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The training trip continued and Kirito was indeed a very efficent trainer, but if you asked Leafa and Romina they would tell you that he was and that after his training they would never fear any monsters again, since they would fear having to retrain with him a whole lot more.
In the trip they both gained at least 15 levels and were now comfortable in the way they fought. Leafa was happy with long range magic attacks and single sword skills, Romina was more into 2 handed staff skills and healing magic. Kirito was surprised at her choice of new weapon and she told him that their aren't many staff users in Alfheim, so it was pretty rare to be able to buy a staff of good quality, the guild allowed the members to send an equipment request once a month, so she ask the crafting players in the guild to make her one.
Leafa was caught by surprise by one monster and Romina managed to kill the monster and heal her in a single moment. She told her that there was no real reason her hands couldn't do something while casting a spell.
On the world tree Asuna was living her definition of a living hell. Sugao simply would not get an idea into that empty coconut she called his head. She told him time and time again that she did not want to marry him, sleep with him, or even be close to him. She told him she was already married to a wonderful guy and that she would never cheat on him. Being the game administrator he made sure to have a recording of Kirito visiting her at the hospital where she was, and would often tell her that if her husband really loved her, then why didn't he strap his nervegear and tried to save her? He flat out called him a cowardly pathetic little boy. "Look, Titania I can make you a lot happier than that pathetic little brat, so why don't you agree to my deal? A simple divorce and we can get married. You get a much better husband and I get you." Asuna looked really pissed as she hear him say that, "Bullshit, you just want to marry me because of my daddy's company and money! I am happily married and Kirito will come and save me! But after I tell him what you called him, who will save you from him? He can be a terrible fiend to his enemies after all." Sugao was not happy to hear that, he had to perfect his brainwashing research before Kirito managed to get close to the world tree.
As for the Alliance, Mortimer flat out told him that he did not need anyone other than his salamanders to conquer the world tree. He was going to be the one to bring his race the ability to fly without a time limit. Eugene was not happy about it, but since his brother was the leader he would have to wait till the next elections to be able to try and become leader. But that would mean a lot of wasted time, and he hated wasting time. The Alliance had shown him what the 4 races could do working together, the Alliance had made each race stronger and with the col they managed to generate better equipped. Kirito's training methods were something he too wished the salamanders would have too. But no Mortimer did not want to listen to reason, and it was for a childish reason at that. Mortimer was not happy that a single Spriggan managed to ruin his plan to take over 2 territories. He secretly hoped to be able to fight Kirito one day and show him what happens to brats that meddle in his plans. Eugene having fought the man could only advice his brother to pray that day never came.
As they reached the capital and the town at the foot of the world tree, they each had a different reaction. Romina was happy since she needed to restock on potions and Leafa was just amazed how the town looked at night. Kirito began to wonder where the training trip became a school field trip? "Seeing as you two managed to get here, I will consider that a valid performance, and call this your training. I will pay for the inn, and we will see how far the alliance has gotten. If things progressed as I think we raid the world tree tomorrow." Leafa and Romina were shocked to hear that he was already thinking about it, when Leafa asked why the hurry, he simply looked up into the sky and told her, "My beloved wife is up there and is being held against her will. I must rescue her no matter what I must endure. My life without her, It simply would not be worth it."
Romina could swear she saw tears on his face, Leafa never knew that he loved Asuna that much. Kirito did pay for a stay at an inn, an extremely cheap inn, but at least it had the basic necesities. Romina wanted a single room, and Leafa did not care either way, but Kirito did not want to even consider it. Yui helped by telling them her daddy snored like a grizzly with a head cold. It was a lie, but at least it helped her daddy. He did not snore like a bear, it was more like a full grown dragon.
As Kirito wrote Agil his message and waited to get a replay he tapped his bracelet and Cardinal appeared on his shoulder. "Cardinal do you mind telling me why no one has managed to complete the grand quest yet?" Cardinal looked at him and told him she too was wondering that, until she met with the Alfheim copy of herself. That Cardinal had told her it was all due to changes the game's administrator did. He basically made it impossible to get into the world tree by placing an incredibly long and hard password on the door. To Kirito it did not make any sense, why promise them one thing and never deliver. Cardinal just told him that she was under the impression that this administrator was using the game for some purpose other than making a profit for the game company or providing a fun game for the players. It was an illusionary prison, and everyone was a prisoner, and he was using them for some unknown purpose. Kirito asked her if she knew the password, and she told him that of course she knew it. It was the first 20 digits in the game code after all.
As the reply was received and he was surprised that the alliance would send their very best, ready for war as the message read, and they would do all they can to help Kirito rescue his beloved from her bird cage prison. The self styled king of Alfheim was not having a good day, first his supposed pawn flat out rejected him, how dare that brat disagree with a man of his caliber, then reading the log in list he found that Kirito was not only in Alfheim but was a Guild Master of the most respected guild in all of Alfheim. "That worthless brat is sure to come and try and steal my golden goose. Well he will never make it to where she is, there is no way for him to gain entry to the world tree, even if he does defeat the guardian NPC. Asuna is my stepping stone to godhood, and no little worthless bug is going to stand in my way." Sugao was heard laughing like an absolute maniac till the moment he logged out. His own personal staff were beginning to wonder one question and one finally spoke it as he was logged off. "How much longer must we work for his maniac? I signed up to provide a healthy means for people to enjoy themselves, not the thing he turned this place into." Several of the staff agreed, but Sugao had all the evidence of his wrong doings locked and they could not get it. They had to continue to wait and wish that the freak would get his in the end.
The time had finally come, the time to rescue his beloved had come at long last. 200 Sylph, Caith Sith, Spriggan, Undine and Salamders stood at the ready, and every single member of his own guild. Some people wondered why such a lage gathering of players had come together. Eugene and the leaders of the other races where ready to hear the order to start their raid. Kirito stood in front of everyone and he saw some familiar faces among the players. "Thank you for coming to my aid, I know many are here to raid the world tree, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if we succeed we will remove the person who prevented the grand quest from being completed. If it's only for your wish to fly without the time limit. I ask you, no I beg you to please put your all in this fight. There is a thief up there pretending to be king. Help me rescue the love of my life, and the light of my soul. In doing so you will help yourselves to be free from the abuse of that thief up there. Now my fellow warriors lets show that bastard that we matter and we will not stand and let him use us as his puppets."
As d Kirito walked to the door and he accepted the quest he knew that this battle was going to be fierce, the thief would do no less to protect his stolen throne. As the door opened the massive gathering of warrior rushed in to fight. If the guardians could show emotion, the sheer shock on their faces would be that clear to see. They had never expected that different races would work together and so well too. The alliance managed to defeat the guardians as quickly as they appeared. Kirito was leading the charge and he was killing guardians by the hundreds. When Eugene saw how Kirito was fighting he was surprised and unhappy. He had been holding back on their fight, next time they met he would demand another duel. Sakuya, Leafa, Romina, Alice and even Yulier all saw the determination on his face, and they all believed that his wife was the luckiest woman alive. At the last push he used his fiend's fire and charged towards the door, and burned every remaining guardian to ash. He slammed both his swords into the door, and he told Cardinal to open it. Cardinal was more than happy to do so, Kayaba her creator and father would not be happy as to how his dream had been abused, and neither was she. Little did Kirito know that his old friend Heathcliff was following him, and was waiting to see the thief king punished for his crimes.