Hello, everyone. It's ArtLotus here to give you the new chapter of SAO II: Phantom's Rosario.

But firstly, I want to thank you for the ones who had reviewed the last chapter. I hope you all will be satisfied with this one too.

Without further ado, I present to you SAO II: Phantom's Rosario

Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!

Chapter 3: The Unfortunate Bad Luck

"Is this where I'm supposed to find him? This place is nothing but a sand dune." Train muttered as he walks through the sand dune as wind blows past him. After he had received his task of assassinating 'Behemoth', he immediately started to search for his target by walking out of Glocken City since teleportation is designed only for respawning and dying points in GGO, much to his disappointment. But during his trip to the outskirts of Glocken City, he noticed there were vehicles driving on roads like that of his world. Other than that, he also noticed that Glocken City have stores, shopping malls, casino and restaurants establishment, much to his surprise since it was similar to the real world. After getting information from one of the screens displayed all over the city, he knows where to go from where which led him to walk through the sand dune where he is now.

Step after step, Train kept moving forward while looking at his surroundings once in a while, knowing there were other hunting squadrons that would hunt for monsters for resources. Continuing walking forward without turning even once, Train just walks without a care. But then, he heard something and he looks up, noting that he arrived at a waste field landscape. He then heard footsteps and he looks at the six armed men that just arrived a distance from him.

"What?" One of the six men asked as he looks at Train standing in front of him and his group all alone.

"What's he doing here?"

"Is he here to hunt monsters?"

"Unfortunately, he has to come back another time. We already defeated all of the monsters in this area. Tough luck."

Narrowing his eyes at the brown haired man wearing nothing but a worn out black trenchcoat, the man carrying the physical gun lifted his weapon and pointed it at Train, who did nothing against the action. His face was shadowed by his messy hair.

"...Which one of you is Behemoth?" Train asked as the other men lifted up their guns and pointed it at his way. The brown haired then spotted someone standing behind the six men and he observed the size of the man.

"What is your business with him?" The man carrying the physical gun asked with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing. I simply came here to meet him." At this, everyone looks at him in confusion but they keep their guns pointed at him. "And kill him." Hearing his last words, the Minimi shouted loudly.

"Fire!" At his command, everyone begins to fire their guns and blasters at him.

But just as the energy bullets and bullets neared him, Train looks up and instantly disappears with a black blur as the bullets flew pass over thin air along with the other bullets.

"Ack!" A shot was sounded as everyone looks at their first member and second who were stationed at the rear right and their eyes widen, seeing them shatter into polygons.

"Agh!" Another shot was sounded as everyone turns to the member stationed to the rear left and watches as the third member shatters into polygons with a shot mark in his forehead.

"What's happening here? Where is he? Everyone spread out!" The man with the physical gun stated as he started to step forward along with the other members. Searching around the waste field, he kept his gun pointed at every direction, wanting no more than to shoot the brown haired man in between his eyes.

Suddenly a shot was sounded and he looks at his right, seeing his fourth member shatters into polygons with a bullet in his forehead.

"Who is he? Is he a sniper?" He questioned in his mind as he looks at the high towers and cliffs that were perfect areas to snipe them from above without them sensing anything.

Suddenly, another shot was sounded which caused the remaining member which was him to turn around and faces his fifth member before seeing him shatters. Gritting his teeth in irritation and frustration, he shoot his gun at every direction, not caring his empty bullet shells flew everywhere as his gun rapidly runs out of ammunition.

"Where are you, bastard?! Show yourself! I'm right here!" He vented as he shoot his gun until he can't pinch his gun anymore. Breathing heavily, the man looks around for any signs of the assassin.

Suddenly, the man felt a present behind him and he instantly turns around, only to face the rapid bullets that swarm his body before shattering into polygons.

The seventh member of the hunting squadron looks around him as he carried his heavy minigun in hand that was connected to a box of ammunition strapped on his back. The seventh member has a huge body, broad shoulders, is nearly 2 meters tall. Grey eyes scanned over the terrain as a fierce smile could be seen crossing his lips.

"I thought you were hired as a bodyguard?" Train asked appearing behind Behemoth, who turns to him and immediately shoot him with his minigun. Watching the bullets nearing him, Train's eyes narrows as a slit could be seen forming in his eyes like that of a cat. Instantly, Train raise his gun and deflect every single bullet that shot towards him in the speed of light.

Surprise could be seen in Behemoth's eyes as he witnessed his bullets being deflected one after another rapidly without him catching his overall movement except seeing his bullets scatter everywhere around the brown haired man. A ferocious smile spread across his lips as Behemoth grips his minigun tighter and kept firing at Train, who kept deflecting the bullets with Hades.

A few bullets flew past his jacket under the heavy assault but it didn't leave a scratch on it. And it also didn't stop Train to keep deflecting the bullets, instead his speed increases on deflecting the bullets to which cause some of the deflected bullets to fly off some of the rocks lying around and destroyed it with just a single contact.

Watching as the assassin kept deflecting his bullets, Behemoth just smile in delight as he kept on firing before the sound of clicking could be heard originated from his trigger. Looking down at his minigun, Behemoth clicks his gun to shoot but bullets didn't shoot out of it.

Suddenly, Behemoth's eyes widen in realization as he looks up at where Train stood but he was caught by surprise as a gun appeared pointing at his neck from below. He glances down to look at the pair of narrow yellow eyes resembling a cat. He gulps before he heard the person in front of him speak.

"I came to deliver bad luck." Just as he mutters those words, a gunshot was sounded.

SBS Glocken City

"What the heck?! H-He defeated them just by himself?" A single male player stated in shock as he stare at the screen which displayed Train killing Behemoth with ease.

"How can he deflect those bullets? It was so unreal! Is he a AGI player?" Another player exclaimed in shock next to the player.

"That's bullshit! Not even a AGI player can do something like that with that kind of speed!" A frustrated player stated to the hologram screen in front of him as other players voices out from around him.

"He didn't even lose anything! Not a single body part like Hecate yesterday. And how did he kill all of them with a single hit? That's insane bullshit! Is he a STR player?

"Who is he?"

"Yes, that's the way, Train." The hooded cloaked player smiled under his hood as he watch the screen where it shows Train shoots Behemoth under his neck before leaving as the big man shatters into polygons. "Those eyes...That's the eyes of an assassin." He smiled appeared under his hood as his eyes stared in admiration of Train's power.

Time Skip

Walking through the streets, Train didn't cast a glance to anyone as he kept walking towards where the hooded cloaked player stood a while ago. His gun, Hades was safely secured inside its holster that was strapped around his right knee by two brown straps.

"Hey...Isn't that him?" A male player asked as he glances at Train while his friend looks at where he looked.

"...Yes, that's him. I can't believe it, how can he defeat them so easily?" He asked leaning against the wall of a shop as he looks at Train.

"Did he play GGO for a long time before but never really revealed himself to the public?" A male player asked his female friend standing next to him as both he and she looks at Train who had just walked pass them.

"I'm not sure, but he seems okay to me." The female player responded with a smile as the male player raise his eyebrow in confusion.

Hearing the whispers and gossips about him as the topic, Train kept walking the path before he stops and looks up at two male players that are as tall as Behemoth standing in front of him and blocking his way.

"Step aside." Train stated to the players who only smirk in return.

"Give us what you have before you'll regret it. You can't draw out your gun and shoot us just like you did with that hunting squadron-?!" The player on the left was cut off as he fell down on the ground as Train held his gun in front of him where he hit the player.

Looking at his friend, the other player decided to return back the assault before he immediately sent to the ground and hit it hard. Everyone who was nearby saw that Train had hit the player with his gun in a single melee hit to the cheek, the same way he did to the first.

"Sadly, I can do that." Train said to the two players before walking past them as the two males look at him while nursing their cheeks.

Starting Point

Arriving at the starting point, Train looks up at the hooded cloaked player who greets him with a smile.

"You did a good job, Train."

"I just did what I was offered with."

At his statement, the hooded cloaked player smiled before opening his menu and transferring his arranged money to Train.

A window pops up in front of Train, who looks down at the amount of money which is 25,000 credit as the player said. Tapping the 'Yes' button, he accepted the money as the window disappears.

"Now...Would you like another one perhaps?"

At the question, Train looks up at the cloaked figure.

"Since I give you my name, I think it's fair to give me yours?"

"Oh...Yes, yes. I forgot. Call me Diskenth for now." At his introduction, Train raised an eyebrow in slight confusion. "I apologize, we aren't going to be friends, correct?"

"What's next?"

Smiling in amusement, Diskenth nods before he speaks. "Straight to the point? I like your attitude. Anyway, the next target is Pitohui."

"A girl?"

"Yes. She's a gun maniac that likes to collect and always disregards orders in-battle. The price on her head is 50,000 credits. Think you can do it, Train?"

"Where can I find her?"

"Now this is the hard part and where you have to find out yourself. She doesn't stay in one spot."

"..."

"The most prominent feature about her is that she tattooed her face. You can do it later if you want, but you have to do it in a wide open area just like you did with Behemoth."

"Is there anyone that's not hard to search but easy to find?"

Hearing the straight words from the brunette's mouth makes Diskenth smile.

"Yes, there are. This target goes by the name Pale Rider. You can find him easily by his white suit that's an eyesore. He holds 75,000 credits on his suit. Anyway, in the meantime searching for the two, you can enjoy your time in the city. Get to know the place first and the dungeons underneath it."

"There's a dungeon?"

"It's to raise players stat once you level up. It'll be pretty boring if you aren't strong and always get blamed for your squadron's fall?"

"I don't know how that feels."

"Yet. Anyhow, you can enjoy now. If you found one of the two targets or two of them at once, I'll be here waiting."

"Okay." Train replied before he turns around and walks away, leaving Diskenth to look at him until he was out of sight.

"You're perfect, Train. You are perfect..."

SBC Glocken City

Bridge

"Where does he get all of that money?" Train asked in thought about Diskenth as he walks through one of the paths to who knows where. After be accepted the task to kill Behemoth, he didn't have time to explore the city and knows where path takes to where yet. Walking along a bridge, Train suddenly stops as he recalled back to the fight against Behemoth where he deflected his minigun bullets with his speed, much to his surprise since he didn't know that his speed could be converted into the game like in ALO. But during the heavy assault, he showed no expression of surprise since he had a task to complete and it would give his opponent an advantage of weakness.

He looks down at his gun and stares at the reflection reflecting from him. A smile slips past his lips as he speaks.

"I guess I'll be converting for a while." He thought back to his speed to which was the same as he was in ALO along with his strength where he hits one of the members of the hunting squadron with his gun and the said member instantly shatters. Train smiled down at his gun in his hand, Hades, to which he found comfortable and satisfying to use in a game where the present of guns was the default setting of a weapon for the game. He then spins his gun with his index finger before he put it inside its holster and begins to continue walking.

SBC Glocken City

Market

After walking for a while, Train arrived in front of large general store that had the sign, 'MARKET' displayed on top of the store's entrance. Looking at the store, Train decided to walk inside the store unaware of the players that look at him behind his back, surprised by his present.

Just as he walks inside, Train looks at the display of guns all around him while the price tags were showed below the display. Walking in front of a display of a gun that was a revolver, Train looks at the gun for a while before moving onto the next display of gun he was interested on looking. He then looks at the ammo display below their respective guns and he looks at his gun in return. Train opens his menu and clicks on his inventory to see the amount of ammunition he had for his gun.

"This..." Train mutters as he looks at his ammunition, noting that he has less than ten bullets left. But then his eyes landed on the bullet below the handgun bullets. "Orihalcum Bullets?" He asked in mind seeing as he had two bullets in the inventory. Forgoing to inspect the bullets later, Train looks at the gun display in front of him and chooses to buy normal handgun ammunition. Immediately, he heard something coming towards him and he looks down to see a small-sized robot curve a corner to stand in front of him. The robot reaches below his knees as Train looks down at the metallic robot.

"Would you like to purchase this?"

The robot asked in a robotic tone but cheerful. Train watches as a window pop up above the robot and he looks at the hand sized print that was printed on it to confirm his purchase. Train put his hand down on the hand sized print which causes a purchasing sound. Suddenly, a box of ammunition digitally appears in front of Train, who extend his hand below it to catch it. Once he did, he looks down at the box of ammunition before he opens his inventory and put it in his inventory. Just as the box of ammunition disappears from his hand, Train smiles a small smile at the robot in front of him.

"Thanks." He thanked before the robot responds.

"You're welcome!" After it said that, Train walks past the robot, leaving the robot to look at him before it drove off to attend the other customers.

Walking out of the market, Train glances around before he looks up, deciding to explore the dungeons underneath Glocken City. Just as he walks away, he was unaware of the pair blue of eyes watching him intently as he goes.

Dungeon

"Is this where it starts?"

Train thought as he looks around at the dark lit hall he was walking through after he had walked inside the entrance of the dungeon. Suddenly, growling sounds could be heard as Train grips his gun in his hand while he glances around at his surroundings, knowing the sounds were being made by multiple creatures.

Suddenly, Train instantly turns around and points his gun, Hades, behind him just as a bullet flew past him and hit the leaping monster behind him that was nearly going to pounce on the brown haired.

"...Is this how you always greet people?" Train looks at the features of the person in front of him. The most distinguish feature he could make out from the dark was the pair of blue eyes staring at him and the flower themed kimono she wore. "Even if you killed Behemoth and got some people attention, what's the idea of that? Do you want to be noticed by everyone somehow?"

"..."

At the silence that greeted her, a frown appears on her lips. "...Are you always like this? Do you know who I am possibly because I don't know you at all."

"...No." Just as he answered, her eyes widen in surprise as she watches a bullet instantly heads toward her head before she watches the bullet flew past her ear and kill a monster that was about to pounce from behind her.

Retracting his gun from its position, Train turns around and walks away with his gun in hand.

"You should be careful sometimes." Train advised as the black haired woman looks at him in surprise.

Real World

Toritsu Central Hospital

Evening

Room 7026

"How is he?" Nurse Aki asked as she walks through the door of the room and looks at Izayoi for a moment before looking at Leticia, who looks at the heartbeat monitor of the blonde lying on the hospital bed.

"His heartbeat is normal. It doesn't spike at all since he entered. He's completely calm."

"Really? I didn't suspect that he would be calm if he entered a game that has to kill other players."

"I think Izayoi-sama is fitting into the community he is in since 'he' would be possibly watching his every move. I hope that whoever he is, he wouldn't take notice of him."

"I heard about it. It isn't possible to kill a person within the game."

At this, Leticia nods in agreement before looking down at her master lying on the bed.

"Yes, and that is Izayoi-sama's duty to find out."

"Anyway, do you want me to get you something to eat? You've been monitoring him for hours."

"I would like that very much. What's your recommendation of your hospital food?"

A smile lit up on Aki's face as she winks at Leticia. "I got just the food in mind. I'll be right back!" She stated before turning around and leave through the door, leaving behind Leticia to smile at her st where she left.

Then, Leticia breath a deep breath before exhaling the breath out. Looking back at her master, Leticia couldn't help but cast a small frown at him, knowing the dangers that he would possibly face inside the game. "Do be careful, Izayoi-sama. Keep in mind who is waiting for you."

Suddenly, the sound of the door opens and Leticia looks at both Asuna and Yui walking through the door along with Canaria behind them. She went to stand up before Canaria ushered her to sit with a signal of her hand.

"Don't stand up. How is he?" Canaria asked with a small smile as Leticia glances at her master.

"He's doing alright. There isn't any problems during his Full-Dive process nor his condition as of late." At this, Canaria nodded in understanding before she smiled in appreciation at Leticia.

"Thank you, Leticia."

"I'm just doing what I'm told to and the fact that I want to uphold this duty to take care of him."

"And I can't help but thank you for your help, Leticia." Asuna smiled at her.

"Yeah, thank you Leticia-san!" Yui smiled in appreciation at the blonde woman who smiles back and nods in appreciation.

"You're welcome, Asuna-sama, Yui-sama."

Nodding, Asuna looks at her husband lying on the hospital bed in front of her. A worry frown etched onto her lips as she looks at him, knowing that her husband was inside the game to solve the case of the deaths that occurred in-game. And he was alone.

"Izayoi-kun..."

Flashback...

ALO

"Will you two join in GGO?"

Izayoi thinks back at Kikuoka's question as he sat on the flat tree surface while he stare at the clouds passing by and New Aincrad that was in his sights. His eyes narrowed as he thought about a player that could kill another player in the real world by just shooting him in-game.

"With that kind of power, he could control the game itself. But didn't...What's his purpose exactly? Targeting top players for what?"

"Izayoi-kun..." At his name, Izayoi pushed the thoughts away and looks at Asuna, who looks at him with a small frown. "Are you considering to go?"

"His offer sounds tempting even without the offer of money. Playing in Gun Gale Online, I want to see how." Izayoi stated. "Anyway, this case needs to be solved one way or another."

"..."

"It's alright if you don't go, you know?" Izayoi asked as Asuna glances at Yui, who looks confused by the situation.

"But what about you? How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know. But until the case is solve, I have to find out about this player."

"Papa, where will you go?" Yui asked in slight curiosity while she stands on top of Asuna's right shoulder. A small frown appears on her face as she looks at her father. "Is it long?" She asked as she lands on the ground in front of the blonde.

Izayoi smiled an assuring smile and pats her head with a finger. "Papa will check something out in another VRMMO for a few days because one of Papa's acquaintances asked me to. That friend asked Mama to come along if she wanted.

"Really, Mama?" Yui turns to Asuna, who smiled sadly at her.

"Yes, that man asked me and your Papa to join in the game to check a problem that had arise in it.

"Are you going?" Yui asked as Asuna shook her head.

"No. I have to take care of you, Yui-chan. I can't leave you all alone in the house while we're gone."

"But Obaa-san can take care of me."

"Yes, but I think Papa is more qualified to solve the problem than me. If the both of us joined in the game-"

"Then you can solve it faster by working together. Isn't that it?" Yui tilted her head in curiosity.

"Yeah, it's faster if we can solve it. But it's not that easy as you said, Yui." Asuna cast a sad smile at her daughter.

"Why's that?"

"It's hard to explain, Yui-chan. But you have to know that Mama wants to take care of you. And I decided it with my free will after your Papa asked me if I wanted to go with him in the game."

"Really?" Yui asked as Asuna nods with a small smile. "I understand." She nods.

"Don't worry, I'm going to be fine." Izayoi reassured as Yui looks at her father with a small frown.

"But you will be all alone, Papa."

"Yeah, I know. But it's better that way, Yui."

"Okay, Papa. But you have to promise to come back, right Mama?" Yui looks at her mother who nods at her before looking at her husband.

"Yes, ALO has become our home now." Asuna smiled at her husband as Izayoi nods in understanding before he face both of Yui and Asuna with a smile.

"I promise."

Present

SBC Glocken City

Dungeon

"Huh?" Train stops to look down at the trap chute in front of him. If he had walked a few steps forward, he would have fallen into the trap chute to who knows where. Just as he was about to ignore the trap chute and walked around it, he heard a shout.

"Wait, mister!" Train glances back at the voice that was owned by the girl in the kimono he just met earlier. Wanting no more than to get away from the girl, he looks down at the trap chute to which causes a sigh to come out from his mouth. Without hesitation, he jumps down into the trap chute just as the girl came into view.

"Huh? Where did he go?" The girl asked looking around before noticing the trap chute in front of her. "Did he fell?" She questioned thoughtfully. She then shakes her head in denial. "No, he couldn't fell. He looks way too smart to fall." She stated before she touch her chin with her finger with a thoughtful look. She then look forward and nods her head in determination. "Maybe he went ahead already." With that said, she runs forward, leaving the trap chute where the said man fell inside.

Lowest Floor of the Dungeon

After jumping down into the trap chute, Train slides through the chute for a while before the further he goes, he heard the sound of shooting coming closer and closer to him. Looking ahead, Train saw the ground coming closer towards him and he shot through the chute and landed on the ground on his knee.

Suddenly, he heard shooting sounds and he looks down from the cliff he was standing. He watches as a blue haired woman shoots her gun at the big monster that was five times her size. He then notices the bullets shells that was scattered throughout the whole floor beneath him, where the woman and the monster was battling. Looking at the woman, Train could saw the hardened look on her face as she shoots her bullets at the tiny yellow spot located on the monster's head.

"Is that its weak point?" Train questioned staring at the yellow spot that was visible on the monster's head. He watches as the woman shoots her bullets at the said spot but just the bullets hits the monster, it didn't hit the yellow spot albeit a few bullets hit it precisely but the monster didn't look budge at all from the damage inflicted to the spot. Suddenly, his eyes was trained on the tail of the monster that raise from its position and smack the woman towards the left support beam where she collided with the beam, causing her to cough in surprise. Then, the woman clothes started to melt away as her stomach was exposed but that was the only part of the clothes that had melted away.

"Shit…" The woman cursed as she groaned in pain from the monster's attack. She then wince at the burning pain enveloping her stomach as she looks down at her bare stomach that have burn marks. Looking at her gun that was lying next to her, she glances at the monster that was slowly creeping up towards her. Gritting her teeth, she immediately made an effort to grab her gun and aimed at the yellow spot of the monster's head that was directly at her line of sight. But she was suddenly caught by surprise as the monster raises its feet to crush her, blocking her from attacking the weak point of the monster.

Just as the feet was about to crush her, her eyes stare at the figure that had suddenly appear in front of her and blocked the monster's feet with his gun, causing a crater to appear beneath the figure. She watches in surprise as the man pushes the monster's feet easily, toppling it to the ground before he jumps into the air just above the monster. The woman watches as the man immediately shoots six shots towards the yellow spot on the monster's head before it toppled completely to the ground. Just as the monster fall to the ground in a heap, the man instantly landed on top of the monster's belly which caused a crater to appear beneath the monster and cracks started to spread across the area.

"What in the world…?" The blue haired woman questioned in her mind, shocked about the figure that single-handedly took down the monster in front of her. "W-Who is he?"She then watches the figure that jumps down from the monster's belly and walks away to walk towards her, unaware of the slight movement caused from the monster's tail. At the motion, the woman shouted at the man.

"Behind you!" She shouted as the man stops in his track accordance to her shout, but he stayed on his spot without moving. The woman watches as the tail was nearly about to crush the man with its burning tail but then the tail suddenly stops above the man before it burst into polygons along with the monster.

"Are you alright?" The blue haired woman looks up at the pair of yellow eyes staring back at her own.

"Yes. I'm fine." She answered as Train extend his hand towards the woman who looks up at him for any answers but when she found none, she took his hand. Just as she stands up, she looks at the man in front of her. The main focus she had was the single gun that was in his hand that was used to defeat the monster. "Is that a revolver?"

After she asked, a window pops up in front of Train who looks at the items displayed in the window.

[Kagemitsu G4-S-]

[Retractable wire leash]

Clicking on the first item on the window, a metal tube-like object appears in front of him and Train catch it with his left hand. Looking at the object, Train clicks the button to which he thought would be the activating button. Just as he clicks the button, a photon light blue light appears from the hole of the metal tube-like object. "This is light…" Train thought as he felt the weight of the metal tube object with the photon light extending from it. After a moment, Train turns off the switch of the light saber and opens his menu to store the weapon in his inventory. After he closes his menu, he looks at the woman in front of him and finally noticed the features of her face.

His eyes trailed off the brick-coloured, geometric-figured tattoo on her left cheek to which it turns and extends to the nape of her neck. Recalling the distinct features from Diskenth, Train's grip on his gun tightens before loosening.

"…Your name is Pitohui, correct?" Train asked looking at the woman in question as the blue haired woman looks at him in surprise before her grip on her gun tighten.

"Yeah. How do you know that?" She asked narrowing her eyes at the stranger, not expecting him to know her name since the two of them hadn't met face to face before nor did she know him through hunting.

Closing his eyes, Train turns around and walks away, surprising the woman named Pitohui who is one of his targets to kill. "Nothing."

"Hey, wait up!"

"Don't follow me." Pitohui stops in her tracks at his tone before she stares at the back of the man until he was out of sight.

When his gone, Pitohui looks down as she stare at the ground while she thought about the man that had saved her. "What's with him?"

Real World

Kazuto's Home

Night

"Onii-chan?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know where Izayoi-kun is? I didn't saw him today." Suguha stated as she looks at her brother who was eating his dinner.

"He had a work to do. He'll be gone in a few days." Kazuto answered after he swallowed his food.

"A few days?" Suguha raised an eyebrow as she put down the dish on the dish rack after washing it.

"Yeah. It's for a few days only. After that, he'll be back." Kazuto explained as Suguha looks at him before she clean her hands with a dish rag. She then walk towards her brother to get the empty plate from him. But she was stopped by a head shake from her brother. "I can wash it. You'll go upstairs. You have school tomorrow, right?" At this, Suguha nodded.

"Fine. But don't stay up late. You got something to do tomorrow right?" She asked as Kazuto nods. With a smile, Suguha turns around and climb upstairs, leaving him alone.

Grabbing his plate, Kazuto walk towards the sink and washes his plate before putting in on the dish rack to dry off. After that, he cleans his hands with a dish rag and walk towards the dining table where he looks at his phone that was glowing.

Picking the device, Kazuto looks at the message he had been sent by. His eyes scan the words in the message before he let down his phone.

"Izayoi-kun has already started in the morning. Are you ready fortomorrow?"

The message said clearly on his phone as Kazuto looks down and sigh.

Suddenly, a ring tone interrupted the moment and Kazuto lift his phone to click on the new message he received. His eyes soften as he looks at the message that was sent by a certain brunette of his.

"Are you asleep now, Kirito? Or not? Well, sorry for waking you up. But I hope you'll be careful for you know...tomorrow. I know I worry about you, but I can't help it you know? So all I'm gonna say fortomorrowis...I love you. Stay strong, Kirito."

"Liz..." Kazuto mutters as a smile appears on his lips from reading the message sent by his girlfriend. Raising his free hand, Kazuto type his reply with his index finger. After a while, he taps the send button.

"I will. I'll be back in ALO...I love you too."

A blush started to appear on Kazuto's cheeks as he looks at the last words he typed. "Is it okay...?" He asked in mind, not knowing how to use the word yet since he just started a relationship officially with Rika.

Suddenly, a reply had appeared below his sent message.

"Oh...Are you trying to be romantic, Kirito? It's not an insult but I never expected that you would reply like that. But with you, I can't help but be surprised each time. Hahaha...Anyway, good luck. ;)"

Smiling at the message, Kazuto push his chair underneath the dining table before turning the lights off and then walking upstairs to his room. Closing the door once be arrive inside, Kazuto lie down on his bed and looks at his NerveGear situated on a rack near his desk. He looks at it for a while before he stares up at the ceiling, thinking about a certain brunette. Closing his eyes, a smile was plastered on his lips.

"Thanks, Liz."

SBC Glocken City

Dungeon's Entrance

"Hm?" Train looks at the shotgun pointed at him before he looks at the wielder, noticing the white suit he adorned like Diskenth described.

After finishing the monster boss, Train had to navigate his way through the upper floors since he found that the floor where the boss was had been on the lower levels of the dungeon. During navigating, he found out that the monsters were getting easier to kill as he climb up to the upper levels and he started to question if the floor he defeated the monster boss was the lowest floor. He also thought about the target he left alive and he didn't regret leaving her since he would have to fulfilled the requirement prioritized by Diskenth; kill in a open area where the satellites can show screen his battles, much to Train's slight annoyance. But he's starting to abandon the annoying feeling since he knows 'he' would be watching and he wanted it like that.

But his thoughts were disrupted as he walked out of the dungeon and was suddenly facing a shotgun pointed at his face by a white suited player.

Looking at the player, Train stayed silence before the player named Pale Rider lower his gun, turns around and quickly runs, leaving Train to look at him.

"It's going to be that way, huh?" Train asked in mind before he follows him in a black blur, leaving players nearby to look at him in surprise. "A chase is better than nothing."

To Be Continued...

That's the end of SAO II: Phantom's Rosario chapter 3. How do you all like it?

It seems new characters are added into this chapter and I think you all know who is who. If not, check their respective wikis'. Anyway, I hope you love the chapter and I am sorry if I didn't update earlier than expected. It is because that I was busy in the real world. Anyway, review on the chapter on what you think and also favorite and follow this story, it'll make me happy.

I'll be going to continue the next chapter, alright?

Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!