"Kirito."

Kirito looked back at his beautiful wife, Asuna, as she approached him, dragging her sword behind her. She placed her head on his shoulder, obviously exhausted after defeating the level 75 boss.

He wrapped his arms around her. "Everything is okay." He looked at Heathcliff from across the room, who was also looking at him. "At least for now."

He could feel her cheeks rise into a smile. "For now..."

Klein approached them along with his guild, Fuurinkazan. He punched Kirito in the arm. "That was a great battle, man." He glanced at everyone in the room. "We all make one hell of a team! We definitely need to team up again for the next boss; after building our strength up again of course," Klein laughed.

Kirito chuckled. "That would be cool. You did a pretty good job."

"You mean a 'great job'," Klein boasted. With that he let out a sigh. "Twenty-five more levels to go. Come one you guys," he gestured to his guild, "Lets see what floor 76 looks like."

Many players started heading to the stairway while Asuna and Kirito remained in their embrace.

"Kirito, do you think we will ever defeat this game?" Asuna asked Kirito.

He froze. Remembering the Moonlight Black Cats guild and their demise. Especially Sachi... He hugged Asuna harder. "I swear on my life, we will defeat this game. I swear to you. I swear..."

In that moment, Asuna felt safer than she ever did before. She knew she had to defeat this game. For Kirito. For Yui. For herself. And she knew well that Kirito had those same intentions.

"But Asuna...," she drew back from Kirito to look at him, "Promise me you will go on even if I die. Even if I fail in protecting myself. I need to know you will be okay."

Asuna seemed shocked that he would even suggest that he might die but simply nodded and grabbed hold of his hand. "That won't happen; I'll always protect you as I know you will protect me. I love you."

Kirito smiled happily. "I love you, too." He looked at the floor and then back at her before grabbing her hand and leading her towards the stairs where everyone else was standing at the grand door leading to the 76 floor. He squeezed her hand. "Are you ready?"

She put her sword away and nodded with determination.

And the doors opened.