Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from the words that I write and the characters that I create. Credit goes to the original creator of the SAO universe.

This story is co-owned by both myself and fellow fanfic writer: Ailaxolotl.

Real Life Standard Time: [7:30] June 12th 2026

Hikaru, Kana, Keiko, Madoka, and I are in the private lobby Karen created months ago. Because of this lobby's special settings when it comes to avatars, I'm being seen in my devil persona, Hikaru's ninja persona. Kana's cyborg avatar, Keiko feline like avatar alongside her Feathery Dragon Pina which crossed over from Aincrad, and Madoka's avatar is pretty similar to Karen's, which makes Hikaru, Kana, and I feel a bit nostalgic, since Karen and Katsuo have decided to temporarily abandon the virtual worlds in preparation for Gun Gale Online. I have to say, our group feels a little less like home without them around.

"Well everyone...Ymir will be reinstalling Aincrad to Alfheim's servers in a half hour. You guys ready?" I ask calmly, glad to have disabled the parameters of my avatar's programmed voice; I utterly hated it when we were here last, studying at the tournament's start.

"Ready as I can be. I heard from XANA and Cardinal that Aincrad has been heavily redesigned in monsters, item drops, and even layout. We'll practically be in the fight of our lives again. Actually, it's interesting how XANA and Cardinal decided to take a few steps to prevent power gamers from manipulating things. All of the dungeons lock down at 8 PM; it becomes impossible to enter them once they close, and most of them reopen about twelve hours later. What's more surprising is that the biometrics of all the houses bought by the SAO players are locked; basically, only we SAO players can purchase property that was pre-owned in the original Aincrad," Hikaru says eagerly, not having experienced the first twenty or so floors back when everyone was fighting for their lives.

"Wow...so all of the houses Senryaku bought will be exclusive to us. Actually, how does this work? Has all of Aincrad been unlocked to us?" Kana asks, since Hikaru has friendly relations to Cardinal and XANA. Admittedly, it gives us a lot of relatively unfair advantages, but it's greatly helped us in the past.

"Yeah, they're all open. Ymir says that it'd take weeks for us to clear a single floor, but we ought to prove them wrong. The reformed Senryaku unit: Heikō is going to be fully in this effort to clear Aincrad, so there's just no way we can fail!" I say with a smile.

"I actually heard that the level recommendation for Aincrad is well over 70. Madoka will need a lot of leveling to handle it, so you were right to ask me to protect her, Sylvia. Madoka-chan, just focus on avoiding combat until we get your level to a decent state, and then you can aid us full-force." Hikaru says seriously.

"Okay." Madoka's tone is rather timid as the poor girl is still afraid of my friends, even after spending all this time around them in school.

"Sylvia, now that I think about it, how about we make you leader? You were the one who pitched the name for our new party, and since Katsuo and Karen aren't here, you're the highest ranked member from Senryaku." Kana says with a small laugh.

"I'd have no problem with it, but before anything else, we seriously need to find a melee fighter and a healer for our group. We have strong magic users and support, but our vanguard is being left to me right now, and I feel better suited to the mid-ranks as a buffer with this new character." I say with a sigh, knowing that we need to get this settled; fast.

"If we need a healer, why don't we try asking Kazuma-san? Undines are the best healers in this game; surely he could provide one for you nee-chan, you two are dating after all!" Madoka asks, laughing, much to my embarrassment.

"I guess I should try asking for one of Kazuma's Undine healers. He owes us for saving Michiru back when we were trapped here. Our efforts prevented war from happening between the Undine and Spriggans" I state with a small blush, courtesy of Madoka, whom I regard with a scowl. I'm also trying to avoid talking about the subject of me dating Kazuma being a factor.

I open my menu and make a silent call to Kazuma via mental scanning. It was made in this server by some tech experts from Ymir who collaborated with Karen and Kazuto, and since he's been anticipating its release himself, he may be awake with Airi.

"Kazuma, you awake?"

"Yeah. It's no surprise that you're awake considering how Aincrad is being brought back. Are all the others joining in this?"

"Karen, Katsuo, Kazuto, Mamoru, Ophelia, and Yuuki won't be joining in, since they're surveying Gun Gale Online. We don't have school for another two days so Hikaru, Kana, Keiko, Madoka, and I figured we'd get a head start in Castle Aincrad. Anyway, Kazuma, do you think we could ask for one of your healers?"

"Hehe, this is really sudden, Sylvia! I'll see what I can do, I owe you that much as your boyfriend." Kazuma says, chuckling. "Though, why ask for one of my healers and not me?"

"Look, Kazuma, I love ya, but I don't want to get too distracted in Aincrad, and you would be one hell of a distraction. It'd be nice working with you, but we really need full focus here" I say, responding with the same laugh.

"Yeah, I can understand that. I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks. Anyway,is Airi going to be alright? She actually told me last night that she was suppressing a lot of sadness because of that damned Vusago." I ask worriedly. I don't want that poor girl to have to live through things that we Aincrad players had to deal with for three years.

"She's tougher than she looks, but...she was crying a lot when we logged out of Alfheim. Ophelia was comforting her a great deal, I'm glad she was there to help."

"Sorry to hear that, Kazuma. I'm more than willing to help if needed."

"If it comes to it, I'll ask for your help. But I'd prefer not to increase the burden you have. Although Koizumi Designs is helping, you're still practically raising Madoka and Tsubasa on your own. I don't want to burden you any more than you already have."

"You're sweet Kazuma, but Airi-chan's suffering is horrifying. I can't stand to see her sad."

"She'll be fine...hopefully. Anyway, I've contacted one of my healers; they'll meet with you in Kana's shop in Aarun."

"Arigatou, Kazuma."

I end the call and face the group again.

"We've got our healer, now we just need a frontline fighter. For now, I'll pick up the slack until we get a proper fighter."

"Where do we meet the guy?" Kana asks curiously.

"Kazuma's sending him or her to your shop in Aarun. I have no idea what to do for the frontline fighter, though." I say tiredly, sighing as I muddle over what to do.

"Let's go scouting when we get the healer." Hikaru suggests, wings twitching with eagerness to fly.

Real Life Standard Time: [8:10] June 12th 2026

We've just arrived outside Kana's shop in Aarun when a familiar female Salamander player with red hair in a long, neat braid and gray eyes approaches us. She's wearing full armor like most Salamanders, and I recognize the crest on her chestplate as a crimson gold logo of a wall-the logo of Katsuo's battalion, Toride. I remember working with this girl many times in the past few months when Katsuo conscripted me into a special unit to assist his battalion in bad situations: Elwing.

"Minatoya, it's good to see you again."

"Elwing, I'm surprised. Why are you here? You rarely leave Salamander territory." I ask in mild surprise, having not seen Elwing in quite a while.

"Yamakage asked me a while ago that I assist you in any way I can in New Aincrad. My blade is yours to command." Elwing says formally, obviously uncomfortable as a stranger amongst close friends. She shifts, anxious under my silence.

"Katsuo, you are far more crafty and caring than you let on. Arigatou." I say in my mind.

Elwing, putting comfort (or her lack thereof) aside for the sake of curiosity, breaks the silence by asking "I apologize if I am being impudent, but is it true that you all were in the VRMMO Sword Art Online?" Elwing asks, having never known that fact as she was assigned to help defend Sylph territory when it fell under heavy fire from XANA when the matter of Aincrad was truly brought into discussion.

"Ulkaios, Silica, Krisaga, and I were in SAO, but Winter wasn't. Why do you ask, Elwing?" I ask with a calm disposition, wondering why Elwing suddenly asked if we were in Sword Art Online after all this time.

"Do-did any of you happen to know an SAO player named Puck? She-she was my little sister."

"Puck? I worked with a young girl who went by such a name. She told me that her true name was Ayano, and that she had an older sister in reality." Keiko mutters quietly, with her shivering as she remembered what happened to her and the others in the Tenmongaku unit back in Aincrad.

"That's definitely her." Elwing says in the same hushed voice.

"I'm very sorry, Elwing-san, but she died not long after floor 26. She was in the Tenmongaku unit alongside myself before I joined Senryaku. Puck often asked me how I had the strength to fight on the frontlines, as it scared her beyond belief. I told her it was outright terrifying, but we both knew that we had to give it everything we had to make sure everyone made it out of Aincrad. I was heartbroken when she died. We were the youngest members of our unit, so we talked a great deal and could sympathize on many things."

"Silica-sama, did my sister say anything before she died?" Elwing asks in a solemn tone, eyes red with tears.

"Hmm...it was a few years ago, but let me try to remember" Keiko says with a frown, racking her head to remember the massacre she saw Tenmongaku go through. "Uh...the last thing she said was: 'Tell nee-chan not to fret over my death.' I imagine she would've said more, but well...death in Aincrad happened in under ten seconds, and Puck was always a slow speaker."

"She was always a bit quiet. But she was a skilled MMO player, just like me. It happened so long ago, but my parents have been utterly devastated by her death, and I've barely been holding on."

"I apologize, Elwing-san." Keiko says with a sad frown.

"It...it's alright, Silica-sama. At least I now know that she did not die needlessly. Hearing that she helped in some way does help make this more tolerable" Elwing says, putting on a sad smile.

"Actually, Elwing, could you drop the honorifics? It's making my skin crawl." I interject softly, not wanting to insult the person Katsuo sent to help us.

"As you wish, Minatoya-sama; oh, Er, sorry, Minatoya." Elwing replies hastily, bowing once in apology.

"It's alright Elwing. Now, before we head out, I want to ask what your level is" I say with a smile.

"Level 80. I was already very strong when we first met but when that AI: XANA attacked and wiped the floor with us, I realized I was still pitifully weak and required significant retraining in everything I once considered powerful. I've been training my combat skills ferociously and my leadership skills have been worked on as well." Elwing says this while leaning against an exterior wall of Kana's shop. "I am thankful that Yamakage-dono thought enough of me to ask me to help you all."

"I see. Well, I'm glad to hear of your improvement Elwing. Ulkaios and I are the main melee fighters of the group since Yamakage and the others are not here, however, I'm keeping myself as a mid-range buffer and back-up fighter and Ulkaios will be protecting Winter in the back-ranks, but he's extremely speedy so he could quickly take up battle if needed."

"Wow, Katsuo is getting quite charismatic!" Kana interjects, laughing. "He has quite a few girls into him now: myself, you, Yuuki. This guy is starting to turn into Kazuto, what with Asuna, Rika, Keiko, and Sachi into him." She laughs again, but I think she's actually a little jealous, since she's known Katsuo since they were little according to her.

"I don't think of Yamakage-dono in that way! I idolize him as a warrior and leader. Ever since he was recruited into the Salamander military, he has been surpassing each and every expectation in front of him. He's defeated General Eugene multiple times, and he even defeated one of Alfheim's strongest players, Zekken. I respect him as a warrior, and someone I wish to one day challenge; nothing more!" Elwing says indignantly, a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Oh really now? That's a very convenient cover, Elwing." Kana says, laying the sarcasm on thick.

"Lay off Krisaga, let's not annoy the person Yamakage sent to help us." I say with authority.

"Understood. I'll drop the matter. Anyway, Elwing, I'm in charge of maintaining our equipment for our party," Kana says quietly, submissive after being reprimanded in front of everyone.

"What's the group formation?" Elwing asks nonchalantly, her curiosity shining through her awkwardness once more.

"Winter is our primary mage, and Silica's our group strategist. I assigned Ulkaios to rear-guard defense, and I'm working mid-ranks as a buffer. Elwing, I need you to handle the vanguard." I say calmly, explaining our group formation.

"Understood, Minatoya. I won't let you down." Elwing replies.

Real Life Standard Time: [8:20] June 12th 2026

At this point, a player in a dark blue robe runs in the street in front of Kana's store and ends up tripping, falling to the ground with a dull thud.

"Itai…! That kinda hurt." the mystery person says in simulated pain. I recognize the robe type; it masks the voice and gender of the wearer, so there's no way to tell if the player's a guy or girl as a result until the robe's removed.

"Are you okay?" Keiko asks the person in front of us, rushing to the person's side and helping them up.

"I think I'll be fine. Kazuma really should've given me more notice" the player says in an embarrassed tone, pressing a hand to their head.

"Izanagi sent you? You must be the healer he sent to help me and my group. My name's Minatoya."

"Oh, glad to know I'm in the right place! Anyway, I know you all already." The girl says with embarrassment as she takes off the robe, revealing herself as Kazuma's second-in-command: Liatris.

"Oh, you know Kazuma in real life?" Kana asks in surprise.

"Mhm. I've known Kazuma pretty much my whole life" Liatris says, chuckling awkwardly. "Anyway, since you guys seem to know Kazuma, what are your names?"

"Krisaga, real name: Kana Shimuzu, though with my Chinese ancestry, my true name is Amaterasu Shimuzu. But for convenience's sake...just call me Kana."

"Silica. My real name is Keiko Ayano."

"Ulkaios. My name's Hikaru Murai."

"Minatoya, and this is Winter. My name in reality is Sylvia Miyagawa, and Winter's is Madoka Miyagawa."

"Pleased to meet you all. And...Sylvia, right? Kazuma actually talked about you a little bit." Liatris says with a smile. "Well, putting it simply, he calls you the jewel of his life. I've been wanting to meet you ever since Kazuma began talking about you, and let me tell you, he hardly ever stops! It gets kinda annoying sometimes, but it's sweet to see that he cares, ya know?"

I lightly blush at the statement, feeling bad about my anger. "Oh...I see…" Ugh. One of the things I hate about the VR consoles is how it can detect all signals from the human body...including blushing. Clearly Liatris notices this as she says

"Haha! Look, Sylvia, I may have known Kazuma all my life, but I'm not the type of person to steal boyfriends, promise. Besides, I don't think of him that way; I'd rather stay friends with him. Ya don't have to worry about that, and if anything, I want to help ya keep him!" Liatris says with a smile toward me "To be frank, a part of me is glad that it's you he's dating and not that other girl...who was she? Koizumi-something. She pisses me off so much, acting all high and mighty..." Liatris continues, stopping when she notices the sudden tension from myself and my friends. "Um...are you guys okay?" Liatris asks, tilting her head in confusion.

"You're walking on thin ice Liatris...how dare you insult my girlfriend!"

"I'm with Hikaru on this one, Liatris. Karen's our friend and I don't like you insulting her behind her back! The reason why we're alive is because of her! She sacrificed so much back in Aincrad, and she saw so many people die! Do not call her that again, got it?!" I snarl angrily.

"So, you're siding with her? Eh...whatever, I really don't care. Even if she has changed, I still don't like her." Liatris retorts nonchalantly.

"Minatoya, Ulkaios, all of you, relax. I know that your friend is being insulted, but discipline your mind and emotions!" Elwing responds in a serious tone, attempting to establish herself as a voice of reason, a neutral party in the conflict between me and my friends against Liatris.

"Yeah, yeah. Just watch yourself, Liatris. I'm group leader here, since Karen and Katsuo are focused elsewhere."

"Sheesh, I won't disobey orders or anything! Kazuma told me to help you all, so I will. But I'm not changing the way I think. I despise Koizumi far too much to change."

"Fine by me, but if you insult her again, I will not hesitate to cut you down, got it?" Hikaru growls angrily.

"I'm surprised she's managed to secure such loyalty from anyone. I'll drop the matter with Koizumi, but I'm not going to go through a change of heart. I hate her with a passion and I won't change my feelings. Same with that friend of hers, Makoto Kazuki."

"Liatris-san, what I don't really understand is why you hate Karen. Claiming she's 'high and mighty' is not enough to hate someone that much." Keiko asks angrily, having grown really fond of Karen.

"And while I didn't know Makoto well, he didn't deserve what happened to him back in Aincrad. He was a good man who died a warrior's death." Hikaru growls.

"Ulkaios, stop. Let's get to New Aincrad and remember that we're in this together. Please?" Elwing says, desperately trying to keep the peace.