Chapter 1: [The End?]

The Last Battle.

I launched toward Heathcliff, all of my rage in my sword. But it was no use. His shield cracked my sword in half. "Farewell Kirito-kun." His words echoed in my mind. Was I really going to die? As he lunged his sword at me, I noticed something sprout out. Asuna had shot out in front of me. She took the blow and fell into my arms. She had a bright red slash across her armor. I stared at her in horror as she took small breaths, gasping for air. I saw her health bar quickly drain to zero. I gasped. Asuna looked up at me, a faint smile on her face. "No, Asuna… This-This can't be real…" I whispered. Her beautiful hazel eyes filled with tears as she started to glow.

"I'm sorry. Goodbye… Kirito-kun." She said before closing her eyes. Her chestnut hair flew up and she glowed brighter and brighter until she shattered into crystals. I dropped my sword and stood there in shock. I tried to reach out for her to maybe get her back. I can't live without her. She's my only sunshine in this world of darkness. I can't let her go! I chased after the little shards, until coming to the comprehension that she was gone. Forever. I dropped to my knees. I couldn't take this anymore. I've lost too many people I loved. I started to cry as the last shard touched my hand before disappearing. I wouldn't- I couldn't fight. I can't bear all of this agony. I looked up and saw out of the corner of my eye Heathcliff smirking. I knew what was about to happen.

Pain. That's all I felt in the moment that Heath-no, Kayaba Akihiko struck the sword through my chest, and I felt my body disappearing into crystallized shards. My health bar drained as the pain surged through me. The bright red words filled my view. "You Are Dead." The pain from my chest spread through my whole body, rushing like a tidal wave. "N-no… not yet..." I stuttered.

My life started flashing by me. I saw Asuna, Yui and I laughing and having fun in our cottage on Floor 22, I saw Sachi singing to me through the message, and I saw Silica and Lisbeth. I saw my first time playing SAO with Klein after it was first released. I remembered the times before SAO, when I would play around with Suguha in the dojo and my times with Eugeo, and then I realized somethng. I couldn't let their struggles be in vain. I couldn't let Asuna, Yui, and Sachi all die for nothing. They believed in me. They knew I could do it. I couldn't just leave them. I would defeat Heathcliff.

I hung on to the last bar of health that I had. I felt my body coming back, the pain was excruciating. "Not yet…" My body was struggling to stand, I was taking short, raspy breaths, and I could feel the glitches on my skin. I slowly lifted Asuna's sword, Lambent Light. The pain from just trying to gasp it was throbbing and the worst sting I've ever endured. I could barely hold it, but I had to. It struck Heathcliff right in the chest. It went right through his armor and I almost couldn't believe it. But for a split second I thought I saw him say something… I saw his health bar slowly deplete, and he disappeared into thin air. "We did it… right Asuna?" I whispered as I stared at Lambent Light. I heard the monotone, robotic voice echo over all of Aincrad. "On November 7th at 2:55 pm, the game has been cleared. Repeat, the game has been cleared." I let out a sigh of relief. It's finally over. I could see Silica, Lisbeth, Klein, and Agil all happy and jumping for joy at the sound of the ending of this morbid game.

Or so I thought.

The game has been cleared, right? That mean we're out of the game… right? No… Why isn't the game ending? I thought it would end after we defeated the last boss. I gripped Asuna's blade close. I cursed under my breath as I realized that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong. I stood up slowly and stared at the cold stone floor of the room. I walked towards the gate of guilt staring me in the eye, ignoring the weak warriors in my peripheral vision. Determination, raging in me like a wild fire, telling me to discover the secrets behind this. I walked into the blinding light. To Floor 76.

Next Time: [Someone Special]