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"What do you want to do next, Kayaba-sama?"
He arches an eyebrow at the male next to him.
"How have your data files been processed, Yume?"
"Advanced Artificial Computerised Intelligence, Game NPC, Yume. Cardinal Rights."
Kayaba Akihiko nods in approval.
"And I am KayabaA, Profile Heathcliff, Game Creator. Override Cardinal Rights."
"Considering our data was copied precisely, player data from SAO must have been imported by a human hand."
He hums.
"Then we must prepare again. Player data from SAO means their own consciousness."
This is an experiment to him.
He doesn't care so much about players being trapped here.
After all, Yume made it so that people's data could be transferred.
Both of them are simply curious as to what is going on in this world.
It's been a while since the Seed went live.
But within its programming, Kayaba-sama and I are still alive.
Digitalised, with every new creation that builds upon our system, we have access to everything we would need to keep up to date with the outside world.
And with enough luck, we would be able to link with other types of servers and establish ourselves with Admin powers.
Perhaps, it would get boring after a while, but no one said that we couldn't play.
Kayaba-sama is happy to just be at the maxed level, with undefined stats and the ability to instantly wipe out anyone who attacks him.
But I would rather play.
Instead of just giving myself stats, I wanted to be strong and use those stats to crush players.
I wanted to play this game and be the character that people both fear and respect.
Heathcliff is a Spriggan, and it came as a surprise to me.
I had thought he would retake the colour red, as a Salamander.
"Why?"
He gives me an odd look.
"Because illusions play with every players' mind. If I trip over something by accident, I can simply explain it away as my passive magic."
Breaking the silence as I choose my avatar's form, he asks, "Was there not supposed to be a higher tier race of Alfs?"
We've already run the finder on the game files.
"There's nothing pertaining to the race, other than the supposed fan theory. They may have been misinformed, or it may be encrypted outside of these servers, only for release later."
Pushing the screens to a side, he openly wonders.
"What kind of NPC battles, has levels, and gains EXP?"
I smile.
"A bored one, Kayaba-sama. A sentient, and bored one."
He snorts lightly.
"What kind of blade user fires his blades as arrows?"
"One with recall abilities and was supposed to have a tank guarding."
Once more, Kayaba is in black, and Yume is in white.
It's a contrast that matches.
They choose where to spawn, Kayaba cloaking both of them in Spriggan illusion magic.
"Why give it to Kirito-san when he destroyed Aincrad?"
His voice is even when he asks, but Yume is burning with curiosity.
"I didn't realise you were so petty a person, Yume."
He avoids the main point.
"Did you know that he would choose to be selfless and share it with the world?"
His former partner laughs.
"Selfless, Yume? Both you and I have seen what he's had to do to ensure the safety of the others. That was not selflessness, but rather, his desire to rid himself of all responsibility."
They walk into the Spriggan hometown, and no one bats an eyelash.
Some drop compliments for Kayaba's illusion.
Yume isn't all that sure what about it they're complementing.
Kayaba only inclines his head, they're headed to the mansion to find the leader of the Spriggans.
Their stint here is entirely for fun, doing this, Kayaba wants his name spread, that Kirito would come find him.
A building in both black and white, faintly grey accents. An European-styled home, vintage gates swung open, Spriggan flag flying, demarcating the Lord's presence.
Having pre-announced their desire to visit, the guards at the entrance do not bar them.
The lord only glances them once over.
"I've heard only good things of the both of you. Kayaba-san, do you desire my seat?"
Yume is the first to laugh gently, system distorting that to an electronic buzz.
"Hideo-san, he has no reason to covet your seat. Instead, make use of us."
They offer their services like that, and Hideo arches an eyebrow.
"Are the contributions I have made so far not enough?"
Kayaba questions it, surprise evident, considering he illegally used his Mod-abilities to summon the gold.
Yume is a system program, bound to the service of Kayaba, but he's fine like that.
Accepting the classification by others as an extremely rare form of 'Navigation Pixie'.
It wasn't as if he could blame them for thinking him to be something as weak as those tiny faeries.
It wasn't as if he even knew the name of his race, if he had any.
Chances are, he was modelled after some secret boss no one had encountered yet.
Hideo shakes his head, "Your contributions have allowed our city to expand at an alarming rate. However, our improvements have not gone unnoticed. We now, face the threat of the Salamanders."
"Salamanders, Hideo-san?"
Naturally, it would be the hot headed, battle hungry supremacists.
So it's his narrowminded world view, because this is their world, not just some game.
"Yes. As you may know, the Cait Sith and Sylphs are forming an alliance in accordance with their leaders' irl friendship. Mortimer-san is obviously unhappy with such a thought. It threatens the Salamander's domination of the areas. The location of the treaty signing was released, in hopes that the large amount of attention would prevent anyone from interrupting. But our Spriggan scouts detected an army, led by General Eugene leaving the Salamander base."
Before Kayaba-san says anything, Yume has already pulled out the world map.
Glowing red spots are concentrated in an area, moving slowly.
1:1000, they're moving at 10km/h.
"We understand, Hideo-san."
Their leader interlaces his fingers.
"You need not win the fight, just support Sakuya and Alicia enough to show our commitment."
"Yume, can you kill General Eugene?"
"From a distance, Kayaba-sama?"
He arches an eyebrow.
"I won't last in a sword fight, if that's what you mean. Kayaba-sama, will you not fight?"
Kayaba Akihiko smiles vaguely.
"You only need to stall the dearest general for a minute or so, once we arrive. Then, someone very interesting will show up."
Yume dips his head.
"I could defeat him, if I tapped into the game system, but that would lose the fun of it."
And they stop, roughly 30 meters away, listening to the General taunt the surrounded Cait Sith and Sylph forces.
He draws his blade back, feeling the tension of his bow.
It's a small delegation of less than 40 in total.
An entire Salamander army contingent arrived.
"Release it in an arch. I will be casting illusion magic to hide the actual blade."
Yume complies.
"[Our], [Shadow Copies]."
And a storm of blades descend on the army.
Most are scattered, attempting to dodge, and those who raise a blade to block, soon realise that the blades are simply illusions.
That was the beauty of the attack, in causing confusion, but not allowing the Salamanders with the [Rage] passive activate their ability.
Of course, as he expected, General Eugene would lash out in an arch, cutting through the shadow copy meant for him, allowing the real blade through his guard, and through his neck.
It's a pity swordsmen are careless and headstrong.
"I meant for it to go through his forehead. But. I suppose the neck works just as fine."
Kayaba uncloaks them, and they fly over to the Cait Sith and Sylph side.
He bows first, Yume following.
"Spriggan Ambassador Kayaba offers his greetings to Ladies Sakuya and Alicia, on behalf of Lord Hideo. We apologise for being late."
Kirito and a Sylph girl appear only moments later, as Kayaba-sama predicted.
"Thank you for your assistance, Kayaba-kun. Our races are indebted, if there is anything that we can assist in, please do say so."
They gesture Kirito over, and are recognised almost immediately.
"This is Kirito, a rising member of our Spriggan community. We intend in conquering the World Tree, but we require aid, will you help us, Ladies Cait Sith and Sylph?"
But a word, and they agree, "Ironic really, that team work across races is needed, but at the end only one race is rewarded."
I shake my head.
"Current data had no such knowledge of an Alf race. The World Tree may be not meant for conquering. Instead, it's simply personal curiosity that drives our wish."
"You… you were that Crystal Mage on Level 100, weren't you?"
Kayaba takes over, "It's a pleasure to see you again, Kirito-kun. I am surprised that you remember Yume."
Yume chooses to reply, "I am that Crystal Mage."
He takes it remarkably well.
"Thank you."
It's not what either of them expect.
"Why?"
"For helping me to the top of the World Tree."
Both frown.
"The Seed was not meant for purposes of scientific experimentation on human consciousness. This is self-serving in purpose. We are simply lucky that Asuna-san is at the top, and that you, Kirito-kun are going after her."
He takes the chance to laugh, "I haven't gotten there yet, but I think you give yourselves too little human appreciation."
Confusion.
One nearly non-human, the other without proper emotions.
"I think, maybe now, I can understand you both a little bit more. As to why you would create such a game, and why you would be willing to kill people for it."
People live only once, and they try their best to make the most of that one time.
In such a 'one time', people can even kill to get the best out of it.
Kayaba Akihiko, Yume and even Kirigaya Kazuto are no exceptions.
Flat and off-toned, I hope Kirito's desire to save Asuna is relate-able to Kayaba and Yume's wishes.
Didn't want to draw out the fight scene, and wanted to keep our black-white pair still out on the sidelines, leaving Kirito to do his usual.
Call it cowardly, but Yume always has been the ranged fighter.
Kayaba would call it smart.
Hope you enjoyed,
Pleased that this is before 11/12,
Kayo