Chapter 8 Part 1

After struggling to collect the two swords that went flying, Kirito

and Lyfa landed in front of the two statues that guarded the gate.

Recon, who unexpectedly seemed to have been waiting quietly, rushed

up. Seeing the black-clad Spriggan beside her, his expression changed

and he turned toward her while rubbing his neck.

"Well... h-how did it turn out?"

Lyfa replied while smiling sweetly:

"We're going to attack the World Tree. You, me, and this guy, just

the three of us."

"I-I see... Hey... What!?"

Lyfa clapped a hand to Recon's shoulder as his face turned pale

and he backed away, saying 'Let's work hard', then turned to look up at

the huge stone door. Standing between the two statues Lyfa realized it

seemed to radiate chill air, as if forbidding entrance to those who

wished it.

They talked about attacking it, but to tell the truth after seeing

someone with Kirito's power getting so terribly beaten by the guardian

knights, an increase of only two people would not change the outcome

much. She took a quick glance at Kirito beside her - he had a severe

expression, his lips closed.

Kirito looked up, seeming to have thought of something.

"Yui, are you there?"

Before his words had finished, light particles in the air began to

build-up and the familiar cute little pixie appeared. Hands on her hips,

she was pouting in indignation. "Oh, too slow! If papa doesn't call for

me, I can't come out!"

"My bad, my bad. I was a bit busy."

With a bitter smile Kirito held out his left hand and the pixie sat

on it demurely. Recon craned his neck at a terrible speed to look at the

pixie, as if he wanted to devour her.

"Wow, th-this is a private pixie!? This is the first time I've seen

one!! Oh, incredible, so cute!!"

Hearing this, Yui's eyes went wide and she backed away.

"Wh, what is this person?!"

"Hey, you're scaring her."

Lyfa grabbed Recon's ear and pulled him away from Yui.

"Don't mind this fellow."

"...A, ah."

Kirito stood confused by the scene in front of him. He blinked his

eyes two or three times, then looked at Yui again.

"- Well, did you learn anything from that battle?"

"Yes."

Yui wore an earnest expression on her pretty face as she nodded.

"Those guardian monsters, while their health and strength wasn't

that high, their spawning pattern was abnormal. The spawning speed

increases proportional to the proximity to the inner gate and when you

actually get to the gate they would spawn at a rate of twelve per

second. That is... It is set at a degree of difficulty that is impossible to

capture..."

"Hmm."

Kirito frowned, and nodded in agreement.

"I didn't notice because the individual guardians were not all that

strong, but if you view them all as one entity they're an absolutely

invincible boss. It's designed to fan the challenger's flame, to keep their

interest till the last moment then pull the flag completely away. It's

very tricky..."

"But if you think about it, papa's extraordinary skill proficiency is

the same. With that fierce power a momentary breakthrough might be

possible."

"..."

Kirito was silent in thought for a while, then he lifted his head and

stared at Lyfa.

"...I'm sorry. For one more time, can you help me with my selfish

request? Though I understand this might be impossible, I would like to

find more people or look for another way. But... my gut tells me

something unpleasant will happen soon. I'm running out of time..."

Lyfa heard that and for a moment thought of sending a message

to the Sylph lord's mansion in the capital, Sylvain, asking Sakuya if she

could send high level players to come to their aid.

But right after Lyfa bit her lip as she gave up on that idea. Her

mind went back to that morning, in Jötunheimr. Remembering the

incident with the Undine team brought her back to her senses. They

gave priority to efficiency and safety, and they hunted the nonresisting evil-god with no consideration for Lyfa's appeal.

Of course, Sakuya was a friend and wouldn't think the same way

as the Undines. But Sakuya was a leader who assumed serious

responsibility. In certain situations she would have to let commonsense decisions concerning the whole race override her personal

feelings. Even though she would challenge the World Tree one day, it

would only be after taking the time necessary to make full

preparations. If Sakuya heard Lyfa's personal request for aid, she

probably wouldn't come knowing it would mean the total annihilation

of her troops.

After a short period of silence Lyfa raised her face with a bright

tone and said:

"OK. Let's do our best. I'll do anything within my power... also, this

guy too."

"Eh, what..."

Making that sound, Lyfa elbowed Recon, his usual troubled brows

were furrowed to their limit. Then saying "Lyfa-chan and I are the

same, body and mind", and other things, then finally nodded in

agreement.

The stone gate opened with a low rumbling that sounded like it

came from the bottom of the abyss and a deep, eerie atmosphere

flowed out from the other side of it, which made Lyfa lightly flap her

wings. Earlier when she flew in to help Kirito, she didn't notice the

overwhelming atmosphere, but now facing the stone gates, she felt the

strong psychological pressure.

However her heart was unusually calm.

Now it felt like she was in a storm. Whether the real world or the

virtual world, everything was changing with a flowing and crackling

sound. She didn't know where she was going in this torrent; all she

could do was aim for the light in the distance.

Following Kirito, Lyfa and Recon pulled out their swords.

Including Yui, all four pairs of eyes met and they all raised their wings

together.

"...Here we go!"

At Kirito's shout they all kicked off the ground, plunging into the

dome.

As decided earlier, Kirito began aiming for the gate and was at the

center of the dome severely accelerating. Lyfa and Recon kept near the

ground and began to chant healing spells.

From the emission of the light in the canopy white giants formed

from the viscous liquid dripping down. They rushed at Kirito with a

strange, courageous shout. As the guardian knight vanguard and the

comparatively small Kirito met, a flash of light and an explosion roared

through the dome.

Several giants got cut apart in one slash and scattered in all

directions. Seeing such a scenario Recon whispered beside her.

"...Amazing."

It was certainly a terrifying level of sword strength. However,

witnessing the scene of Kirito fighting such massive numbers of

monsters sent chills running down her spine.

There were just too many enemies. The huge number of guardian

knights descending from the mesh-like canopy was a situation beyond

game balance. Even in the worst underworld dungeon, Jötunheimr, the

monsters spawning rate was much more moderate than this.

The guardian knights grouped together tightly, sending out

undulating bands to attack Kirito. A series of flashes occurred above,

and every time the body of a knight scattered light dancing like snow.

However, every time one was destroyed three more would take its

place.

By the time Kirito was half way to the door, his HP had decreased

by only ten percent . Lyfa and Recon released the healing magic they

had prepared and placed in a standby state. Kirito's body was wrapped

in a blue light and his health was restored.

- But.

A terrible thing happened at the same time.

A group of low-flying guardian knights turned toward Lyfa and

Recon with a queer cry.

"Ua..."

Recon made an anxious sound.

Lyfa felt that behind those mirror masks the guardian knights

were focused on them. She subconsciously clamped her teeth together

tightly.

In order to avoid being targeted Lyfa and Recon were to use

magic only to heal Kirito. Generally, monsters only attack players who

enter their detection range. That is, they don't attack the long-range

players if they don't use bows or attack magic.

However, it seems that the guardian knights are different than the

monsters in the outside world, they use algorithms with ill intent as

well. If they react to support magic from far away then using an

orthodox kind of formation like attackers at the vanguard and healers

at the rear is useless.

'That group of five or six knights, turn away!' Lyfa's wish was

empty, they started beating their four wings and the knights dove. Each

of them held a sword easily taller than Lyfa in their right hand. Their

swords seemed to gleam with a hungry light.

Lyfa cried out to Recon:

"I'll distract them, you continue to heal like this!" Lyfa rose

without waiting for an answer. However, although during battles until

now Recon had just listened to Lyfa's orders, this time he said 'Wait,'

then held onto her right hand. Surprised, Lyfa turned around to look at

him and was struck by his unusually serious expression, even though

his voice was tense.

"Lyfa-chan... though I don't completely understand, this is an

important battle, right?"

"- Yes. Right now it's probably not just a game."

"...Although there's no way I can match that Spriggan... I'll do

something about the guardians..."

As soon he finished Recon kicked off the ground with the flight

controller in his hand. While Lyfa was standing there surprised he flew

farther ahead, directly into the group of guardian knights.

"I-Idiot..."

'- He wasn't a capable opponent', Lyfa thought, but she knew she

couldn't catch up with him anymore. Looking to the side, Kirito's full

HP had once again started to decrease. Lyfa was forced to start casting

a recovery spell. Even as she quickly cast her spell Lyfa uneasily

continued to watch Recon from behind.

Recon unleashed the wide area wind attribute magic that he had

prepared during his flight to attack the guardian knights. Many green

blades spread out in a fan shape and attacked the knights, ripping into

them. The knights HP wasn't reduced much, but instead all of them

targeted Recon.

The white giants issued a distorted howl as they confronted the

little green boy. Recon flew around the dangerous giants' swords, as he

moved like a leaf at the mercy of the wind, and came out behind them.

The knights quickly turned, following him.

Lyfa completed her spell and the light of a healing spell wrapped

around Kirito. Several guardian knights reacted and start to descend.

Those knights joined the group chasing Recon, causing it to double in

size.

Despite not being good at aerial combat Recon was dodging the

swords rushing at him with amazing concentration. He occasionally

received an attack and his HP gradually began to decrease, but there

were no fatal injuries.

"...Recon..."

Recon's flight looked desperate and Lyfa could not help but feel

kind of touched, but she knew Recon couldn't last forever. Every time

she cast a healing spell on Kirito a new group of knights descended,

increasing the number gathered around Recon.

Finally, the guardian knights chasing Recon divided into two

teams. They appeared to be trying to sandwich him. One of the many

sword tips that fell like rain caught Recon on the back knocking him

away.

"Recon, that's enough! Escape outside!!"

Lyfa couldn't watch any longer and cried out. Once a player had

evacuated he couldn't pass through the door again while there was still

a battle going on inside. She decided that she would endure to her limit,

then fly up while chanting a healing spell.

But before that, Recon turned and looked at her. Recon's face had

a determined smile. Seeing that Lyfa stopped opening her wings.

Recon began to chant a new spell while receiving multiple sword

attacks. His body was quickly surrounded by a dark purple light effect.

"...!?"

Noticing that it was a darkness attribute magic spell Lyfa gasped.

A complicated magic circle unfolded instantly. Judging from its size it

was a considerably high-ranked incantation. Since it's rare to see

darkness magic in Sylph territory Lyfa didn't know what kind of effect

it had.

The magic circle became gigantic in a moment, turning on its axis

while wrapping around the knights that flocked toward it. The complex

pattern of light condensed in an instant - then everything was hit with

a terrible flash.

"Ah...!!"

Lyfa was blinded by the flash and instinctively turned her face

away. An explosion that sounded as though it was going to crush

heaven and earth occurred, violently shaking the entire dome. It took a

full second to recover from that blinding white scene. Lyfa stared

desperately toward the blast center while squeezing her hands. She

was so surprised that she was lost for words. The guardian knights that

had clustered around Recon were annihilated. The only trace of them

was the faint purple afterglow hanging in the air.

The power was terrifying. There aren't any such powerful area

attack incantations in either the Wind or Fire attributes. 'That guy

Recon, when did he learn such a useful hidden skill?' Lyfa was crying

both from joy and surprise. If such an attack was used several more

times then it would be possible to break through the gate. Lyfa was

going to heal Recon for now and moved her hand - but she again froze

in place.

In the aftermath of the explosion Recon's small figure wasn't

there. Instead, a lone Remain Light floated in the air.

"- Self-Destruction Magic...?"

Lyfa whispered in dismay. That's right - she remembered hearing

about this kind of dark magic long ago. However, it had a death-penalty

several times worse than that of a normal death, so it can be said to be

a taboo incantation.

Lyfa shut her eyes tightly, at a loss for words for a few seconds.

Despite being a mere game; the experience, time, and effort Recon put

into it made that a genuine sacrifice. From here on out giving up was

not an option. She opened her eyes with determination while looking

up. Then -

As she saw the scene in front of her she felt the strength leave her

legs.

The top of the dome was so full of white that she couldn't see it at

all.

Kirito was the small black speck in the center. After each swing of

his sword, bodies fell. It was like poking a vast sand dunes with a

needle. The holes in the wall of white guardian knights' flesh that Kirito

made were instantly refilled, completely blocking him.

"Uooooo!!"

Kirito fought like a demon and roared like he was coughing up

blood, his cries of defiance faintly reaching Lyfa's ears.

"...It's impossible onii-chan... something like this..."

To be honest, the idea that someone's soul was trapped in this

world, even if Kirito told her, was something she still couldn't quite

believe. This was a game, a virtual world meant to be enjoyed. She

couldn't help feeling some resistance to the story that linked this world

to the nightmarish «SAO World».

However, Lyfa felt for the first time that she had seen a «Malicious

System». The virtual game world had a fair balance, but this place was

full of killing intent against players. Like a huge death scythe being

swung around - that kind of feeling. It was God's intention to kill. No

one may resist.

Suddenly a low, distorted, curse like sound reverberated in the

dome.

A section of the guardian knights stopped moving, their left hands

reaching forward as they chanted spells. That was the spell that sealed

Kirito's movement the first time he came here. When it hit, it

temporarily stunned, leaving the victim open to sword attacks.

Expecting to see the scene where Kirito was skewered by

countless blades Lyfa froze.

It was at that moment...

Suddenly, from behind came a surge, no, a tsunami of sound that

hit Lyfa's withered wings.

"Wh...!?"

Lyfa hurriedly turned around to see - in close formation they

came through the open door dressed in shiny green new armor. It was

the soldiers of Sylph.

One look showed her that their equipment was ancient weapon

class. The large player group, fully dressed in similar shiny new outfits,

rushed past Lyfa like the spring wind and flew toward the canopy.

There were at least 50 of them.

While awestruck Lyfa focused her attention on them, and one by

one name cursors appeared. She could not see their faces because of

the visors, but the names displayed were all those of elite players from

the Sylph territory. The guardian knights heard the heroic roar of the

crowd, suspended their spells aimed for Kirito, and began to move. A

shudder of fear and exhilaration ran up Lyfa's back. However, they

were not the only group joining to capture the dome.

Several seconds after the last of the elite Sylvain force passed

through the great door another battle cry resounded. They overlapped,

mixing into behemoth-like roars, like that of distant thunder.

The new force that rushed in was considerably smaller than the

Sylvain Force. Lyfa estimated there were around ten. However, each

member of that cavalry was extraordinarily large.

"Flying Dragons...!"

Lyfa shouted in surprise. From head to tail, they were several

times larger than a player and covered with iron-gray scales. As proof

that they were not wild monsters the dragons' forehead, chest, and the

protruding edges of their very long wings were equipped with shiny

metal armor.

From both sides of the dragon forehead armor reins made of

silver chains extended, held firmly by the players straddling the

saddles on their backs. The riders were also fortified with brand new

armor, triangular ears protruding from both sides of their heads, from

the bottom of their back armor a tail that couldn't be overlooked.

They were without a doubt the Cait Sith's final weapon, the

Dragon Knights. They were used as a last resort. The legendary

warriors kept in absolute secrecy, never even seen in screenshots, and

now, they were flying in front of Lyfa's eyes.

Caught in the euphoria, with her blood boiling, Lyfa stood there

with her wings spread taut. Suddenly, she heard someone call out from

behind her:

"Sorry we're late."

She quickly turned around and standing there was the figure of

the Sylph Lord, Sakuya, wearing high heeled clogs and dressed casually.

Sidling up next to her was Alicia Rue, Lord of the Cait Siths, who said

that while twitching her ears:

"Sorry, the Leprechaun smiths had to forge the number of

required dragon armor, so it was finished just a bit ago. Even with the

money the Spriggan gave us, our treasury, as well as the Sylphs is now

empty!"

"In other words, both races will go bankrupt if we are annihilated

here."

Sakuya laughed cooly with crossed arms.

- They came. The two of them, despite the risk of losing their

status as lords, they quickly came. The combined forces of these two

races, overcoming the scramble for resources which was the essence of

MMORPG games, throwing all calculations of risk to the winds, would

surely work effectively to exceed the expectations of the GMs.

"...Thank you ...Thank you, both of you."

Lyfa could only say those words with her trembling voice. Sure

enough, in this world there were things more important than rules, and

manners, and common sense - that thought filled her heart, and she

was not able to say anything else.

Although the two lords replied in different voices they had the

same tone as they said, 'We're now even', then glared at the canopy

with a stern expression. Sakuya snapped the fan in her right hand.

"Well - we'll go too!"

Seeing the wall of white guardian knights send out groups to

attack the front Sylph players, Lyfa firmly nodded her head, and the

three kicked off the ground. Kirito was in the center of the dome

engaged in fierce battle, but he seemed to have noticed the arrival of

reinforcements and stopped trying to break through by himself,

leaving some room between him and the knight wall.

Gracefully soaring toward the central part of the Dome, Alicia Rue

held up her right hand and cried out in a lovely, carrying voice.

"Dragon Corps! Prepare the Breath attack!"

The ten members of the Dragon Knight cavalry hovered in a large

circle around the three, including Lyfa. With their wings spread and

their necks bent in an S-shape, she could see an orange light behind

their teeth.

Next, Sakuya quickly raised the folded red fan.

"Sylph team, prepare for the special attack!"

Arranged in a dense square, the Sylph forces held out their

swords with their right hands above their heads. Emerald green

lightning wrapped around their swords like a filigree.

The guardian knights looked like a swarm of white worms with so

many assembled and issuing queer jarring cries as they approached.

Alicia Rue bit her lips with her long fang, then waiting until the

guardian knights approached the limit, waved her right hand, raised

her voice, and shouted.

"Fire Breath, attack!"

Then all of the breath the ten dragons accumulated was released

in a conflagration of fire. Crimson red lines of fire flew from their

mouths, leaving a trail in the air. Ten pillars of fire struck the guardian

knights surrounding Kirito and the Sylph soldiers.

Dazzling light lit up the whole dome. Moments afterward,

continuous fireballs exploded creating a huge wall of flame. A terrible

explosive sound shook the world. The remains of the guardian knights

were blown in all directions, leaving white flames burning out.

But there seemed to be an infinite number of guardians, new

groups stretching from the wall of flesh, forcibly breaking through the

blazing hellfire. First, as if wanting to swallow Kirito, who was at the

front, it greatly opened its mouth, looking like a liquid spreading out.

When the white mass was on the verge of flooding Sakuya sharply

swung her fan downward, shouting:

"Fenrir Storm, release!!"

The Sylph force sharply thrust their long swords in perfect order.

From each of the fifty swords a dazzling green bolt of lightning gushed

out and cut through the air in a zigzag fashion, penetrating deeply into

the group of guardian knights.

Again the world was dyed white by the brilliant flash of light. This

time no explosion occurred, instead thick lightning ran freely, guardian

knights caught in that jaw were blown apart into tiny pieces.

After the second large group was crushed the central portion of

the wall of guardian knights sank down. However, like the surface of a

liquid, the hole made in that wall was quickly filled in from the sides.

It was 'now or never', Lyfa was convinced. She instantly

unsheathed her katana and kicked into the air to rush forward. The

lords seemed to have made the same decision. Sakuya's voice rang

through the air like a whip.

"All troops, charge!"

It was certainly the biggest battle that had ever occurred in that

world. From behind came the intermittent release of Flame Breath,

guardian knights were burned to death and continued to fall one by

one. The warhead formation used by the Sylphs cut down the flocking

giants with their powerful swords, drilling a vast hole into the wall of

meat.

At the tip of the warhead was the little black Spriggan. His

equipment grade was way weaker than the Sylph warriors, but with

his sword moving beyond god-like speed, anything that his sword

touched was instantly cut and blown apart.

Lyfa flew through a gap that the Sylph warriors opened,

immediately reaching behind Kirito. After blocking the sword of a

guardian knight that was going to attack Kirito's back Lyfa buried her

katana in its mirror mask. Holding her katana while turning, the neck

of the knight flew away from its body, and the body burned with a

white flame. Kirito turned to Lyfa, and said while moving only his lips.

"Sugu, I leave my back to you."

"Count on me!!"

She met his eyes and responded wordlessly, then put her back

against his back. The two of them turned round and round, cutting

down the guardian knights that continuously appeared in front of them.

One-on-one, the giant knights shouldn't be that easy for her to kill.

However, as she stuck to his back and matched his speed, Lyfa felt as

though the knights became slower and slower. No - Maybe her nervous

system accelerated? It had happened in kendo matches before, Lyfa

was enveloped by the sense that she could grasp everything going on

around her.

It felt as though she and Kirito had become one being. With their

nervous system directly connected, the pale electronic pulses flowing

from one to the other. Without looking, she knew how Kirito was

moving behind her. While his sword cut into a guardian knight's neck,

while turning, Lyfa struck high into the same knight's neck and finished

it off. On another knight's mask that Lyfa damaged, Kirito struck the

same place Lyfa had just hit, cutting deeply.

Kirito, Lyfa, the Sylph warriors, and the dragoon brigade moved

like a single white-hot entity, continuing to touch and melt the wall of

guardian knights with no limit, going deeper and deeper. The number

of knights was unlimited, but the amount of space in the dome was

fixed. As long as they continued to progress, the moment would come

sometime.

"Seraaaa!!"

With her spirited shout Lyfa cut a guardian knight in half, it

collapsed and disappeared.

Beyond the last few knights, even if only for an instant, she saw

the zenith of the dome.

"Oooo!!"

With a shout, Kirito moved from behind Lyfa as a black flash of

light rushed toward the gap in the wall of flesh. The last group of

guardian knights approached him from all directions while raising a

cry of resentment to prevent intrusion. They numbered nearly thirty.

"Kirito-kun!!"

Lyfa instinctively swung her katana and threw it at Kirito's left

hand with all her might.

The green blade spun through the air and settled into his hand as

though it was sucked there.

"U...oooooo —!!"

With a shout that shook the entire dome, Kirito held the

greatsword in his right hand and the katana in his left. They shot out

with fearsome speed in a dual attack.

Cutting down from the upper right. Cutting up from the lower left.

Two shining swords changed angles slightly and drew a snow-white

circle that looked just like the corona of a solar eclipse. The bodies of

knights that got caught in his ultra-speed slashing were cut to pieces

like paper, spreading out into the surroundings.

This time it was clearly visible beyond the End Flame of the ring

of white flame. Entangled like a mesh of tree branches at the center of

the canopy of the dome, was a circular gate divided into pieces by a

cross. Spanning the trunks of the World Tree, the final gate leading to

Alfheim, the castle up at the top of the tree.

The small figure in black continued to fly toward the gate, pulling

a tail of light behind him. He arrived. At last.

In front of Lyfa's eyes, the bodies of the guardian knights were

quickly and repeatedly piled up and filled any open space in an instant.

Sakuya, who noticed that Kirito broke through the defensive line,

shouted from the rear:

"Everyone fall back, retreat!"

Evading together with the Sylph team while diving with the

support of Fire Breath attacks, Lyfa, for a moment, looked back in the

direction of the canopy. She was unable to see Kirito's figure due to the

wall of guardians, but reflected in the eye of Lyfa's heart, rose the

figure aiming for the place that no one had ever reached, rising higher

and higher.

Fly - Go - Go anywhere! Through the giant tree, soar through the

sky, to the heart of the world -!

* * *

I thought my mental nerves would burn out, considering the

speed I rushed through that final distance.

In front of me was a large circular gate made of four tightly shut

parts portrayed by a cross-shaped lithograph. Behind it, she - Asuna

waited. Left behind in that world, along with the other half of my soul.

From behind, the guardian knights' screams resounded, full of

anger. They turned around and it seemed as though they were about to

pursue me. Then the knights reappeared from the canopy around the

gate without even a flash of light and rushed toward me as they caught

me in their sights.

However, I was quicker. The gate was already just an arm's length

away.

But - but.

"...It won't open...!?"

I unintentionally cried out at the unexpected situation.

The gate wouldn't open. Before, I thought if I just got closer that

annoying, large door would open, but it was tightly closed, blocking my

path and its cross shaped parts wouldn't budge a bit.

From there on, there was no time to slow down. I was poised with

my sword in my right hand at waist level, and hoping to shatter the

gate in one blow, rushed toward it, becoming one with my sword.

Just after that I hit the gate with a terrible shock. The tip of my

sword struck the stone block, violently spraying intense sparks. But -

the surface didn't have a scratch.

"Yui - what is going on!?"

I cried out in confusion. No way, was that not enough? Do we not

only have to break through the guardian knights, but need some type

of item or flag as well?

About to follow the impulse to swing my sword again, Yui flew

out of my pocket with a bell-like ting-a-ling. She gently placed her

hands on the stone of the gate.

"Papa."

She turned her head, and quickly said:

"The door isn't locked by a quest flag or otherwise! It is simply

this way because of the system administrator."

"Wh - What do you mean!?"

"In other words... the door is something a player would never be

able to open!"

"Wha...."

I was speechless.

This means the grand quest - that the race which climbs the

World Tree and reaches the City in the Sky would be reborn as true

fairies, was like hanging a carrot in front of a rabbit's nose knowing it

would never be able to reach it? Beyond the fact that it exceeds the

limits in terms of difficulty, then there's a lock that could never be

opened without the key called system authority...?

I felt my body lose all strength. Behind me, the cries of the

guardian knights rushed over me like a tsunami. However, the will

power that allowed me to grasp my sword again wouldn't spring out

anymore.

'- Asuna, I've come so far... just a little further, until I can reach

you... That piece of your warmth, was that our last contact...?'

'- No. Wait. That is, that's certainly...'

My eyes went wide. With my left hand, I fumbled in my back

pocket. There. A small card. What Yui had said, that it was the system

access code...

"Yui - use this!"

I held the silver card out in front of Yui's eyes. Yui's eyes widened

for an instant, then she nodded deeply.

Her small hand brushed against the surface of the card. Several

streaks of light flowed from the card into Yui.

"Code copying!"

She cried out, then slammed both palms onto the surface of the

gate.

I was dazzled by the bright light and squinted my eyes. Where her

hands touched, bright blue lines radiated out, and right after, the gate

itself started shining.

"- We will be transferred!! Papa, hold onto my hand!!"

Yui stretched out her right hand and firmly grasped the fingertip

of my left hand. The line of light channeled through her body flowed

into mine.

Suddenly, the queer voice of the guardian knights echoed from

right behind us. Although I braced myself, dozens of large swords

hurtled toward me. However, those swords passed through me as

though they had totally lost substance. No, I was beginning to become

transparent. My body faded and melted into light.

"- !!"

Suddenly, I was pulled forward. Yui and I turned into a torrent of

data and were then sucked into the gate, which had changed into a

glowing white screen.

My lapse of awareness was over in an instant.

I shook my head a few times trying to throw off the lingering

sensation of the transfer while blinking my eyes. This was similar to

the use of teleportation crystals in Aincrad, but instead of the familiar

bustle of a gate square I was surrounded by complete silence.

I slowly stood up from the posture which I found myself in with

one knee on the ground. In front of me was a concerned looking Yui.

She was not in the little pixie form anymore, but the original, with the

appearance of a girl about ten years old.

"Are you all right, Papa?"

"Yeah... This is...?"

I looked at my surroundings while nodding.

However you put it - it was a very strange place. Totally unlike

the new 'game' feel of the excessively elaborate, decorated streets of

Sylvain and Aarun. Everything I could see gave a blank impression,

there were only white walls with no texture or detail.

I was somewhere in the middle of a passage of some sort. Rather

than straight, it gently curved to the right. Looking back, it was

similarly curved. It seemed to be a very long curve, or perhaps circular

passage.

"...I don't understand, there seems to be no map data for

navigating this place..."

Yui said with a puzzled look.

"Do you know where Asuna is?"

When asked, Yui closed her eyes for an instant, then nodded

deeply.

"Yes, it's very - very close. Upwards... this way."

Kicking off the floor with her bare feet extending from her white

dress, she turned and started running without making a sound. I

returned the sword that I still held in my right hand to my back then

hurriedly followed. The katana that should have been in my left hand

had disappeared. Perhaps, when I was transferred, it had returned to

Lyfa, who was the owner of the original system data. If she had not

thrown me that sword, I definitely would not have been able to break

through the last wall. I closed my eyes for a moment and silently

prayed words of gratitude toward the sensation that remained in my

left hand.

After following Yui for a few dozen seconds a square door came

into view on the left, the outer wall of the curve. It didn't have a single

decoration either.

"It seems to be possible to reach the top from here."

I nodded at her words as she came to a stop and looked around

the door - my posture went rigid instantly.

There were two triangular buttons lined up, one pointing up, the

other pointing down. It was something I had never seen in this world,

but nonetheless, it was very familiar in the real world. I could only

think they were the buttons of an elevator.

Suddenly and strangely, with my body wrapped in battle garb and

a sword strapped to my back, I frowned feeling out of place. No - it's

this place that is strange. If these buttons were as I suspected, then this

could no longer be thought of as the game world. Then... What is this

place?

But that doubt only crossed my mind for a moment. I am good

anywhere. As long as Asuna is there.

I touched the arrow pointing up with no hesitation. Soon, the

doors slid open with a pong sound effect, exposing a small box-shaped

room beyond. Entering the room with Yui I turned around and sure

enough, there was a panel of buttons lined up next to the door. The

button representing the current floor was lit and there seemed to be

two more floors above that one. After hesitating slightly I pressed the

top button.

The sound effect rang out again. The door closed and I was

wrapped in an unmistakable rising sensation.

The elevator soon stopped. Beyond the open door was a curved

passage similar to the one we just left. Facing Yui, who was tightly

grasping my right hand, I said:

"Is this the right floor?"

"Yes. - Already, just... just around the corner."

While saying so, Yui pulled my hand and began running.

For additional tens of seconds I tried to suppress my frantic

heartbeat while running through the passage. We came near a few

doors on the inner circumference, but Yui went by without sparing a

glance toward them.

Eventually, Yui came to a halt in an empty place.

"...What happened? "

"On the other side of this... a passage..."

Yui stroked the smooth wall on the outer circumference while

muttering. Abruptly her hand stopped, and like the time with the gate,

blue lines of light zigzagged at right angles while running along the

surface of the wall.

Suddenly the thick lines separated a square from the wall, then

the interior was annihilated with a banging sound. Inside, the dull and

uninteresting passage extended straight ahead after all.

When Yui silently set foot into the passage, she began to run at

increasingly higher speed. Seeing the tender look on her face, unable to

bear the thought of waiting even one more second, I was convinced

that Asuna was close.

Hurry, hurry. I wholeheartedly prayed from the bottom of my

heart while advancing earnestly. Before long the passage ended ahead

and a door with four corners blocked the way. Yui, without even

bothering to stop, extended her left hand and forcefully pushed the

door open.

"—!!"

In front of us we could see the huge setting sun.

The infinite sunset sky wrapped around the world. I noticed there

was a slightly uncomfortable feeling about the view of this place. This

place was set at an extremely high altitude, you can see the gently

drawn curve of the horizon. The wind was ringing strongly.

Inevitably, I recalled that moment.

Asuna and I sat side by side watching as the floating castle

disappeared, dissolving into the eternal sunset. She raised her voice,

her words floating to my ear.

"We will be together forever."

"Ah - yes. I have returned."

After muttering that, I turned my glance to my feet.

Where once there was a crystal floor, now there was a terribly

thick tree branch.

My vision, which had been constricted by the crimson sunset,

again widened. Overhead, the tree branched out in all directions,

extending dense foliage on all sides, like a pillar that supported the

heavens. Below, uncountable branches extended in my vision. Even

farther down on the ground, beyond the vast ocean of clouds, I could

see a flowing river faintly meandering in green meadows.

That was the top of the World Tree. The place Lyfa... Suguha

constantly dreamed of seeing, the top of the world.

However —

I slowly looked around. There, the trunk of the World Tree stood

like a wall stretching on forever as it branched off.

"There is no... City in the Sky..."

I whispered while dumbfounded. It only had some tasteless white

passages. Such a thing couldn't be the legendary City in the Sky. To

begin with, it was necessary to generate some sort of event to mark the

end of a grand quest. After breaking through the gate of the dome was

complete I could hear no fanfare.

In other words, it was all an empty gift box. Decorated in

wrapping paper and adorned with ribbons that are meant to hide the

hollow lie. Speaking of that, what should I say to Lyfa, who dreamed of

being reborn as a high-ranking fairy?

"...This is unforgivable..."

I spoke without thinking. Against the person or group who was

running this world.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle tug on my right hand. Yui looked up at me

with a worried look.

"Ah, that's right. Let's go."

Everything was to rescue Asuna. I came here just for that.

In front of my eyes a big branch of the tree stretched toward the

setting sun. In the center of the branch was an artificial path. The road

ahead, beyond the treetops standing in the sun - was reflecting golden

light. Aiming for that light Yui and I began running. I desperately

suppressed my irritation and a desire that seemed like it would catch

fire at any second, and advanced forward on the tree path. My

perception accelerated, making an instant seem to stretch on infinitely,

so what seemed to me to be an instant could have been many seconds

or even minutes.

Passing through an area of dense strangly-shaped leaves, the path

continued. Whenever the branch intersected with another one, there

would be up and down stairs to go past it. I would just beat my wings

once and jump over.

The nature of the shining golden light in question became

apparent over time. It was a combination of vertical and horizontal

metal bars forming a metal lattice - no, it was a birdcage.

Above the big branch we were running on another branch ran

parallel to it, and from that branch hung the orthodox birdcage.

However, it was extraordinarily large. It wouldn't be able to shut in a

bird of prey, much less the smaller birds. That's right - it seemed to

have another purpose —

I was reminded of the conversation in Agil's shop, from a memory

that seemed so far away it might as well be from ancient times. The five

players that had piggybacked to bypass the altitude limit and taken

screenshots. The photos they took portrayed a mysterious girl trapped

in a birdcage. Yes, definitely. It was Asuna - Asuna would be in there.

There was a strong conviction in that little hand tightly holding

my right hand, pulling me forward. We hurtled so fast we practically

glided though the air, then we jumped over the final staircase.

The path carved into the branch suddenly narrowed as it ran

below the cage, and then it ended.

I could already see clearly inside the golden birdcage. One big

plant and various potted flowers littered the white tile floor. In the

center was a big bed with a luxurious canopy. Next to it was a round

white table with a tall chair. A girl was sitting in the chair with her

hands together on the table and her head bowed with the aura of

someone praying.

Long, flowing, straight hair was hanging down her back. She was

wearing the same type of dress as Yui but more diaphanous. Thin

wings extended elegantly from her back. Everything was illuminated in

the brilliant red light of the setting sun.

I couldn't see her face. However, I understood. There was no way

I wouldn't know. Like a magnetic force, my soul was drawn to her with

a nearly visible flash that sparked between the two of us.

At that moment, the girl - Asuna quickly lifted her face.

Maybe it's because of my deep yearning, but that beautiful shape

already seemed to have been sublimated into a more light-filled

concept of familiarity. Sometimes it was a smart beauty, like a

sharpened sword. Other times, a mischievous friendly warmth. Her

face, that was always beside me during those short but nostalgic days

together, was at first filled with pure surprise. Then both of her hands

rose to cover her mouth while moisture collected in those big hazel

eyes, overflowing to form tears.

Taking the last few steps with a winged jump, I whispered in a

voice that did not become sound.

"- Asuna."

Yui cried out at the same time, too.

"Mama... Mama!!"

At the end of the path where it ran into the cage there was a

square door made of a dense metal lattice inset with a small metal

plate that seemed to be a locking mechanism. Although the door was

closed Yui didn't slow down while pulling me. Instead, she stretched

out her right hand and held it above her left side. Her hand was

enveloped in a blue glow.

Then she waved her hand to the right. At the same time the door

quickly blew off as if it was just a metal plate. The door soon became

light particles and dispersed, quickly disappearing.

Yui released my hand and with both arms outstretched, cried out

again.

"Mama -!!"

She rushed straight through the entrance into the birdcage.

Kicking away her chair, Asuna stood up. She removed her hands

from her mouth, and from her lips, a trembling but clear voice issued.

"- Yui-chan!!"

Then Yui kicked off the floor, jumping straight into Asuna's chest.

Black hair mixed with chestnut hair and danced in the sky, appearing

maroon in the sunset.

Yui and Asuna hugged each other tightly, nuzzling each other's

cheeks and calling out once again to make sure.

"Mama...."

"Yui... -chan..."

The tears of the two ran down their faces and disappeared in the

light of the setting sun, shining like flames.

I relaxed the force that was propelling me forward and quietly

walked to Asuna, stopping a few steps in front of her. Asuna lifted her

face, and blinking away her tears, looked at me face to face.

The same as that time, I couldn't move. If I moved any closer and

touched her, everything might disappear... Anyway, my current shape

is very different from that time. The Spriggan's dark skin and my

spiked hairstyle, I had nothing in common with the Kirito of that time.

Holding back my tears, I could do nothing but stare at her.

But just like that time, Asuna's lips moved, and called my name.

"- Kirito-kun."

After a moment of silence, my mouth moved and called her name.

"...Asuna."

I took the last two steps forward, arms open. I wrapped her

delicate body with mine, holding her tightly to my chest with Yui

nestled between us. The nostalgic fragrance drifted around me and her

nostalgic warmth soaked into my body.

"...I'm sorry it took me so long." I muttered in a trembling voice.

Asuna looked into my eyes from point-blank range and replied.

"No, I believed in you. I was certain - that you would come to

help..."

More words were already unnecessary. Asuna and I closed our

eyes and buried our faces in each others necks. Both of Asuna's hands

were behind my back, holding me firmly. A contented sigh from Yui

seemed to leak between us.

- This is good enough. I thought.

If this became my last moment I would have no regrets, even as

my life burned out. The life that was supposed to have been over with

that world, finally concludes here, just for this...

No, that wasn't it. Finally, it starts here. Here, that world of

swords and battle would end at last and we would finally set out for

the new world named reality, together.

I looked up and said:

"Let's go home. To the real world."

After the embrace I firmly grasped Asuna's hand, and Yui held

onto Asuna's other hand. I looked at Yui's face and inquired:

"Yui, is it possible to log Asuna out from here?"

Yui wrinkled her eyebrows for a moment, then shook her head.

"Mama's status is bound by a complex code. A system console is

required to unlock it."

"Console..."

Asuna said in a nervous voice, tilting her head.

"I think I saw one on the lowest level of the laboratory... Ah, the

laboratory is..."

"You mean in that empty white hallway?"

"Yeah. ...You came through there?"

"Yes."

I nodded my head, Asuna frowned while looking at me, seeming

disturbed.

"Did you see anything... strange?"

"No, I never met anyone..."

"...It's possible a subordinate of Sugou was hanging around... Just

cut them with your sword!"

"Wha... Sugou!?"

At Asuna's mention of that name, I was surprised but at the same

time convinced.

"This is that guy... Sugou's work? To imprison Asuna here."

"Yes. - Not only that, Sugou is doing horrible things here..."

Asuna started to say, practically radiating resentment, but shook

her head immediately.

"We'll continue this conversation after we return to the real

world. Sugou is not at the company now. We can take this chance to get

access to the server and free everybody... Let's go!"

Although there were many things I wanted to ask, my top priority

was getting Asuna back to the real world. I nodded and turned around.

Pulling Asuna who was holding Yui's hand, I began to run toward

the blown off door at the entrance. Taking two steps, three steps, just

as we were about to reach the edge of the cage, at that time.

- Someone was watching us.

Suddenly, I felt an unpleasant sensation sizzling on the back of my

neck. It was the exact same feeling I got in SAO when I was being

targeted by an orange PKer instead of a monster hidden in the

shadows.

I quickly let go of Asuna's hand and grabbed the hilt of my sword.

Ready to pull out my sword, I moved my hand slightly. At that

moment...

Suddenly, the birdcage was filled with water. It felt like we were

wrapped in a dark, highly viscous liquid.

No, that wasn't it. It was possible to breathe, but the air seemed to

become abnormally heavy. Although I could move my body, as if we

were in a sticky mucus I felt tremendous resistance. My body was

heavy. It was painful to stand. At the same time the light faded from the

world. The sunset in the birdcage was blotted out by darkness.

"- What is this!?"

Asuna cried out. Her voice was distorted, as though it was coming

from deep underwater.

I tried to keep hold of Asuna and Yui and draw them closer

despite the extraordinarily unpleasant feeling, but - I couldn't move my

body at all. The air was sticky, moving with a consciousness like vines

tying me up.

Finally, the world was shrouded in complete darkness. No, it was

a little different. I could see Asuna and Yui in their one piece dresses

clearly. But the view of the background seemed to be painted over with

a deep black.

I gritted my teeth and moved my right hand. I should have been

close to the lattice of the bird cage. I extended my hand, thinking to pull

my body from that space - but my hand touched nothing.

It wasn't only an appearance. We had been thrown into a world of

darkness, there was no telling where it was.

"Yui -"

'What is the situation', I was about to say. But from Asuna's arms,

Yui suddenly arched her back and screamed.

"Eek! Papa... Mama... Watch out! There is something really bad

here..."

Before she even finished those words, purple lightning started

shining from Yui's body, and with a dazzling flash - Asuna arms were

empty.

"Yui!?"

"Yui-chan -!?"

Asuna and I shouted at the same time. But there was no answer.

In the thick and sticky true black darkness, only me and Asuna

were left. I reached out desperately, wanting to be nearer to Asuna.

Wide-eyed, Asuna reached out anxiously.

However, right before our fingertips were about to touch, we

were hit with tremendous gravity.

It was like we were thrown into the bottom of a deep, deep

swamp of mucus. I couldn't endure it, the pressure overwhelmed my

whole body and I fell to one knee. Asuna fell down at the same time,

thrusting both hands at the invisible floor.

Asuna looked at me, mouth moving slightly.

"Kirito... -kun..."

'It's all right, I will protect you no matter what', I was going to

reply. At that moment a high-pitched laugh echoed throughout the

darkness.

"Hey, what do you think about this magic? It's scheduled to be

introduced in the next update, but perhaps the effects are too strong?"

That voice loaded with so much mockery that it couldn't be kept

in check, it was familiar. The man who, in front of the sleeping Asuna,

ridiculed me, calling me hero.

"- Sugou!!"

I shouted as I struggled to stand up.

"No no, in this world, please refrain from calling me by that name.

Not even using an honorific when calling your king's name. You may

call me the Fairy King, His Majesty, Oberon!!"

His last words jumped up a few octaves, turning into an

exclamation. At the same time something struck my head.

Turning my head a little bit, a man was standing next to me. All I

could see were the feet, wrapped in boots covering gaudily

embroidered tights, which he moved to the left and right on top of my

head.

When I lifted my eyes I could see he was wearing long clothes in a

poisonous green color, and above that is a face that looked perfectly

made. No - it really was an artificial face. Starting at zero with polygon

modeling, it was a handsome face distorted by its twisted expression,

making it truly ugly. His red lips were hugely distorted, making it look

like he was grinning.

Even if his appearance was different, I know this guy was Sugou.

The man who confined Asuna's soul in such a place, a man for whom

hate just wasn't enough.

"Oberon – no, Sugou!"

Asuna was almost lying on the ground, but she raised her face,

shouting courageously.

"The things you have done, I've seen them with my own eyes!!

Those terrible deeds - you won't get away with it, never!!"

"Oh? Who is going to stop me? You, or maybe him? Or maybe

God? Unfortunately, there is no God in this world. Apart from me, hehe!"

Sugou said with his voice mixing together with that annoying

laugh as he stepped down on my head, hard. Unable to endure the

pressure from the gravity, I was pushed to the floor.

"Stop this, you coward!!"

Asuna yelled, but Sugou did not lend an ear to her cries. Instead,

bending over me, he extracted my sword from the sheathe on my back.

Standing up, he held it up with his forefinger then spun it around.

"- Well, Kirigaya-kun, no... I should call you Kirito. I did not think

you would actually come here. Is it bravery or stupidity? Since you are

in this situation it must be the latter, hehe. I heard that my little bird

had escaped from her cage. Thinking that this time she must be

punished I hurriedly returned, but what a surprise! It seems a

cockroach had gotten lost in the cage! - Come to think of it, there was

also that one strange program..." Sugou paused, and waving his left

hand, quickly brought out his menu window. His lips curved while he

looked at the luminescent blue screen for a moment, and humming in a

nasal tone, he closed the window.

"...It escaped? What was that anyway? In the first place, how did

you climb up to this place?"

Knowing that at least Yui hadn't been deleted, I felt slightly

relieved and said:

"I flew here, with this pair of wings."

"- Well, alright. I'll understand if I ask the contents of your head

directly."

"...What?"

"You didn't think that I would make this kind of place while

raving drunk right?"

While bouncing my sword with his finger, Sugou wore a smile

that dripped venom.

"With the devoted cooperation of former SAO players, my

research into the fundamental operations of thought and memory is

already 80% complete. A little more and I will be able to control the

soul which no one has ever accomplished. That has always been called

the work of god! Besides, I have happily obtained a new experimental

body today. It makes me so happy. Looking through your memories,

rewriting your emotions!! Just the thought of it makes me tremble!!"

"No way... that, you can do that..."

I whispered while I was still trying to master my disbelief after

that far too insane speech. Sugou put his foot on my head again,

tapping his toes.

"You learned nothing and connected using Nerve Gear right?

Then it puts you in the exact same position as my other experimental

bodies. Afterall, children are stupid. Even a dog remembers what not to

do once it gets kicked. "

"That... That kind of thing will not be forgiven, Sugou!!"

Asuna shouted with a bloodless face.

"If you put a hand on Kirito, I'll never forgive you!!"

"Little bird, it is near the day when I'll be able to turn your hatred

into absolute obedience with the flip of a switch."

After Sugou said that with an intoxicated expression, he held my

sword and caressed the blade with the fingertips of his left hand.

"Well, let's have a fun party before I change your soul! Yeah...

finally, I've long been waiting for this moment. Since the best guest has

shown up, it's worth waiting till the limit of my patience!!"

Sugou turned around, opening his arms wide.

"Now, I am recording all logs of this space! Show me a good look!!"

"..."

Asuna bit her lip, and staring into my eyes, whispered quickly.

"...Kirito-kun, log out right now. In the real world you can expose

Sugou's plot. I will be fine." "Asuna...!"

I felt torn in two directions for a moment. But immediately

nodded and waved my left hand. If there was this much information, it

was likely I could get a rescue team without physical evidence. As long

as we could control RECTO Progress' ALO server, everything would

head toward being solved.

- But. The window did not appear.