-435- Definitely meet again

For Rozen, escaping the impending death was not a difficult task.

However, whether to save himself and leave everyone behind was another matter entirely.

Right now, Rozen could leave this world at any moment, even depart from the current world.

No, it should be said that in a few seconds, his brain in the real world would be destroyed, and Rozen had to act immediately.

But there were many people he couldn't leave behind.

He couldn't leave Asuna behind.

He couldn't leave Yui behind.

Similarly, he couldn't leave Kirito behind. What would happen to them in this world once he was gone?

Could Asuna bear his departure?

Would Yui be saddened by it?

Would Kirito regain his spirit, challenge Heathcliff again with his Dual Blades skill, and lead everyone towards the 100th floor?

Rozen worried about all of these things, and he even thought about the consequences of his real-world body suddenly disappearing.

Would his foster parents be in a panic?

Would Suguha watch his sudden disappearance with disdain?

Thinking about all this, Rozen couldn't bring himself to leave. Fortunately...

"I have left a contingency plan back then, at least to ensure Asuna and Kirito's safety in this world after I leave."

This was a measure Rozen had taken just in case. It was meant to guarantee the absolute safety of those he cared about in this world if he happened to die here.

"If possible, it would be best to let them log out."

Unfortunately, this was something he couldn't achieve. Now, Rozen only hoped that Heathcliff hadn't discovered this.

"As long as Heathcliff hasn't specifically investigated, Asuna and Kirito should be clever enough not to be found out, right?"

Rozen could only hope for the best. "I've done everything I can."

"We will definitely meet again."

"We definitely will..."

Leaving these words behind, Rozen closed his eyes.

...

In the real world, inside a hospital room.

Here, there's a state-of-the-art automated care bed. A white, clean cotton blanket emits a faint glow under the sunlight streaming in from the window.

A teenager lies on this bed, bathed in sunlight, and his mixed-race face shows a sense of tranquility that was absent before.

However, on the teenager's head is a deep blue helmet.

On the gaming device named "NerveGear" attached to the helmet, three LED indicator lights emit a blue glow, sometimes even blinking like stars, indicating that the machine is receiving messages and operating properly.

At this moment, there is no second person in the hospital room. If there were, they would be shocked by what is about to happen.

"Ching!"

A ring worn on the teenager's finger suddenly emits a strong light, enveloping the teenager's body in a vortex-like radiance.

Under this light, the entire body of the teenager turns into light particles, gradually disappearing from the hospital bed. It is drawn into the vortex-like radiance, as if entering a passage of light, leaving this world.

Before long, the light vanishes without a trace, leaving only a helmet in its place.

The LED indicator lights on it suddenly go out, causing the entire helmet to emit high heat for a moment.

However, the object that should have been incinerated has already disappeared, and the helmet returns to its original state after maintaining the high temperature for a few seconds.

Someone visits this room, but it is only half an hour later.

"Aoka... nii-san...?"

Accompanied by the trembling voice of a girl filled with disbelief, in the empty hospital room, the helmet lies quietly on the pillow, no longer functioning.

Several minutes later, the entire hospital is in chaos due to this incident, even the government is alarmed, sending personnel to investigate.

Of course, the result is naturally futile.

On that day, Kirigaya Aoka disappeared.

When he returns again, it will be a long time later.

...

Aincrad, 75th Floor.

In the boss room located at the top of the labyrinth area, players belonging to the clearing group are still locked in a fierce battle with the Skull Reaper.

"————!"

The Skull Reaper emits a terrifying roar, its bony scythes falling like blades, smashing the floor and sending countless stone fragments flying. The players can only hastily dodge, falling into a state of near panic.

"Damn it!"

Kirito grips two swords, one black and one white, desperately avoiding the Skull Reaper's attacks, his face filled with urgency.

"Bastard!"

"Don't mess around!"

Klein and Egil also roar in frustration.

The rest of the players were in a similar state, filled with panic, fear, and anger.

This was because not only had their leader disappeared without a trace, but even the main culprit responsible for this situation had vanished.

What's worse, the Skull Reaper's HP had fully recovered after that, as if it were a recurring nightmare, and it swung its bone scythes toward the players once again.

Currently, the Skull Reaper's HP bar had only lost its first segment, and the second segment wasn't even half depleted.

On the players' side, they were leaderless, with Rozen gone. Facing the Skill Reaper, they were in complete disarray.

If it weren't for Rozen's previous guidance, which gave the players some idea of how to deal with the Skeletal Reaper and allowed them to confirm its attack patterns, as well as Kirito, Klein, Egil, and others stabilizing the frontline and holding back the tide, there might already have been casualties.

However, there was another reason why there were no casualties. That reason was a player with two familiars, charging fearlessly toward the Skull Reaper like a berserker.

"Hahhhhhh!"

Asuna tightly gripped her rapier and rushed towards the Skull Reaper, ignoring everything else.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou also let out angry cries as they followed behind Asuna, rushing toward the Skull Reaper.

It was because of Asuna's relentless assault and the support from Saichou and Hanachou that the Skull Reaper's aggro was completely focused on them, leaving the other players untouched.

This was a dangerous situation, but Asuna, with the assistance of Saichou and Hanachou, managed to hold her ground.

The reason for Asuna's furious determination was simple:

"Get out of the way!"

Asuna shouted in a manner quite unlike her usual self.

"I need to find Rozen! Move!"

With this shout, Asuna threw herself into a frenzy.

As long as the boss wasn't defeated, or the players weren't wiped out, the gate wouldn't open. Understanding this, Asuna fought with all her might.

In her heart, there was only one belief: defeat the monster in front of her and then find Rozen. She didn't know how she would find him, truly she didn't. But...

(If it's Yui-chan... she must know a way.)

Clutching onto this final lifeline, Asuna unleashed her ferocious attacks.

Then, at that moment...

"Boom!"

The Skull Reaper, ready to strike Asuna with its bone scythe, suddenly shattered into pieces, scattering polygonal fragments.

"Huh?"

Asuna was left dumbfounded.

"What happened?"

"Is it... dead?"

"This can't be real."

Kirito, Klein, Egil, and the others were equally stunned. Naturally, the other players were just as baffled.

Then...

"Now issuing an emergency announcement to all players."

A voice rang out.