Chapter XLIV

December 20th 2025, Castle of Meridia, The Cursed Tower cells, 8:30 PM:

Kirito sighed and sat on the ground, sad, but also angry. It was very frustrating for him to be put in chains just when this happen. A World War...Sugou knew it was going to happen, right? It was in his plan, of course. He surely wants to put ALO to shreds even more with this war. Not only that, but the Corruption can now scatter freely without any intervention from the GMs who cannot stop it. If they would had, the virus that still retain them in the game would had been gone for a long time now.

But he knew who had the control of this thing and she was just in this very room, behind a window. He knew that she was still there, watching the prisoner like a watchdog, but what else could she do? It's apparently the only thing that she can do in order to survive. He decided to call her.

''Scinthia-san...?''

No response.

''Scinthia-san?''

Still no response. He stood up and knocked on the window. He heard a sigh and the window became transparent again, showing the girl.

''What? What is it?''

He sighed, mostly in relief, as the window showed the Dark Elf girl that was reading a book. At least, he could try to convince her to stop working for this madman that is Sugou Nobuyuki. It will be hard, of course it will be, but what else can he do apart from rotting in his cell? Nothing, that's what.

''Can I ask you something?''

She lifted her head toward him, showing him her blue eyes under her hood, shining like two lost souls in the well of Death.

''Hm?''

''Do you...really believe in everything Sugou asks you to do? Do you really think that what he does will give you a bright future?''

''...who said that I liked what he's doing? Who said that I liked being with Cross and Black? I don't like it one bit, but, hey, it's called survival. I do what I can do to survive in a shitty world, nothing else.''

The name ''Black'' made Kirito frowned as it made him remember something, but he shook his head quickly and continued.

''You know what Sugou's doing, no? He wants to control people's minds. Do you really think you want this to be our future?''

''I-I...''

''Do you really think you want a madmen like Sugou to be able to control minds? It's directly breaking our own human nature!''

''But, I...''

She stayed quiet with no response as she started to hesitate. She already knew that Kirito was trying to convince her to stop it, and it was very obvious, but...what if she decides to dump Sugou and the Laughing Coffin? Would that please Sugou or Johnny Black? Of course not. Would that make Cross enraged and possible wanting to kill her? Probably. The problem here is, if she just tries to betray them, a bullet in the head will be waiting for her when she gets outside as she is using the AmuSphere in the same room then the others, even Cross.

''I'm...I'm sorry, I just can't! I can't do what you want me to do, it'll end up getting myself killed!''

Kirito's eyes widened at that response.

''W-What do you mean, why so?''

''I'm the one who controls all, remember? If they see that I modified something, one of them will get out of the system and kill me! I can't rebel myself versus them, Kirito! They...they are too strong!''

She put her hands on her face, trying to hide her tears. She was trapped, just like everyone else. It that operation do work, Sugou will probably want to stay in ALfheim Online forever, getting outside in the Real World just to eat and drink. If it does, then the Laughing Coffin is in the same situation then Sakumi, Kirito and all the others who were trapped in the game.

In short, she trapped not only innocents, but also herself and her love along with a douche bag and a crazy king who will surely treat them as simple minions, his minions.

She was finished, her life was now ALO, just like Sword Art Online was in the past.

Kirito took a sad look as Scinthia started to sob. He does not like seeing people cry at all, just like anyone who is normal. He tried to talk to her.

''Scinthia-san?''

''Kirito...''

She took off her hood and looked at him, with tears falling on her face.

''Please...help me...''

He sighed.

''I could help you if I would, but...you know that I can't do that.''

Suddenly, he felt a slight burn on the arm and quickly put up his sleeve to see that the emblem was bright red before shattering in polygons. He took a surprised look and looked back toward the Dark Elf. Just before he was about to ask, she opened the door.

''Come on...let's get out of here before Sugou notices us...''

''Are you sure you want to do this?''

''But...''

She put her palm up toward him and a dark purple glow could be seen roaming around her hand.

''...if you don't stop him, if you don't stop Sugou either alone or with Sakumi, I'll kill you. It's that clear?''

''Perfectly.''

''Then let's go.''

She deactivated her magic and directed herself toward the door, Kirito following her from behind. As they walked outside, they found themselves in a large corridor, it's surface being in pure white and it's floor covered by a black carpet with purple designs on it. She already opened her menu and started modifying stuff, but not too much to not gain attention. She decelerated the spread of the Corruption since she cannot delete it because of Sugou and she was about to change some other stuff before something hit her face, well mostly tickled her anyway.

''You'll not touch my Papa!''

''E-Eh?!''

She lifted her head and her eyes soon felt on a little Navigation Pixie, which looked a little bit angry and was trying to hit her. Kirito heard the Pixie's voice and soon got closer.

''Hey, did something happened?''

''Yeah, that Pixie tried to attack me for some reason.''

She took the Pixie by the wings, which tried to resist by shouting ''Hey!'' and returned herself toward Kirito.

''Is this yours?''

''Y-Yui-chan?!''

The little Pixie took a happy face and Scinthia let her rush on Kirito's cheek to hug him.

''Papa, Papa, I found you! Mama is so worried for you!''

''Whoa, whoa, what's this thing about Papa and Mama now?''

As the Dark Elf asked curiously, Kirito smirked and pat on the Pixie's head.

''Heh, long story, I can't explain everything for now.''

''Right.''

Yui looked back toward Scinthia and she gulped.

''P-Papa, why are you with a Dark Elf?!''

''Oh, don't worry, Yui-chan, she's a friend.''

''A...A friend?''

As Scinthia asked that out of surprise, she realised that it has been a hell of a long time since someone called her like that. Friend...she had forgotten how much that word felt. Kirito smiled to her.

''Yeah, a friend. Come on, let's go.''

As he started walking while Yui got on his head, she took a surprised look and got in front of him to lead him in the corridors.

''Okay, we shouldn't be too far...''

They arrived in front of a rather small door and the Dark Elf opened it, revealing the outside world to Kirito and Yui. As they got outside, Kirito noticed that it was pretty dark since dark clouds were covering the sky completely and the castle was mostly made of some sort of black material.

The tower he was in was one of the four principal towers of the castle, all put at the corners of the castle walls. At the south of their position was lying a gigantic fortress-like structure which was probably the main one of them all. It had gigantic doors with many towers reaching the clouds and piercing through them as many balconies could be seen from around the castle. Of course, the castle was also coated in a deep black color.

Scinthia looked at it for a second and sighed while closing her eyes before looking at the main gates, which was not very far from them. As they quickly reached it, the gates automatically opened and the Dark Elf activated her demon-like wings. By the contrary of Johnny Black and Cross, Scinthia had made her own ones.

Transparent like any other normal fairy wings, her wings were mechanical-like with some floating pieces floating around it and two blue circles could be seen shining on the center of each wing. Her previous race being the Leprechauns, she had liked the mechanical detail of their wings and wondered how it could had resulted for her.

Kirito did the same, activating his Spriggan wings before starting to fly off and looked back toward Scinthia who was looking at the castle with a worried look. He approached her.

''Are you alright?''

She looked back toward him and nodded.

''Yeah...''

''Everything's going to be fine, don't worry.''

She let out a small sad laugh and shook her head slowly.

''It's easier for you to say...''

''You're not like them anyway.''

As Yui said that in a rather low voice, Scinthia gave her a curious look.

''Hm?''

''You're not like them. I'm sure you're not like that scary man or the warrior who attacked Mama and Papa. You...you are not like them.''

The Dark Elf looked at her with a surprised look, but couldn't feel anything else then just sadness. As they flied silently toward the city of Yggdrasil, something felt wrong.

On the buildings were putted multiple race banners: the ones for the Salamanders, Leprechauns, Gnomes and the Puca. Kirito frowned and stopped, making Scinthia gave him a strange look as she stopped as well.

''What is it?''

''Something feels wrong...''

He looked closer and soon noticed that there was an awful lot of soldier troops roaming around in the city with some military tents in the streets.

''What the-''

Suddenly, he noticed that a red circle was coming toward him and he bended to the side with a surprised look as he realised he had been aimed at by a Fire Magic user who had used the Fire-Ray spell.

''W-What the hell?!''

Scinthia grinned as she noticed multiple Salamanders were regrouping along with some Gnomes.

''This isn't good...we need to move.''

''B-But where?!''

''Just not here!''

She grabbed his hand and said in a calm voice.

''System Transport: Sylph Territory. Code: 190143.''

''H-Hey, what are you-''

''Detecting system modification-''

As Yui tried to warn the two about it, they dissapeared in a blue light, leaving the Salamanders eyed the location where they were with a dumb look. One of the Salamanders shouted.

''What the hell, are you serious?! A teleportation spell?! SINCE WHEN DOES THIS GAME HAD TELEPORTATION SPELLS?!''

Another Salamander on his right sighed and asked.

''Dude...do you ever wonder why we're stationed here?''

''I...you know what? I don't even know. It's boring and I think my mind is already making up hallucinations from the boredom.''

Meanwhile...

Johnny Black sighed as he saw everything from the balcony, of which he goes to normally just look outside. He had noticed Scynthia's escape with Kirito, but he hadn't done anything. He knew that she would had escaped one day. If he hadn't loved her in the first place, he would had killed her on sight...but fate decided otherwise. While they were slowly flying away in the distance, he turned back to get inside his room.

Surprisingly, the room was clearly not fitting the castle's exteriors at all. It was a room with his surfaces covered in a pure white color while a bed and multiple expensive furniture were installed around the room.

He grumbled in frustration. He hated the color white, particularly since that day he heard that the Shinkawa brothers were thrown in jail. He already knew the person that was behind all this in a split-second. Not only that, but the color was not fitting him at all, either being his clothes or his own fairy race.

He was in a deep black coat covering a light leather armour under along with black pants and boots. Along with a hood, he also had a skull mask and shining grey eyes. He did not really liked having shining eyes and he was glad he did not had very shiny ones like the ones the others had.

He took off his hood and threw off his mask on the bed before jumping on the bed and putting his hands behind his head. He noticed that there was a small pocket mirror on the drawer on his left and he took it to look at himself out of curiosity.

Along with his grey eyes, he had a dark skin just like the others, pointy elfic ears and short black hair. He shrugged and put the mirror back on the drawer. His appearance was not affecting him by any means anyway; even if he looks good somehow, people will fear him because he's a Dark Elf.

He sighed once again. He wasn't going to tell Sugou about Kirito's escape, that guy can go to hell. He's only following orders when he's in front of Sugou himself. If he's not, then screw that. It's not like he was a dog to him or something. It was probably the same thing with Scinthia.

Cross was something else though. That guy was...overly aggressive and oddly obedient. He'll do anything for Sugou, despite the consequences.

He was not always like this though. He remembered when he met that guy for the first time in SAO. Back then, Cross was a good kid, pretty naive but he was still a good kid none the less. But, when he killed someone by accident right in front of Black's eyes, he changed...for the worst. He liked seeing his victims scream in fear as he slashed them, punched them, murdered them...he liked killing people, and that made him how he is now.

''SAO changed us and there's no going back now...''

He stood up from his bed and directed himself outside his room.

Meanwhile, Sylph Territory, Grasslands:

Sakumi was at the extremity of the Grasslands' cliff, looking at the ever-looking calm sea. Technically, it was normal that it was doing so, since it was probably programmed to stay calm in order to match up with the ''happy'' mood of the game.

But being actually trapped in ALfheim and also having a World War on their heads is something else. She had decided to stay here to calm herself from all the military affairs that was happening in the city of Sylvain, where Sakuya had lead her group to in order to escape the Salamander attack on Freelia. Alicia Rue had suddenly gotten a whole lot more serious since the attack and now prepares multiple assaults on the Enemies' cities, the whole Spec Ops squad ordered to annihilate the city of Gattan and, along with that, kill General Eugene. This decision had made both Sakuya and Jyun really surprised, not actually sure for this plan to work out.

For some time, Saito has been asked by former SAO players if he would re-create his guild, the Remnants of Light, and he was thinking about it lately.

But what surprised Sakumi is that, since the Cait Sith and Sylphs Lords had described her as their last hope, a lot of people were thinking like that as well now, and it was not really easy for her.

She sighed.

''Last hope, huh? Well...I don't look like it.''

She took a rock that was at her feet and threw it toward the ocean, destroying itself right as it landed on a sharp rock that was growing out of the blue surface.

''I'm not a last hope at all...(sigh) more like a fallen angel; more then anything else.''

Trouble, that's what she was thinking that she did since she started this game this morning. Just because of what she done to Sugou, he wanted to avenge himself on her. And, just because of that, the situation that they were in happened. It was all her fault.

''Why does everything still count me even though I feel like a pointless doll?''

''Well, sure, if you continue insulting yourself, maybe you'll surely feel like that.''

''Hm?''

She looked back and saw Emira who was looking at her. Sakumi sighed and waved.

''Hey, Emira-san...''

''Hey.''

The Sylph sat at her side and sighed as well.

''You should really stop thinking like that, Sakumi. It just makes you feel worse.''

''It's harder then it looks, you know. You don't know how many times I passed right through impossible things since the day I started Sword Art Online...''

''As long as you're not a fake, everything's alright in my opinion,''

Sakumi gave her a bothered look while Emira was smiling faintly.

''Hey! Emira-san, you're not a fake. You're just like us, human. Just like Yui-chan!''

''But Yui is something else, me and Soul are the same. Who said that I wanted to be trapped in a game when my NerveGear died? Who said that I wanted to be anti-virus program in SAO? Who said that? No one, that's what. Look.''

She opened her menu and got toward her personal files to show her the pictures of her prohibited memory folder. She pointed toward the little girl.

''I want to be her, I want to be Emi...''

Then, she pointed toward herself with a disappointed look.

''Not Taron...''

Sakumi looked at her with a sad look and sighed.

''Can't you just change your appearance to fit her?''

''I can't. For that to happen, I have to go in some files that are locked by the administrators.''

''But who are the administrators of The Seed?''

''Kirito and Egil if I remember correctly.''

''Oh, then, maybe you could ask...nevermind...''

''Yeah...''

As they stayed there, silent, for at least a minute after Emira had closed her menu, Sakumi smiled faintly.

''Hey...do you remember when we first met in SAO?''

Emira smiled faintly as well.

''Yeah. It's been some time actually. Two years if I can remember correctly...''


Two years ago, September 14th 2023, SAO, Floor 35, City of Mishe, 2:30 PM:

Taron was on the rooftops of the city, hiding from the other players in order to do her file check peacefully. She was wearing a steel armour covering her entire body along with an helmet covering her face in shadows with the mouth being the only exception as it looked like a wolf-like helmet. Her black-colored scythe was sheathed on her back as she was scanning her files with Soul.

''/Expression Files: Check. /Weapon Mastery: Check. /Viruses deleted and cleared. /Full Scan over. /Sending report to administrator...''

She closed her menu and was about to get back to the ground before she heard a voice in her back.

''Hey, what are you doing here?''

She quickly took her scythe, returned herself and put the blade under the neck of the white-haired girl, who did not seemed surprised by her move. She talked in a inexpressive voice.

''Who are you?''

''Maybe I should be the one who asks you that first, no?''

The girl smiled casually as she said that, which made Taron hesitate.

'' /Player not hostile. /Disengaging.''

She sighed, put her scythe on her back and showed her back to the girl.

''I do not answer such questions.''

''Why so?''

''Because answering such might finish in a guild recruitment. I have more important things to do other then socialising.''

''So you're a soloer, huh?''

''Yes. I shall not answer further.''

''Please wait.''

Taron took an interrogative look under her helmet and returned herself while letting out an ''Hm?''. She was starting to feel a little bit impatient toward the girl as she smiled and closed her eyes.

''You probably guessed who I am as of now, did you?''

''Yes, you are Sakumi, the White Swordgirl, guild leader of the Alpha Squad guild. That is why I refused the guild invite before you asked.''

''Tell me. Why are you not socialising? Do you have any friends in your friend list?''

''Friends?''

She had not thought about that. She already knew that she still had no friends in her friend list, but she had always took it as a grain of salt, not important in her own job.

''Yes, friends, do you have some?''

''Well, I...uh...''

She hesitated, which surprised her. She never hesitated before. That ''Sakumi'' must be the first person to had done that.

''You don't?''

She shook her head quickly.

''N-No, no, it's not that, I...''

Now, she was feeling nervous, which surprised her even more. She never was nervous and it was unpleasant to feel this feeling, even though she was only a program by herself.

''...you really want me to join, do you?''

Sakumi smiled.

''Of course I do. You'll have new friends by doing so and you'll be able to have some help for farming.''

Taron sighed. Bah, whatever. At least, she'll have team mates to help her in battle. As Sakumi send her the guild invite, she looked at it for ten seconds without doing anything and she pressed on the ''agree'' button.

After she accepted and the guild icon appear besides her name, Sakumi smiled and nodded.

''Welcome to the Alpha Squad.''


''...I must admit that I was not thinking that I would had actually really made some friends in there. Besides...it was because of you guys that I was revived.''

Sakumi smiled and nodded.

''Yep. You were also able to find out that you were human before after that. Even though you are an A.I., I'm happy to know that information.''

''You know...I was thinking about something.''

''About what?''

''About my revival. How was I revived? I know it's because of someone called Kayaba Akihiko, but how did that worked out? How was my mind and that of Onii-chan trapped in our NerveGears in the first place?''

''Hm...''

''And also...''

The Sylph sighed, uncertain of all those questions.

''...how was someone transformed into an A.I. completely?''

Sakumi took a serious look.

''You mean about Haru-san?''

''Yeah...''

''I don't really know either, but I know I was the one who accepted such thing to happened. You know he tried to suicide, right?''

''He did?''

Emira looked at Sakumi with a shocked look while the swordgirl nodded.

''Yeah, he did. My aunt was the one who proposed such thing to me, but she did not really explained further on how it works, so I just accepted. I'm not that type of person who lets friends die easily like that.''

''I...see. I wonder how they were able to do so...''

''Me too.''

She looked back toward the ocean and noticed Emira took a deep breath before talking.

''Sakumi, I...I think I'm in love with Haruhime.''

''R-Really?''

''Y-Yeah, I know it doesn't' really look like it, but I really do like him.''

Sakumi looked at her with a surprised look before taking a happy face.

''Then you should tell him!''

''H-Hey, hey, you know I can't do that! I-I mean, we're A.I.s and love can't work with us and, and, and, and-''

''No, no, no excuses! You should really go tell him about it. Unlike normal A.I.s, you guys have emotions and were once humans, so it works!''

''I-I don't know, Sakumi, I mean it's the first guy I like! How will I...''

''Um, sorry to bother you two, but...''

The two girls returned themselves and noticed that Saito was looking at them, standing up with a pack of chips in his hands. Emira interiorly sighed in relief while Sakumi eyed the chips.

''You really like those, do you?''

Saito smirked as he finished eating, sighed in disappointment as he noticed the bag was now empty and made it disappear in his inventory.

''Best food ever.''

''You know it can...nevermind.''

''I know the consequences, but, hey, it's not like it affects my real body pretty much.''

He crossed his arms.

''So, what were you two talking about?''

''Oh, she's in love with a guy and she does not want to tell him.''

As she pointed toward Emira, she blushed.

''H-Hey, don't tell that in front of people...!''

Saito giggled and nodded while turning his look toward the Sylph.

''I see, I see. Well, frankly, I know a guy who waited for a very long time before admitting that he was in love with a girl and, you know what?''

''What?''

He smiled.

''The two are now waiting to marry in Real Life.''

''R...Really? That's great for them.''

''What I'm trying to say here is that you should go tell him. The last thing that could happen is that he refuses and that does not happen very often.''

''Are you sure?''

He nodded once again.

''Perfectly.''

She blushed once again, sighed and stood up.

''Well, I could...I could just ask him...''

She activated her fairy wings and flew off, leaving the ancient guild leaders behind. As she gotten away toward Sylvain, Saito turned himself toward Sakumi while she stood up, still looking at the ocean.

''What is it, Saito-san?''

''I was just coming to tell some news to you. Kirito's back...''

''WHAAAAAAT?!''

She had returned herself very quickly, which surprised him a little but not that much. Himself has a girlfriend; he would had felt the same if his girlfriend had dissapeared. Although...

''...but he was accompanied.''

She frowned, but stayed calm.

''By who?''

''By a Dark Elf and a Pixie.''

Pixie must be Yui, she guessed. She haven't seen her slip out, but she was happy that she was safe as well. But a Dark Elf?!

''A DARK ELF?! SHE'S IN SYLVAIN RIGHT NOW?!''

''She's not hostile.''

''Not hostile?''

Not hostile? Why would a Dark Elf not be hostile? She shook her head quickly and grinned with displeasure.

''Even if he or she isn't hostile, you don't let one of our enemies enter our own bases!''

''She wants to help us. She was the one who delivered Kirito here.''

''I'm still not trusting her.''

She activated her Imp wings and flew off toward Sylvain, leaving Saito behind as he sighed.

''This is not going to end well...''