As the goblins approach them, Kirito grabs Eugeo and hides behind some ice, along with Sonic, Mighty, and Ray. Eugeo breathes heavily in fear.
Kirito: Eugeo! Get a hold of yourself!
Eugeo then calms down.
Sonic: Listen, we're going to take on those jerks. Me, Mighty, and Ray will go in first, you both grab a sword from the ground.
Eugeo: I've never fought with a sword before.
Mighty: Consider it an ax then. Let's go!
Ray: Don't lose that herb! We'll cover you guys.
Kirito: Right!
Sonic, Mighty, and Ray charge in and beat up a few goblins, while they're doing that, Kirito and Eugeo head to a pile of weapons and they each grab a sword.
Kirito: We'll take care of the big one, you and Ray keep the others off our backs!
Eugeo: Got it!
Ray: Ok!
As Eugeo prepares to fight, the goblins take a step back. Then, he takes out the glowing herb, and the goblins take another step back, and look afraid.
Eugeo: I see. They don't like the light.
Meanwhile, Sonic, Mighty, and Kirito prepare to fight the leader.
Sonic: Ok. You both ready?
Mighty: Always.
Kirito: Yeah.
Goblin Leader: You think you can challenge the great Ugachi the Lizard Killer?
Sonic: You think you can challenge Sonic the Hedgehog?
Ugachi: Are you mocking me?
Sonic: Maybe.
Kirito: We're not challenging you. We're going to beat you!
Ugachi: So be it!
Sonic, Mighty, and Kirito take out the goblins that get in their way, and they start attacking Ugachi. Sonic and Mighty use their spin dash to stagger him, and then Kirito charges in.
Kirito: Sword skill! Sharp Nail!
He unleashes the three hit sword skill on the leader, and slices his left arm off.
Ugachi: Curse you!
Ugachi slashes Kirito, leaving a cut on his shoulder.
Sonic: Kirito!
Then, he slashes Sonic and Mighty, making their rings fly out of them.
Eugeo: Oh no! Are you guys alright?!
Ray: Hang on!
Kirito: There's no way I would feel pain like this in the virtual world.
Ugachi: How dare you slice my arm off?! I'll never forgive you!
Sonic, Mighty, and Kirito get back up and grab their rings that flew out.
Ugachi: I can tear you all apart, and devour you, and still never live this down!
They continue attacking, Kirito uses the sword skill, Vertical Arc, and just as it finished, the goblin leader kicks him over to a bunch of ice. As Sonic, and Mighty lay a bunch of hits on them using their spin attacks on him, he grabs them both and throw them at a wall.
Ray: Hey! Leave them alone!
Ray uses his spin dash at the goblin, knocking him back a little. Then, Ugachi slashes Ray, making him drop a bunch of his rings, and knocking him back.
Eugeo: I'm scared. But I have to do this!
As Ugachi prepares to strike Kirito one last time, Kirito begins to tremble as he grabs his sword. And then Eugeo charges at Ugachi with his sword.
Eugeo: KIRITOOOOOOOOO!
He strikes at the goblin leader with unrelenting force. The giant goblin steps back when Eugeo shows him the light.
Eugeo: This time! I'll protect you guys!
Then, the big goblin uses a sword skill to strike Eugeo. With that, a huge cut appears at his stomach.
Kirito: Eugeo!
Sonic: Eugeo!
The gang runs over to Eugeo.
Mighty: This is bad.
Eugeo: Kirito. We promised each other as kids, remember? Me, you, and Alice. We were all born on the same day, and so we will die on the same day too. This time, I'm keeping it.
Eugeo then lays down unconscious, and then Kirito starts remembering both him and Alice.
Kirito: That's right. I remember now. I couldn't keep that promise either, but...
Ugachi starts walking up to them.
Ugachi: Die!
With Eugeo down, Sonic, Mighty, Ray, and Kirito start attacking Ugachi with full force.
Ugachi: You filthy white lum and animals! I'll put you all in your place!
Sonic: That's offensive!
Kirito: And I'm no lum! I'm Kirito the Black Swordsman!
Sonic: And I'm Sonic the Hedgehog! The fastest thing alive!
Ugachi: I don't care if you are!
Sonic: Maybe he's an artificial fluctlight, but we can't lose here. We can never lose, no matter what!
As they stagger Ugachi, Sonic, Mighty, and Ray use their spin attacks to strike him again. Then, Kirito uses the sword skill, Sonic Leap to chop off his head. And with that, Ugachi the Lizard Killer is defeated. Kirito picks up his head and shows it to the other goblins.
Kirito: We have taken the head of your boss! Those who are willing to fight us, you may! If not, I suggest you return back to your own turf right now!
With those words, all of the goblins retreat back to Dark Territory. Then, Mighty runs over to Eugeo and checks on his life. It shows that it's below 300 and still going down fast.
Mighty: Not good! His health is going down fast!
Sonic runs over to Selka and helps her.
Sonic: Selka! Get up!
She wakes up and looks at him.
Selka: Sonic? Mighty? Ray? You too Kirito?
Ray: We came to rescue you. But we don't have time to talk now!
Kirito: Eugeo's been badly hurt!
Selka: What?!
They head on over to Eugeo, whose currently unconscious.
Selka: Impossible. A wound like this is beyond my sacred art abilities.
Mighty: You have to try. Aren't you Alice's younger sister?
Selka: I can never be like her. The most I can heal are simple scratches.
Kirito: Selka! You're the one Eugeo came to save! Not Alice! He came to save you!
Selka begins to calm down as her tears dry.
Selka: Normal healing arts will take too long. We'll have to try a dangerous high-level sacred art. I will need help from all of you.
Kirito: We'll do it. Just say the word.
Selka: Everyone hold on to each others hands.
Everybody holds hands, including Selka's. And Selka places her hand on Eugeo.
Selka: If I fail, we all might lose our lives as well. I hope you're all prepared.
Sonic: Yeah.
Ray: We're always ready.
Mighty: No man left behind.
Kirito: Right.
Selka: System call. Transfer human unit durability. Right hand self to left.
With that, the healing process begins, and Sonic, Mighty, Ray, and Kirito start feeling pain as it happens.
Mighty: So she's transferring our lives and hers to Eugeo's?
Selka: Are you all still with me?
Sonic: Yeah. We're fine.
Kirito: Just keep going.
She continues to heal Eugeo, and then, a spirit appears right behind Kirito.
Spirit: Kirito. Eugeo. I'll be waiting for you, always. At the top of the Central Cathedral.
Kirito: Is that...?
The healing process finishes as the spirit disappears. Kirito and the others fall onto the ground, except for Selka. Sonic and Mighty start breathing really heavily.
Sonic: Is he going to be alright?
Selka: Yes. The transfer is finished.
Mighty: Good. I'm glad.
The next day, Sonic and his friends head back to the Gigas Cedar.
Eugeo: 50!
Eugeo hits the tree with the ax.
Ray: You doing ok, Eugeo?
Eugeo: Yeah. After resting for an entire day, my wound is fine.
Sonic: Good.
Kirito: Hey, remember back at the cave yesterday? You said something strange. You made it sound like I was always friends with you and Alice.
Eugeo: I remember. But it can't be right because I only just met you. For some reason, I felt so sure about it for a moment. That me, you, and Alice were both born here in this village and grew up together. I believe we were together the day Alice was taken away as well.
Kirito: I see.
Mighty Whispering: No doubt they all met when Kirito first used the STL.
Sonic Whispering: Yeah.
Kirito: By the way, when Selka used that sacred art, did you hear someones voice?
Eugeo: No. I was completely unconscious.
Sonic: I didn't hear anything at all.
Mighty: Me neither.
Ray: Did you hear something back there?
Kirito: Never mind. It was just my imagination. Back to work.
Eugeo: Ok then. Good luck Kirito.
Just as Eugeo hands the ax to Kirito, he unsheathes the Blue Rose Sword and carries it with one hand.
Eugeo: Kirito. You can use that now?
Kirito: Yeah. Just watch.
They look at the durability of the tree, showing 232,312, and Kirito prepares to strike it with the Blue Rose Sword.
Kirito: Because of that fight with the goblins the other day, my object control authority has exceeded this sword's number. If so...
Kirito unleashes a sword skill at the Gigas Cedar, and its life goes down over 10,000. The slash left a massive mark on the gigantic tree.
Eugeo: No way!
Kirito: I bet you can use it too, Eugeo.
He then hands Eugeo the sword, and he's able to hold onto it.
Eugeo: Kirito. I want you to teach me how to use a sword.
Kirito: Huh?
Eugeo: I want to bring Alice back. Because of me, Alice's family has suffered for so long. And for the past six years...
He bends down on his knees.
Eugeo: I've never stopped regretting it. Wondering why I couldn't do anything to save her?
He starts shedding a tear.
Eugeo: I want to become strong so that I'll never make that same mistake again! So that I can take back what I lost! That's why I wish to become a swordsman!
Kirito: Alright. I'll teach you. Everything that I know.
Kirito holds out his hand to Eugeo, and he grabs it.
Eugeo: Thank you. By the way, what style is your sword technique?
Kirito: Hmm. My technique is the Aincrad style.
Sonic: Hmm. I love that name.
Mighty: Me too.
Ray: Me three.
After a couple days of training, Eugeo finally has learned Kirito's skills. With the durability of the Gigas Cedar now at 6,738, Eugeo prepares to go for it one more time.
Sonic: This is it Eugeo.
Mighty: Give it everything you got.
Ray: Alice is waiting for you.
Kirito: Go for it, Eugeo.
Eugeo: Right.
Everybody steps back as Eugeo unleashes one last sword skill at the Gigas Cedar. And as it hits, the massive tree finally falls down on the ground. All of the villagers check it out.
Eugeo: It's like a dream. I never thought this day would come. I didn't believe in destiny at all, but... Kirito, I've been waiting for you to come the past six years in this forest.
Kirito: Yeah. I'm sure that I woke up in this huge forest to meet you, Eugeo.
Sonic: Same goes for us.
Mighty: Now you'll be able to get Alice back.
Sonic: And we'll do everything we can to help you out.
Eugeo: Really?
Sonic: Yeah. That's what heroes do.
Later on at night, the entire village celebrates the fall of the Gigas Cedar, also known as the Demon Tree. People begin dancing, a band plays, and food becomes served. Selka heads over to Sonic and the others with Eugeo not there.
Selka: Where's Eugeo?
Sonic: He went to see the village elder somewhere.
Selka: I see. But chopping down the Demon Tree really was amazing, huh?
Kirito: I guess it was the fruit of Eugeo's labor.
Selka: I have to study harder as well, so that I can perfect my sacred arts skills as a sister. Not that I can ever be like Alice. Actually, I didn't go into that cave to imitate my sister. I just wanted to be a little bit closer to her. To keep going as far as I could until I couldn't go anymore. That's where I wanted to make sure there was no way I could ever take her place.
Mighty: You were amazing actually.
Selka: Huh?
Ray: Mighty's right. You went really far into that cave. That was something only you could do.
Selka: Something only I could do?
Kirito: You may not be like Alice, but I'm sure there's something unique inside you. Just take your time and develop it.
Selka: Ok.
Sonic: Look! At the stage! It's Eugeo and the village elder!
Village Elder: Can I have your attention everyone! The greatest wish of Rulid's founding ancestors has finally been fulfilled! The Demon Tree has fallen!
The crowd cheers.
Village Elder: An achievement made by the son of Orick, Eugeo!
The crowd claps their hands.
Village Elder: According to tradition, having to complete this task, Eugeo now has the right to choose his next calling! Which path do you wish to take?
Eugeo: My path...
A moment of silence happens. Then, Eugeo makes his choice.
Eugeo: I will become a swordsman! I will hone my skills, and one day head to the central city!
Village Elder: Eugeo? Surely you're not...
They both look at each other for a brief moment.
Village Elder: No, I won't ask you why. It is your right to choose your next calling after all. As the elder of Rulid, I hearby approve Eugeo's new calling to be a swordsman!
All of the villagers cheer for Eugeo.
Sonic: I'm proud of him.
Kirito: He's learned a lot.
The next day, Eugeo heads to the church and finds Selka taking water out of the well.
Eugeo: Selka.
Selka: Eugeo?
Eugeo: There's something I want to tell you.
Selka: What is it?
Eugeo: I'm going to the central city to bring Alice back.
Selka: My sister?
Eugeo: This is something I've been thinking about for the past six years. But I didn't know how to go about it. But then, I met Kirito, Sonic, Mighty, and Ray, and I finally had hope of bringing her back. If they're with me, I feel like I can do anything. I know that you and your family have suffered so much, and I'm sorry. But I will definitely bring her back. So I want you to believe in me and wait.
Selka begins to tear up.
Selka: That's something only you can do, right?
Eugeo: Yeah.
Selka: I'll wait. So please make sure all of you come back.
Eugeo: I promise. All of us will definitely come back.
Sonic, Mighty, Ray, and Kirito listened to their conversation, and after packing up, they wait for Eugeo at the village entrance. He finally arrives.
Eugeo: Sorry to keep you all waiting.
Sonic: Alright. Let's get going.
They begin walking along the path.
Eugeo: I wonder what the central city is like.
Kirito: No idea.
They stop and take one last look at Rulid.
Mighty: It's definitely going to be a lot bigger than your hometown, right?
Eugeo: Yes. That's true.
The wind starts blowing.
Sonic: Well, we better get going now.
Kirito: Yeah. Let's go. To the central city.
Everyone: Right!
The journey begins.
