On a snowy night in floor 22 of New Aincrad, Asuna, Leafa, Silica, and Lisbeth work on their homework for school. Silica falls asleep and leans on Asuna.
Asuna: Hey, if you take a nap now, you won't be able to sleep tonight. There's only three days of winter break left, so you should finish your homework. Sinon finished hers before she logged out.
Silica wakes up and yawns.
Silica: I'm so sleepy.
Asuna: Poor thing. Maybe because it's too warm here. I think I should turn the heat down a little bit.
Leafa: Or maybe it's because of them.
Asuna: Oh, I see.
They look and see Kirito asleep on a chair, with Pina and Yui sleeping on his lap. They also see Sonic and Tails chilling out on the floor.
Asuna: Ever since Kirito, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray came back from GGO, Kirito was working really hard with the help of Tails.
Lisbeth: You mean that thing in Agil's shop for Yui?
Leafa: The mechaphonics thing?
Asuna, Lisbeth, and Silica: Mechatronics.
Leafa: Yeah. Yui really looks adorable being all tiny and sleepy. It makes me want to fall asleep too.
Lisbeth starts yawning and Asuna and Leafa start laughing.
Lisbeth: Yeah, sleep is contagious.
Flashback from December 20th in Agil's shop in the real world...
Andrew: Here you go. You know, you two don't really have to come to a dingy place like this for your date every time. Why not go somewhere more fashionable?
Kazuto: This place seems more fashionable compared to your place in Algade.
Andrew: Grr.
Asuna: I thought it was a nice place.
Andrew smiles.
Kazuto: But it was kind of a rip off.
Andrew: Grrr.
Asuna: But you were living there for free!
Kazuto: That's not even the case.
Andrew starts grinning.
Kazuto: So what's up?
Andrew: Nothing. But when I look at you two, you guys don't look like the assault teams best players.
Kazuto: Same goes for you.
Asuna: So, have you been an MMORPG player for a long time, Agil?
Andrew: I did as a matter of fact. I first met my wife in game. She lived in America at that time, but a year later, we both started running a cafe. You never know what would happen in the real world.
Kazuto: Imagine what Klein would say if he heard that.
Andrew: We were both going to buy two NerveGears, but we could only get one. We both played a game to see who would go first. It's a good thing I won.
Kazuto: I can understand that.
Andrew: I joined the assault team because I had this place. I can't just let my wife run it forever.
Kazuto: My desire to return to my family saved me.
Andrew: I'm sure everyone from the assault team felt the same way. Or maybe all the players in Aincrad. You had some kind of motivation like that too, right Asuna?
Asuna: I didn't really like my family that much. When I was in Aincrad, there were times when I nearly forgot why I was fighting. It was like there wasn't a place for me. Not in the real or virtual world. But Kirito gave me a home. It was a place that felt more like home than that house we once lived in. I knew that if we cleared SAO, our house in Floor 22 would disappear. So I kept believing that the day would come that me, Kirito, and little Yui would live there once again.
Kazuto holds onto Asuna's hand.
Kazuto: I believe so too.
Andrew: Ahem, about that, the new contents for the next update was revealed. There are new weapons and sword skills. Also, floors 21 to 30 in New Aincrad have been unlocked.
Kazuto: Then that means...
Asuna: If we beat the boss on Floor 21, we can buy our house again on Floor 22.
Kazuto: Yeah, but New Aincrad's details have been altered a lot, so we're not sure if the same player homes exist.
Asuna: Yeah, but I have faith that the house is still there.
Andrew: Well, the update's coming Christmas Eve. So be ready at that time.
On Christmas Eve, Kirito's party, and Team Sonic take on the boss in Floor 21 of New Aincrad in ALO. The enemy unleashes its ground pound ability. The tanks block with their shields. Asuna casts a buff spell on them. Kirito attacks using Horizontal Square, Agil uses Numbling Impact, and Klein uses Hiogi. Then Sonic, Tails, Mighty, and Ray use their spin dash, and Chrysheight casts some freezing magic. Silica uses Thrust fall, Lisbeth uses Collision, and Leafa uses Nova Ascension. Then the Salamander mages cast explosion magic. When the boss attacks a bunch of the tanks, knocking them back, Asuna takes out her Rapier and charges in.
Asuna: I'm going in!
Asuna uses Star Splash on the giant golem. The enemy's effect hardly did damage. Then, Sinon shoots fire arrows, Sonic spindashes, and Knuckles punches the enemy, three simes
Sinon: Just a little more, Asuna!
Sonic: Keep going!
Knuckles: Don't stop for anything!
Kirito: Let's go, Asuna!
Asuna: Right!
Yui: Daddy! It's about to punch!
When the enemy punches, Kirito deflects the attack with his sword.
Kirito: Switch!
Asuna charges in and finishes him off using Shooting Star. Everyone heads up the stairs to Floor 22.
Klein: Yes! We made it to Floor 22!
Sonic: I'm getting some big fishing flashbacks.
Tails: Yeah. That was one huge fish. Good thing it was weak at the time.
Asuna looks at the lake.
Lisbeth: Hey Asuna! Get going!
Ray: We'll activate the teleport gate!
Asuna: Thanks everyone!
Kirito, Asuna, and Yui start flying along the wooden path. Pretty soon, Asuna and Yui see the house in view.
Yui: There it is!
When they arrive at the house, Asuna taps the for sale sign and a display window pops up giving the option for her to either buy the house or not. Kirito and Yui take Asuna's hand. Together they push the button and they buy their house, and Asuna gets the key. When they head inside, Asuna and Yui start crying tears of happiness.
Asuna: We're finally home.
Back in the present, Asuna, Silica, and Lisbeth fall asleep.
Leafa: Hey Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica! You fell asleep again.
They all wake up.
Lisbeth: I wonder why looking at them makes me so sleepy.
Asuna: Let me make some tea to wake us up.
They drink some tea and they head outside for a bit.
Silica: The snow stopped.
Lisbeth: Hey Asuna. Have you heard about Zekken?
Asuna: Zekken? Is that a new rare item or something?
Lisbeth: Absolutely not. It's someones name. Well a nickname to be exact. This player is so strong that someone started calling this player, Zekken the Absolute Blade. It's an invincible sword. The best one unlike any other. At least that's what I think it means.
Asuna: Very strong? So what is this Zekken like?
Lisbeth: Around the New Years, I started getting these rumors. Maybe it was a week ago. You've been back in Kyoto since then, right? No wonder why you didn't know.
Asuna: Don't make me start remembering that here.
Lisbeth: It must be tough being in a rich family.
Asuna: It is. I had to wear a kimono dress for a whole day and greet people. I wanted to dive at night when nobody was around, but the guest house I was in had no wifi. I brought my AmuSphere and it was a waste. And also...
Asuna starts getting a flashback of when three guys came to her and they talked.
Lisbeth: Hey Asuna, are you listening?
Asuna: Sorry, I was remembering something that wasn't too good.
Lisbeth: Did they make you do an arranged marriage meeting in Kyoto?
Asuna: No it wasn't!
Lisbeth: I'm kidding.
Asuna: So if this player is strong, would that make her a PKer?
Lisbeth: No, it's just dueling. But not in a tournament. This players skill points are really high, so they must be converted from another game. You know about that little island North of floor 24's main town with the big tree? At 3:00 every day, this player stands there and fights anyone who challenges them, one at a time. First, there was a post on MMO Tomorrow's message board, that said this player was seeking challengers. People wanted to teach this bratty newcomer a lesson, so on the first day, about thirty people showed up, but...
Asuna: Did they all get wiped out?
Lisbeth: Yup. Every single one. Their HP didn't even fall below 70 percent in any of the duels.
Silica: The way they flew, and despite being a newcomer. It was unbelievable. It took me six months before I was able to fight when flying.
Asuna: Did you fight this player?
Silica: No. I can tell just by watching that I couldn't win. But Liz and Leafa challenged them yesterday.
Leafa: Everything is a learning experience.
It starts snowing again.
Asuna: It's snowing again.
They head inside and have some cheesecake and tea.
Silica: So if this Zekken keeps proving their strength, would that mean that players won't want to challenge anymore?
Asuna: I don't know. Maybe that weapon they have is a rare item that they're giving out?
Silica: It's not an item. It's an original sword skill, and it's a super strong special move class.
Asuna: An original sword skill? How many hits for that weapon?
Silica: It looked like a skill for a one handed sword. It's an 11 hit combo.
Asuna: 11 hits?
Lisbeth: How many hits does the strongest original sword skill do?
Leafa: It's General Eugene's Volcanic Blazer. I think it's 8 hits. But General Eugene doesn't seem to want to teach it to anyone else.
Asuna: That must explain why so many people want to fight. Did you see them use it?
Lisbeth: No. I think they showed it off on the first day, but since then, people wanted it so bad. But so far, nobody has even beaten this player.
Asuna: You weren't able to beat them either Leafa?
Leafa: I was doing well until both our HP bars went under 60 percent. But in the end, I was overpowered with only the default skills.
Asuna: What race is this player, and what weapon?
Leafa: It's an Imp with a one handed straight sword. It's about as slim as your rapier. This player is so fast. Not even my eyes could tell the movement. I've never seen anything like it before.
Asuna: A speed type? If I can't see them move, then I don't know if I will have a chance. Speaking of movement speed. We have two people in this room with incredible speed. And one of them has even greater speed. I bet Kirito and Sonic would be interested.
Leafa: Well, Sonic hasn't fought yet, but Kazuto has and he lost.
Asuna: Was he serious about this?
Lisbeth: I don't even know if he was or not. He wasn't using dual blades. He wasn't going to fight for real in that sense, but I don't think Kirito's ever gonna fight for real. Not in a normal game that is. The only time he'll be serious is if the game isn't a game. When the virtual world becomes the real world. It's probably better if he doesn't have to fight for real anymore. He already gets in plenty of trouble on his own.
Asuna: Yeah, you're right. And Sonic is always doing his best to stop that Robotnik in the real world.
Leafa: Still, Kirito wasn't messing around. It's not like he was slacking off. But something was off. Before the fight ended, they both locked swords and didn't move. It looked like he was saying something to Zekken. After that, they broke apart, but Kazuto couldn't completely dodge Zekken's super fast Vorpal Strike.
Asuna: Do you know what they said?
Leafa: He won't tell me.
Asuna: Looks like I'll have to ask Zekken myself.
Lisbeth: You're gonna fight them?
Asuna: I'm not sure if I can win, but it's kind of interesting. I bet Sonic would like to come as well. I think they came to ALO besides just dueling.
Lisbeth: I feel the same way. You should fight as well as Kirito did if you're gonna win.
Asuna: I know. You will all watch me and Sonic, right?
Leafa: Yeah.
Silica: I don't want to miss a fight like that.
Leafa: So which avatar are you gonna use? Your Sylph avatar?
Asuna: No. I'm going with this one. If they are a speed type, then I'd rather keep up with them than focus on DPS. It's the small island on Floor 24 at 3:00, right? So we can meet there at 2:30.
Asuna looks at the time.
Asuna: Oh no! It's already 6:00! I'll be late for dinner.
Asuna takes the dishes and puts them away, and Leafa and Silica draw on Kirito's face.
Silica: He's still not awake?
Leafa: Guess not. He must be a heavy sleeper.
Silica picks up Pina. The little dragon and Yui both wake up.
Asuna: So Liz, you said Zekken was a converted player, right? If they're that strong, do you think they might be a former SAO player?
Lisbeth: That was the first thing I thought. When Kirito fought Zekken, I asked what he thought, but he said that there's no way Zekken was a former SAO player. Because if they were, the dual wielding skill would have gone to them and not Kirito.
Leafa: Kazuto! Sonic! Tails! Get up!
Kirito: Gah!
Sonic: What the heck?!
Tails: Jeez! What's with you guys all of a sudden?!