*July 28, year 372 in the time of the realm of humanity*
There was a young boy who was chopping down a tree with a large heavy axe.
"Forty-seven! take young boy was laying down on the ground while counting the times the other young boy was chopping the tree.
"Fifty!"
The young slams the axe at tree once again. Soon after, he takes a deep breath and falls at the ground.
"I only heard three good hits out of fifty. Let's see, that brings it to 41 total, huh? Looks like you're treating me to the siral water today, Eugeo." The young boy walking towards the one that was chopping down the tree
"Says the guy who's only at 43 good hits. I'll catch up in no time. Come on, it's your turn... Kirito." Eugeo said
"Yeah, yeah. One year and three months. After swinging that axe this much every day... I can't take much more of this." Kirito looking up at the tree
"There's no point complaining. After all, it's out Calling to cut down the Gigas Cedar." Eugeo said
"Sure, I know that, but there's no sense of accomplishment in this job."
Kirito walks towards the tree, kneels down and draws the letter S with two fingers. After drawing the letter S, he taps on it as it opened up a stats menu.
"Let's see. How much was its life before this?" Kirito said
"Something like 235,590." Eugeo said
"A measly 50! After toiling away for two months, just a measly 50 out of 235,000-something? We could keep going forever and never cut it down!" Kirito stress out
"Well, it is a tree that's reowned for its steel-like durability. The six generations of carvers before us worked on it for 300 years. So it should take another 18 generations... about 900 years." Eugeo explaining how long it will take to cut down the tree
"Listen, you..."
Kirito jumps at Eugeo as the two started rolling around at the ground. They continue to roll until they both stop with Kirito on top of Eugeo.
"Ouch."
"Why are you such a goody-goody? Figure out how to deal with this unfair role of ours instead!" Kirito holding Eugeo's hair tightly
"Wh-What are you doing? D-Darn you!" Eugeo pushing Kirito away from him
Kirito was pushed by Eugeo and falls down at the ground.
"Let's see how you like it!" Eugeo tickling Kirito
"Why, you-"
"All right, do you give up?"
"Now you've done it!"
Kirito grabs Eugeo shoulders and throws him at the ground. Once Eugeo was at the ground, Kirito jump's on top of him and starts messing around with him.
"Payback time!"
"-Cut it out, Kirito!"
"-How about here!"
"Hey! I caught you slacking off again, didn't I?"
Kirito stop's and looks.
"Crap."
Kirito and Eugeo both look to see a young little girl was standing on top of a rock.
"H-Hey, Alice."
"Y-You're done with your sacred arts class? I mean, you're pretty early today."
"*Sigh* I'm not early at all. It's the same time as always." Alice jumping off the rock
"Since you have enough energy to wrestle, maybe I should tell Old Man Garitta to increase your cutting quota?" Alice said
"N-No, anything but that!" Kirito begging
"I'm only kidding.
"Now then... let's have lunch."
Minutes later, Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice were all eating lunch together under the tree.
"It's hot today... so eat fast before it spoils, okay?" Alice drawing an S
"-Right!"
"-Right!"
Soon, Kirito and Eugeo both started eating.
"The pie sure tastes awesome today!"
"Your cooking skills are really improving, Alice!" Kirito said
"Y-You really think so? I felt like it was missing something." Alice blushing
Kirito and Eugeo both giggle.
"Still... This lunch is so tasty, I wish we could've taken our time enjoying it. Why does the heat make it spoil so quickly?" Kirito said
"What do you mean, why?"
"During the winter we can leave salted raw meat outside and it'll keep for days."
"Sure, because it's cold during the winter."
"That's right. So if we keep it cold, our lunch will last longer, even at this time of year." Kirito said
"Are you going to use the forbidden weather-altering arts to make it snow? An Integrity Knight from the Axiom Curch would show up before you could blink and spirit you away." Eugeo said
"Ice."
"Huh?"
"We could keep our food cold enough if we had lots of ice. And then we could enjoy these delicious lunches for as long as we want! That's it! Ice! Let's go search for Ice!" Kirito standing up
"Listen, you... It's summer. Where would we find ice? I'm sure there isn't even any in the Centoria market." Alice said
Kirito's plan was soon ruined by Alice. And sits back down.
"Hey... Do you remember the story about the hero Bercouli?" Kirito said
"Which one?"
"You know. "Bercouli and the Northern White Dragon." The hero, Bercouli, followed the Rui River to the north. Inside a cave in the End Mountains, he found a huge white dragon asleep atop a pile of treasure. He took hold of a beautiful sword in the treasure, but the instant he did... According to the story, he found giant icicles hanging just inside the cave, right? So if we break some off..."
"Look, you..."
"That's not a bad idea." Alice said
"Come on! You do know, don't you? Under the laws of the village..." Eugeo said
"The village law forbids any child unaccompanied by an adult from playing in the End Mountains. But searching for ice doesn't count as playing. If it means extending the life of our meals, it will benefit the villagers, won't it? So this should be interpreted as work." Alice said
"I agree. You're absolutely right." Kiriti agreeing with Alice
"Yeah, but going to the End Mountains isn't just against village law, it's forbidden by "that," right?" Eugeo said
"That"?
"You know what I mean. The Taboo Index, of course."
Kirito and Alice look at Eugeo.
"We can't just violate the Taboo Index, can we?"
"Eugeo, this is what it says in the index. Taboo Index, Book One, Chapter Three, Verse Eleven. "Thou shalt not cross the End Mountains that encricle the Human Empire." By "cross," it means entering the Dark Territory on the other side of the End Mountains. That doesn't include entering the cave." Alice said
"But..."
Without warning, Kirito hits Eugeo in the back very hard.
"Ouch!"
"All right, it's settled! Our next day off will be spent looking for the white dragon... no, I mean the ice cave!"
"Yeah! Okay, then we'll meet at the North Gate at 7:00 AM." Alice saying what time they should meet again
"Right! And don't oversleep!"
"Right back at you!"
*July 21, year 372 in the time of the realm of humanity*
Alice, Eugeo, and Kirito were walking threw the forest, on there quest to find the cave.
"Jeez. Making us carry everything..." Kirito holding their food
"Well, you shouldn't complain." Eugeo said
"Huh?"
"I mean, we might not get to go out with Alice like this much longer. Since Alice is the daughter of the village elder, I'm sure she'll get even more tied up with her studies." Eugeo said
"Well, the reason she hasn't been given a Calling is so she can study how to hone her sacred art skills." Kirito said
"And she might be forbidden from playing with boys too, to act as a role model for the other villagers." Eugeo said
"Hey! What are you two whispering about?" Alice stopping and looking at them
"U-Uh, nothing! Right?"
"Yeah."
"We were just saying, we have to head back to the village before the evening bell." Eugeo said
"Oh? That's ture. Then let's turn back when Solus reaches the middle of the sky. Now that's settled, let's hurry!" Alice continuing walking
They continue to walk like nothing ever happened. Minutes have pass and the three were still walking.
"By the way, did you know? When this village was first founded, occaionally evil spirits like goblins or orcs would come from beyond the mountains, and steal sheep or spirit away children!"
"What? Are you trying to scare me? I know about that. In the end, the Integirty Knights came from Centoria and drove them away, right?"
"Ever since then, on sunny days, you can see a Silver Dragon Knight soaring far above the End Mountains!"
Alice and Eugeo both look up at the sky to see something. Kirito look's up as well and sees what the other two were looking at. A glowing object flying across the sky and disappering.
"There's no way... right?"
Later, the three climbed up rocky walls as they made it to there location. In front of them, was a cave.
"A cave... Is this the cave in the End Mountains?"
The three walk closer to the cave.
"Well, we have no choice but to go in now, right?"
Alice take's out something her pocket.
"System Call. Generate Luminous Element. Adhere!"
The object on her hand started glowing. Once it was glowing, the three started going deeper inside the cave.
"Hey, didn't you say that the icicles were hanging just inside the cave?" Eugeo said
"Did I say that?"
"You did!"
Moments later, Alice and Kirito both stopped walking.
"Eugeo?"
Eugeo turn's around to look at them.
"Bring the light a little closer."
Eugeo put's the light closer to Alice. Alice take's a breath on it.
"See? You saw that, didn't you?" Alice said
"Seriously? No wonder it feels colder now." Kirito feeling cold
"It's summer outside, but it's winter inside this cave. I'm sure there's ice, too!" Alice said
"Yeah. Let's go a little farther in." Eugeo said
The three continued to go deeper inside the freezing cave.
"Hey, what are we going to do if we really come across a white dragon?" Alice said
"We'll have to run, of course." Eugeo said
"Don't worry. The white dragon won't mind if we just take some icicles. But it would be great to grab at least one scale..." Kirito said
"Hey, what are you thinking?"
"Because if we can bring home proof that we saw a real dragon..."
Then, they heard ice crack which echo inside the cave. The three look down to see Eugeo stepping on ice.
"Hey, it's ice! There's ice! There's ice here! I bet there's more up ahead!"
Minutes later, the three started to run threw the cave as they spotted ice around them. While running, they saw upahead an opening that was glowing white.
"That's..."
The three entered the white glowing, only to find out that they entered a place where it's made out of ice. Moments after entering the place, they started to walk around and looking at all the ice.
"This much ice should be enough to keep all the food in the village cold." Alice said
"Are you kidding? We could make it winter in the village for a while!" Kirito said
Moments later, Eugeo bump's into Kirito.
"-Hey, don't stop all of a sudden!"
"-What is this?"
Eugeo looks and gasp's.
"Just what is... this?"
The three saw bones resembling a dragon right in front of them.
"The bones of the white dragon?" Eugeo said
"It died?"
Kirito walk's closer and grab's something from the pile of gold.
"Hey... This is all scratched up. And the tip's been cut off cleanly." Kirito showing them a piece of the dragon's tail
"Was it fighting something? But what living creature could kill a dragon?" Alice said
"These are blade marks. This dragon was killed by a human."
"*Gasp*"
"B-But... even the hero Bercouli only managed to get away. An integrity Knight? Don't tell me that an Intergrity Knight from the Axiom Curch killed a white dragon, a protector of the realm of humanity?" Alice said
"I don't know. There might be really powerful knights in the Dark Territory, too. But if there are, then the forces of darkness could just cross over the End Mountains." Eugeo said
Eugeo notice something Kirito was grabbing something from the pile of gold.
"What are you doing, Kirito?"
Kirito had a hard time pulling the heavy object.
"This is really heavy!" Kirito dragging the heavy object
"Could this possibly be..."
"Yeah. What Bercouli supposedly tried to steal. It must be the Blue Rose Sword." Kirito said
Kirito grab's tight of the sword and try's bringing it up but couldn't because it was heavy. He then drop's it back down.
"No good. It's too heavy. Even Eugeo and I together couldn't carry it out. Looks like there are all kinds of treasure, too."
"Yeah. But we can't just take them, can we? That would be like grave robbing." Alice said
"But the White Dragon won't mind if it's just some ice, right?" Kirito picking up a rock size ice
Moments later, their picnic basket was filled of ice.
"So pretty! What a waste, bringing it back just to have it melt." Alice said
"But if it means our meals will last longer, what does it matter?" Kirito said
"You mean everybody's meals, right?"
"We'd better get going, or we won't make it back by evening." Eugeo said
"You're right."
The three were about to leave, but there was one problem. They forgot where they came from.
"Hey... which way did we come in from?" Alice said
Eugeo and Kirito pointed at different directions."
*Later*
The three were walking threw the cave again trying to find the way put of the cave.
"We've been walking a long tume now. Do you think maybe we came from the opposite direction?" Alice said
"You're the one who picked this path because you thought it was closer." Kirito whispered
"Did you say some thing?" Alice looking at Kirito
"No, nothing!"
All of a sudden, Eugeo stopped walking foward, along with the other two. They stood quiet and heard noises coming from the cave further away from them.
"Is that the wind?" Alice said
"We're almost outside! We picked the right path!" Eugeo excited
Eugeo then take's off running.
"Hey! You'll fall if you run in a place like this!"
The two then started following Eugeo behind.
"There's the exit!"
The three entered the opening which they thought was the exit from the cave. Instead of the beautiful blue skies and enviornment. They instead saw a red sky, trees that no leafs, the ground was dark and much more.
"This is..."
"...the Dark Territory."
"We can't go any farther."
Soon, they heard noises coming up. They all up to see two dragons fighting each other.
"Dragon Knights..."
"The white one..."
"Is that an Axiom Curch Intergrity Knight? So the black one's from the forces of darkness."
The white dragon fires a powerful beam towards the black dragon. The beam hits the black knight and explodes. After the explosion, the black dragon was falling straight down towards the ground while the White Knight points a bow and arrow at it and fires it. The arrow soon hit's the Black Knight, knocking him out of the dragon. The Knight soon lands hard right in front of Kirito, Alice, and Eugeo. Including the dragon. Once the smoke cleared out, the knight look's at three and extends the arm at them. Alice notice it and start's walking close to it. But then, Kirito notice something wrong and shouted.
"No!
Alice trip's while extending her arm. The Black Knight's arm soon fall's down and so as Alice.
"Alice!" Eugeo shouted
Then, Kirito and Euego notice that Alice touch the ground of the Dark Territory.
"Taboo Index, Book One, Chapter Three, Verse Eleven. "Thou shalt not cross the End Mountains that encricle the Human Empire."
"Alice!"
Kirito bring's Alice back up.
"I-I..."
"I-It's all right, Alice. It's not like you left the cave. Right? Isn't that right, Kirito?"
Kirito look's behimd them with answering Eugeo.
"Kirito?"
Eugeo look's behind as the two both saw a portal opening and a person was inside it.
"*Gasp* What's that?"
"Singular unit detected. Tracing ID. Coordinates fixed. Report complete."
The portal quickly disappered.
"It's gone? What was that just now?" Eugeo said
"I don't know. Let's just head back!"
*Later, Evening*
The three manage to run all the way back to the village without any harm. They took deep breaths because they ran all the way back.
"All right, let's go home." Kirito said
Moments later...
"Right. Okay, I'm going to put this in the basement." Alice holding the picnic basket filled with iceicles
"Okay."
"See you."
Alice start's walking slowly but soon's stop. She then turn's and look's at the two behind her.
"Look foward to tomorrow's lunch, okay?" Alice said
"Sure!"
"S-Sure."
Alice then start's running away back home.
*Night Time*
Eugeo was on his bed shaking in fear as he was having a nightmare.
*Inside The Dream*
Eugeo saw Alice walking away from him.
"Alice..."
Eugeo follow's her behind but knees down while extending his arm.
"Don't go! Alice!"
Alice continues to walk foward with looking back.
"Alice!"
*Reality*
Eugeo quickly wakes up from his nightmare and saw his arm extended upwards towards the ceiling. He the stood up from his bed sweating and breathing.
*The Next Day*
Kirito and Eugeo were trying to chop down the same tree but with barely much success. Kirito continues chopping the tree while Eugeo was watching him. While watching, Eugeo looked up and spotted something flying off the tree. A Dragon.
"*Gasp*"
Eugeo quickly get's up and run's toward's Kirito.
"Hey, Kirito!"
"Yeah. It's the Integrity Knight from yesterday. No way! Alice..."
"It can't be. Just for something like that?"
"Let's go!"
Kirito start's running.
"Hey!" Eugeo following him behind
*Back At The Village*
The Intergrity Knight land's right in the middle of the village. The Knight get's off the dragon and look's at the people.
"Alice!"
Alice turn's around to see Kirito and Eugeo.
"Kirito! Eugeo!"
"Quiet. You'd better get away while you can." Kirito whisper's
Then, Alice look's to see someone walking toward's the Knight.
"Father!"
Alice's father walk's closer to the Knight and greets himself.
"I serve as the village elder. My name is Zuberg."
"I am the Axiom Curch Integirty Knight overseeing northern Norlangarth, Deusolbert Synthesis Seven. For her crimes against the Taboo Index, the child of Gasfut Zuberg, Alice Zuberg, will now be apprehended, taken in and, after questioning, executed."
Alice's father, Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice were all shocked.
"The charbe is Taboo Index, Book One, Chapter Three, Verse Eleven, trespassing into the Drak Territory."
Later, Alice's father was force to chain her daughter for trespassing into the Dark Territoy. Kirito run's threw the crowd to get close to the knight.
"Sir Knight! A-Alice never went into the Drak Territory! She just touched the ground with one hand for a second! That's all she did!"
"What more do you think she had to do?"
"Th-Then we're just guilty as she is! We were there in that same place! If you're taking her, then take us, too!" Kirito shouted
The Knight ignored him and continue's to
"Eugeo... listen. I'm going to swing the ax at him. You grab Alice then and run!" Kirito whispering
"K-Kirito... but that's..."
"Who cares about taboos? Are you saying they're more important than Alice's life?"
Once the time was right, Kirito started charging toward's the Knight. But then, the Knight fires a beam at Kirito which knocks him back and let's go of the ax. He then fall's hard at the ground.
"Kirito!"
"Escort those two kids from the square."
The Knight get's up to his dragon.
"Dammit!"
Kirito get's up ad start's running but then get's hold down by a few villagers.
"Eugeo, please! Go after her!"
Eugeo start's walking but soon feel's pain sunddenly from his left eye.
"Eugeo! At least get these guys off me! Then I'll... Eugeo!"
The dragon start's taking off with Alice. Kirito get's back up and run's toward Eugeo.
"Alice!" Kirito yelling
*Reality*
Kazuto quickly wakes up from his sleep and stood up. He was inside some sort of room with only him inside. Tears were also rolling down his face.
Sword Art Online: Alicization
Underworld
*Saturday, June 27, 2026*
Sinon was running threw the forest with her Hecate 2 sniper rifle while two other players were chasing her. She look's behind to the two players getting closer to her. She continues to run until she make's it out of the forest and slide's to look behind. She quickly point's her sniper at them and fires it. The two players quickly dodged it and points their weapons at Sinon's forehead. They were about to shoot till they saw an oncoming vehicle. The car land's in front at them and start's driving toward's them. The two rolled aside as the vehicle passed them both. Moments later, the vehicle makes a hard u turn and drives toward's them.
"This is a fully-automatic Tanegashima!" Klein pointing his weapon at the enemies
Klein fires at the players but they avoided the bullets.
"You dirty PK jerks, how do you like this?" Lizbeth pointing her shotgun outside the vehicle
Lizbeth fires her shotgun at the player running inside the forest. The bullets hit a tree and misses the player. Silica point's the turrent at the player and start's firing. The enemy duck's behind a large rock while Silica was shooting at it. The second enemy player throw's a smoke grenade toward's the vehicle. The smoke then started coming out blocking the area.
"Damn!"
"You're up! I'll cover you!"
The vehicle stop's inside the smoke as three players behind the vehicle removed their coats and jump off the vehicle. The three turned on their beam swords and started following the two enemies. The two enemies entered the forest as the three behind them appeared out of the smoke revealing themselves to be Kirito, Asuna, and Sonic. The three entered the forest and followed the enemy. Sonic point's foward telling Kirito and Asuna he'll be going faster. The two accpected and start's running faster, leaving Asuna and Kirito. But what they didn't know that a drone was following the three. Somewhere on top of a mountain, a team was watching them three running.
"Photon Swords?"
"Teams B and C, head to Grid 4-6 to back up Team A. You have permission to use grenades."
"Hey, Boss, can I go too?"
"It's probably too late for that. Just sit back and watch."
Back with the two enemies. While running, another enemy player appeared behind a large rock with his weapon ready. Kirito, Asuna, and Sonic spotted the enemy. The enemy fires at them but it misses them three. Behind the three, someone fired a sniper toward's the bullet. The sniper bullet hit's the enemy's bullet as it exploded in the air, allowing the three to continue running without taking damage. The enemy continues firing at the three. Kirito and Sonic both deflected the oncoming bullets towards them.
"Leave this to me!"
Asuna get's in front of them and start's deflecting the bullets as well. The enemy's weapon ran out of bullets and quickly reloads. While reloading, Sonic and Kirito both swung their swords together, slicing the enemy player in half. With Asuna, she was running toward's another enemy player. The enemy player throw's a smoke grenade at her. The smoke grenade hit's the ground and smoke start's coming out. Inside the smoke, Kirito, Asuna, and Sonic were looking around together trying to find the enemy. Once the smoke cleared out, no enemy was in sight.
"Again?" Kirito whisper
"Where did he go?" Sonic whisper
Back on top a mountain, the team leader's watch was ringing.
"Time's up, huh? All teams, retreat. Move away from Grid 1-9." The team leader suggested
"That would've been the last prey for today, right? You sure you want to end on a loss, Boss?"
"Battling an irregular squadron like that won't do much good, training-wise. We wouldn't want any negative effects to carry over into the actual operation. Let's go."
"Till next time."
*Someplace Else*
Kirito, Sonic, Klein, Sinon, Silica, and Asuna were all sitting down around a table and chatting.
"Man, I'd heard the rumors, but GGO sure is a hardcore game. I mean, you're allowed to PK all you want wherever you are on the field!" Klein said
"Yeah, but even with no-hold's-barred PK-ing, that squadron we just fought was an anomaly. Normally, you'd PK for money or items..." Sinon said
"But those guys only seemed to be focused on killing us. They were tossing grenades and smoke without restraint. Wouldn't that put them in the red?" Kirito said
"Probably. But they're always like that whenever they show up. They attack squadrons that left isolated on the field, massacre them, then vanish without looting items." Sinon said
"Is it true they have a 100% win rate?" Asuna said
"As far I know, yes. So... I thought we could win if we went after them in a really unusual style. That's why I asked you all for your help. Sorry. My plan had too many holes. I never thought they'd just retreat like that!" Sinon said
"But hey, it's not a defeat, right? Nah, they're the ones who ran, so it's the same as a win!" Klein said
"Not that we have any idea who they really are, or what they're after." Lizbeth said
"Well, that's just... um..."
"I wish we could've at least found out their leader's name." Asuna said
"But who was the leader, anyway? It wouldn't been the ones that we fought." Sonic said
"It wasn't even clear which one of them was leader, though, was it?" Silica said
Kirito fall's asleep and leans toward's Lizbeth's shoulder.
"Hey! Don't crash out like that!" Lizbeth moving Kirito away
"That's Kirito for you." Sonic said
"He said he's been taking time off from school since Thursday, touring companies." Asuna said
"He's probably tangled up in some bizarre business again, huh?" Sinon said
*Oustide*
"You guys, thank you so much for helping me out." Sinon thanking her friends
"Hey, no biggie! Later!" Klein logging off
"I had fun!" Silica logging out
"See you!" Lizbeth logging out as well
"All right, I'm off, too." Asuna about to log out
"Me too. I'll see you three later." Sonic about to log out as well
"Um... Asuna and Sonic."
"What is it?"
"Do you need something Sinon?"
"There's actually something I need your help with." Sinon said
"You mean with the PK squadron?" Asuna said
"If it's that, I'll help you." Sonic said
"Actually, it's something else. Could yo and Kirito meet with me on the other side tomorrow?" Sinon said
"Let's see... the evening should be okay. Is Agil's shop all right with you?"
"Of course. Oh, I'll email you the gist of what I'm going to ask you. Read it over, okay?"
"Roger that!"
"Sound's good to me." Sonic said
Asuna and Sinon both log out of GGO. Sonic looked at Kirito still sleeping.
"You slept all the way threw that." Sonic said
Seconds later, Kirito wakes from sleeping.
*Saturday, June 28, 2026*
Kazuto, Sonic, and Asada were at Agil's shop waiting for Asuna.
"Hey, did you lose more weight?" Asada said
"You think so? Never mind that. Didn't you want to ask me something? Is it about BoB?" Kazuto said
"Yeah."
"Care to explain." Sonic said
"There's a player named Subtilizer who won BoB IV. He also won the very first one."
"I see."
"We were all so fired up, you know. About getting the chance to face the ledgendary Subtilizer." Asada said
"From what I could tell from the live feed, he's got a silent, matter-of-fact fighting style. It seemed similar to the vibe I was getting from yesterday's PK squadron."
"From what I saw from the feed. Feel's like I'm ready to fight him." Sonic said
"Hey, now that you two mention it, it is. You are right Sonic. Subtilizer's on a whole other level. It was the same with me, too, but... He read my every move, and forced me into extreme close combat. I was killed before I could even aim my gun." Asada said
"No way. That's some skills." Sonic said
"That's incredible. To be able to anticipate the moves of BoB veterans." Kazuto said
"After playing enough to be considered a veretan, you find yourself bound by theory, so it might be easy to recongnize patterns in our movements. Which brings me to my request. The way I see it, a player who acts totally off-script might be able to outmaneuver Subtilizer. It may be a little early, but I'd like both your help in the fifth one at the end of the year. That's why I've asked you two here today."
"Huh?"
"Hmmm..."
"Whoever we're up against, we're definitely going to win the next one! Whatever it takes!"
"It seems like your confident about this one." Sonic said
"Looks like you're pretty much over it now."
"It isn't like I'm not scared at all, but I'm getting better. And yea, I might be too confident about this one." Asada said
"By the way, how's he doing?" Kazuto said
"Anything about him?" Sonic said
"Shinkawa is... Yeah, his condition's starting to stabilize. I'm planning to visit him again soon." Asada said
"I see."
"It's great to hear that he's getting better." Sonic said
"Then that means the Death Gun incident is wrapped up now, huh?" Kazuto said
"Ah, memories."
"Altough there's still one perp on the run." Asada saod
"Kikuoka said it's just a matter of time before he's arrested, too." Kazuto said
"Yeah. I guess so."
"One day, they will finally find him and bring him justice." Sonic said
The door open's as Asuna entered the shop.
"Hello! Hey, there, Shino and Sonic!" Asuna entering the shop
"A-Asuna!"
"Hello, Asuna!" Asada saying hello
"It's great to see you again." Sonic saying hello as well
Minutes later, the four were talking about BoB. Kazuto sitting next to Asuna and Asada sitting next to Sonic.
"About BoB V, it's okay with me!" Asuna said
"You asked Asuna, too?" Kazuto suprise
"Yes. I was a little nervous that you'd spin out of control on your own, so partly to serve as your limiter..."
"Hey, Kirito. You've lost weight, haven't you?" Asuna said
"You think so?"
"You see? Even Asuna thinks so!" Asada said
"It's because of your part-time job, isn't it? Really. Overdoing it again. It doesn't seem to be affecting you physically, but..."
"What are you looking at?"
Asuna show's Asada her phone that has Kazuto's name with a heart pumping.
"What's this?" Asada looking at the phone
"Is that... Kazuto's heart rate?" Sonic looking at the phone as well
"Don't stare at it like that." Kazuto blushing
"Hold on, is this Kirito's..."
"Ummm..."
"You guessed right!"
"B-But how does that work?" Asada said
"Tell us." Sonic said
"I have a miniature sensor implanted right here. It sends information more or less in real time over the internet to Asuna's smartphone." Kazuto holding hos chest
"What?!" Sonic shock
"Wh-Wh-Why would you... it wouldn't be an anti-cheating system, would it?" Asada said
"It does seem like it!" Sonic said
"-No, no!"
"-It's not!"
"They recommended it to me when I started my current part-time job. Because it would be a hassle to stick electrodes on me every time. And when I told Asuna about it, she started using it for this." Kazuto said
"Well, looking at it really sets my mind at ease. To see that Kirito's heart is beating. It makes me trip a little, you know!" Asuna said
"That doesn't sound very good, Asuna." Asada said
"Seems a little... to overprotected." Sonic said
"Anyway, having you on myside gives me an edge. It's like having a heavy machine gun in a pillbox!" Asada extending her arm to shake Asuna's hand
"You won't be sorry you picked me!" Asuna shaking Asada's hand
They soon let go of shaking hands.
"Now, then... Let's hear about your sketchy new job. Though I'm sure it's as an alpha tester for some new VRMMO game. Maybe you could even invite Sonic for your adventure." Asada said
"Wait what?"
"What I'm testing isn't a game app. It's a brain-machine interface for a new full-dive system. It's being developed by Rath." Kazuto said
"Rath?"
"I've never heard of that company. That's the name of an imaginary creature that appears in Through the Looking-Glass. Some say it's a pif, while others say it's a turtle." Asuna said
"So they're going to release a next-generation full-dive machine?"
"I don't know about that. In the first place, it's completely different from the current full-dive tech."
"Different? What's the in-game world like?" Asada said
"I don't actually know. I'm sure it's for the sake of confidentiality, but any of the memories the machine creates in this VR world, I can't bring back to the real world. Whatever I saw during the tests, whatever I did, I've forgotten every last detail."
"What?"
"Really?"
"No way!"
"Forgotten every last detail? Don't tell me it's the same as the Augma?" Asada said
"Uh... no, it's not! It doesn't put any stress on your brain like the Augma did. It's just that I can't remember, since the Fluctlight is blocking the path." Kazuto said
"Fluct...?"
"Should I explain the general concept? About this machine... the Soul Translater technology?"
Minutes have pass by as the 4 were talking about this Sould Translater technology.
"Where do you think the human soul is located?"
"Soul?"
"In your head... the brain, right?"
"Seems reasonable."
"The brain is more or less a clump of brain cells, right? So where among the brain cells does the soul exist? All cells, including brain cells, are supported by a structural network. Apparently, they're called microtubules. Tubes. In other words, hollow pipes. And there's something sealed inside those hollow pipes."
"What's inside them?" Asada said
"Light. Light. A fluctuating light photon. And that's what comprises the human soul, according to Rath."
"You mean that cluster of light is the human soul?" Asuna said
"Yes."
"That's... something." Sonic said
"And at Rath, this thing that might be the human soul is known as... The Fluctlight."
"So the machine that reads Fluctlights is called the Soul Translator? But you could do the opposite as well, right?" Asuna said
"Opposite?"
"The Amusphere allows us to experience the virtual world by sending visual and audio signals to the brain, right? So couldn't the Soul Translator information to the soul in the same way?" Asuna said
"Yeah, that's right. The Soul Translator, or STL, writes short-term memories onto the Fluctlight to insert information of the sights or sounds it wants us to experience. Apparently, it's called mnemonic visual data. I have memories of my test dives at the very beginning, but it was different. It was completely different. Nothing like the VR world created by the Amusphere. At first, I couldn't even tell it was a virtual world." Kazuto said
"But is it really safe? It scares me. It was Mr. Kikuoka of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who offered you that job, wasn't it?" Asuna said
"It's true that I have to be on my guard around that guy. But I want to know. Where full-dive technology is headed. I have a feeling. There's something about the STL I mean, sure, terms like "Fluctlights" and "mnemonic visual" sound complicated. But the world created by the STL is like a realistic dream." Kazuto said
"A dream?"
"For example, you have ling dreams sometimes, rights? And when you wake up, it feels like you've been dreaming for two or three hours. But chances are you've actually only been dreaming for a few minutes The STL creates the same kind of phenomeon."
"Um..."
"Oh."
"The same way that humans see dreams spanning several hours in matter of minutes, you can also experience the virtual world several times longer than the actual dive time. That's the STL's featured fuction. Flucltlight Acceleration. FLA for short."
"I'm so confused."
"There's so much information."
"So during the three days you were diving, about how much time did you spend inside?" Asada said
"I'm not sure. I don't remember whether it was ten days or a month. The only thing they told me was the code name of the experimental virtual world." Kazuto said
"What's it called?"
"The Underworld."
"Under... an underground world?"
"You know, that could be from Alice too. See, that was what the manuscript version of Alice in Wonderland was called. The original title was Alice's Adventures Under Ground." Asuna said
Kazuto look's away from Asuna.
"Is something wrong?"
"Well, when I heard the name Alice, it felt like a memory was about to surface."
"Does that mean..."
"It's like... It's like there's something I need to do right away."
*Minutes Later*
"We'll be back soon, Agil!"
"Right."
Asada open's the door and open's her umbrella along with Kazuto and Asuna. Sonic was just getting wet from the rain.
"Okay, I'll be in touch again about BoB. Thanks for coming today." Asada thanking the three of them
"Sure! See you, Shino!" Asuna said
"Later, Asuna." Asada said
Before Asada walked away, she saw Sonic getting wet from the rain.
"Sonic, since you don't have an umbrella. How about you come with me." Asada said
"Oh... um... s-sure. If that's fine with you." Sonic said
Sonic walk's toward's Asada. Asada put's the umbrella over them and both start walking away.
"I'll see you two soon." Sonic waving goodbye
"See you later, Sonic!" Asuna said
Asuna turn's and look's at Kazuto.
"Let's go."
Asuna noticed Kazuto looking somewhere else.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing. Let's go."
*Later*
Kazuto and Asuna were walking back . Kazuto and Asuna both looked at each other while walking. Moments later, Asuna stop's walking which made Kazuto stop and turn around to loook at her.
"Kirito?"
"Asuna. I'm thinking of going after all." Kazuto said
"America?"
"Yeah. The next generation full-dive tech research is more advanced over there. I have to see it. The moment the next world is created." Kazuto said
"It wasn't all just fun and games. There was so much pain and sadness, too, wasn't there? Of course you want to find out why that castle summoned you, and where it all leads. Not even living several centuries would be long enough to find that out. So... I-I want... I want you and Sonic to come with me, Asuna. I know that's asking a lot. But even still, I... I can't live without you or with Sonic! You two have been with me since the beginning!"
Asuna blushes and run's towards Kazuto, grabbing his arm.
"Of course I'll go. With you. I'll go wherever you go. No matter where! And Sonic, he'll go anywhere with you. Because you two been bros since the beginning." Asuna said
"Asuna..."
The two get closer to each other and hug each other as the two slowly kiss each other. They soon stop kissing and continue walking.
"But don't you want to research the Soul Translator? It's a next-generation inerface, too, right?" Asuna said
"I'm not sure about that. I have a feeling it's not just a machine that enables people to full-dive into virtual worlds." Kazuto said
"Then what is it?"
"It might be a machine for learning more about Fluctlights... about human consciousness. And also... I think the STL is am extension of his... of Heathcliff's philosophy."
"The commander's?"
"Why that guy used the NerveGear and SAO to cause thousands of casualties, why he burned out his own brain, and on top of that scattered something like the Seed all over the place... I guess I do want to find out, but I don't want to be my career path. Because that would feel lile he was still manipulating me." Kazuto said
"Didn't you have a talk with the commander's consciousness?"
"Yeah. I have a feeling that the reason he left a copy of himself behind has something to do with what Rath is trying to accomplish woth the STL."
Then, Kazuto and Asuna both looked to see a person walking toward's them.
"Excuse me! Um, which way is the station?"
"Let's see..."
Kazuto move's Asuna aside and walk's toward's the person.
"Kirito?"
"You were skulking around the Dicey Cafe, weren't you?"
"I guess an ambush isn't going to work."
"Who are you?"
"Hey now, don't be like, Kirito. Oh wait, I always had a mask on over there, didn't I?"
Kazuto was completely shock on what he just heard.
"Now that XaXa's been caught, I have to show some grit, right? At the last survivor of Laughing Coffin!"
"Johny Black!"
Kirito grab's a "sword" from his back from he realize that wasn't in the game. The person started laughing crazy.
"Nope! No sword there!"
"So you're still on the run?"
"Of course! But really, Kirito... Without your sword, you're nothing but a feeble little brat, huh? I can't believe you're the same swordsman who beat the crap out of me!"
"What about you? You don't have your poisoned weapon of choice." Kazuto said
"Oh, I have it! I have a poison weapon, all right!"
"Death Gun!"
The crazy person start's charging towards Kazuto and Asuna. Kazuto pushes Asuna back.
"Asuna! Run!"
Asuna look's and saw Kirito getting hit by the posion weapon and the person getting stabbed with the umbrella. Asuna eyes widen as both of them fell down towards the ground right in front of her.
"Kirito!"
*Asada's Home*
Sonic was talking with Asada about GGO and stuff. But during their coversation, Sonic's head started hurting all of a sudden.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. My head's started to hurt unexpectedly. I don't why. But maybe it has to do with Asuna and Kazuto." Sonic rubbing his head
To Be Continue...
"Next Time: The Demon Tree."
Well this was unexpected... Hey everyone, MySonicFan here and yep, it's finally back. The Sonic and Sword Art Online story is now back! This story might just be the best I have ever done from the others, So I hope everyone is excited for this story. Sorry for the misleading date that I putted, I had persional things that did not allow me to finish it that day. I hope everyone understands it and I'm sorry.
Anyway, this story will be in progress during the 'A Hedgehog's Quest' story as well. So I hope everyone could bare with me on the two stories. After the story, there will be a sequel but it's unknown when it will be ready. But the title is set.
"A Threat From The Future."
So yea, be on the look out for that in the future. Anyway, that's all I have to say. I hoe everyone enjoys their day and as always. I'll yalk to you guys later.