Sword Art Online: Alicization

The Osmanthus Knight

*Continuing Where We Left Off*

"-Enhance Armament!"

"-Enchance Aramaent!"

Thier swords fired a purple and yellow beam towards the white beam as they collided. The three were holding each others beams away from each other.

"Keep holding!"

Kirito and Sonic's beam grew bigger the beams destroyed Lady Fanatio's beam and hit's her. Sending her up in the ceiling and smashung it hard. Soon, her body then fall's down on the ground as Kirito and Sonic finished their attacks. Once everything was done, Kirito fall's down on the ground.

"-Kirito!"

"-Kirito!"

Eugeo run's to Kirito.

"Are you all right? Kirito!"

"Please wake up!"

"Kirito! Kirito!"

Nothing...

"(Tearing Up) N-No, Kirito! You can't go away like this!" Sonic cried

"System Call. Generate Lumionous Element!"

Eugeo try's healing up Kirito but didn't work. Eugeo and Sonic both hold Kirito's hands.

"System Call. Transform Human Unit Durability, Self to left!"

"System Call. Transform Human Unit Durabilty, Self to Right!"

The two then healed up Kirito.

"Kirito."

Kirito grab's hold on both of them.

"Thanks, you guys. I'll be okay now."

"Kirito!" Sonic hugging Kirito

Kirito hug's Sonic back for few seconds until they stopped hugging.

"Hey, don't overdo it. After all that, you probably have internal wounds we can't see."

"It's not as bad as what the goblins did. Anyway, I'm more worried about her."

"But she... But she tried to kill you. You just said that you can't defeat someone with hatred. True, I don't think that Integrity Knight was driven by any personal grudges or hate. But... But I... just can't bring myself to forgive the Church or the Integrity Knights! Not just their devastating power, but also what they aspire to. If they really have the desire to protect the Human Empire, why wouldn't they use that power for more..."

"I'm sure those knights are sturgging with their own conflicts. I think we'll learn more about that if we meet up with their commander. Eugeo, your Perfect Weapon Control art was incredible. You're the one who defeated thise knights. So now... you have no reason to hate Fanatio as a human or the Four Whirling Blades anymore."

Kirito stood uo and walk's pass Eugo and Sonic.

"Human. Yeah, I guess so. That's the one thing I sensed during our battle. She was human. That's why she was so powerful."

"That's exactly right. They see themselves as absolute good, but to you they must've been absolute evil, but you, me, Sonic, and those Integrity Knights are all human. There's no way humans can determine absolute good or evil. Oh, I almost forgot. (Throw's something at Eugeo) Use that to counteract the posion in the kids. Before you give it to them, break the poisoned swords and make sure they don't have anything else suspicious."

Kirito walk's and Sonic follow's him from behind.

"Kirito. Can yiu feel the same way, even towards the pontifex, Administartor?"

Kirito and Sonic were walking towards Fanatio's body but soon ran toward's her.

"System Call! Generate Luminous Element!"

Kirito try's healing up Fanatio but nothing.

"Kirito!"

"Help me! I can't stop the bleeding!"

"All right!"

"Got it!"

Eugeo and Sonic then helped Kirito heal up Fanatio, but still nothing.

"It's useless, Kirito. She's lost to much blood."

"This is the best we can do."

"But... if she dies, she'll be erased. After living for a hundred years, wavering, falling in love, suffering... I can't erase a soul like that! Can you hear me? Anyone at all! I know there are more of you Integrity Knights! Come save your companion! A monk or priest! Somebody come help! I'm begging you, if you're watching, come help us! That's right!" Kirito taking out a knife

"K-Kirito! What are you doing!"

"It has to be done!"

"You can't, Kirito! You're supposed to use it on Administrator!"

"I know that! But I can save her if I use this. I can't have a way to save her and not use it!"

Kirito put's the knife on Fanatio's hand as the knife glow's and heal's Fanatio.

"Jeez, you really are something else." Cardinal said

"Cardinal, is that you? I'm sorry, I just.."

"I agree to undertake the treatment of Fanatio Synthesis Two. However, since a full recovery will take some time, I'll atke her body into my care."

Lanatio's body disapper's in thin air.

"As far as I can tell, it's highly likely that Administartor is still in her unawakened state. If you three can make it to the top floor before she awakens, you can still eliminate her without using the dagger. Hurry. There are only a few more Integrity Knights left."

"Sorry I lost control, you guys."

"No, there's nothing to apologize for."

The three drink the potion as they were healing up.

"Now that I think of it, Cardinal said something strange. Something about Administartor's unawakened state..." Kirito said

"Did she mean she's asleep?"

"Cardinal told Sonic and I about Administartor and the Integrity Knights have to strain their resources in various way in order to be able to live for centuries. Administrator especially spends most of the day sleeping, it seems. Well, I guess we'll find out when we get up there."

*Later*

The three were walking threw a long hallway. As they were walking, they noticed something that got their attention.

"What's this?"

A green like beam

"Hey, something's coming!"

The three grabbed their swords but didn't take them out. An elevator like platformcame down and landed. Inside, was a woman standing there.

"Thank you for your patience. Which floor would you like to visit?" The girl said

"Did you say which floor? Does that mean you're going to take us to the higher floors?"

"Um, we're fugitives who broke into the Cathedral. You sure that eleva- uh, not that... You sure it's okay to let us ride that floating platform?" Kirito said

"My job is only to operate this floating platform. I've recieved no other orders."

"Is that so? Then we'll accept your offer." Kirito walking

"Well, at least it's something." Sonic following

The two enter the elevator platform.

"Hey! Are you sure it's okay?"

"There doesn't seem to any other way up."

"That's... You have a point, but..." Eugeo entering inside the elevator like platform

"Okay then, can you take us as high as you're able?"

"Understood. System Call. Generate Aerial Element."

The door closes behind them as the girl put's her hands on the

"Burst Element."

The platform started rising up..

A little bit later...

"How long have you been doing this?" Kirito asked

"This year marks the one-hundred-and-seventh-year since I received this Calling."

"O-One hundred and seven years? And you've been operating this floating platform that entire time?"

"Not the entire time. I am granted a lunch break at noon, and I sleep at night, of course."

"No, that's not what I meant."

"What's your name?"

"Care to tell us?"

"My name is... I've forgotten it. Everome calls me the Operator."

"Um... So, we're on our way to defeat an important person in the Axiom Church. The one who assigned you this Calling."

"Is that so?"

"If the Church ceases to exist and you're released from this Calling, what would you do?"

"Released? I have no knowledge of the world other than this shaft. Therefore, I cannot say what new Calling I would choose. But if you mean what I wish to try, then... I would like to fly freely through the sky on this floating platform."

Minutes later, the platform comes to a complete stop.

"Thank you for your patience. This is the eightieth floor, the Cloudtop Garden."

The girl gies back down as Kirito, Eugeo, and Sonic watch her go back down.

"I used to think that nothing could be more endless then my previous Calling. But it was a gift to be able to retire when I got old. Compared to that girl's calling..."

"Cardinal said that even if you freeze the natural degradation of life with a spell, you can't stop the spul from aging. The memory is affected bit by bit, until it's destroyed in the end. What the Axiom Church is doing is wrong. That's why us three came all this way to defeat Administrator. But... But that doesn't mean things will end there, Eugeo. The real challenge is still ahead."

"As long as we defeat Administrator, can't we let Cardinal handle the rest?"

"No. I'll explain after we get Alice back."

"Kirito?"

The three put their hands on the door and start pushing it. The door slowly opened up. Inside was a beautiful garden.

"This is..."

The three walked inside the Garden room.

"Now this what I call home." Sonic said

The tree walked closer to the tree that was up on the hill. Eugeo then noticed Alice standing sitting under the tree.

"Alice."

"Please wait a little longer. Since the weather's so nice, I want to give it ample time to bask in the sunlight."

"I know right? I really like it days are like this." Sonic said

"Don't fight, Eugeo. Just focus on piercing Alice with Cardinal's dagger, no matter what. I'll block her attacks even if it means risking my life."

"But..."

"There's no other way. I'll take Alice's strike intentionally and then restrain her, so use that dagger immediately. Got that?"

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize. You're paying me back double as soon as I can make you! She doesn't seem to have her sword. If we attack now, she won't have time to recite the Perfect Weapon Control command. To be honest, it'd be best if we didn't have to use it."

"I guess you're right. Even though I though I can use my Perfect Weapon Control art two more times without restoring its life using the scabbard."

"I could use 'that' as much as I wish."

"Perfect. That will help. I can only use mine once more. And after Alice, we'll still bave to deal with the knights' commander. All right, let's go."

The three continued walking up the hill.

"I see you've climbed all the way to these heights. Even if you did manage, to escape the underground prison, I expected Eldrie to be able to deal with you on his own. Yet you three overcame him, Sir Desolbert, and even cut down Sir Fanatio, before setting foot in the Cloudtop Garden. What is imbuing you with such power? Why are you disrupting the order of the Human Empire? As I thought, I can only ask you with my sword."

Alice put's her hand on the tree.

"Don't tell me..."

The tree turned into a sword.

"Don't tell me that sword... is already under Perfect Weapon Control?"

The three start running at Alice. Alice take's out her sword out of the case, charges up and swings at the three of them. Kirito and Eugeo get hit by the attack, sending them flying but Sonic block's it no problem.

"Is that all you got!?" Sonic said

Alice charges up again and swing's at Sonic but block's it again. The two both started swinging at each other and blocking their attacks. They continue to swing at each other until they slammed their swords together. The two were trying to attack each other but couldn't move. Kirito and Eugeo were amazed at Sonic's skills.

"Whoa."

"Incredible."

"I only seen one who is able to compete with me and stand this long. That sword and armor you're using. I never seen this kind of gear. Who are you?" Mind telling me who you are?" Alice said

"The name's Sonic. Sonic The Hedgehog. But in this battle, King Arthur."

Sonic pushes Alice back and jump's back to Kirito and Eugeo. Alice look's at the three of them

"Could it be you both are mocking me? To run towards me without drawing your swords... I held back on that attack as a warning. But with my next attack, I shall erase all of your life. Show me the full extent of your power, for the sake of the knights you've defeated, as well."

"System Call."

"We apologize for showing such disrespect to an honorable Integrity Knight. I, Disciple Kirito, formally challenge you, Knight Alice for a fair battle."

"Make this round 2." Sonic said

"Very well. I shall test limlts of both your evil designs thorugh your swordsmanship."

Alice walk's closer to Kirito and Sonic.

"Tell us one thing. I assume the tree we saw on top of the hill earlier was your Divine Object's ancient form. How can such a small tree wield so much power?" Kirito said

"In ancient times, the spot where the Central Cathedral now stands was the Place of Beginnig bestowed upon humans by Stacia, the Goddes of Creation. A beautiful spring gushed in the center of a tiny village, and on its hanks grew a single Osmanthus tree. That tree was the original form of my Divine Object, the Osmanthus Blade. The reincarnated form of a tree created by God. It is the oldest existence in creation. Its attribute is "everlasting eternity." Even a single fluttering petal can split rock on pierce the ground it touches."

"I see. So it's the first indestructible object installed by God. Not that I can afford to be amazed."

"If my sword managed to stand yours. Then mine must be "everlasting eternity" on attibute as well." Sonic said

"Now then, Integrity Knight Alice. Once again, we challenge you!"

Sonic and Kirito both lunged at Alice and swung their swords. Alice block's them, knocking back Kirito only. Alice and Sonic both starred at each other.

"Round 2 it is." Sonic jumping back

Alice run's toward's Kirito and Sonic as she swung her sword at them. Kirito block's it but get's knocked back. Sonic try's swinging at her but Alice dodges it, run's pass him and charges at Kirito. Kirito land's on his feet as he slammed swords with Alice. Alice then throw's Kirito up in the air but land's on the small river as the two continued to duel it out. Kirito jump's back while Sonic appear's behind Alice but Alice managed to block Sonic's attack as the two then dueled once again. But this time with harder blows. Seconds later, Alice back's away from Sonic, turn's around and chases Kirito.

"You're not getting away from me!" Sonic following Alice

Eugeo was following them as fast as he could. Alice the trap's Kirito on a wall.

"You're the third person to withstand my attacks this long. You've must've climbed this tower with such resolve and conviction. But it's not nearly enough to sway the Church. I cannot allow you three to disturb the peace of the Human Empire."

Kirito noticed Eugeo and Sonic running from behind.

"Now then... prepare yourself."

Alice raises up her sword but Sonic try's to block it and hold it from swinging at Kirito but Alice dodges it and swing's at Kirito. Kirito block's the attack with his sword and release his grip on his sword and drops it. Soon, Kirito and Sonic grabbed onto her tightly.

"Enhance Armament!"

Eugeo slam's his sword in the ground as a wave of ice spikes headed toward's Alice. Ice like Thorns started tangling itself on Alice, Sonic, and Kirito. The thorns then exploded, freezing the three of them up. Eugeo walk's toward's the three of them as he take's off the dagger but all of sudden. Alice started charging up her sword and unfreezes herself, Kirito, and Sonic.

"That was rather entertaining, but you have no hope of stopping my flowers with mere ice. I'll fight you next, so stay there and wait your turn."

"-Enhance Armament!"

"-Enhance Armament!"

Kirito and Sonic's swords started glowing yellow and purple once again. Soon, the three charged at each other and slammed swords together. The attack knocked all of them back.

"They aimed for the sword?"

"-Eugeo!"

"-Eugeo!"

Eugeo quickly run's but the wall broke and made a huge hole, sending Kirito, Sonic, and Alice out of the building. Eugeo saw the three of them get sucked out.

"Kirito? Sonic? Alice?"

Then, the wall started repairing itself. Eugeo run's as fast he could but the huge hole was already repaired once he made it.

"Kirito! Sonic! Alice!" Eugeo crying out loud

To Be Continue...

"Next Time: Truce." Kirito and Sonic as narrtors