"Well, this is it," Kirito says as we approach the final door at the top of the Temple of Prayers. We wasted no time logging on and ascending the tower after yesterday's fight with Genesis. For the first time since my rescue in GGO, not counting each time we come to a new area, the entire team is here. "The Altar of Prayer lies ahead. This is where Premiere's quest comes to an end."

"Is everyone ready?" Turning to the rest of the gang, twelve tired heads nod. We spent the entire day here, with little breaks here and there. But we're doing this for Premiere and for the world. Satisfied with their answer, I face our leader. "Kirito, on you."

"Here we go." We follow Kirito into the Altar of Prayer, and as expected, we aren't alone. Waiting for us is Genesis and the other Goddess.

"Bravo! The Hero finally makes his big appearance! The curtain rises and surprise! The boy hasn't fled!"

Kirito glares as he steps forward alone, as we decided earlier when the eventual encounter with Genesis occurs. "Genesis."

The other Goddess steps forth, but Genesis calls her back. "You will stay back, slave! I want to feel this one die."

"Understood."

"Hmmph. Clever, clever boy. You knew I would butcher your friends and simply take that pet of yours if you didn't show yourself. You haven't forgotten my words, have you, Hero? I will destroy this world. Your heroics will mean nothing beneath my legacy. If you want to stop me...come and take me!"

"You're on."

"Kirito," Premiere calls out of concern.

"Don't worry, Premiere. Just hang back with Asuna and Jaymes. I, nor they, don't want anything to happen to you."

Genesis chuckles. "What more fitting stage could we have? Truly the fate of an entire world in the balance! Do you feel it, Hero? Now then, let the battle begin!"

Kirito nods as he draws his sword. "This ends here!"

Minutes later, Kirito pants as the battle comes to a standstill. Genesis, however, just emits rage. "Damn, boy… Y-You don't quit."

"Why would I? I've just found your weakness."

"You...what?"

"You've surpassed the most elite players in this game. Toppled those who fight on the frontlines everyday. But let's be honest for just a minute. There is no way you could get that good just by playing this game."

"Speak plain! Are you saying I'm...an abomination? A freak? Abnormal?"

Kirito nods. "Yeah. Just like me."

Genesis eyes grow so wide they almost roll out his head. "Like-Like YOU?"

"Don't act so surprised! You've always known it, haven't you? We're cut from the same cloth, you and I."

"What? D-Don't be foolish! We're nothing alike. Nothing!"

"No need to get so angry. We're not the only ones like us." Kirito halfway turns back, obviously looking at me. "Heh! We can't be. Everyone wants to get ahead. That's just human nature. You want to be respected, powerful...feared. And I know how hard it is to go back, believe me, once you've had a taste of power. Real, actual power."

"It's...not possible."

"I mean, who wants to admit it, right?"

"Heh! Who, indeed? This is not something for nobodies--weaklings! No chance some idiot could ever pull this off. You can't break through the Cardinal System security, though? No matter what. Or...am I mistaken?"

"No. No, you're right. But, hehehe, there's one thing the Cardinal can't defend."

"So you've modified your AmuSphere as well, huh?" Kirito says nothing back, which irritates Genesis. "A-Answer me! ANSWER ME!"

"No, Genesis. I haven't done anything to my AmuSphere. Not one damn thing. I was talking about all the experience I've gained in Full Dive games. What else? Strength like this, it's never been just about skills. You have to know VR. To feel your avatar like it's your own skin. Once you're in Full Dive, no experience in the world can come close. You'll do anything, ANYTHING, just to get back in. Skip school, lose track of life, time, hell, for a while I forgot to eat."

"Amazingly," Asuna says under her breath.

"But the Cardinal System, no, it never judges you. Not a single bell to warn you about everything that's still outside. I thought we had that in common, Genesis. That those hours and hours and hours of living inside VR had unlocked that power. But I gave you too much credit. All this time, you're just a hacker altering the AmuSphere."

Genesis growls. "Bastard!"

Kirito grins. "Man, am I glad I finally figured that out. It was keeping me up nights! Hey, Jaymes, you get all that?"

I smirk. "Seven, how are you? Enjoying the show?"

"Even popped popcorn."

Genesis freaks out as he faces me. "Wh-What? Who are you talking to? WHO IS THAT VOICE?"

"She, like me, is assisting with the Sword Art: Origin development team. You might know her as Dr. Rainbow Arshavin. Hey, Nanairo, tell this mudak what he's won."

"Oh, your Russian is improving, Joshua. As for Genesis, you've been a bad, bad player. You've been making illegal modifications to your AmuSphere, haven't you?"

Genesis scoffs. "What? You think you can beat me into saying it? Ha… HAHAHAHA! Is that your grand plan? Trying to get me erased from the game. Wipe my data from existence? NEVER! I will put an end to you...now and forever! When I'm through with you all, not even your MEMORY WILL REMAIN!" Genesis administers a digital drug to himself, crouching as it takes over. As planned, Asuna, Leafa, and Yuuki join Kirito to aid him. Kureha and I stay in while the others retreat to the previous room with Premiere. "YOU THINK YOU HAVE POWER? YOU THINK YOU'VE TASTED IT? HAHAHA! NOW WITNESS TRUE STRENGTH! MINE… ALL MINE! I CAN FEEL IT… YES! YEEEES! IT SINGS IN ME! SCREAMS IN MY HEART, IN MY MIND! FILL ME WITH--ARGH!" Genesis coughs ups and almost collapses again. "No… ARRRRRGH! RRRRRRRGH!"

Kureha gasps out of concern. "What is happening?"

"The drug is breaking down and harming him."

"NO," Genesis cries. "NOOOOOO! I CAN'T TURN BACK! I WON'T! I'LL NEVER BE WEAK AGAIN! NEVER AFRAID AGAIN! THE WEAK DESERVE TO DIE! THEY DESERVE TO DIIIIEEEEEE!"

"Nanairo, you have enough to act?"

"Yes… Be careful."

"NRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Genesis stands up as Rain and I join the others confronting Genesis in his empowered, drug-induced state. "HAAH… HAAH… NO ONE CAN DEFEAT ME! NO ONE CAN STAND BEFORE THIS MIGHT! I'LL BEAT YOU INTO DUST! I'LL SHATTER YOU!"

Yuuki sighs. "You done with the baseless boasting?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kirito says. "You're terrifying. Can we just move this along? You're done."

"So you say." Genesis charges forward, unleashing his monstrous combo on us. Leafa and Kirito are cast aside like swatted flies while my shield takes a beating to protect the other girls. Once Genesis' attack ends, I attack the crazed man, hoping to open him up and allow us to hurt him.

"Jaymes, switch!" I roll out the way and let Yuuki and Asuna take on Genesis. Absolute Sword and Lightning Flash drive him back, but as I'm aware from yesterday's fight, he can take on two people with surprising ease. Yet I couldn't have expected him to fight equally with Yuuki when Kirito, Asuna, and I have trouble dueling her.

"YOU PATHETIC GIRLS! DIE, DIE, DIIIIEEEE!" Genesis grabs Asuna by her arrm and nearly swings her into Yuuki before releasing her and letting Asuna fly. Distracted by her concern for her big sister, Yuuki fails to block Genesis' sword, gaining a bright red mark on her little body and having her liver kicked.

Seeing four friends beaten like noobs angers me. "Bastard!" I throw away my shield and charge Genesis, getting him away from Yuuki. "Nova Ascension!" The sword skill activates and lets me strike Genesis ten times, but not a single one physically hits him. However, I didn't expect them to; I just kept his attention off Rain. "Switch!"

"The Eclipse!" Rain appears from behind me and unleashes the fury of two blades upon Genesis. I call forth Nova Ascension again, waiting for Rain to finish the skill. 24th hit, 25th hit, 26th, and the final...no! Genesis dodges and quickly slashes Rain's back as she's in the middle of the motion.

"Rain! Ha!" I activate my skill but Genesis blocks it. As I stumble from parrying, the taller male grabs me and slams me against the floor. Holding me up again, he throws me like a used rag. I grunt as I end up beside Asuna, groaning as I glance at her.

"Almost had him, huh?"

As the pain subsides, I push myself up, seeing Kirito fighting again. "Dammit. Kirito's gonna get the kill, huh? Just like Kayaba, the two of us are grounded while he fights the big bad."

Asuna smirks as she gets to her knees and grabs her rapier. "He wouldn't have done that without me and you...so let's do it again." Asuna reaches out for me, so I take her hand and stand up. "He might be the Black Swordsman, but he's nothing without Lightning Flash and Crimson Warrior."

I nod as I trade my sword for another weapon. "Asuna… Use your strongest attack. I'll open him up, you daze him, and hopefully Kirito can finish him off!"

"Got it!"

"GRRRRAAAAGH!" Kirito barely holds his own against Genesis' overhead vertical swing, and the berserker continues to hammer down on Kirito's sword. Using all his strength, Kirito pushes Genesis' greatsword and dodges another swing.

Now we begin. "Switch, Kirito!" Charging in as the original Black Swordsman falls back, I run to take his place. With Rain, Yuuki, and Leafa are down, we might not last much longer. We're ending the fight here and now.

"YOU'RE MINE! HAAAAAH!" Genesis thrusts his sword, slicing against my left shoulder again. He grins as my face reflects the pain flaring from the wound, but that grin falls as I look up at him with a smirk of my own.

"Trojan...Horse!" Revealing a dagger in my left hand, I use the power of the counterattack and break Genesis' defense, leaving Genesis open to Asuna's Quadruple Pain. Those four thrusts leave him dazed, confused, and wide open to Kirito as he jumps back in, revealing a second blade in his left hand, and punishes Genesis with the Starburst Stream.

As Kirito's attack finishes, Genesis stares up in shock as his health depletes to zero. "...Screw you… Why...is it you…"

"You're not worthy of the name 'Black Swordsman.'" Genesis then vanishes in a cloud of blue polygons. Our fight against Genesis, the false Black Swordsman, is over.

"Oww. St-Strea!" I grimace as the MHCP squeezes whatever health I have left out of me as the rest of the team floods the room. Lisbeth tries to relieve myself of her, but Strea's grip is like a gorilla.

"You had me worried, Jaymes! I almost cried!"

"Let him go, Strea!"

"No, never again!" As charming that sounds, I don't want to be held onto right now. Yet, for some reason, I relinquish my struggle and hug Strea back. At least, for once, she's hugging me normally.

"Fine… Sorry to worry you as well, if I did."

Lisbeth clicks her tongue. "As if. I didn't think you'd lose to some druggie. But, I must ask, was that skill the same one you kept hidden in SAO?"

I nod. "Yeah, one and the same."

"Awesome."

"Wow, you look like shit," Kureha says as she and Asuna walk towards me. "But that's usually what you look like, anyway."

"Thanks. So how are the girls?"

"Rain, Yuuki, and Leafa just took some big hits, that's all. They're fine. Kirito and Premiere did just go deeper into the dungeon after the other Goddess. We're stuck here until they return."

I gently push Strea off me and reequip my sword and shield. "I'm not too confident in leaving them alone with her...Lisbeth, get everyone home. We're done here. Let's follow after them, you two." She nods and joins me into going deeper into the dungeon. A moment later, we round a corner and see Kirito standing in the walkway, Premiere opposing her sister on a raised platform...and they're arguing.

"You had a choice, too. You have made it. If you will not join me, then I will tear the world down on my own!" That declaration is accompanied by the temple shaking and a flash of light. As I gain my footing, I look past Kirito and Premiere to see the other NPC surrounded by the six Sacred Stones. "This world is polluted. People have tainted it with their very existence!"

My jaw drops. "Oh no!"

"It can't be… She's trying to start it herself? The Great Separation?" The Goddess begins her prayer, her hair and eyes turning white and her body glowing. Then she suddenly vanishes. "...Teleportation?"

"Kirito," Asuna says frantically as we enter the room, "where did she go?" Kirito faces us, speechless.

I look to Premiere, noting her continued presence. "There's no way she can initiate the Great Separation. The myth calls for both Goddesses to do it, so...maybe we're--"

"You cannot fight your purpose. You will become one with me."

"That's her--Whoa!" The temple suddenly starts to shake more violently. Settling close to Kureha, I grab her and teleport us both out the Temple of Prayers to the first location I touch. We end up at the Teleport Gate of the Phoeniath Knoll, but it's safe compared to another part of the world. The swirling clouds barely hide the abundance of floating rock and the mass congregation of them at the center of the swirl. A castle floating in the sky.

"Joshua," Kureha says fearfully, "is that…"

"Aincrad… She did it…"

I listen to the others as we meet up the next day, but I'm not too interested in the lives of NPCs or Genesis being arrested and why. Right now, the future of VR research is at stake. Everything my family hopes to come out of this is in peril.

"Well, we got the Genesis case closed! Hooray! But we still have the Goddess problem to solve. No-ray."

"And she is certainly determined to see the world destroyed."

"And it might be our fault… Every NPC has an AI. They all grow and learn. Their consciousness and personality all emerges from the things they experience. Genesis shaped her personality. Everyone who interacted with him, including us, had an effect on who she would become. No matter which way you look at it, we're at the heart of her desire to burn this world. It all comes down to people… She had a name. Genesis called her Tia. Maybe we misjudged that relationship. I think Genesis saw something else in her. Maybe she was more than a tool to him."

Strea nods. "That would definitely explain why she took everything he said so seriously, because he was a downer."

"So another Lievre," Kureha says, then turns her attention to me. "Now that I think about it, what happened in GGO and what just happened is quite similar."

I nod. "Lievre was manipulated by her master into nearly destroying the Glocken's safety measures, and just like her, Tia is profusely loyal to Genesis. Difference being Lievre is designed to be somewhat loyal to whoever awakens her, just as Rei is to me. Tia...developed it naturally. But as Kirito said, and as we witnessed with Lievre, both have experiences that shaped their personality and consciousness. If we handle this like Lievre…"

"Hey guys," Sinon says, "where's Premiere?"

Kirito shrugs. "I don't know. Actually, now that you mention it, I haven't seen her all day."

"She's usually here to greet us as soon as we log in," Asuna says.

"This cannot be good."

"I'll go look for her," Kirito says.

"We should all split up. Sinonon, Lis, you come with me. We'll check the town."

"Good call. I'll look in the field."

I stand up and turn to Kureha. "We'll leave Premiere to them. I want to check out Aincrad first from a distance."

"Be careful, okay? When the world started to get torn up, some places got blocked off and others got a lot more dangerous."

"I will be. Don't worry."

"Jaymes and I will watch our backs," Kureha says while placing an arm on my shoulder.

"So that's it, huh?" Kureha folds her arms and gazes up towards the floating castle. Sighing, she directs her eyes at me. "Your home for two years. Feeling homesick?"

"That's a very bad joke, Momiji."

"Yeah, but you smirked. Anyway… You know, you don't talk about Aincrad much. Sure, there was that one time, but that was the heat of the moment. But… I guess I can't just say 'Hey, Josh, let's talk about SAO', can I?"

"You could… It's just not easy to talk about with someone who wasn't there."

Kureha sighs and sits down on the hill we're located on. "I guess you're right… I was actually going to play the game myself, but I hadn't saved up enough to buy a NerveGear and the game. Lucked out, ironically. But I would like to hear your experience in Aincrad. Not just the good, but the bad and the ugly. I just...want to know who you were those two years?"

I sit down beside Kureha, looking back up at the forming Aincrad. "I… I was exactly what Kirito said earlier. Not much different from him and Genesis, that is. But there was a girl named Koharu, and we were partners. At times we partied with Asuna, Kirito, Klein, Agil, and the others who stayed away from the frontlines. There are some people who I were friends with that I haven't met in real life. But most important to me was that girl, she was everything to me. Her name was Koharu Hanao. Used her first name like an idiot, though, hehe. Had many good times and bad times with her, but the ugly didn't start until she was murdered."

"Then that explains how you knew Death Gun and didn't waver when Itsuki asked if you could kill him. You've done it, haven't you?"

I nod. "Not particularly proud or remorseful of it. It's just...those two years changed me. But it wasn't all bad. I made some great friends… I thought of you at times."

Kureha faces me again. "Really?"

"Yeah. Koharu and I broke the rule of talking about the real world since, well, we planned on surviving but in case we didn't, it would be nice to know the real us. So yeah, I talked lots about my childhood friend and our shenanigans. Sometimes I wondered if you were in the game, we were gamers after all, but finding you out of 10,000 would be impossible. Now I have to imagine if you were there."

"Hehe, you'd be overprotective of someone you've known your entire life."

I smile at that. It reminds me of a couple I met early on in SAO on the desolate 13th Floor, a boy and girl who were childhood friends. Nautilus and Yuna… I wonder if I'd really be that overprotective and if it'll work. "You'd annoy me so much I'll let you be free. Or you'd be the overprotective, clingy one."

"I'm not clingy!"

"My memories say otherwise." Kureha pouts and turns away. I resume staring at Aincrad. I wonder if this is how it looked from the ground in SAO. Almost got a chance to find out, if the Elf Quest ended a different way… "Like Lievre, we'll beat Tia and, if we can't change her ideals, we can at least save Ainground. We'll leave the first part to Kirito, he cares about that crap."

"Wow, some hero you are."

"It's how I roll."