hard you connect the bright stars, you can
not find any constellations familiar in the real world, so it is safe to say that it’s not
Milky Way.

Again, this is an Underworld.

But then, the earth ... and where did the sky go?

Suddenly it was attacked by intense chill, and I frown.

No way.
I wonder if it disappeared ......
At the end of two hundred years time, the Life of the earth itself, which constitutes the
human world and the dark world, is exhausted.
Whether everything has returned to Nothingness with the tens of thousands of people
who lived there ... ....

"It's a lie ... ... Such a thing ..."

With trembling voice, mumbled voice on the left side.

Suddenly, Alice grasped my hand so strongly as she can.

"Kirito ... ... over there"

The golden knight had turned her body to where she turned her face to the left
before, and was staring right behind. The stretched hand pointing straight to a point.

I also slowly turned around slowly while holding my breath.

I saw a star.

It was not a small twinkling star in the far side — a huge planet that covered some of
the sight was there.

The upper half of the sphere is sinking in dense darkness.

However, from the middle, black slowly changes to indigo, to ultramarine blue, and
further to azure.

And the semicircular arc that borders the lower side is dazzlingly light blue.

Light blue color gradually increases the brightness gradually. White light was raised in
the center part of the arc, and the light beam of the horizontal straight line quickly
expanded.

It was a dawn.

The sun — Solus, hidden behind the planet, — is about to reveal its appearance.

We turn our eyes away from dazzling white light and look at the surface of the planet
again.

The surface which had been sunk in the deep indigo until recently gradually stains
into a bright blue.

Beyond the white clouds clunky, there was a continental contour line.

A slightly rounded upside-down triangle.

There is one set of white light near the upper right corner of the continent. On the
upper left, we saw a larger group of lights. Clearly the light of civilization. If you look
carefully, a line of light lines running in two rows, extending further downwards, runs
like a mesh.

I instantly realized what I was seeing from the shape of the continent and the position
of the two big cities.

The city in the upper right is Obsidia, the capital of the Dark territory.

And the upper left is Centoria, center of the human world.

That continent, lit by that star is the Underworld that I used to live, fight, rush
through.

I moved the line of sight, I saw the Alice nearby.

Even on that white face, only a deep surprise and awe are emerging.

Alice unexpectedly opened her eyes wide and with her hand searched for a small
pouch equipped with a sword belt.

What was taken out was two small eggs that could fit in the palm.

One is shining green and the other is blue. Light inside repeatedly becomes strong
and weak at almost two second interval. Just like breathing. Like a heartbeat.

Alice hugged two eggs in her chest and closed the eyelids. Then, tears flowed without
sound, soared, dripping and dripping with water droplets.

I felt tears spreading in my own eyes. Looking at the other side, the eyes of Asuna
who still held my hand were wet as well.

While we were watching, Alice stepped on the stars seas and went out step-by-step.
Holding two eggs with her left hand and extend her right hand straight towards a
huge planet.

In the eyes of the same color as the stars of the dawn, with the infinite radiance, the
golden integrity knight exclaimed in a high loud voice.

"This is the world !! The Underworld I was born in and I loved! Hear me!"

The stars in the whole universe trembled and the blue planet bolstered its light for a
moment as if being alive.

I closed my eyelids and made my ears open.

In order to forever engrave in my memory the words that tell us about a new era will.

"I have returned home now! ... ...I am here !!"

Prologue III
Star world calendar year 582

"Blue Rose 73. Confirm withdrawal of the airspace and shift to the interstellar cruising
speed"

The integrity mechanic Suteica Shtolienen removed the mouth from a voice
transmitter, and pushed the control rod forward with the left hand.

The bulk of the silver dragon vibrates. Both wings opened to the full, shine bright
blue. It collects sparse resources of outer space from a wide range and sends it to the
driving agency.

Immediately, the permanent heat sealed in the heart of the engine raises a shrill roar
and reacts, and a white flame is spit out from the main injection hole on both sides of
the long tail. Gun, the feeling that the body is pressed against the cockpit. A smile
unexpectedly emerges in intense acceleration which can not be tasted within the
planet's atmosphere.

『Blue Rose 74, consent』

There was a short response from the voice. Looking at the sub-picture board on the
right side of the glance, the second aircraft follows obliquely behind while glowing
the sparkle glow.

It was her partner ordained at the same time as Suteica, operating the second aircraft,
Lauranei Arabel, also integrity mechanic. Despite being childish usual, but she gets
even more irresponsible while maneuvering a machine dragon.

Especially, speed addiction is more than Suteica’s. Laughing lightly with a bitter smile.

"It's too fast, Laura"

『It’s just you are slow, Sutey』

What only do you think?

The discipline of the underworld space army is absolute, but the eyes of a demon
instructor also does not reach outside the atmosphere. Besides, it is a long journey of
three hours to the destination, satellite star Admina. Somewhat error comes out
naturally.
Suteica pushed the control pole slightly more and pulled up to the second aircraft
that was now lined up side by side, she laughed and deposited her body in the
backrest.

Looking upward, the sight line captures an elaborate relief fitted in the canopy of a
narrow cockpit.

A sword of black and white, aligned vertically. Surrounding it, flowers of blue roses
and yellow-brawn olive. It is the emblem of "Star King" now becoming a legend.

Thirty years have already passed, after the King and the Queen have left the royal
palace Central Cathedral on the main star Cardina (//yes, it’s definitely “star” though
they mean “planet” – and use term planet further/).

Suteica only fourteen years old and Lauranei still only 15 years old, have never been
directly audited. Both of them, however, were brought up with plenty of funny stories
from their mothers who were also warriors. And the mothers also conveyed many old
stories from their mothers as well.

The Shtolienen family and the Arabel family have been serving to the Star King as
Konoe mechanics — It seems that at that time it was called "knight" — during all the
period of his reign that spanned two hundred years from the very beginning.
(//Complex wordplay here and above. Old and new names both read “kishi”: knight (
騎士) and “machine samurai” – mechanic (機士). Based on this, above there is a form
“integrity mechanic” (整合機士) pronounced very similar to “integrity knight” (整合騎
士). Finally the last form used is “Konoe mechanic” (近衛機士), where Konoe (近衛) is
the name of special guards serving, protecting and reporting solely to Emperor in
Japan - https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/近衛兵, i.e. Kirito’s personal battle mechanics
squad. Riding mech dragons. /)

The ancestor before the seventh generation, the knights Teise Shtolienen and Ronnie
Arabel protected the Star King before the throne and raised martial arts in the fight
against the four emperors who had already exercised power on the Cardina’s 1st
continent. The emperors and great aristocrats who had kept the expertise were
abolished their power, and all the people who were oppressed in my territory were
released.

The king then developed the first machine dragon, surpassing the continent, and
exceeding the "end wall of the world" which had risen to the full of the atmosphere.

People patiently negotiate with the ancient God Beasts who had been in the
undeveloped land, sometimes winning a one-on-one battle, pioneering fertile
settlements one after another, and each tribe got it’s own country to maintain, even
goblins and orks, which at that time were called "sub-people" and discriminated.
The eyes of the king who overcame the entireety of the star of Cardina eventually
head towards the infinite universe.

Finally, we made the improvement and carried out the departure from the
atmosphere.

Found a planet that is a satellite to Cardina and orbits Solus, named Admina.

After opening up a regular route by the dragon for navigation of large stars, after
building the first immigrant city in the Admina star, he was supposed to be the first
star of the underworld first.

Everyone believed that the prosperity of the two stars will last forever — under the
rule of the king and the queen who had eternal forever and did not grow old, but
those two issued a single prophecy and went down from the throne entering a long
sleep. And thirty years ago, they did not appear again before the people at last, and
they passed away.

Ever since, politics has been held by a parliament consisting of representatives of

military and citizens. Currently there are no enemies to fight, the scale of the ground
forces and the space army are being reduced, but according to the prophecy of the
king, only the training of the aircraft kept the same harshness as in the old days.

The king said this.

— Anyway, the gate of the different world "Real World" opens again.
— At that time, huge change will be brought to the two worlds.

Although it is a story that Suteica can not actually feel about, it is said that an era will
come when the surroundings of the underworld itself are uncertain after the gate of
another world has opened. In addition to hoping for reconciliation and fraternity, if
we not continue to refine our pride and power to penetrate our independence,
humans, giants, goblins, orks and ogre human beings — the entire human family —
will be hit by a tragedy that exceeds the "great world war" two hundred years ago.

But Suteica is not afraid.

Whatever world you go to, what era will come, let me fight wonderfully if there are
wings of machine dragons.
Because I am a member of a glorious machine integrity squad with a tradition that
goes continue from the era of Genesis far away.

Thinking so in the inner heart, she looked up again at the crest of the canopy —

It was just after that.

The front, the lower part of the main video board glows red and told that it sensed a
predisposing aggregate of abnormal scale with both letters and warning sounds.

"What ...!?"

When screaming and jumping up, at the same time the tensioned voice of Lorraine
echoed from the trance.

『Blue Rose 74, Detecting Approach of Dark-Organic Extra-Large Organisms! Factor

density ... ... 7 billion!?』

"Myth grade space beast ... ...’Horror of the Abyss’... ...."

When saying the creature's name in the sacred words, the emptiness of the jet black
which had already dropped the ink was already displayed at the right end of the Sea
of Stars spreading in the main image board.

The creature given the unique name of Abyssal Horror (//here and further – in
transliterated English/) was one of the worst of the confirmed space beasts. The total
of 12 tall arms extended from a spherical body exceeding a maximum of 200 Mel. It is
the size which reaches twenty times as much as the machine dragon.

And its huge body is composed only of dense darkness, it does not accept most
attribute attacks. But the reason is called the worst was elsewhere.

Unlike many other divine beasts, Abyssal Horror does not accept any communication
with humans. As if composed only of destruction and wish of slaughter, if it finds a
dragon that navigates among stars, it attacks in a straight line and exhausts it.

In the past, it seems that the King, who was constantly in contact with God Beasts
with respect, also suffered a tragedy that destroyed a large private aircraft dragon
heading for the Admina star, and this cosmic beast was extinguished. However, the
King who was even told that even one army could not completely annihilate Abyssal
Horror.

Subsequent observations show that the cosmic animal keeps a constant speed and
orbit around the two planets and as a measure of hardship all the machine dragons
can avoid contact. It was decided to be permitted the interstellar navigation.

Of course, Suteica and Lauranei have taken off the Cardina star, picking the date and
time that the space beast is flying far behind the Admina stars.

— Nevertheless.

"Why ... ... it is too early to appear ..."

Suteica got dizzy with the trembling hands on the control stick.
However, she immediately rebuilds her mind and shouts at the communication device
with a sharp voice.

"Left turn 180 degrees, after withdrawal at full speed! We will retreat to Cardina
airspace!"

『Roger that!!』

The voice of Lauranei who responds also has a tight resonance.

Suteica pulls the control rod daringly while turning the dragon to the left. The white
flame gathers long from the attitude control injection hole, and the body is pressed
against the seat with such a weight that it can not breath. The stars of the video
board draw an arc and flow to the lower right.

When the turn was over, the main image board was full of the blue shine of the
planet Cardina just taking off just a few dozen minutes ago. It seems that it will arrive
if you reach out, it is actually far from hopeless.

Maximum acceleration is applied with praying feeling. A permanent hot flow shoots a
scream and releases a roar.

However, the needle of the speedometer stops at the front of the threshold value of
the limit value. Because Abyssal • Horror deprives resources from an extremely wide
range, resource donor wing resource collectors can not demonstrate their original
performance.

In the rear vision of the sub-picture board, the appearance of the space beast stained
with jet black is obviously getting bigger by the time. Already, you can see clearly the
tentacle arm that wriggles.

Among them, especially the tips of two long arms started to store vaguely violet light.

『Sutey, he's set to attack!』

Respond instantly to the voice from the second aircraft.

"See also here! Deploy a light barrier in the back!"

Saying, tap one of the buttons on the control panel with your left hand. The lumbar
armor of the machine dragon opens with the sound of dinner. Breathe suddenly and
concentrate consciousness.

"System • Call! Generate • Luminous • Element !!"

When screaming, ten photons were released from the hips of the dragon into the
universe through the transmission path inside the control lever clenching.
Instantly they deform according to Suteica’s thoughts and make circular barrier.

Immediately after.

The space arm's tentacles launched a dazzling blue-violet light ball as if thrown.

Along with resonance sounds where metal is torn, dark attack bullets penetrate the
universe.

In only 3 seconds, it touches the light barrier.

"... .... ah!"

Suteica screamed unexpectedly to the tremendous tremor that hit the dragon. At the
same time, she heard a cry of Laurent Ney from the translation.

The two attack bullets easily shredded the barrier created by Suteica like a piece of
paper and gleamed the back armor of the aircraft deeply.

Various instruments dye in red in an instant. An abnormality also occurs in the

resource transmission path, and acceleration is dramatically slowed.

Suteica certainly felt that Abyssal Horror, which is only an amorphous darkness,
caught grime through the sub-picture board.

Looking at the side image, the second aircraft is destroyed one wing and it is slowing
down speed much.

"Laura! Laura!!"

Fortunately, when she called out to shout, there was a response with a hoarse voice.

『...... hey there, I am safe. But ... this girl can not fly anymore ......』

"... There is no choice but to escape outside the machine, only with the injector of the
machine clothes, until Cardina ..."

『Impossible ...... No, I do not like that! I can not abandon this child !!』

Lauranei screaming.

Suteica could not say anything.

For a fighter, the dragon is not just a steel craft. It is the only buddy who made the
heart through. Just like the flying dragon that the matching knights of old times were
driving.

"... ... Yes, that's right."

Mumbling, Suteica gently enveloped the control stick with both hands.

Breathe in heavily, dazzle with a smile.

"Then, let's fight together till the end ... ... Re-turn, afterwards full attack with the main
gun, that's fine, Laura"

『……Roger that』

The finishing communication, as usual, was only a single blunt word.

With a smile, Suteica slowly pulled the control stick and caused the damaged beloved
dragon to turn again by one hundred and eighty degrees once again. A huge cosmic
beast approaching is fully displayed on the main image board. There are eight attack
munitions already stored in the enormous tentacles wandering around.

Oh...ooooooooo.......

Abyssal • Horror roared. Or maybe it laughed.

At least, I will be rewarded for death. A little longer will pass before it will hit this route
next time.

Prepared, Suteica pushed the red button on the control lever halfway.

The main gun equipped on the tip of the machine dragon opened a chisel. Originally,
it generates the predisposition of the most effective attribute here, but against thin
substance of Abyssal • Horror, even shots of anti-attribute can not deal any serious
damage.

If so, casting the maneuvering sacred art, she was thinking that freezing attack would
do best.

The dragon's beak shines clear blue.

When she glanced next to her, red light is leaking from the main gun of the second
aircraft. It seems that Lauranei has chosen a thermal attack.

The cosmic animal approaching already in just a thousand mels, spread eight
tentacles ready for attack.

Suteica breathed in a lot and tried to shout a shooting command.

However——.

『Wait ... ... Wait, Sutey! That is ... ...!』

Lauranei's startled voice passed through the right ear.

She thought, what ever ... does she, —— that moment.

Suteica also saw it.

A star comes down.

From the straight up direction of the main image board, one light that shines white
comes close at a tremendous speed. She thought for a moment, if it could be a
machine dragon!? But immediately deny. By the size, it is too small. Under 2 mel, only
the size of a human being ......

Well.

That's right.

What looked like a star was the brightness of the light protective barrier in a spherical
shape. Inside it is clearly visible the black shadow with the shape of a person.

The shining stopped about two hundred mels ahead of the two machine dragons.

It was almost simultaneous that Abyssal • Horror released eight light bullets with a
huge roar. Before even get surprised with meeting a fresh-and-blood living human
being in cryogenic outer space, Suteica cried.

"What are you doing! Run away quickly!"

But the unknown wouldn’t move.

While swinging the hem of a long coat, he stood still at one point in the space with
his arms folded.

Such thin protective walls, against the attack ball of Abyssal • Horror is not as good as
thin paper. Suteica visually imagined that as soon as one of the attack bullets that
roared and pulsed, touched human, blood be splat and meat get dispersed.

"Run away !!"

『Flee it!!』

Simultaneously with her, Lauranei screamed as well.

Eight blue violet light bullets, one of which seems to be about 3 mel in diameter, fly
along with a metal roaring. It stopped at void as if it crashed into an invisible wall,
and all bounced back in random directions. The universe trembled.

A myriad of stars reflected on both eyes of Suteica spread apart and made a ripple
like the surface of the water and shook. Immediately afterwards, the shock-waves that
arrived shook the bulk of the dragon.
Suteica who lost the word realized that a small instrument on the right end of the
device board was able to jump to the top end in an instant.

"Lie ... .... Ca ... ... It can’t be..."

Suteica never saw that instruments called "psychometer", even about 20% of it’s max.

In the ear, Lauranei's fearful voice echoes.

『...... I can not believe it ...... Such a strength feeling... .... It’s like the entire universe is
shaking...』

But there is no doubt about the facts before you.

Only the fact that a small living human being reflected the cosmic beast's attack
without using a predisposing barrier only with his incarnation — the secret mystery
technique of the ancient knights.

Oh ... ... Oooo ooooooooooo—— ... ....

In the distance, Abyssal • Horror shrugs.

Is it anger or frightening?
Did it realize that remote attacks by dark bullets did not work?

The cosmic beast started rushing while throwing countless tentacles forward.

The confronting small figure turned the two arms that were spread out to the back,
and produced two long swords equipped there.

"No way ... ... Is he about to fight with a sword!?"

She lent forward and poked her hands on the image board.

The full length of Abyssal • Horror exceeds 200 mel. Moreover, the body is a
collection of entities without substance.

It is not an opponent who can manage with a metal blade with a length less than 1
Mel.

However, the mysterious swordsmen pointed white sword in the left hand with no
further action exactly to the big beast.

He shouted.

Even through the empty outer space and the thick armor of the dragon, the voice of
the swordsman sounded elegantly in the ears of Suteica.
『Release • Recollection!!』

An intense white light burned the main image board.

At the center of the image that recovered soon, it was seen from the swordsman's
blade that some pale ray of light rushed into the Abyssal • Horror.

Though compared with the massive of the cosmic beast, it was thin like a thread, the
rushing speed of the entwined beast pierced by it is slowed down and weakened.
Twelve tentacles freely wandering also rapidly rigidify. Just as if it froze.

However, such a thing is impossible. Abyssal • Horror is a creature adapted to the space
which is a cryogenic environment. Such as cold air which is even lower than the
temperature of outer space can not be produced.

A whispering voice of Lauranei echoed from the ear blew away the stunk of Suteica.

『That is ... ... That technique is nothing else than "Complete Armament Control"... ....
No, even "Memory Liberation Technique"... ...?』

"Err ... ... such a thing, it should be used only for the top ranking machine!"

『But ... that move, that's definitely...』

An outrageous roar of a cosmic beast that echoed three times broke out of a cut call.

Oots ...... Oooooonnnnnnn!!

Suddenly the caught body trembled and three new tentacles emerged. They become
jet black spears and attack the mysterious swordsman.

However, the swordsman in a calm but dazzling movement, swung another sword,
this time in the right hand.

And shouted again.

『Release • Recollection!!』

It was deeper, heavier, more dense darkness than the cosmic tentacles.

The tremendously huge dark blade perhaps exceeding 50 mel in length hit three
tentacles.

At the moment both sides contacted, shock waves were generated that seemed to
cause the space to distort again, and shaken the machine dragon. The blue-violet
electric light crawls through the void, letting the image board dazzle.

Already, Suteica could not speak because of surprise.

To activate secret mystery technique which should be used only for the seven highest-
ranking matching machines twice at the same time? To take Abyssal • Horror's full
power attack, to which Destroyer Dragon's crew can not compete against, by just one
person?
I can not believe that such swordsmen exist, even among Centoria's founders.

But——.

The truly amazing sight was waiting ahead.

『Sutey!! One... ... One more person, a swordswoman!』

When she hurriedly adverted the gaze, she saw a new human figure coming down
from the same direction as the mysterious two-sword fighter appeared.

That one is even more petite. You can see the long hair and skirt swaying through the
light barrier. To the right, rarely delicate rapier.

The female swordsman keeps the right hand all the way.

She swung downward with supple movement.

Suteica saw rainbow-colored aura appear in straight line in the jet-black universe and
beat up beautifully. At the same time, it sounded like a mysterious choir of countless
singers singing.

La——.

The needle of psychometric gauge was shivering at the upper end.

The stars.

Large number of huge meteorites wrapped with flame emerges from nowhere,
crossing overhead.

Asteroids on the route connecting Cardina and Admina must have been destroyed no
less than a decade ago.

However, the impossible weight feeling enough to destroy the entire dragon is within
her vision.

Noticing the huge rocks rushing towards it, Abyssal Horror tried to catch it.

Newly created two tentacles and sprinkle as if they were to catch a star.

The collision was silent.

The tip of the burning meteorite instantly desolates the arms of the cosmic beast.
Easy subduction in the center of the giant.

It crushed the dark agglutinating beast with a blow.

Oooooooo-o-o-o-o-o——.............

The sharp screams of the supernatural creature overlapped with the explosive sound
of the meteorite and resonated into the universe. The great release of resources from
pure white through crimson to purple burned hard the eye of Suteica.

"... ... ... you defeated ... ... ... ... that monster ... ...?"

She whispered in low voice.

But——.

『Ah ... ... still not ... ... yet!』

A second pilot, who was just a little closer than Suteica, was quick to notice the
phenomenon. The fragments of Abyssal • Horror, which she thought were all burned
up by explosion, scattered in pieces, came together unexpectedly.

The chunk of darkness, just several tens of cens, which is too miniscule compared
with the original bulky substance, escapes while irregularly rubbing like a flock of
flies.

According to the records, Star King once also beat the beast so far.

However, it could not eliminate Abyssal • Horror entirely, it escaped as thousands of

fragments. The beast which fled to the end of the universe eventually healed the
wound and began to hit the route again.

With this, the legend is only repeated.

"No, don’t let it escape! Really destroy them all this time!!"

Unexpectedly, Suteica cried.

However, two swords swordsman and rapier wearer seem to be unable to move at
once. It is unclear, maybe it exerted a huge blow to conscience.

The fragments of Abyssal • Horror draw a weird trajectory and flew away.

——When.

A flock of flies was suddenly disarrayed.

It gets scattered and shows irregular movements as if running away.

Suteica took a breath and expanded a viewport by touching the main image board
with her fingertips.

She saw the golden light.

It further extended into something that emits pure shine like a small Solus.

"……Human……"

There was a third swordsman.

Hair as if gold was springing. Armor also of gold. Pure white skirt. The eyes that watch
the enemy unwavering is the sky blue.

...... I know.

"I ... ... this swordsman ...... No, a knight, I know her."

Suteica whispered. Instantly, 『Me too』 is returned with Lauranei's voice.

This golden knight was the figure drawn in a huge decorated portrait between the
thrones on the fiftieth floor of the Central Cathedral. One of the strongest integrity
knights in history, which is said to have disappeared in the middle of battle, raising a
number of deeds in an ancient war of different worlds. Certainly, her name is ——.

"... Alice ......-sama ...?"

The knight's right hand moved as if she could hear the voice.

The long sword of the left hip, unsheathed in a smooth gesture.

The blade of bright yellow tinge reflected the light of Solus and got even more
terrible brilliance. The fragments of the cosmic beast lose control as if fearful, fleeing
and running away.

The knight holds a long sword in both hands in front of the body.

She shouted out with a voice reminiscent of the wind blowing into space. The needle
of the psychometer broke out with a small explosion sound.

『Release • Recollection!!』

A sword extinguishes a strong flash.

The blade is dissolved! Along with the metal sound, it breaks into countless strips.

The knight moved the handle which remained on the right hand slowly.
The strips spread like a petal, like a petal dancing in the wind, ... ... and void.

It turned into a golden meteor shower and flew at a stretch.

Each one of the small lights penetrates fragments of the escaping cosmic beast with a
terrifying precision. The shadow of the shadow of darkness is burned down to golden
glow and evaporates.

"............ wow ... ..."

Suteica could only mumble.

Even if you arrange all the dragons of the integrity machinery team and fire all the
main guns at a time, this precision and power can not be hoped for.

When the last one of the fragments of Abyssal • Horror, which was the worst fearful
Underworld universe beast, was pierced by a golden arrow, an extraordinary scream
came unprecedented.

Giiii-ii-i-i-i-i-o-o-o-o-o-o………….

Finally, the cosmic beast has completely disappeared.

Suteica just stunnedly watched the golden meteors gather at the hands of the knight
and went back to a single long sword again.

Even if the golden knight is integrity knight Alice of old times, who are the remaining
two?

In the video board, the golden knight who paid the sword in the sheath flies through
the air and approaches the black sword fighter and the pearl swordsman.

After having briefly exchanged something, three people turned around to watchers
together. Their faces cannot be seen. But it’s clear that the three of them have a smile
on their mouths.

Two-sword swordsman returned white and black long sword back and shook his right
hand lightly.

That moment——.

A huge deep, very deep emotion unknown to her was passed through the inside of
Suteica's back.

Hard to breath, enough to be painful.

"Ah ... ... ah ......"

It overlapped with the leaked sigh, and the voice of Lauranei sounded quietly in the
ears.

"Sutey. I know. I know that people."

"Yeah, Laura ... I, too, I do."

She nods twice, three times.

It is not stored as knowledge like a portrait between thrones. Not so.

My heart. My fingertips. My soul. They remember.

Unexpectedly, the smell of sweet and savory honey pie tickles her nose.

The refreshing wind blowing across the meadow. The warmth of the sun which calms
down.

Distant, slightly echoing laughter.

Suteica was casually putting on an airtight helmet and pulled the handle on the right
side of the cockpit.

First, the insulation lets the air to come out. An armor board that protects the
dragon's cockpit seats unfolds and the star ocean spreads above the head. The
second aircraft also opens the boarding pass in the same way.

Suteica stand up and in about 30 mel from the cockpit saw the three swordsmen who
kept their hands waving with her own eyes.

Impossible.

One more person —.

The eyes of autumn leaves of Suteica certainly caught the appearance of the fourth
swordsman that appeared to be shaking. A young man standing right after the two-
blade swordsman in the black clothing and smiling gently. Its appearance is shiny and
it seems to disappear the moment you take your eyes off, swaying like a sunrise.

The young man with flax hair slowly nodded greatly towards Suteica.

Tears flowed from both eyes of Suteica.

Warm drops go down the face and is stopped by the airtight helmet.

Eventually the figure of a young man died away as if melted in the light of Solus
which appeared from the shade of Cardina.
At the same time, the young integrity mechanic understood the truth.

This — this very moment is the beginning of a new era as written in the prophecy of
the Star King.

They are messengers who emerge from the past and open the doors of the future.

From this time, the world begins to change.

A door of another world opens, the tide of a new era loudly rushes up.

It doesn’t mean the coming of paradise. It is likely that a revolutionary change and a
turbulent era that can not be imagined come to the Underworld.

However, there was no fear in Suteica.

Because —.

Because my heart hurts so much.

Because the trembling soul was longing for this encounter.

When she shake down tears with blinking, Suteica looked straight ahead.

While standing up, with her fingertips gently pushed the control stick forward.

The wounded dragon's wings born a faint blue shine.

Permanent heat element breathes, and a small thrust moves the spacecraft.

She glanced to the Lauranei nearby for a moment and got deep nod in response.
A girl born within the Underworld, the integrity mechanic Suteica Shtolienen moved
the dragon slowly.

To the swordsmen who waved their hands to her, to strangers, to knights of the past.

To the door of the next era.

To the future.
All the possibilities of this story are now within faint fluctuations of millions of tiny
lights.
The story ends here.
However, the battle of Kirito, Asuna, Leafa, Sinon and Alice will continue.
They will take the swords again in hands in the greatest final battlefield called "war
intelligence"
Afterword
The afterword of Volume 18 has already been translated properly (not through Google
Translate, like I did) by Team Defan translations. The text below (c) Team Defan. It is
presented here for the purpose of completeness. Those guys plan to properly translate
the entire text of the light novel, so keep checking up with them for proper Enlate.

Thank you very much for reading Sword Art Online Volume 18: Alicization Lasting. I
would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude: my gratitude to you for staying with
me across 10 volumes, since the beginning of the Alicization Arc in Volume 9.

Although I have mentioned this in the afterword of Volume 1, I would like to repeat
that I began writing the story of Sword Art Online (“SAO” from here on) in Autumn
2001, in order to participate in the 9th Dengeki Novel Prize. Even though the first
draft was completed before the Spring 2002 deadline, it had drastically exceeded the
page limit. Since I had no idea as to what and how I should cut the story, I eventually
gave up on participating.

In other words, back when I had just started writing SAO, there was only the Aincrad
Arc in my head. To be more specific, it was only the story of a few weeks right before
clearing the death game on Floor 75. However, setting up my homepage later on, I
published SAO as a web novel. Fortunately, I happened to receive calls from plenty of
readers saying that they would like it to continue. With a few extra episodes in
between, I went on to release the second arc, Fairy Dance, the third arc, Phantom
Bullet (known as the Death Gun Arc back then), and, if I remember correctly, I began
the fourth arc, Alicization, in January 2005.

At that time, I was trying to break out of the “VRMMO” box, which I had always been
writing about. Somehow, I stepped into bigger themes such as bottom-up AI,
autonomous weapons, quantum brain theory, and simulated reality, but now I cannot
remember why. The only thing I remember is how obsessed I was about writing it,
despite all the walls I was hitting.

The online serialization of the Alicization Arc concluded in July 2008.

Just around the same time, I released one of my works, called Chouzetsu Kasoku
Burst Linker, on a novel sharing website. Using that, after six years’ time, I challenged
myself again to participate in the 15th Dengeki Novel Prize, and I was lucky enough
to win something. Changing the name from Burst Linker to Accel World, I happened
to make my debut as a commercial author. Just when I was telling people about this
on my website’s homepage, my responsible editor Miki Kazuma-san sent me an email
indicating that he would like to read SAO.
After I sent him the draft data of the SAO series written across roughly eight years, he
kindly squeezed precious time out of his editing work to read the entirety of it in one
week, and told me: “Let’s publish this under Dengeki as well.” I still remember it
distinctly.

Miki-san also told me back then: “I’d like to set the goal of publishing it until the last
bit of Alicization.” To be honest, I thought that was a farfetched dream. Considering
the word count of the SAO web version, it would have needed over 15 volumes to
publish in paperback. Even if they could publish three volumes per year, it would
succeed only if they could get readers to support it for five whole years.

I wasn’t even confident that I would still be an author by then, not to mention
publishing the end of the Alicization Arc. But the Dengeki Bunko version of SAO
released volume after volume, and now brings to you the finale of the Alicization Arc
after roughly seven years since the first release of Volume 1, thanks to the passionate
bookmaking of Miki-san, the neat and stunning illustrations from abec-san whom
Miki-san kindly persuaded, and of course, the precious support from plenty of
readers.

As a matter of fact, a lot of work was added to the Dengeki Bunko version of SAO, so
this Volume 18 is — if counting Progressive as well — the 22nd volume of the entire
series. If counting other series as well, this would be the 45th volume. Seven and a
half years since the debut, or almost fifteen years since I first began writing SAO,
seems incredibly long to me, but somehow, at the same time, it feels like the blink of
an eye.

While I was writing this afterword for the finale, a vague question suddenly appeared
in my heart: “Why did I write the story of SAO and Alicization?”

Because I like online games and death game stories… It was probably only that at
first. Although I don’t know what would have happened had I participated in the
Dengeki Prize contest as I had planned, the very likely result is that only the Aincrad
Arc would have been serialized, and in parts on the Dengeki homepage. This is
because the scenes I wanted to write 15 years ago consisted only of Kirito and Asuna
sitting side by side in the sunset, gazing at the destruction of Aincrad, and Kirito
immediately searching for Asuna upon returning to the real world.

Yet I didn’t stop my pen there, and continued to write the Fairy Dance Arc, the
Phantom Bullet Arc, and the Alicization Arc. If I were to probe my impetus for doing
so, perhaps it was the support of the readers who visited my personal homepage, and
this story itself… the characters themselves as they laughed together, suffered
together, and fought together. Led by the silhouettes of Kirito, Asuna, and the others
as they ran in search of new worlds and new adventures, I wrote until now… I think
that was it.
Now, every time I push down on my keyboard, when I close my eyes, I feel as though
I’m gazing at the backs of Kirito and the others, who are running to chase after the
light in the distance. Their journey has still not ended; countless adventures are surely
contained within ALO and The Seed Nexus inside, sealed in the Underworld, and
awaiting them in the real world.

Of course, I want to continue to find new stories with them. Yet at the same time, I’m
mired in perplexity within the vast, uncertain scene that is the future. Before I step
into the next world, I wanted to properly appreciate and feel the things that
Alicization, this epic story, has left for Kirito, Asuna, Alice, and the others, and myself
— these are my thoughts today.

In the long period that the SAO franchise has serialized to today, I have been under
the care of countless people. Nakamura Tamako, Minami Juusei, Hazuki Tsubasa,
Nekobyou Neko, Himura Kiseki, Yamada Kotaro, and Kiya Shii, all in charge of the
manga adaptations.

Director Itou Tomohiko, in charge of the anime adaptation, Adachi Shingo-san and
Kawakami Tetsuya-san, in charge of the anime character designs, Shikama Takahiro-
san, animation action director, along with all of the production staff at A-1 Pictures:
producer Iwakami Atsuhiro-san, Oosawa Nobuhiro-san, Kashiwada Shin’ichiro-san,
Katou Jun-san, and Niwa Masami-san. For Matsuoka Yoshitsugu-san, who provided
Kirito’s voice, for Tomatsu Haruka-san, who provided Asuna’s voice, for Taketatsu
Ayana-san, who provided Leafa’s voice, for Sawashiro Miyuki-san, who provided
Sinon’s voice, and every one of the voice actors and actresses. For LiSA-san, Eir Aoi-
san, and Haruna Luna-san, who lent their voices to the theme songs. For sound
director Iwanami Yoshikazu-san, Konno Yasuyuki-san, in charge of sound effects, and
Kajiura Yuki-san, who composed the soundtrack.

For Futami Yosuke-san and Kawai Yasukazu-san, who have created many games. For
Washizaki Takeshi-san, in charge of radio and events.

For Miki Kazuma-san and Tsuchiya Tomoyuki-san, in charge of editing. For Kurusu
Tatsuya-san, who drew the miniature maps, and abec-san, who filled the story with
color through innumerable outstanding illustrations.

And lastly, to all of my readers, who have stayed with the story until now.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all.

Thank you very much, everyone. I hope you all will support the SAO series in the
future as well.

A certain day in July 2016

Kawahara Reki