The new chapter is here! I really hope you enjoy it! Review if you like it! Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!


Chapter 7: The Black and White Swordsman

February 24, 2024 Floor 47: Floria

"Uwaaaah..." Silica said in awe at the beautiful scenery as she was greeted by a wide field, fill with all kinds of flowers and some trees. "It's like a dream." Silica said as she now wear a red coat with a silver breast plate, a mini skirt inside and a black long boot.

"This floor is known as the Flower Garden. The entire level is covered in flowers." Kirito explained to her. Silica then proceed to walk and look around to look at the flower then she spot a ladybug which flew away with Silica following the bug with her eyes, until she notice the area was filled with couples. "This is..." Silica thought as she notice a few couples gathering romantically, it seems this place is as she realize was a hot dating place. With that noticed, Silica's face went red.

"Silica?" Izayoi asked as he walked over to her. "Yes!" She said immediately standing up, as she face Izayoi. "Sorry to keep you waiting." She stated. Then, Izayoi look behind her to see the same thing as her, couples holding hands, laughing, smiling and enjoying one's company with each other. Izayoi smile looking at them as he then look towards Silica. "What's wrong you two?" Kirito asked arriving just behind them.

"Ah, nothing at all..." Silica responded as Kirito walk ahead of them. "Let's go." He said walking further away from them. "Let's go, Silica." Izayoi said as he suddenly appear behind her, as he slightly pushed her, "Come on, Pina is waiting for you." He stated as Silica blink and then smile. "Right!" She said determined as the two of them followed Kirito.

After a couple of minutes of walking, the three of them arrive at the bridge. "What's this?" Silica asked as Kirito showed her a blue crystal on his hand. "If anything unexpected happens, and I or Izayoi tell you to warp out, use this crystal to jump to any town." Kirito said as Silica look at him sadly.

"But..." She hesitated to answer. "Promise us." Kirito said with a hard stare. Silica look at Izayoi as he replied with a nod and a smile. Silica went silent for a second as she then nodded.

"All right." She said, taking the blue crystal and stored it inside her back pocket. "Okay, let's get going." Kirito said walking across the bridge. "This path leads to the Hill of Memories." Kirito stated as he walk on the path leading to it.

Silica look to where Kirito was headed and sees a hill at the edge of the place. "Silica, come on." Silica snap back as she was call by Izayoi who walk a little ways ahead of her. Silica then quickly jog to catch up, as she walk beside him with Kirito ahead of them taking point. "Like I tell you... A tour guide." Izayoi said while chuckling mentally, as he's point was proved right that Kirito's title was a tour guide, as he was now taking point. Kirito got all the conditions to a tour guide, with his safety of his tourist and taking the time to show them around.

The three of them walk in silent, until a question popped into Silica's mind, as she look to Izayoi. "Um, Izayoi..." But before she can finish, she was cut off by two tendrils of vines grabbing her legs.

"Ah? Kyaaaaa!" Silica scream in surprise as a venus plant monster grab her legs and raise her up side down, making Silica hold her skirt. She then look at the monster, which the monster open up its mouth, much to her horror.

"Kyaaa!" Silica scream swinging her sword wildly.

"Calm down Silica!" Kirito yell. "Its really weak!" He said while Izayoi stares at her, more specifically at her skirt, which Silica response was a redden face. "Nice..." Izayoi said with a smirk as he grasp his sword, just in case.

"I-Izayoi! K-Kirito-san! Save me!" Silica said swinging her sword blindly still holding her skirt. "Don't look, but save me!" She said as Kirito covered some of his eyes.

"That's impossible..." He said while Izayoi crouch , getting ready to dash.

"As she said, don't look." Izayoi said as he focused on the monster, remembering where it is, as he attends to slay it with his eyes closed. "Wait..." He said as he slowly closed his eyes, looking towards the struggling Silica, remembering her and the last bit of the monster location. "Now!" He said dashing to the monster with his eyes completely closed.

"Huh?" Kirito stated as he saw Izayoi dashing with his eyes closed? He thought. Izayoi then launch a series of attack at the monsters, slashing off its vines that hold Silica.

"Izayoi!?" Silica said surprised as Izayoi catch her and carried her bridal style with just his free hand holding her while the other holding his Heaven sword. Then, Izayoi opens his eyes as he saw that they were about to be eaten by the monster, with them falling directly into it.

"You're not eating me today." He said with a grin as his sword glowed white, as he slash his sword at the monster wide-open mouth, which releases a white energy slash. As the slash was eaten by the monster, it was instantly destroyed by the white slash. After Izayoi lands, he let Silica down as she sheepishly blush.

"Thank you for saving me. Again. Izayoi." Silica said as Izayoi chuckle. "No problem, and don't think to give me anything, okay? Cause i've already got something you gave me." He stated to her.

"And what's that?" Silica asked confused as Izayoi smile. "Well, I got to see your pink panties." He simply exclaimed, making Silica blushed furiously. Then, Silica turns to Kirito. "Did you see?" She asked still with her redden face.

"No, I didn't." Kirito said as he closed his remaining eye while he slightly blushed, he'd just saw a glimpse of it but that's all.


After earlier incident, the three of them continue on. "Kirito-san, could I ask you about your sister?" Silica asked look towards him. "Why now, all of a sudden?" Kirito said raising an eyebrow.

"You said I look like her. I know it's impolite to ask about the real world. But would it be okay?" She said as Izayoi stares ahead of the path, while listening to their conversation.

"I called her my little sister, but she's actually my cousin. We grew together, so I don't think she knows. Maybe that's why... I've been distancing myself from her. Our grandfather's really strict. When I was eight, he made us attend a local kendo dojo." He stated as the other listened.

"I stopped after two years. My grandfather beat me up." He said as Silica frown sadly. "That's terrible..." Silica said as Kirito continued. "But then, someone came in and stopped my grandfather." He said smiling at the moment, as Izayoi smirk, knowing what's next of his story.

"That someone was pretty pissed, about my grandfather for beating me up. He told him that if he won the nationals, he won't beat me up again. My grandfather said why help a stranger that you don't know? Even if it means that you will lose before going to the nationals?" Kirito said as he look towards Izayoi.

"I hate seeing people get beat up over something that he isn't good at. That grandpa can put up a fight. But sadly he loss the bet. Don't know that I could win nationals. Serve him, right." Izayoi said as Kirito smile, while Silica was confused.

"So that someone was...?" Silica asked the two of them.

"That was me." Izayoi stated, surprising Silica.

"After Izayoi won the bet, my sister kind of look up to him, and so she said that she'd put in enough effort for both of us, and to stop hitting me, if he tries. Then, Izayoi teach her and she worked really hard after that, and made it to the nationals." Kirito exclaims, which make Silica impress.

"That's amazing." She said, but then she notice Kirito hard face. "But I always felt bad about it, like maybe she would rather have been doing something else, and secretly holds it against me. So it's possible that I'm helping you because it feels like a way to atone to my sister." Kirito stated looking away.

"I'm sorry. I don't think that your sister hates you. You can't work that hard for someone who you don't like. I'm sure she really loves kendo!" Silica said, putting a smile on Kirito face.

"You keep reassuring me. Maybe you're right. I hope so." He said as Izayoi puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Kirito, I know so. I didn't teach her to be like that. I can see from when I taught her, that she really likes kendo. To explore different types of advantage for your opponents. And to make her big brother happy." Izayoi said to him, as Kirito was relieve to have someone like Izayoi and Silica to cheer him up.

"But..." Kirito said another story coming up. "After Izayoi left, she's been sad ever since. She wanted to call you, to know that you're okay and tell how she's been practicing on her kendo lately. I noticed even now that she's still upset about you leaving." Kirito stated as Izayoi frowns.

"I know. I notice when we talked on the phone, for the first time. She was trilled to call me, and I could hear that she was crying. I felt bad for leaving, but now I'm here. So, I don't have to be the sad one, anymore." Izayoi said, slightly chuckling after he ends his part of the story.

"Yeah, now that you're here. We won't be alone when you're visiting our house." Kirito said. "Well, thanks. I do have a lot of money to get to your house." Izayoi said sarcastically.

"You don't spend the money for transportation. You're literally are the transportation. How do you go to my house in just 10 minutes? Riding your motorcycle? It would take at least 20 minutes to 30 to get to your house and back to mine." Kirito said questioning him. "Kirito you rode a bicycle. I rode a motorcycle. It's different." Izayoi said, as he rolled his eyes.

"I doubt even any motorcycle can reach that speed without getting to the police station. And your just 15! How can you have a license that young!" Kirito stated in surprise. "Well, I am an athlete. Maybe it's a bonus for me driving fast and reaching your house in minutes." Izayoi said explaining his theory. "Whatever. But you are an athlete." Kirito said sighing.

"Good. Now, Silica let's go. Before any one gets to the flower." Izayoi said smiling at her as her cheeks tinted pink. "Okay... I'll do my best, too!" She said referring to Kirito's sister determination.

Silica took a step forward and to her surprise, the ground around glowed purple, and a purple like cucumber like monster appear asSilica was trap in its mouth that were fill with a lots of tongue like things. "Izayoi! Kirito-san! Help!" She said but was cut off as one of the tentacle lick her.

With two slashes from Izayoi and Kirito the monster was destroyed, freeing Silica as she fell and lands in Izayoi's arm. "Be careful next time, okay?" Izayoi stated as Silica nod and blush as she was still in his arms. "Um... Izayoi, can you let me down?" Silica asked nervously. "What? You don't like it?" Izayoi questioned, teasing her again, making Silica blush again. "N-No! It's just... Huh?" Silica sputter as her face went red.

"Okay, okay. I'm just kidding." Izayoi stated, letting her down gently. "Thank you." Silica said to him, as the three of them continued on their journey.


After walking a few minutes, they finally arrived at the destination. "The flower of revival is here?" Silica ask, looking around the area. "Yeah, if I remember..." Kirito said, pointing ahead of the path, which at the end of it was an altar of some sort. The three of them walk toward there, not rushing it. After Silica arrived at the altar first, the small altar glowed and a beautiful white flower bloom from it. The three watched in on awe, with Izayoi whistled in impressed.

"What are you waiting for, Silica? Take it." Izayoi said to Silica, who nod and take the flower.

Pneuma Flower

"This will bring Pina back, right?" Silica asked turning towards Izayoi. "Yeah, what else does it do?" Izayoi said with a shrug, as Silica stifle a laugh with Kirito nodding to her. "I'm so glad..." Silica said hugging the flower. "But there are lots of strong monsters around here. Let's revive her after we get back to town." Kirito said to her. "I'm sure she'd prefer it that way." Izayoi stated as Silica look towards the both of them. "Yeah." She said nodding to them.

After a long walk back they finally arrive at the bridge, with Izayoi leading the way. Suddenly Izayoi hold out his hand to them, staying the two of them back while Kirito put a hand on Silica's shoulder, signaling her to stop.

"Kirito-san?" Silica said, turning to him and then at Izayoi. "Izayoi?" She stated confused. "Whoever's behind those trees, come out." Izayoi said narrowing his eyes, towards the lines of trees across the bridge.

Then all of a sudden, came out the red haired woman they encounter from before, carrying a spear from one of the trees. "R-Rosalia-san?" Silica said In surprise. "If you can see through my hiding skill, your detection skill must be quite high, Swordsman." The now named Rosalia said to the hooded Izayoi. "It appears you managed to get the Pheuma Flower. Congratulations. Now hand it over." She said to them.

"W-What are you talking about?" Silica asked. "That isn't going to happen, Rosalia-san. Or should I say leader of the orange guild, Titan's Hand." Izayoi said smirking as Kirito move beside him.

"Ehhh?" Rosalia said, looking surprise in her own way. "But she's green!" Silica stated to Izayoi and Kirito. "It's a simple trick. The green members find targets, and lead them to where the orange players are waiting." Kirito explained. "That was one of your friends listening to us last night, right?" Izayoi asked the red haired woman.

"Then, the reason we were in the same party for two weeks..." Silica said placing the events, as Rosalia smile. "That's right. I was assessing its strength, while waiting for them to earn money from adventures." She stated as she lick her lips. Silica backs slightly away in fright.

"You were the prey I was most anticipating. It was unfortunate that you left, but then you said you were getting a rare item. However, you knew all that, but went with her anyway. Are you an idiot? Or did she actually really seduce you?" She said to the boys.

"Are you kidding?" Izayoi ask as he grins. "I agree with him. And no, neither of the above." Kirito stated.

"We've also been searching for you, Rosalia." Izayoi said to her. "What are you talking about?" Rosalia asked. "Ten days ago, you attacked a guild called the Silver Flags. Four people, all but the leader, died." Izayoi explained. "Oh, the ones with no money..." Rosalia said remembering.

"Their leader went from the warp point to the front lines, from morning until night, begging someone to avenge them. But he didn't want you killed." Kirito said continued. "He wanted someone to jail you. Can you understand how he felt?"

"Nope." Rosalia simply answer. "What kind of idiot would take this seriously? There's no proof that killing someone here means they die in real life. Anyway, shouldn't you be more concerned about yourselves?" She said as she flick her hand as more players suddenly came out behind the trees.

"Kirito-san, Izayoi, there are too many!" Silica said backing away as she look at the eight players that were to fight them. "We should run!" She said as she was interrupted by a hand patting her head, she look up to see Kirito.

"It's all right. Until we tell you to run, just keep the crystal ready. Stay put and watch." He said as he and Izayoi walk closer towards the eight players. "Okay. B-But... Kirito-san, Izayoi!" Silica said.

Izayoi was right beside Kirito, as he smirk. "We should run? Silica, is that the best you can come up with? I don't even have the word 'run' in my dictionary. These guys are just weaklings, hiding and killing other players behind their backs. Their nothing but a bunch of cowards!" Izayoi said unsheathing his Hell sword with his left hand and the other, wielding Hades, as Kirito unsheathed his own sword. The words Izayoi said infuriated the eight players as they got ready to fight, until one of the Titan Hand members, widen his eyes, hearing the familiar names.

"Izayoi? Kirito?" One of the Titan Hand member said, looking towards Izayoi and Kirito. "Clad in white clothes..." The man watches as Izayoi twirl his gun and flicking his sword. "A gun in hand...and a black sword in the other... That can't be... The White Swordsman! Then, the black clothes... A one-handed, no-shield style, must be The Black Swordsman!"

"Rosalia-san, these two is the duo beaters that tag teamed the front lines... They're in the lead group! Rumors has spread that these two are unstoppable, they have been seen traveling together, killing a lot of monsters in most of the floors. The two are given a name by some of the guilds as, The Black and White Swordsman!" He said as he continued.

"Especially the white hooded one, he solos the front lines even without the need to have help, and the description about him, it isn't a mistake, he is The Thousand Blades!"

"The lead group? The Thousand Blades?" Silica questioned mentally, watching the scene before her. "How can you be sure if he is The Thousand Blades?" The other member asked. "He's supposed to wield dual swords, not a gun in his hand and a sword in the other!" He said trying to correct him of his information.

Izayoi who overheard the conversation, smirk devishly. "You mean to say he wields dual swords?" He stated as Hades was instantly replaced by his Heaven sword. Then, he twirl both of his twin swords as he shouldered his Hell sword on his shoulder.

"Now are you satisfied on your information about me?" He said, causing them to be stunned by his sudden change of equipment. "Because I can change something else beside my twin swords." He exclaim as his Heaven and Hell sword were again, instantly replaced by Twin Hades.

The members of Titan Hand now held a terrified face, as they slightly back away. "Scared, much? Well, how about this?" Izayoi stated as he wield his Avenger and shouldering it on his shoulder.

"And for the last surprise." He said replacing his Avenger with The Sword of Light. Izayoi pull the sword from its sheath, as he points it to the members of Titan Hands. The sword, they noticed it gleam with power, and they also noticed the shape of the sword, their expression when they look at the shape of the sword, was the same expression as of when the players fought Illfang The Kobold Lord, shocked.

"No... That couldn't be... that Sword..." One of the member said, shocked. "There's mistaking it, He really is The Thousand Blades, wielding that sword to defeat the Illfang The Kobold Lord, First Floor Boss when we all can't. W-We can't fight him. H-He'll kill us!" The member before, with gray hair, that was standing beside Rosalia said.

"Someone from the lead group wouldn't be down here! Go get him, and take everything he owns!" Rosalia ordered as some of the players, readied their weapons, while some had some concern about fighting Izayoi. "That isn't The so called Thousand Blades. It's all lies. Go get him, too and take everything he owns, including that sword." Rosalia said as the group's weapons glowed, signalling their attack.

"Die!" One of the member cry out as the group all attack Izayoi and Kirito, whom only stand still and receive the attack. Izayoi yawns as the group attack them, bored of them not being a challenge to him.

Silica put a hand on her short sword. "I have to save Kirito-san and Izayoi..." She said nervously as she then look at Kirito's health bar, which seems to be decreasing a little and increasing again. Then, she look at Izayoi's health bar, as she was shocked beyond words. His health bar isn't decreasing at all, it just stay there while he took what she thought a series of slashes by the group. "What?" Silica said.

After a few minutes, the attackers stop attacking as they pant tiredly, with Izayoi just yawning, looking completely bored and Kirito still stood there, as the both of them stand there, unscathed from all the group's attacks. "What are you doing? Kill him!" Rosalia said in anger. The attackers look at each other hesitantly until Kirito spoke. "About 400, in around 10 seconds... That's the total damage you seven can do to me. I'm level 78. I have 14,500 HP. My battle healing skill auto-regenerates 600 points every 10 seconds. We could stand here all day, and you'd never beat me, or Izayoi." Kirito explained as he and the atttackers look at a yawning Izayoi.

Izayoi realized he had everyone attention's, he then says his part of his level. "Like Kirito, you all did attack me. About 400, in around 0 seconds..." He said as everyone widen their eyes, including a surprised Kirito. "I have 20,000 HP. My battle healing skill auto-regenerates 1000 points every 5 seconds. We really could stand here all day with you all not beating us. Even not damaging half of our health. And, just for the record that you don't know. I'm level 100." Izayoi said as he look to see the attacker backing away, scared and terrified.

"I-Is that even possible?" One of the attacker said, behind Kirito. "It is. High enough numbers will make you invincible. MMO's that use a level system are unfair that way." Kirito explained to him, as he then look at Rosalia while Izayoi pulled out something from his pocket.

"You know, our client spend his entire fortune to buy this warp-crystal. It's set to take you to the prison. You're all going there, whether you like it or not, it's not my problem, it's yours. And if you disagree to go there, well... There's no other choice than to dragged you half dead body into it." Izayoi said showing the warp-crystal to all of them.

Rosalia then took a stance. "I'm green, so if you hurt me, you'll go orange..." She was cut off by Izayoi aiming to slice her neck off. "Just so we're clear, we're a tag team player, and I'm sometimes a solo player. One or two days of playing while orange mean nothing to me. Kirito on the other hand wouldn't mind hanging around an orange player for a few days." Izayoi said coldly with cold eyes.

"Just like i said awhile back, if you still remember. I'm not responsible for your life. So right now, I can just kill you." Izayoi said as Rosalia doesn't response as she drop her weapon on the ground. "But, killing you is not worth it. At all. So spend the rest of your life in prison, you need it."


Floor 35: Mische

Drakengard Inn

Silica's Room

The three of them are inside Silica's room, looking foward to Pina's resurrection, and to discuss what happened earlier. Izayoi was sitting on a chair beside the bed while Kirito and Silica sat on the bed. "Sorry, Silica... We ended up using you as bait. We thought you'd be scared if you told you about ourselves." Kirito said as Silica shook her head. You two are both a good person, so I wouldn't be scared." She said she look down. "So you two are leaving, then?" She asked looking towards them.

"Yeah, we've been away from the front lines for five days... We need to get back." Izayoi said sighing with Kirito nodding, as Silica grip her hands together. "T-The lead group is amazing... I could never be one, even if I tried for years." She said as she look at Izayoi. "Um...I..." She was interrupted by Kirito. "Levels are just numbers. In this world, strength is just an illusion. There are more important things. Next time, let's meet in the real world. Then we'll be friends, just like we are now." Kirito said.

"Yeah, let's meet in the real world, and I can buy you a cheesecake when this is all over, okay?" Izayoi stated smiling as Silica blink and smile. "Right. I'm sure we will! And i gladly accept that offer of cheesecake." Silica said as Kirito stand up. "Okay, let's revive Pina." Kirito exclaim as Silica stood up excitedly. "Yeah!" Silica said as she opens her inventory and took out 'Pina's Heart' which floats on the table when she put it, then she took out the 'Pheuma Flower'.

"Pina, I'll talk to you lots and lots, okay? About my amazing adventure today..." She look at Kirito, who nods at her, then she look at Izayoi.

"Go on." He whispers to her with a smile.

"And about the day in my life that I had a big brother, and someone to love.


That's all. So how about that? Cool ending like in the anime but I change it a little. Well, that's it for the new chapter, I'm gonna be working on the newer chapter now. Review it okay? Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!