On July 18th, year 372 in the time of the realm of humanity, a young boy with orange hair strikes a gigantic tree with an ax.
Orange haired boy: 47!
He strikes the tree again. Then, another boy around his age and with black hair marks down the amount of hits the tree has taken. The boy with the ax strikes one more time.
Orange haired boy: 50!
Black haired boy: That's three good hits out of 50. So that brings us to 41 total, huh? Well, looks like you're treating me with the siral water today, Eugeo.
Eugeo: Says the guy who only got 43 good hits. I'll catch up soon enough. It's your turn now, Kirito.
Kirito: Ok fine. So, a year and three months after swinging this ax every day. I don't know how much longer we can go.
Eugeo: You don't have to complain. It is our calling to cut down the Gigas Cedar after all.
Kirito: I know, but still, there's no sense of accomplishment in this job.
Kirito opens up the stacia window on the tree to check out its durability. It shows 235,542 out of 320,826.
Kirito: What was its life before this?
Eugeo: Somewhere around 235,590 I should say.
Kirito: So just 50. After toiling away for two months, all we get is 50 out of 235,000 something?! For crying out loud, even if we keep going, it still won't be cut down!
Eugeo: Hahaha! Well, it is a tree known for its steel-like durability. The six generations of carvers have worked on this for over 300 years. It would basically take another 18 generations. About 900 years.
Kirito: Why you!
Eugeo: Huh?
Kirito tackles Eugeo.
Kirito: Now why are you such a goody-goody, huh?! How about you find out how to deal with this unfair role of ours instead!
Kirito starts tickling Eugeo.
Eugeo: Ok fine! How do you like it!
Eugeo tackles Kirito and tickles him.
Eugeo: That's payback! Give up?
Kirito: You've done it now!
Kirito gets back on top of Eugeo and tickles him again.
Kirito: Take this!
Eugeo: Hahahaha! Stop!
?: So here you are slacking off again!
Kirito: Uh oh.
A girl with blonde hair and a basket walks up to them.
Eugeo: Hello Alice. You're already done with your sacred arts class?
Kirito: You're kind of early.
Alice: No I am not. It's the same time as always. And since you both have used up enough energy to wrestle, maybe I should tell Old Man Garitta to raise your cutting quota.
Kirito and Eugeo: NO! DON'T DO THAT!
Alice: I'm just kidding. Now then, let's eat!
Alice unpacks her lunch basket.
Kirito and Eugeo: Wow!
Alice: It's hot today.
Alice opens up her stacia window, showing the durability of her food. 12 out of 32.
Alice: Eat quickly before it spoils, ok?
Everybody starts eating the lunch.
Eugeo: This is one delicious pie.
Kirito: You're really improving your cooking skills, Alice!
Alice: Do you really mean that? I feel as though I'm missing something.
Kirito: But still, this is one delicious lunch. I wish we could all take our time to enjoy it. Just why does the heat make it spoil so quickly?
Eugeo: What do you mean, why?
Kirito: In the winter, we can leave salted raw meat outside for days and it wouldn't spoil.
Eugeo: That's because it's cold in the winter.
Kirito: That's right. If we can keep our food cold, it can last longer, even at this time of year.
Eugeo: Don't tell me you're going to use the forbidden weathering-altering arts to make it snow. An Integrity Knight from the Axiom Church can come by spirit you away in just the blink of an eye.
Kirito starts thinking of an idea.
Kirito: How about ice? We can keep our food cold if we had lots of ice. Then, we can enjoy our lunches for as long as we want!
Alice: But it's summer. Where can we find ice? And I'm sure the Centoria market doesn't have any either.
Kirito: Oh. Hmm... Do you guys remember the story of Bercouli the hero?
Eugeo: Which one?
Kirito: It was Bercouli and the Northern White Dragon.
He starts telling the story about Bercouli.
Kirito: Bercouli followed the Rul river to the north. Inside a cave in the End Mountains, he found a big white dragon sleeping on top of a pile of treasure. When he took hold of a beautiful sword in the treasure, the dragon woke up. According to the story, the cave he found had giant icicles inside. So what if we take some off?
Alice: That's not a bad idea.
Eugeo: But the laws of the village say...
Alice: The law forbids children unaccompanied by an adult from playing in the End Mountains. But searching for ice doesn't really count as playing. It just means that it will benefit the villagers if we extend the life of our meals. This should really be interpreted as work.
Kirito: Yes. You're absolutely right.
Eugeo: But going to the End Mountains isn't just against the village law. it's also forbidden by the Taboo Index. We can't just violate the Taboo Index, can we?
Alice: Eugeo. It says in the Index, Book One, Chapter 3, Verse 11. Thou shalt not cross the End Mountains that encircle the human empire. Cross means entering Dark Territory on the other side of the mountains. That doesn't really include entering a cave.
Eugeo: But...
Kirito slaps Eugeo's back.
Eugeo: Oww!
Kirito: Ok then! We're going to the End Mountains on our next day off to search for the ice cave!
Alice: Ok. Then we'll meet at the Northern Gate at 7:00 AM.
Kirito: Right! And don't be late.
Alice: Same to you.
Eugeo: What kind of mess am I in?
A couple of days later, the trio of kids start heading off to the End Mountains.
Kirito: Jeez. Making us carry everything.
Eugeo: Do you really have to complain? We might not get to hang out with Alice much longer. Since she is the daughter of the village elder, she might get even more tied up with her studies.
Kirito: Well, that's why she doesn't have a calling, right? She wants to study how to hone her sacred arts skills.
Eugeo: She might be forbidden from playing with the boys too, and act as a role model for the other villagers.
Alice: Hey! What are you both talking about?!
Kirito: Uh, nothing! Just nothing.
Eugeo: Yeah. We were just saying that we should head back to the village before evening.
Alice: Oh. That's right. Then let's head back when Solus reaches the middle of the sky. Now let's hurry!
They continue walking.
Kirito: Did you know that when this village was first founded, evil spirits like goblins or orcs would occasionally come from beyond the mountains and steal sheep or spirit away children?
Alice: Are you trying to scare me? I already know about that. In the end, the Integrity Knights from Centoria drove them away.
Kirito: Since then, on sunny days, you can see a Silver Dragon Knight soaring far above the End Mountains.
Suddenly, they all look up and see a sparkle head down beyond the End Mountains.
Eugeo: There's no way, right?
The trio arrives at the cave at the End Mountains.
Alice: This must be the place.
They take a look at the entrance to the dark cave.
Alice: Well, we have no choice but to go in, right?
Alice takes out a small herb from her pocket.
Alice: System call. Generate luminous element. Adhere.
The herb lights up.
Kirito and Eugeo: Woah.
Alice: Let's continue.
They start walking inside the cave. Eugeo carries the light.
Eugeo: You said there were icicles hanging just inside the cave, right?
Kirito: Did I say that?
Eugeo: Yes!
Kirito: Oh.
Alice stops walking.
Alice: Eugeo.
Eugeo: Huh? What is it?
Alice: Bring the light a little closer.
Eugeo brings the light towards Alice, and she exhales some cold mist.
Alice: You saw that, right?
Kirito: No wonder why it feels colder now.
Alice: It's summer outside, but it's winter in this cave. I'm quite sure there's ice too.
Eugeo: Then let's head further inside and see what we can find.
They continue walking.
Eugeo: Hey. What should we do if we really see a white dragon.
Alice: We will of course have to run.
Kirito: But the white dragon won't mind if we just take some ice. But it would be great to grab at least one scale.
Eugeo: What do you mean?
Kirito: Because if we can bring home real proof that we saw a dragon...
Everyone suddenly stops when Eugeo takes a step on ice.
Eugeo: Ice! There's ice here! We must be really close now!
The trio starts running, and soon they reach a light at the end. Soon, they arrive at place in the cave filled with ice. They start walking around.
Alice: This much ice can be more than enough to keep all of the food in the village cold.
Kirito: We can make it winter in the village for a while.
Suddenly, Eugeo bumps into Kirito as he stops.
Eugeo: Huh? Why did you stop?
Kirito: What?
Alice: No way.
They all take a look at a skeleton of a dragon, on top of a pile of treasure.
Eugeo: Are these the bones of the white dragon?
Alice: It died?
Kirito picks up a scratched up object.
Kirito: Take a look at this. It's all scratched up. The tip's been cut off cleanly as well.
Alice: Did it fight with something? What living creature could have killed this dragon?
Kirito: These are blade marks. The dragon was killed by a human.
Alice: But even Bercouli the hero only managed to get away. Wait a minute! Was it an Integrity Knight? Don't tell me that an Integrity Knight from the Axiom Church killed a white dragon, a protector of our world?!
Eugeo: I'm not sure, but I believe there are more powerful knights in Dark Territory as well. If there are, then the forces of darkness can just cross over the mountains.
Kirito starts dragging a blue heavy sword.
Eugeo: What are you doing?
Kirito: This thing is really heavy!
Alice: Is that...?
Kirito: It's the sword that Bercouli was trying to steal. The Blue Rose Sword.
Kirito tries lifting it up.
Kirito: No good. It's too heavy. Not even me and Eugeo together can carry it. And it looks like there's all kinds of treasure too.
Alice: Yes. But we can't just take them, can we?
Kirito: That would be just like grave robbing. But the dragon won't mind if we just take some ice, right?
The trio starts collecting some ice and putting them in the basket.
Alice: What a waste. It's going to melt when we bring it back.
Kirito: It doesn't matter if it means extending the life of our food.
Alice: You mean everyone's food.
Eugeo: We better get going or we won't make it back by evening.
Alice: You're right.
Alice starts looking at two pathways.
Alice: Umm, which way did we come from?
Kirito points at one direction, but Eugeo points at the other. They take the one that's the closest. After walking for a while...
Eugeo: We've been walking for quite a long time.
Alice: Do you think we came from the other direction?
Kirito: You're the one who chose this path because you thought it was closer.
Alice: What was that?
Kirito: Nothing!
The trio stops when they hear the sound of wind.
Alice: I hear a breeze.
Eugeo: We're almost there! We picked the right path!
Eugeo starts running.
Alice: Hey! You'll fall if you run in a place like this!
Kirito and Alice run after him. They see a light at the end of the cave.
Kirito: That must be the exit!
They arrive at the exit, but suddenly, they realize that the place was filled with dead trees, rocks, and a red sky.
Kirito: This is...
Alice: Dark territory.
Eugeo: We can't go any further.
They look up and see a white dragon knight battling a black dragon knight.
Kirito: Those are dragon knights.
Eugeo: The white one must be an Axiom Church Integrity Knight. And the black one must be from the forces of darkness.
The white dragon fires a big blast at the black dragon, making it lose altitude. Then, the Integrity Knight fires his bow at the dark knight, making him fall out of his dragon. Both the dark knight and his dragon hit the ground. He then takes a look at Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice and raises its hand at them. Alice starts walking forward. Kirito then takes a look at the line between Dark Territory and the cave as soon as she starts walking.
Kirito: No!
Alice: Huh?!
She trips on the ground as the dark knight dies.
Eugeo: Alice!
Alice opens up her eyes and notices her finger tips right across the line.
Alice: Oh no!
Alice gets a flashback about what the Taboo Index said.
Kirito: Alice!
She sits up on her knees.
Alice: I just...!
Eugeo: It's ok, Alice. It's going to be alright. It's not like you left the cave, right Kirito?
Suddenly, a strange face inside a portal appears behind them. Kirito and Eugeo look at it.
Eugeo: What is that?!
Face in the portal: Singular unit detected. Tracing ID. Coordinates fixed. Report complete.
It disappears.
Kirito: It's gone.
Eugeo: Just what in the world was that?
Kirito: I don't know. Let's head back!
The trio starts running back to the village from the way they originally came. They arrive as soon as the sun sets.
Kirito: We're back. Now let's go home.
Alice: Right. I'm going to put the ice in my basement.
Eugeo: Alright. See you later, Alice.
Kirito: See you tomorrow.
Alice begins to walk home but stops for a moment.
Alice: Look forward to tomorrows lunch, ok?
Kirito: Sure.
Eugeo: Ok.
As Alice runs home, Eugeo begins to worry about her. At nighttime, in Eugeo's dream...
Eugeo: Alice! Don't go! Please come back!
Alice walks away from Eugeo, not listening.
Eugeo: Alice!
He wakes up from his nightmare, with his arm raised up. He sits up, thinking about what might happen to Alice. The next day, Kirito strikes the Gigas Cedar with his ax. Eugeo watches him. Suddenly, a white dragon flies over them and to the village. Eugeo gets a flashback from the day before.
Eugeo: Kirito!
Kirito: It's the same Integrity Knight from yesterday. Alice...
Eugeo: This can't be. Just for that?!
Kirito: Let's go!
The two boys start running back to the village. The dragon lands at the square and a bunch of villagers gather around, including Alice. Kirito and Eugeo arrive.
Kirito: Alice!
Alice: Kirito! Eugeo!
Kirito: Shhh! You need to run while you still can.
The village elder walks up to the Integrity Knight.
Alice: Father?
Alice's father bows to the knight.
Alice's Father: My name is Gasfut Zuberg. I serve as the village elder.
Integrity Knight: I am the Axiom Church Integrity Knight overseeing northern Norlangarth, Deusolbert Synthesis Seven. For the crimes against her actions of the Taboo Index, the child of Gasfut Zuberg, Alice Zuberg, will now be apprehended, taken in, and after questioning, executed.
Gasfut: This can't be!
Alice: No.
Eugeo: Alice...
Deusolbert: The charge is Taboo Index, Book 1, Chapter 3, Verse 11, trespassing into Dark Territory.
Alice drops her basket as her father takes her and chains her up to the dragon. Kirito and Eugeo run up to them.
Kirito: Sir knight!
Deusolbert faces towards Kirito.
Kirito: Alice never went into Dark Territory! She only touched the ground with one hand for a second! That's all!
Deusolbert: What more do you think she had to do?
Kirito: Then we're as guilty as she is! We were there in that same place! If you're taking her, then take us too!
The knight ignores Kirito.
Kirito: Eugeo, listen. I'm going to swing the ax at him. Grab Alice and run.
Eugeo: But Kirito...
Kirito: I don't care about the Taboo Index. Are you telling me that's more important than Alice's life?
Eugeo begins to shake in fear. Kirito starts running up to the knight with his ax, but then, the knight faces him, and hits Kirito with a shockwave blast without lifting a finger, knocking him onto the ground.
Eugeo: Kirito!
Deusolbert: Escort those two kids from the square.
The knight climbs onto his dragon.
Kirito: Alice!
As Kirito gets back up, three adults grab hold of him, and preventing him from helping Alice.
Kirito: Eugeo! Please help her!
As Eugeo walks forward, he suddenly stops and one of his eyes turn red, showing the words System alert, code 871.
Kirito: At least get these guys off of me!
The dragon starts flying up in the air, carrying Alice. Alice gives one last smile to the two boys as she gets taken away. Kirito gets up and runs next to Eugeo, watching Alice fly away, chained up to the dragon.
Kirito: NOOOOOOOOO!
Then, in the real world, Kazuto wakes up from diving in a machine resembling the Medicuboid. He sits up on his bed and then some tears come out of his eyes. A couple of days later, in Gun Gale Online, Sinon starts running away from two players in a forest. As soon as she reaches an open area, she points her sniper rifle at them, and shoots. She misses and then jumps back as they aim their guns at her. Then, just before they shoot, a truck jumps over Sinon and protects her from the gunshots. The two players spit up before they get run over. Klein appears from the right window of the car and starts shooting them.
Klein: This right here is a fully-automatic Tanegashima!
They dodge the gunshots. Then, Lisbeth starts shooting them with her shotgun.
Lisbeth: How do you like this you dirty PK jerks?!
One of the players get out of the opening, and another hides behind a rock as Silica uses the turret on the vehicle to shoot him. One of the players who are out of the opening throw a smoke grenade.
Klein: Darn it!
Sinon: You're up! I'll cover you!
Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Kirito, Asuna, and Yuuki get out from the back of the truck. Kirito, Asuna, and Yuuki turn on their photon swords and run after the players.
Sonic: Let's go guys!
As they run after the enemy players, a drone watches from above. A player in a black cloak watches the live feed along with the squad leader.
Player: Photon swords? And Team Sonic?
Squad Leader: Teams B and C, head to Grid 4-6 to back up Team A. You have permission to use grenades.
Player: Can I go too boss?
Squad Leader: It's probably too late now. Just sit tight and watch.
As soon as Sonic's team reach an opening, one of the players shoot a grenade at them, and they dodge it. Sinon uses her sniper rifle to shoot the grenade.
Yuuki: Thanks for that Sinon!
One of the players start shooting their assault rifles and Sonic, Tails and Knuckles get out of the way. Kirito, Asuna, and Yuuki deflect the bullets. As soon as he stops shooting, Kirito slices the enemy with his photon sword. Then, Sonic and Tails take down another enemy using their spin attacks, and Knuckles punches another enemy, and Yuuki slices another. As just before Asuna takes down one, that enemy throws a smoke grenade. Everybody starts watching each others backs. When the smoke clears, the enemies aren't there anymore.
Knuckles: What? They're gone?
Yuuki: Aww man.
Sonic: Guys, come on! I know I'm too fast for you but still!
Back to where the squad leader and player in the black cloak are...
Squad Leader: Time's up. All teams retreat. Move away from Grid 1-9.
Player: That would have been the last prey for today you know. Are you sure you want to end this on a loss?
Squad Leader: Battling an irregular squadron won't do much good, training-wise. After all, we wouldn't want to carry any negative effects to carry over the actual operation. Let's go.
The leader heads back into his car. The player then puts on his hood.
Player: Til next time.
He then opens one red eye, resembling Death Gun's.
Later on, the group heads back to a bar in the SBC Glocken.
Klein: I've heard the rumors but GGO sure is a hardcore game.
Tails: Especially since you can PK in the field all you want out in the field.
Sinon: But even with no-holds-barred PK-ing, that squadron is still an anomaly. You would normally PK for items or money.
Kirito: Those guys seemed to intend on killing just us.
Sonic: And they were tossing grenades and smoke without restraint. They could be Robotnik 2.0.
Kirito: So wouldn't that put them in the red?
Sinon: Maybe. But they're always like that when they show up. They just attack squadrons left isolated on the field, massacre them, and vanish without looting items.
Yuuki: That's pretty unusual.
Knuckles: I know.
Asuna: And is it true that they have a 100% win rate?
Sinon: As far as I know, yes. I thought we could win if we went after them in unusual style. That's basically why I asked all of you for help. Sorry that my plan had too many holes. And I never thought they would retreat just like that.
Sonic: Hey, I mean, they were the ones who decided retreat.
Klein: Since they ran away, we pretty much won.
Lisbeth: Not that we know who they are or what they're really after.
Tails: They're too chicken, that's what they are.
Asuna: I still wish we could have at least found out who their leader's name is.
Silica: And it wasn't even clear which one was the leader.
Yuuki: So wouldn't the leader be hiding somewhere?
Kirito falls asleep and leans on Lisbeth.
Lisbeth: Hey! Don't crash out like that!
Yuuki: He's asleep.
Knuckles: Can we do it now?
Sonic: Sure.
Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Yuuki draw a mustache on Kirito's face with the words on his forehead saying, This guys is a poophead.
Tails: Hahahaha!
Sonic: Awesome!
Yuuki: That was so worth it.
Asuna: Umm, he took some time off from school since Thursday, touring companies.
Sinon: Probably tangled up in some bizarre business again.
Knuckles: Let's hope not.
Klein: Hey Sonic. I want your advice.
Sonic: About what?
Klein: So you know this girl named Zeliska, right?
Sonic: Yeah. She's right over there playing pool with Kureha.
Klein starts whispering to Sonic.
Klein: So, I'm pretty much planning to ask her out, but I want to ask you what I should do?
Sonic: Why are you asking me?
Klein: Come on. You have a girlfriend don't you?
Sonic: Yes, but I'm running away a lot because she's... You know what? Never mind. Why not date that little munchkin girl in pink. LLENN, was it?
Klein: Nah.
Zeliska overhears Klein.
Zeliska: Isn't that adorable?
Kureha: Are you really accepting his request?
Zeliska: Don't know. He does seem interesting though.
A while later, everyone heads outside, ready to log out.
Sinon: Thanks again for helping me out guys.
Klein: No problem. See you later.
Klein logs out.
Silica: It was fun.
Silica logs out also.
Lisbeth: Later guys.
Then, Lisbeth logs out.
Asuna: We better get going too.
Yuuki: Yeah. I'm gonna pre-order my Sega Genesis.
Sonic: It's about time for dinner.
Sinon: Hold on guys. There's something I need you all to help me with.
Sonic: Sure.
Tails: Does it have to do with the PK squadron?
Sinon: No. It's something else actually.
Sinon takes a look at the entree list for the Bullet of Bullets 5.
Sinon: I want you guys to meet me IRL tomorrow. Bring Kirito, Mighty, and Ray with you.
Asuna: The evening should be ok. What about you guys?
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles: Sure.
Yuuki: Yeah. Should we meet at Agil's shop?
Sinon: Yeah. I'll email you guys a gist of what I'm going to ask. Be sure to read it.
Tails: Not a problem.
Knuckles: Is he seriously asleep while standing up?
Sonic: Oh man! That's just insane!
Everyone else except Kirito logs out. Then he wakes up to find out that he got ditched.
Kirito: What the heck?!
The next night, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, Ray, and Kazuto meet with Shino at Agil's shop IRL.
Shino: Did you lose more weight?
Tails: Now that you mentioned that, it looks like he did.
Mighty: Yeah.
Kazuto: You think so? Well never mind that. Did you need something?
Sonic: Does it have to do with BoB?
Shino: Yeah. There's this player named Subtilizer who won the 4th BoB. He also won the very first one as well. We were all so fired up when we were able to fight against him.
Kazuto: From what I saw from the live feed, he's got a silent, matter-of-fact fighting style. I kind of got a similar vibe from the squadron we fought yesterday.
Shino: Now that you mention it, so do I? But the only difference is that Subtilizer is on a completely different level. It was the same with me too, but he read my every move, and forced me into extreme close combat. I was killed just before I could aim my gun at him.
Ray: Woah.
Knuckles: I've never heard anything like that before.
Sonic: Could he be Metal 2.0? Nah! Just kidding.
Shino: After playing long enough to be called a veteran, you find yourself bound by theory, so it might be easy to recognize patterns in our movements. Which brings me to my request.
Shino points her finger at them with her thumb up.
Shino: As how I see it, players who act off-script may have a chance to outmaneuver Subtilizer. It might be early but I would like you guys to help me in the fifth BoB at the end of the year. That's pretty much why I have asked you guys here today.
Sonic: Really now?
Shino: Whoever we're up against, we're definitely going to win the next one. No matter what it takes.
Tails: I guess you're pretty much over it now.
Shino: Oh. Well it's not like I'm going to panic, but I'm getting better.
Kazuto: How is he doing by the way?
Shino: You mean Kyouji? They are going to set him free tomorrow.
Knuckles: Set him free? Why?
Shino: Apparently, when they were doing some tests on him, they noticed that his eyes were white. It's like he was controlled by something. Maybe that's why he was attacking me after the third BoB.
Sonic: Is he ok?
Shino: Yeah. I'm going to be with him when he gets set free. He's been feeling shaken up when I visited him the other day.
Ray: He probably feels bad for what happened.
Mighty: So I guess the Death Gun incident is all wrapped up.
Tails: But there's still the third one on the loose. And Kikuoka said that it's only a matter of time before he's arrested.
Shino: Yeah. That's true.
Asuna and Yuuki arrive with Yui.
Asuna: Hello!
Yuuki: Hey guys. What's up?
Yui: Hi Daddy!
Kazuto: Asuna? Yui?
Sonic: Hey, what's up?
Shino: Thanks for coming.
After giving them the info about BoB 5.
Asuna: Of course we can.
Yuuki: I'm in for that!
Kazuto: You asked Asuna and Yuuki too?
Sonic: She asked all of us.
Shino: I was kind of nervous that you would spin out of control on your own, so partly to serve as your limiter.
Asuna: Hey Kirito. Have you lost weight?
Yuuki: I just noticed that too.
Sonic: Even they agree?
Shino: The irony.
Asuna: Is it because of your part-time job?
Asuna takes out her phone and looks at it.
Asuna: It doesn't seem to be affecting you physically, but...
Knuckles: So, what's that you got?
Asuna shows everyone at the table Kazuto's heart rate.
Ray: What is that?
Kazuto: Don't stare at it like that.
Tails: Wait. Is that Kirito's heart rate?
Asuna: Yup.
Yuuki: How does that even work?
Kazuto: I have a miniature sensor implanted right here on my chest. It sends info, more or less in real time over the internet to Asuna's smartphone.
Everyone except Kazuto, Asuna, and Yui: WHAAAAAT?!
Shino: So in a way, that's an anti-cheating device, right?
Sonic: Anti-cheating? That would be cool if it was.
Tails: Yeah, I know.
Kazuto and Asuna: No it's not!
Kazuto: They just recommended it to me when I first started my current job. It would be a hassle to stick electrodes in me every time. When I told Asuna about it. She started using it for this.
Asuna: Looking at it really sets my mind at ease. Just seeing that Kirito's heart is beating makes me trip a little.
Mighty: Oh brother.
Knuckles: I know.
Shino: Ahem. Having you guys with me gives me an advantage. It's like a heavy machine gun in a pillbox.
Asuna: You won't regret your choice.
Sonic: Count me in!
Yuuki: Hey Kirito. Let's hear about your new job.
Mighty: Were you an alpha tester for a new VRMMO?
Kazuto: What I was testing wasn't a game app. It's a brain-machine interface for a new full-dive system. It's being developed by Rath.
Tails: Rath?
Asuna: That's the name of an imaginary creature that appears in Alice Through the Looking Glass. Some say it's a pig while others say it's a turtle.
Sonic: So they're releasing a new full-dive machine?
Kazuto: I'm not sure. But it's completely different from the full-dive tech we use now.
Shino: Different? What's the world like?
Kazuto: I don't know.
Sonic: What?
Ray: What do you mean by that?
Kazuto: I'm quite sure it's for the sake of confidentiality, but the machine can't bring any of the memories from that VR world back here in the real world. Everything I saw and did in my tests, I have forgotten everything.
Everyone: What?!
Yuuki: Everything?
Knuckles: Do you think it's like the Augma or NerveGear?
Kazuto: Uh, no! It's not! It doesn't put stress in your brain like the NerveGear and Augma. I just can't remember since the Fluctlight is blocking the path.
Asuna: Fluctlight?
Kazuto: Let me explain the general concept. About this machine known as the Soul Translator.
Tails: That's what it's called?
Kazuto: Where do you think the soul is located?
Sonic: In your head, right?
Kazuto: The brain is more or less a clump of brain cells, right? Where among them does the soul exist?
Tails: That's a good question.
Kazuto: All cells, including brain cells are supported by a structural network. They are apparently called microtubules. In other words, hollow pipes. And there is something sealed inside each of those hollow pipes.
Shino: What is it?
Kazuto: Light. A fluctuating light photon. According to Rath, that's what compromises the human soul.
Yuuki: So that cluster of light is the human soul?
Kazuto: Yes. And at Rath, this thing that may be known as the human soul is known as the Fluctlight.
Mighty: So the machine that reads the Fluctlights is the Soul Translator?
Asuna: But can you do the opposite as well?
Sonic: Opposite of what?
Asuna: The Amusphere lets us enter the virtual world by sending audio and visual signals into our brain, right?
Tails: So that must mean that the Soul Translator can send info to the soul in the same way.
Kazuto: That's right. The Soul Translator, or STL, writes short-term memories onto the Fluctlight to insert information of the sights and sounds it wants us to experience. It's called mnemonic visual data. I have memories of my test dives at the very beginning, but it was different. Completely different. It's nothing like any VR world I've ever experienced. I couldn't even tell if it was a virtual world at first.
Asuna: But is it safe? Mr. Kikuoka from the Ministry of Eternal Affairs offered you that job, right?
Kazuto: It's true that I need to be on my guard around that guy. But I still want to know where full-dive technology is heading. I feel that there's something about the STL. Sure terms like Fluctlights and mnemonic visual sound complicated. But the world created by the STL is like a realistic dream.
Sonic: Dream?
Kazuto: You have long dreams sometimes, right? When you wake up, it feels like you have been dreaming for two or three hours, but the chances are, you've only been dreaming for a few minutes. The STL creates the same type of phenomenon.
Shino: Sorry?
Kazuto: It's the same way humans see dreams spanning several hours in a matter of minutes. You can even experience the virtual world several times longer than the actual dive time. That's the STL's featured function. Fluctlight acceleration. FLA for short.
Mighty: How much time did you spend during the three days you were diving?
Kazuto: I don't know. I can't remember if it was three days or a month. All they told me was the code name of the experimental virtual world.
Yuuki: What's it called?
Kazuto: Underworld.
Knuckles: Underworld as in a world underground?
Asuna: That could also be from Alice in Wonderland. The original manuscript version of Alice in Wonderland was called Alice's Adventures Underground.
Kazuto begins to think about something.
Asuna: What's wrong?
Kazuto: Alice... Whenever I hear that name I feel that a memory is about to come. It's like there's something that I need to do right away.
Yui: Daddy?
Kazuto: I'm fine, Yui.
Knuckles whispers to Sonic.
Knuckles: Do you think he met someone in that world by that name?
Sonic: No idea.
A moment later, everyone heads out of Andrew's shop.
Shino: We'll be back soon Agil.
Andrew: Right.
Shino: Well then. I'll keep in touch again about BoB. Thanks for coming guys.
Sonic: Not a problem.
Tails: Let's go guys.
Yuuki: See you later everyone.
Shino and Yuuki start walking home in their separate ways. Then, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray start running to their appartment. Kazuto then looks somewhere, getting a strange feeling.
Asuna: Is everything ok, Kirito?
Kazuto: Oh, yeah. Let's go.
The little family of three start walking home. After the rain stops, they stop walking for a little while.
Asuna: Kirito?
Kazuto: Asuna. Yui. I think I'm going to go after all.
Asuna: To America?
Kazuto: Yeah. The next-generation full-dive tech research is more advanced there. I have to see it. The moment the next world is made.
Asuna: It wasn't all fun and games back there.
They start thinking about Aincrad.
Kazuto: There was also pain and sadness too, right?
Asuna: Do you want to find out why that castle summoned you and where it all leads?
Kazuto: But not even living several centuries is long enough to find out. So, I want you both to come with me. I can't live without you.
Asuna takes Kazuto's hand.
Asuna: Of course we'll come with you. We're a family. I'll go with you anywhere, no matter where we're heading to.
Yui: I want to go too!
Yui starts hugging both of them.
Kazuto: Asuna... Yui...
Kazuto and Asuna both kiss and hug Yui. They continue to walk home.
Asuna: Do you still want to research the Soul Translator? That's a next-generation machine too, right?
Kazuto: I don't know. I have a feeling it's not just a machine that lets people dive into virtual worlds.
Asuna: Then what could it be?
Kazuto: I think it's a machine that can learn more about Fluctlights. About the human soul. I also believe the STL is an extension of Heathcliff's philosophy.
Asuna: The commander's?
Kazuto: Why that guy used the NerveGear and SAO to cause thousands of casualties, why he burned his own brain, and most importantly, scatter the Seed all over the place. I do want to find out, but I'm not choosing that as my career path. That would be like he's still manipulating me.
Asuna: You, Sonic, and Tails had a talk with Kayaba's consciousness, right?
Kazuto: Yeah. I feel that the reason he left a copy of himself behind has something to do with what Rath is trying to accomplish with the STL.
Suddenly, a strange man walks up to them.
Stranger: Excuse me! Does any of you know which way to the station?
Asuna: It should be...
Asuna gets interrupted when Kazuto walks ahead of her and Yui to the man.
Asuna: Kirito?
Yui: Daddy?
Kazuto: You were following us ever since we left Agil's place, weren't you?
Stranger: Darn it. Guess an ambush isn't gonna work.
Kazuto: Who are you?
Stranger: Hey, don't be like that, Kirito. But I've always had a mask on, didn't I?
Kazuto: What?!
Stranger: Now that XaXa's been caught, I have to show some grit myself. As the last survivor of Laughing Coffin!
Kazuto gets a flashback from before the fight with Laughing Coffin, when they showed the list of the red players.
Kazuto: Johnny Black!
Kazuto takes out his sword that's not there. Johnny Black starts laughing really hard.
Johnny Black: Hahahahaha! What's wrong? No sword?
Kazuto: So you're still on the run?
Johnny Black: Of course I am! But you know, without your sword, you're nothing but a little brat, eh Kirito?
Yui clings to Asuna in fear. The little family takes a few steps back as Johnny Black steps forward.
Johnny Black: I can't believe you're the same swordsman who beat me up!
Kazuto: You know you're scaring my daughter, right?
Johnny Black: Daughter? As if I even care.
Kazuto: And you don't have your poison weapon.
Johnny Black: Oh I definitely do! I have a poison weapon alright!
He takes out a syringe.
Kazuto: Death Gun!
Johnny Black starts charging at Kazuto. Then Kazuto pushes Asuna and Yui back.
Kazuto: Asuna! Yui! Run!
Kazuto stabs Johnny Black's leg with the tip of his umbrella, and Johnny Black hits Kazuto with his syringe. They both fall onto the ground.
Asuna: KIRITO!
Yui: DADDY!
Meanwhile, Team Sonic arrives at their appartment.
Sonic: Back home. So, who wants what for dinner?
Knuckles: Let's see what's on the menu.
Tails: Sure thing.
Mighty: I think I'll have an Alfredo.
Ray: I'll have some fish and chips.
Just as they enter the building, Sonic, Mighty, and Ray get hit by a dart. They fall onto the ground.
Tails: SONIC!
Knuckles: MIGHTY! RAY!
Sonic: What's going on?
Ray: I don't feel so good.
Mighty: Is there something in this dart?
Knuckles takes the darts out of them.
Knuckles: It's poisoned.
Dr. Robotnik flies down from the sky.
Sonic: Eggman?
Dr. Robotnik: Now you can all stay out of my way. Good luck getting to South Island. You're gonna need it.
Mighty: What?! No!
Dr. Robotnik flies away. Then, Sonic, Mighty, and Ray go unconscious.
Tails: Hang on! I'm getting some help!