Hello, everyone, this is ArtLotus. And I'm presenting you with the new chapter of Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. Anyway, I hope that you still support me and will continue to. Also, you can review, favorite and follow my Fanfic. Also, thank you to all the viewers who reviewed, favorite and follow this story. I Thank You for you support.
Anyway, presenting Alfheim Online: The Shinigami
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 10: Bonds
After Izayoi entered his house, and goes upstairs to find it on his room, he searched everywhere for it, on his rack of trophies, below his bed and his pillow. But he still couldn't find it, which confuses him.
But after looking behind a frame of him and Asuna, he found the thing that he was looking for, a small diamond ring with engraved words inscribed along the ring,
My Wife, ASUNA
After looking at it for a minute, he closed the lid of the small box and pocketed it inside his right pant's pocket. He has been thinking about it for a month and he recalled all the sweet memories he had spent with Asuna, and he wants to keep doing happy and sweet memories with her again. And so, he intended to buy a ring for her with her mother's advice.
Flashback
"Kaa-san?" Izayoi stated holding his smartphone over his right ear, while he leaned against a lamp post in the evening.
"Izayoi? Is that you? Are you okay?" Canaria's worried voice rang through his phone as Izayoi chuckles for his mother's concern for him.
"I'm okay. I'm still alive. But Asuna… She's bed ridden in a hospital for some reason, and it looks she is still playing in a game of some sort. I've been visiting her for a month after the incident of SAO." Izayoi stated as Canaria gasped, hearing Asuna was bed ridden in a hospital.
"Then, are you really okay, Izayoi? I know that it's hard not to have Asuna with you…" Canaria exclaimed with a sad voice while Izayoi wore a sad smile.
"It's okay. I've been visiting her for a month and I still could see her alive and well. That's good enough for me not to worry too much." Izayoi stated as Canaria stifle a laugh.
"That's my son. So, why have you called me? Is it important?" Canaria asked with a curious voice.
"Yeah, it's important. You see, I've been thinking for a month now. And I wanted to hear your advice on buying…" Izayoi said as Canaria waited for him to finished his sentence.
"A wedding ring for Asuna." Izayoi stated as he pulled his phone away from his ear, his mother's scream of pure happiness could be heard from the phone and to other people's who were walking pass Izayoi.
After her scream died down, Izayoi pulled his phone back to his ear, wanting to hear what she has to say.
"So, you're going to propose to her, Izayoi?" Canaria asked as Izayoi wore a soft smile on his face.
"Yes. I think it's time. Even before SAO, I know that she's the one for me. She is the most beautiful girl I ever met and I want the two of us to be what we always had been. I want to be together with her, and I don't want to miss it for the world. I wouldn't want anyone to marry except her. She is the fun in my life." Izayoi stated as he could imagine his mother smiled for his reasons on marrying her.
"If that's your reason, then I'll help get the right ring for her. Where are you now?" Canaria asked as Izayoi looked up at the ring store behind him.
"In front of the ring store." Izayoi answered.
"You are determine to do this, huh? Well, let's do this." Canaria said with a determine voice, which Izayoi found it reassuring.
Izayoi stood up from the lamp post as he walked over to the ring store and pushed open the door, alerting the staff members who were working at this hour of the day.
"Good evening, sir—" A man greeted Izayoi with a bow of his head, but when he look at Izayoi he instantly recognized him.
"Izayoi-sama! How honour of you to come here." The man said wearing a fancy black suit stated. His outburst alerted all of the staff members to see what was going on, and when they look at Izayoi, they bowed their head in greeting of his coming.
"Thanks for having me here." Izayoi greeted back as the man motioned for him to walk to one of the cabinets that store all kinds of rings inside.
"What purpose of you to come here, Izayoi-sama?" The man questioned as Izayoi smiled at him.
"I'm buying a wedding ring for my soon to-be wife." He said surprising the man and the other staffs. But the man offer a smile to Izayoi, and gestured him to another cabinet.
"Well, if that is so. You are welcome to look at this display of wedding rings. And since it's our 30% sale today, we'll give you a 50% discount for whatever purchase of rings you choose for you hardwork on winning our country countless times." The jeweler stated as Izayoi nodded in understanding.
"Let's see what you've got…" Izayoi said as he look over the display of rings in front of him.
"What do you find, Izayoi?" Canaria asked over the phone.
"I just started looking. And maybe I'll be looking for it for quite a while, so I'll send you a picture of the ring I choose, okay?" Izayoi said.
"Okay. Send me the picture right after you choose it, alright?" Canaria asked as Izayoi pressed the hang up button on his phone, cutting his line with Canaria.
"Let's start searching…" Izayoi said as he once look over the display of rings.
"I hope I can find the right ring…" Izayoi thought as he continued to look for the ring.
After a while, Izayoi look over to another display of rings after he had check all of the other display of rings, the store has got. But strangely, he couldn't find anything that fits Asuna.
He knows that she doesn't like anything fancy, and she would always say that she prefers an ordinary thing much more than an extremely fancy and expensive one. When he heard that, he would find a ring that was ordinary for her but he was thinking on adding something special for her just so it doesn't too ordinary for her. Because to Izayoi, Asuna is special, and he wants to show her how special she is to him.
Suddenly, he spotted a ring at the center of the display cabinet, which caught the attention of the man, who look at the direction where Izayoi was looking.
"Hey, can I see that ring?" Izayoi asked pointing his finger at the said ring.
"Certainly, Izayoi-sama." The man answered as he slide open the cabinet and took the ring out from the cabinet, and then gave it to Izayoi.
Izayoi took the ring in his hand, as he look down on it, seeing that it was an ordinary ring and he knew it was the only one ordinary aside from all the expensive rings that he had seen were on display in the other cabinets. When he saw the ring, he knew that it was the one for Asuna.
"How much does this ring cost?" Izayoi asked without looking at the jeweler, who look at the ring.
"That ring cost 60,000 yen. But we gave you a 50% discount. So, it's 30,000." The man explained as Izayoi look at the jeweler.
"Can you add something to the ring?" Izayoi asked as the jeweler raised his eyebrows.
"I certainly can. But what do you want to add?" The jeweler asked as Izayoi smile.
"Something special..."
Izayoi's Home
After he bought the wedding ring from the ring store earlier, he went home with the ring in a small intricate box inside his pocket. When he enters his home after closing the door, he suddenly realizes something.
"I forgot. I have to send her a picture of the ring." Izayoi said as he leaned his back against the wall and pulled out his smartphone from his other pocket. After he pulled out his phone, he pulled out the small intiricate box from his pocket and open the box, revealing teh small diamond ring inside.
He positioned his smartphone in front of the ring, as he took a picture of the ring with a flash. When he was done, he send the picture to his mother, wondering if she like the ring he bought for Asuna.
Less than two minutes, his phone started vibrating as Izayoi press the 'Answer' button and put his phone on his right ear.
"It's beautiful!" Canaria shouted over the phone as Izyaoi pulled his phone away from ear.
"How much is the ring? Is it expensive?" Canaria asked as Izayoi put this hone over his ear again after she stopped shouting.
"No. The man gave me a discount on behalf of winnings that I won for the country. Its a good thing too, because the ring was slightly expensive than I thought it would be." Izayoi stated
"How much is the original price?" Canaria asked.
"60,000 yen." Izayoi simply answered.
"Is that the original price for a ring like that? I thought it would be more expensive than that." Canaria exclaimed as Izayoi chuckles.
"It's an ordinary ring. i odn't want to buy an expensive ring for her. Because she knows that I'll spend a lot of money just for her. Anyway, no matter how expensive the ring is, it doesn't compare to Asuna." Izayoi said over the phone as Canaria smiled at his statement.
"Then, you have my blessing." Canaria said as izayoi smirked.
"Haven't I already? I mean you always took pictures of us when we were in highschool." Izayoi stated.
"Well, that's not official. This is official." Canaria stated as Izayoi smiled and look at the diamond ring in front of him.
"Well, I kind of made something special to the ring. Because I want it to be special when Asuna reads it." Izayoi said.
"What kind of something special that you added to the ring?" Canaria asked.
"Zoom closer." Izayoi said as Canaria hung up on her phone, wanting to zoom closer on the picture of the ring, to see what kind of special thing that his son added to the ring, that will soon belong to her daughter in-law.
After a minute, Izayoi's phone vibrated and he picks up the phone, "You are really something, Izayoi. With this engraving words, I think she might wonder that you really did spend a lot of money on her." Canaria said as Izayoi smiled.
"But you really did a great job on adding something to the ring to make it more special." Canaria said.
"Because I want the ring to be special, because she is special to me." Izayoi exclaimed as Canaria smiled.
"Make sure you memorize the lines of proposing, okay?" Canaria asked as Izayoi look at the ring again.
"I know. I memorize it already." Izayoi stated.
"You know, when I look at the ring now. It actually suits Asuna. And the two of you were destined to be together from the moment you met her. It is love at first sight~" Canaria said as Izayoi stifle a laugh.
"Maybe it is..." Izayoi said.
"Anyway, I need to go. Say hello to Asuna for me, and good luck!" Canaria said as she hung up on the phone.
Izayoi pocketed his phone as he gaze at the ring, "Love at first sight, huh..." Izayoi said with a smile as he then closed the lid on the box.
Present
"Love at first sight…" Izayoi repeated the words again, which caused a smile on his face.
"Kaa-san, you really are something." Izayoi stated as he took out his phone and pushed a contact number from his contacts.
"H-Hello?" A female voice greeted as Izayoi wore a sad smile.
"Sugu, are you okay?" He asked as he heard some sniffling at the background, indicating that she was crying until he called.
"Y-Yeah…" Suguha answered.
"Anyway, I'll be back home. Can I get you anything?" Izayoi asked.
"No… " Suguha answered.
"Okay." Izayoi said as he thought about saving Asuna. He have to pass the dome or not he will never reached through the top of the World Tree.
"Sugu, I'll wait for you in Arun, on the north terrace. It's okay if you don't want to come, I don't blame you for knowing. But don't cry, alright?" Izayoi asked as Suguha hung up on the line.
"She needs time after all." Izayoi said as he stared at his NerveGear sitting on his bed. He has two NerveGears, which were in his room in his house and another in Kazuto's house. When he used the NerveGear in his room in Kazuto's house to play Alfheim Online, he was suddenly had his data transferred on the NerveGear. He guessed that it was the NerveGear that recognized him by his face, that triggered the transfer.
He didn't know that it has the ability to do that, but he didn't care about it before because he was searching for Asuna. But he was impressed on the technology of the NerveGear nevertheless.
"Now to save Asuna." Izayoi said determinedly as he picked up his NerveGear and put in on. He then lay on his bed, as a smirk appear on his face.
"Link Start!"
Alfheim Online
"Huh…" Leafa sighed as she leaned against a lamp post while she waited for Izayoi to come.
"Izayoi-kun…" Leafa mutters recalling the letter Izayoi gave her.
"Leafa-chan!" A voice called as Leafa look in front of her in surprise.
"Ah!" Leafa said in surprise of Recon's appearance.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, Leafa-chan." Recon said as Leafa backed away.
"R-Recon? Didn't the Salamanders catch you?" Leafa asked.
"I poisoned them all and escaped." Recon said with his right hand under his chin to look cool in front of Leafa.
"Poisoned them?" Leafa asked.
"And then, I followed you. Hey… Where's that Spriggan?" Recon asked as Leafa looked down.
"Well… I act really mean to him… Something I shouldn't do. I'm an idiot." Leafa said as she look up at Recon.
"I'm sorry for saying weird stuff. I won't be seeing him anymore, so let's go back to Sylvein." Leafa said as Recon look at her walking downstairs.
"Leafa-chan… " Recon said with a frown.
"Leafa-chan!" He called out as he chased her downstairs. He then stopped right in front of her and clasp his hands around hers.
"You can't cry, Leafa-chan!" Recon said as Leafa's eyes widen.
"Wh-What?" Leafa asked in surprise.
"If you aren't smiling, you aren't really Leafa-chan. I… I'll always stay with you! I'll never leave you alone here or in the real world!" Recon stated.
"Wai—" Leafa said but she was interrupted by Recon.
"I-I… I like you, Leafa-chan… Suguha-chan!" Recon exclaimed as Leafa's eyes widen.
"Um… Wait! What are you doing?!" Leafa stated seeing as Recon was leaning his head up to kiss her. She then punched him in the stomach, causing Recon to fell down on the stairwalk.
"A-Are you okay?" Leafa asked looking down at him. After a while, Recon came up the stairs and stopped a couple of stairs below her.
"It's strange… I was positive the only question left was if I'd have the guts to ask you out…" Recon said with a sad tone.
"You really are a moron, aren't you?" Leafa said as Recon sighed.
Then, laughter fill the air as Recon look up at Leafa, who was laughing.
"I could learn a thing or two from you sometimes." Leafa said with a smile.
"Leafa-san!" A voice called out as Leafa look in front of her, seeing Yui flying towards her.
"Yui-chan, what are you doing here?" She asked.
"Papa ask me to get you. He already told me about the two of you." Yui said as Leafa wore a frown.
"He did? W-What do you think of it? I-I mean, I'm sorry if this breaks Izayoi's relationship with your Mama." Leafa said as Yui smiled a small smile.
"It's okay. I do mind a little. But Papa likes you. So, I can't stop him from liking you." Yui said as Leafa look at her in surprise.
"Really? But don't your Mama mind? I mean what if she doesn't like me?" Leafa asked as Yui shook her head.
"I think she'll be surprise. But don't worry, I'm sure Papa will explain it to her." Yui assured as Leafa smiled, happy to hear that Izayoi would explain to Asuna that he loves her too.
"Anyway, we should go! Papa's waiting!" Yui said as Leafa look at her and nodded.
"Huh… where are they?" Izayoi asked himself as he look up at the sky above him.
Then, he suddenly sensed Leafa flying up towards him and landed on the ground a few ways behind him. She then walked towards him with Yui flying towards Izayoi and sit on his shoulder.
"This might seem awkward. But It's good to see you again, Sugu." Izayoi said as Leafa look at his back.
"Izayoi-kun, let's have a duel. Let's finish what we started." Leafa said as she unsheathe her sword from her sheath.
"Yui." Izayoi said as Yui flew inside his top pocket.
"Okay, but I warn you. I'm faster than I am in the other world." Izayoi said as he held up his right hand as his black daito appear in his hand.
"Here I go!" Leafa said as she charges towards him with her sword in hand. She thrust her sword in front of her as Izayoi dodges it by moving his body to the left.
Izayoi then swung his daito towards Leafa, but she flew upwards escaping from the slash as Izayoi look up at Leafa.
"Flying, eh?" Izayoi said as he flew upwards and landed on top of a rock shaped cuboid, that was supported by two beams. Meanwhile, Leafa landed on a small floating piece of land above Izayoi, as she raised her sword and look at him.
Leafa closed her eyes, letting a few drops of tears to touch the ground below her as she flew down at Izayoi, who in turn flew upwards towards her.
When Leafa was closed enough for Izayoi to slash her, she dropped her weapon, intending to be slashed. But the slash didn't came and she landed in Izayoi's arms, as she look up at him.
"Why?" Leafa asked as Izayoi smiled.
"Imagine that I wanted to apologize to you, and all I get to apologize was to fight to express our feelings?" Izayoi asked.
"Just as the letter says, don't cry." Izayoi said hugging Leafa tighter.
"I'm sorry." Leafa said letting her tears come out from her eyes.
"It's okay. Anyway, I'll explain to her after she wakes up. She'll understand." Izayoi said referring to Asuna about him and Sugu's relationship.
"Okay. So, I'll help you on waking up Asuna-san up!" Leafa said as Izayoi nodded.
Meanwhile, Izayoi's daito and Leafa's sword were embedded in the ground below them and they were positioned in a cross, with the sun's light shining in between the swords.
"Um… Wh-What's going on?" Recon asked towards Izayoi and Leafa who were standing in front of him.
"We're raiding the World Tree… Him," Leafa said pointing her finger towards the smiling Izayoi. "you" Leafa pointed her finger to Recon. "and me." She pointed to herself.
"The three of us." Leafa said as Recon look at her.
"A-All right… Wait… What?!" Recon said in surprise.
"Yui." Izayoi said as Yui came out from Izayoi's top pocket.
"What is it, Papa?" Yui asked looking up at Izayoi.
"Did you learn anything other than what I told you about the Guardians?" Izayoi asked.
"It's true, that their individual stats aren't very high. But there are too many. I have to assume that completion of this quest was never meant to be possible." Yui said.
"So together, they all add up to a single, unbeatable boss?" Izayoi asked.
"However, with your skill stats, it may be possible for you to break through with speed." Yui informed him as Izayoi nodded.
"Everyone, I'm about to ask for your help for this last quest of mine. Will you lend me a hand?" Izayoi asked.
"Somehow, I feel like there isn't much time left." Izayoi said to them.
"I'll do whatever I can." Leafa said.
"And so will he." Leafa stated nudging her shoulder at Recon.
"Well, Leafa and I are always together." Recon said as Leafa punched him in the head for his statement.
"Don't be stupid!" Leafa said crossing her arms.
"Did he confess to you earlier?" Izayoi asked as Leafa blush.
"Y-Yeah." Leafa answered.
"Well, I think he has accept that I got you first." Izayoi said walking over to Leafa and pecking her in the lips, causing her to blush furiously and Recon to stare in shock at the two of them.
"Sorry, but I got her first." Izayoi said with a smile as he looked at the shocked Recon.
"I didn't expect this… to happen." Recon said as Izayoi pat him on the shoulder.
"It happens. Sometimes, life is like that." Izayoi stated looking at him with a smile on his face.
"Izayoi-kun," Leafa called as Izayoi turns towards her.
"Let's do our best." Leafa said extending her hand in front of her as Recon put his hand immediately on hers, and lastly Izayoi put his hand on top of the two. Then, Yui flew on top of their hands and landed on top of Izayoi's hand with her knees touching his hand.
"Now, let's complete the quest." Izayoi said.
"Leafa," Izayoi said as Leafa look at him.
"Don't heal me." Izayoi said as Leafa's eyes widen.
"What! But how can you fight without healing?" Leafa asked.
"I expected the Guardians would target the ones that support the player. So, you shouldn't heal me or else you'll be targeted." Izayoi exclaimed.
"Okay…" Leafa said with a small frown.
"It doesn't mean I don't want your help. If you see that I'm in danger, you can heal me, okay? But you have to heal from the rear." Izayoi stated as Leafa nodded with a smile.
"Okay!" Leafa answered.
"Now, let's go!" Izayoi said as he turns towards the gigantic door, that was the entrance of the dome.
"Yui, stay inside Papa's pocket." Izayoi said flying upwards towards the center of the dome as Yui nodded and hid herself inside his pocket. Meanwhile Leafa and Recon stood from the rear of the dome, looking up at Izayoi.
"Let's begin with the beginning of the fight!" Izayoi said with a smirk as he charges towards several Guardians. He held up his daito to the side as he instantly vanished, surprising the Guardians with Leafa and Recon staring at the spot where Izayoi disappeared to.
Suddenly, Izayoi appeared behind the several Guardians as multiple series of slashes appeared on the Guardians, slashing them at light speed and killing them instantly with one slash that multiplies into a series of slashes.
"Wow…" Recon commented.
"But there are too many!" Leafa said.
Suddenly, multiple Guardians appeared from the crystal like diamonds as one by one, they gathered in front of Izayoi, making a huge wall of Guardians and completely blocking the pathway from Izayoi.
"There's no end to them…" Izayoi said as the Guardians suddenly launched themselves downwards at Izayoi, with their swords in hand.
Izayoi slashed at them one by one, killing them instantly as he continued his slashing without a single attack being hit on him yet.
"Izayoi!" A voice called as Izayoi glance beside him, seeing Kirito came up towards him and slashed a couple of Guardians on his side.
"Kirito? What are you doing here?" Izayoi asked slashing several Guardians with one slash.
"I'm here to help." Kirito said as he slash sideways, killing several Guardians.
Then, the Guardians once again launched downwards on both Izayoi and Kirito as they slashed each one of the Guardians who were in front of them. But Kirito was having difficulties as he was bombarded by several strikes from the Guardians.
"Recon!" Leafa said as Recon nodded.
"Hai!" He said as they both raised their hands up as two green lights flew towards Kirito, healing him completely.
Suddenly , the Guardians look towards Recon and Leafa as their eyes glowed green.
"Wh-Why are they targeting us?" Recon asked in surprise.
"Izayoi-kun was right. They're probably using a different targeting algorithm from the monsters outside. Dividing our roles this way is futile." Leafa said as she was about to flew upwards and help distract the Guardians, but a hand on her wrist, stopped her from doing that.
"Wait!" Recon said as Leafa turns her head towards him.
"Recon?" Leafa said.
"Leafa-chan, I don't really understand all this, but this is important, right?" Recon asked.
"It is. I don't think it's just a game. Not right now." Leafa stated as Recon turn his body.
"Then, I'll help!" Recon stated boldly as he tap the sphere in his hand and flew upwards towards the center of the dome.
"Re-Recon!" Leafa called out.
Recon then chanted a spell while the rings of words encircled him, as he raised his hand up at the Guardian in front of him and brought his hand in a slash like attack. Suddenly, the said Guardians was sliced into half by the spell from Recon.
Recon moved his hand towards the four Guardians beside him as they were immediately sliced into half by his hand.
"B-Baka!" Leafa said as she focused on Kirito, who was injured.
"Oh no…" Leafa said as she immediately heal him with a healing spell, causing Kirito to be engulfed in green light as his injuries were healed instantly.
After he was healed, Kirito went to attack a Guardian, but the said Guardians flew passed as it headed towards Leafa with another Guardian.
Recon slashed his hand towards the two Guardians, as they immediately were killed who were nearly going to attack Leafa.
"Recon, that's enough… Get outside!" Leafa ordered but Recon kept attacking.
He slashed his hand towards the two Guardians in front of him as he look at Leafa behind him and smiles at her, while Leafa look at him with a worried look.
Then, Recon flew in front of him as he chanted a unknown spell , while a lot rings of words encircled him.
"That's dark magic…" Leafa said as the rings of words were gathering Recon in a circle as it gets larger and larger, while recon kept chanting the unknown spell.
"Oh no, you don't." Izayoi said as he instantly appeared behind Recon, and closed his mouth before he could say the last word to the spell.
"You're not going to die." Izayoi said as he grabbed Recon by the arm and disappeared into thin air, while the rings of words slowly disappears.
Izayoi appeared beside Leafa as he let go of his hold on Recon, who look at him in confusion.
"I'm not going to let you sacrifice your life just like that." Izayoi said as he open his menu and un-equip his black jacket, leaving him in only a black short sleeve shirt. He then slowly un-wraps his scarf around his neck, as he held the soft long fabric in his right hand.
"Leafa, here." Izayoi said as he gave the scarf to her, which she accepted it.
"Why?" Leafa asked as she look down at the scarf and then at him.
"Keep it until I return, will you?" Izayoi asked with a smile, as Leafa's eyes widen, knowing what he was going to do.
"You are not sacrificing yourself. Who is going to save her?" Leafa asked referring to Asuna as Izayoi chuckles.
"Who said anything about dying?" Izayoi said as he blasted off to the center of the dome.
"Hey, Guardians!" Izayoi shouted as the Guardians all look at him.
"Let's have fun!" Izayoi said as he suddenly charges towards the wall of Guardians as he pulled back his right fist and punched the center of the wall, immediately causing the Guardians to be blown back towards the door to the World Tree, instantly killing them. Also, a big hole could be seen on the gigantic wall of Guardians as the hole leads straight to the door to the World Tree.
"What?! How can he do that?" Recon said with a surprise look.
"I don't know. But the Guardians are all focused on him now." Leafa said as suddenly a large amount of Guardians begin to appear and attacked Izayoi.
Izayoi punched every single Guardians in the stomach, which caused them to instantly blow up.
Suddenly, a sword was embedded in Izayoi's chest as Izayoi look up at the Guardians above him, who were throwing their swords at him instead of charging at him with their swords in hand.
"Ugh…" Izayoi said as another sword was embedded itself inside his stomach. And then slowly, Izayoi begin to fall from the sky as more swords embedded themselves inside Izayoi.
"No… No…" Leafa said as she covered her mouth with her hands, watching in horror at Izayoi, who was being attack and was falling from the sky.
"This is impossible… This is just…" Leafa said as she begin healing Izayoi, who stood up and begin extracting the swords from his body and crushing it with his hands.
"Huh… Huh…" Izayoi said as he look at Leafa, who was being cornered by two Guardians, who raised their swords at her, while Leafa watched one of the two Guardians.
Just as the Guardian brought down its sword to slash at her, "Ah!" A voice shouted as the Guardian stopped its assault and looked down at the shouting.
"The Sylphs?" Izayoi asked as he extract the last of the sword embedded inside him, as he crushed it in his hand.
"But why?" Leafa asked as the two Guardians that cornered her, begin to flew away from her.
"Flaying dragons?" Leafa asked seeing a lot of blue dragons flying passed her.
"The Cait Sith dragoons?" Leafa said as she shielded herself from a burst of wind, as a blue dragoon came up in front of her. And on top of the dragoon was Alicia. Then, appearing beside her was Sakuya as she and Alicia looked at Leafa.
"Sorry we're late." Sakuya said.
"Sorry! It took some time to ready our gear." Alicia said as she and Sakuya flew upwards.
"Sakuya! Alicia!" Leafa said with a smile, happy to see that they arrived in time.
Alicia and Sakuya stopped in front of the giant mass of Guardians, "Dragoons, ready breath attack!" Alicia ordered.
"Sylphs, prepare additional offensives!" Sakuya ordered as the squad of Sylphs charge towards the Guardians.
"Fire breath… Go!" Alicia said as her dragoon and the rest of the dragoons breath fire at the Guardians, killing them in big masses of explosions.
"Fenrir storm… Fire!" Sakuya shouted as the squad of Sylphs aimed their swords at the Guardians, before they were destroyed by a blast of blue energy from the squaldron of Sylphs.
"Thank you!" Leafa said as she came up towards Sakuya and Alicia.
"Thank you both so much!" Leafa said with a smile.
"No need to thank us. We owe Izayoi-kun quite a lot." Sakuya said at Leafa.
"And we only had money for the raid because of him." Alicia said with a smile.
Closing her fan, Sakuya raised her fan to the sky, "All forces, charge!" Sakuya ordered as the Sylphs and Cait Sith that were riding dragoons, charges towards the massive army of Guardians.
"Don't be afraid! Keep going!" Sakuya said as two Guardians targeted her as they rushed towards her.
Sakuya held her hand on her katana as she slowly unsheath it to attack the Guardians, but the two Guardians were defeated by a single slash from Leafa, who was in front of her. The two then flew up to join the attack.
"Damn it!" Izayoi's voice called out as Alicia, Sakuya and Leafa all turned their heads towards him, and their eyes widen.
All around Izayoi, were a tons of Guardians, who were throwing their swords at him and fire their arrows at him, which hit him because he was too busy destroying the throwing swords with his fists.
"Izayoi-kun!" Leafa shouted as she, Sakuya and Alicia headed towards him.
Leafa chanted a healing spell as she look towards Izayoi's HP and her eyes widen, seeing it was slowly decreasing from the green zone to the yellow zone and finally the red zone.
"Izayoi-kun!" Leafa said as her healing spell reached Izayoi, but he was still being attack.
Then, another sword was embedded into Izayoi as Leafa, Sakuya and Alicia stopped to see his HP dropped to zero...
And so, everything went in slow motion, "Izayoi-kun, no..." Leafa said as she saw that Izayoi was then assaulted with several dozens of swords that were embedded inside him, from his legs to his chest. She then saw that Izayoi was standing still while he look down with his mouth huffing a few breaths.
"Izayoi-kun!" Leafa said reaching her hand towards him, but a Guardian blocked her way.
"Go away!" Leafa said shedding tears as she slashed the Guardian with her sword, immediately killing him. Alicia and Sakuya rushed to her side as the three of them attempted to kill all the Guardians that killed Izayoi, but they stopped as they saw that Izayoi had not been turned into a Remaining Light yet. They don't know why, but they saw that his HP was still zero. So why?
"Huh… Huh… Huh… You know what?" Izayoi asked while his hair shadowed his face, as Sakuya, Alicia and Leafa listened to what he said.
"I admit that you're one tough boss. You even make me reach my HP to zero. But do you know what I don't like right now?" Izayoi asked as he lifted his face, revealing cold, vengeful eyes.
"This is a quest that was not meant to be completed… Then, I'll complete it by destroying it... Also, you're wasting my time to save someone I care about!" Izayoi shouted as he raised his right hand and put his left hand on top of it as suddenly whole dome shook violently, shocking Leafa, Sakuya and Alicia.
"What's going on? Why is the whole dome shaking?" Leafa asked as suddenly the Guardians that surrounded Izayoi were engulfed by light, causing Leafa, Sakuya and Alicia to shield their eyes with their hands.
Slowly the light dissipated, as they look at where Izayoi was and when they look at the spot where he was, the three of them held a shock look on their faces.
Because in front of them was Izayoi, a fully recovered Izayoi with his right hand raised while his left hand was on top of its wrist. And he was standing all alone, without a single Guardian in their sight, which confuses them greatly. But the strangest thing was the small beam of light that floated in Izayoi's right palm.
"Izayoi-kun?" Leafa asked as Izayoi lowered both of his hands down at his side and turns his head to look at Leafa.
"It's me." Izayoi answered with a smile as suddenly Leafa hugged him, slightly surprising Izayoi.
"I thought you were going to die, Baka!" Leafa stated shedding a few tears as Izayoi smiled and hugged her back.
"As you can see right now, I'm still alive." Izayoi stated chuckling.
"But how did you?" Sakuya asked as Izayoi look at her.
"Sakuya, order your men to retreat. The same goes for you, Alicia. I'll do the rest." Izayoi said as Sakuya and Alicia look at each other and they both look at Izayoi.
"Okay." Sakuya answered as she flew upwards.
"No problem, Izayoi-kun!" Alicia said as she rushed towards the rest of the dragoons.
"Retreat! Everyone, fall back!" Sakuya ordered as the squad of Sylphs quickly retreated from fighting as they all escaped to the exit of the dome. And following after them was a squadron of Cait Sith's dragoons as Alicia ordered them to retreat as well.
"Izayoi-kun?" Leafa asked as Izayoi smiled and lets go of the hug.
"Stand back, Leafa." Izayoi said as he flew upwards towards the center of the dome.
"What is he doing?" Kiritio asked as he stood beside Leafa, while Sakuya and Alicia stood behind them.
"Now… to destroy the rest of you!" Izayoi shouted as he raised his right hand and suddenly a small beam of light appeared in his right palm, causing the whole dome to shake violently again by the seemingly power of the small pillar.
But that wasn't the end, as the light of beam suddenly enlarges itself into a giant pillar that reaches through the door to the World Tree, while penetrating the massive wall of Guardians.
"Go… Go… Go!" Leafa said as she look at Izayoi.
As if pulling the handle of the light, Izayoi swung down the giant pillar at the wall of the Guardians, which caused the whole area of the center part of the dome to be covered by light.
After a while the light dissipated, as Kirito, Leafa, Alicia and Sakuya look up and their eyes widen.
In front of them was an empty area of the center dome as they looked around and they saw that there wasn't a single Guardian alive from the attack by Izayoi.
"Look!" Alicia said pointing her hand towards the destroyed crystal like diamonds at the center of the dome. The entire diamonds that went around the dome were destroyed including the diamonds in the highest part of the dome. They were all destroyed by the single attack by Izayoi.
"Leafa." Izayoi called as Leafa look up at him.
"I'll see you later. Keep the scarf safe until I come back." Izayoi said with a smile as he flew towards the door that leads to the World Tree.
"Fly…Fly forever. Keep flying through the sky… To the center of the world." Leafa thought with a smile as Guardians respawn from the diamonds from the low part of the dome as it flies towards the highest part of the dome and covered the path to the door.
"What do I do with this?" Izayoi asked as he held up his left hand to the side, as his daito appear in his hand. He then stabbed his daito in the door and tried to slide it open, but it was no use.
"Yui." Izayoi called out as Yui appeared beside him.
"Why did you keep me in the item storage, Papa?" Yui asked with a pout as Izayoi realized that he un-equips his jacket and put it inside the item storage, which automatically had Yui in it.
"Sorry, Yui. I was busy." Izayoi said with a smile as Yui couldn't help but smile.
"I'll forgive you, Papa." Yui stated smiling at him.
"Anyway, do you know how to open this, Yui? This door can't seem to be open." Izayoi said as Yui landed on the door.
"Papa, this door isn't locked by a quest flag. It's locked by the system administrators." Yui informed him.
"So, players were never intended to open this door, right?" Izayoi asked as he pulled the card that Asuna gave him.
"Yui, can you open this door with this card?" Izayoi asked as Yui held a determine look and nodded. She then flew towards the card and put her hands on it, causing the card to glow orange before dissipating, revealing the card to be black instead of its silver color.
"Transcribing code." Yui said as she flew towards the door and put her hands on it, transferring the card data to the door as the said door slowly opens, while Izayoi and Yui flew away from it to let the door open widely for them.
"It's going to teleport us. Papa, your hand!" Yui said as Izayoi grabbed her tiny hand and the both of them were engulfed in white light.
Next Time:
Gilded Hero
That's a nice ending, right? I hope you all feel the same way that i do. If you do, comment me on what you think about the chapter by review it. Anyway, Izayoi has a new ability. And I think you all know what that is, right? If you will, Favorite or follow my story. And again, I'm sorry that I took so long on updating this chapter.
Anyway, I hope you all have a nice day! Stay tuned!
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!