The Black Swordsman stands up, meeting the leader of Laughing Coffin face to face with the Night Sky Blade in hand.
Sortiliena: Kirito...
Ronie: Kirito-Senpai...
Yui: Daddy...
Tails: It sure is good to have you back, buddy.
Sonic: Welcome back, Kirito.
Kirito smiles and nods his head. Then, he looks back at the villain.
PoH: So you're finally awake, huh? Seriously, you are the best, Kirito. You and Sonic are the best.
The hero in black gets in his stance.
PoH: Now, let's finish what we started back in Aincrad. It's showtime!
The fight begins, and PoH has the advantage already.
PoH: I've been waiting almost two years for this day!
He grabs the hero in black and throws him. He recovers, and they both clash swords.
PoH: Where's your other sword, Black Swordsman? You know, those guys in red killed so many of your friends.
Kirito: I know how you do things! You turn people on each other, sowing the seeds of hatred, and inciting the next battle! You really messed with us in SAO, but you won't get away with that in this world! I won't let you get away with it again! I know what Sonic has been doing. He's been using his power as Super Sonic to stop you from going into those players' hearts!
PoH: Well, once I kill you both, those guys are gonna kill all your precious friends! You won't live to see your failure, but who cares. After I kill you and Sonic, I'll put Lightning Flash, and every last one of your friends to sleep.
Kirito struggles as he tries to push through.
Ruby: Oh no!
Sonic: Kirito!
Asuna: Kirito!
Vector: This is bad! If we don't do something, he'll...
Yuuki: Don't worry. He'll be okay.
Sonic: Huh? But...
Yuuki: You both beat Heathcliff, didn't you? I know it'll be okay.
Sonic: Yeah. You're right.
Zekken nods her head and faces back at Kirito.
Yuuki: Kirito! Catch!
She throws the Absolute Sword at him. He catches it with his left hand.
PoH: What?!
Kirito: HRAAAAAAAGH!
With two blades in hand. He pushes the evil murderer back.
PoH: Heh! That's what I'm talking about! Don't get too cocky though. There's still some leftover sacred power in the air.
The Black Swordsman raises the Night Sky Blade in the air.
Kirito: Release Recollection.
The black sword absorbs all of the leftover sacred power in the air.
Sonic: Kirito's black sword used to be a gigantic cedar tree in Rulid Village.
Sortiliena: I see. So that's why that sword can absorb sacred power.
His wounds heal. Then, his clothes start to transform. With the same boots, fingerless gloves, and the black coat he wore back in SAO. Both the Night Sky Blade's and Absolute Sword's scabbards appear on his back. He represents one of the two who cleared Sword Art Online. Tears come out of Asuna's eyes as she feels some deja vu.
Asuna: Kirito...
Pyrrha: So that's the Black Swordsman.
Jaune: That coat he's wearing. Did he wear that back in Aincrad?
Knuckles: Yep. He sure did.
Weiss: I've heard plenty of stories about him. He and Sonic were the two that cleared SAO, and defeated Heathcliff.
Blake: There was a quote from the SAO Incident Report. "Once he draws his second sword, no one will be left standing."
Tails: The dual-wielding skill in SAO was a unique skill that went to the player with the fastest reaction time. Sonic didn't get it because he never used a sword. If Yuuki joined, it would have been her that got it, because her reaction time is way faster than Kirito's.
Nora: You know. It's kind of rare to see somebody wield two swords. I'll be honest, it suits him well.
Ruby: And he looks so cool.
Yang: Honestly. He's just really edgy.
Sonic: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Black Swordsman.
PoH: That outfit brings back lots of memories. You and Sonic really are the best. You're both the only reasons why I want to kill so much of my own free will. Well, I already fought Sonic. Now it's time to fight you. Now, let's have some fun, Black Swordsman!
Kirito: Yeah. Let's end this.
They both get into their stances. After a brief moment passes, the fight begins. The two swing blades at each other. Kirito runs off, jumps to a wall, and back onto PoH, and up into the air.
Kirito: Burst Element!
Kirito fires projectiles at PoH, but they get deflected, and a big smoke screen appears around the evil murderer. The Black Swordsman shows up from behind him. Then, both blades glow bright red, as he unleashes his 8-hit dual-wielding sword skill, Nightmare Rain.
Kirito: HRAAAAGH!
The Black Swordsman slashes him with that skill, but PoH counters the last hit with a sword skill.
PoH: Hahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The Mate Chopper begins to crack.
PoH: Huh?
Kirito: HRAAAAAAAAAAGH!
PoH's weapon gets destroyed, and Kirito unleashes the final hit of his sword skill, and that creates a big explosion.
Sonic: Woah!
When the smoke clears. The Night Sky Blade is seen stabbed through the leader of Laughing Coffin.
PoH: Impressive. That's more like it. But it's not over yet. Even if I log out of this world, I'll never stop coming after you guys. Not until I kill you, Sonic, Lightning Flash, and all your friends.
Kirito: No. It's all over now. You'll never log out of the Underworld.
Kirito's black sword glows yellow, as he releases its memory inside of PoH. Then, he starts walking back to his friends.
PoH: Heheh. Agh!
With the swords memory released inside of PoH, he starts to transform into a tree.
Kirito: This sword used to be the Demon Tree in Rulid Village. For 200 years, villagers have been trying to chop it down with their axes. I just sent the memory of this sword into your body. I don't know how many years or decades it will take before you're let out of the STL, but you'd better pray it's not too long. And who knows, maybe someday when pioneers build a village around here, maybe some kids will chop you down with an axe.
The Black Swordsman raises the Night Sky Blade in the air.
Kirito: System Call. Transfer durability, right to area.
Everybody's wounds get healed up. After that, he sheathes both swords.
Sonic: Nice job, Kirito!
Mighty, Ray, and Leafa show up, along with Sheyta, the orcs, and the pugilists.
Mighty: No way!
Ray: Kirito's awake!
Leafa: Big Brother!
Leafa runs into his brothers arms, hugging him.
Kirito: Hey Sis.
Leafa: Thank goodness! You're okay! Thank goodness!
Sonic: Mighty! Ray! Leafa! Oh man! You guys are okay!
Ray: Yep. And we had plenty of help.
Mighty: You can thank Speedaholic here. She was pretty much MVP.
Klein: Kirito... Bro...
Klein places his fist on Kirito's shoulder.
Klein: You and Sonic are always stealing the spotlight! Come on, man!
Yuuki: Glad you're okay, Kirito! Can I have my sword back, now?
Kirito: Sure.
Kirito gives Yuuki's sword back to her.
Yuuki: Thanks.
Yui, Ronie, and Sortiliena run to Kirito and hug him. Then, Amy runs to Sonic.
Amy: Sonic!
Sonic: Oh sugar honey iced tea!
The blue hedgehog runs away from the pink one.
Amy: Sonic! Come back here! I missed you!
Sonic: Ay! Ay! Chill out now, Amy! Come on!
Seven: Here we go again with those two.
Rain: It's kind of hilarious to see them like this.
Knuckles: I honestly feel bad for Sonic. Literally.
Philia: Well, it's good that they both get along well enough to act like that.
Jaune: They certainly have lots of girlfriends.
Agil: You have no idea.
Pyrrha: Well, you can tell just how nice they are.
Lisbeth and Silica hug each other, crying.
Lisbeth: Thank goodness! Thank goodness!
Silica: I'm so happy!
The Underworld Knights bend down on their knees, paying respect to Kirito and Sonic.
Renly: I knew from the very beginning, that Sonic and Kirito were very nice people.
Asuna: Yes.
Sonic: Thanks everyone.
Kirito: Thank you all. We definitely won't let your feelings, or all the blood and tears you shed today go to waste. Truly, thank you.
A crying Asuna walks up to them, but then wipes her tears.
Sonic: Oh, Kirito! Alice, Eugeo, Bercouli, and Cardinal...
Kirito: I know. It's a little hazy, but I know what's going on. We gotta go rescue them. Asuna? Will you help us?
Asuna: I will.
Asuna takes Kirito's hand, and hugs him for a heartwarming moment. He wipes the tears off her eyes and then...
Kirito: Excuse me...
He carries her in his arms.
Asuna: What? Wait! Kirito?
Kirito: Okay, we're off.
Kirito uses an aerial element sacred art, and flies away, carrying Asuna with him.
Sonic: Heh! Those two...
Strea: *Sigh*
Lisbeth: They're such showoffs.
Tails: I know. They are husband and wife after all.
Sonic: Yeah. Well, time to go. Tails? Knuckles? Mighty? Ray? You guys ready?
Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray: Right!
Ruby: Oh, Sonic!
Sonic: Huh? Yeah?
Ruby: You remember what needs to be done in the real world, right?
Sonic: I know. Eggman. But we gotta make sure the Underworld is safe first. We'll kick those bad guys out of Rath, and then head to South Island.
Ruby: Okay. Be careful.
Sonic: We will. Come on, guys. Time to go fast!
Sonic, Knuckles, and Mighty run off after Kirito and Asuna. Tails and Ray fly after them as well.
Leafa: Sonic... Big Brother... Please be safe.
Meanwhile, at Main-Con...
Critter: Darn it! What's that idiot, Vassago doing?
He sees Vassago standing still, but Gabriel is still on the move.
Critter: The JSDF commando unit will storm in in 8 hours and 20 minutes. Per Captain Miller's orders, once 8 hours are left, I'm supposed to resume time acceleration in the Underworld. It can't be helped. Vassago, hang on a little longer.
Critter changes the FLA rate, but then, it locks him. He sees a keyhole right next to the lever.
Critter: I need a key.
Brigg places his hand on Critter's shoulder and carries a gun in his other hand.
Brigg: Don't worry. Got one right here.
Meanwhile, at Sub-Con...
Higa: Okay, I'm back. Is Kirito alright?
Rinko: Yes. His Fluctlight is completely restored. It's almost too active now, to be honest.
Higa: Good.
Kikuoka: This is my fault that Kirito was in that condition. I didn't realize we had a mole among the tech staff.
Higa: What's going on in the Underworld right now?
Kikuoka: The battle has stopped. The American players are all logged out, and the South Korean and Chinese players have stopped fighting.
Higa: They came from China and South Korea too? Not as reinforcements, but as enemies?
Rinko: Apparently, someone played on their mutual animosity as online gamers to lure them in the Underworld.
Higa: Is that right?
Kikuoka: The 2,000 players from Japan, who came as reinforcements, were nearly all wiped out. Right now, there are still 20,000 Chinese and South Korean players left, but they're not fighting, because Sonic preve...
He gets interrupted by a big warning sign on the computer.
Kikuoka: What?!
Critter: No way...
Computer: Fluctlight Acceleration rate safety limiter disengaged. 20 minutes until maximum-acceleration phase. For any personnel in the Soul Translators, please initiate disengagement protocol immediately.
Rinko: What does maximum acceleration mean? Isn't the FLA limit 1,200?
Higa: 1,200 is the safety limit factoring in the lifespan of a real-world human's soul. 5,000 is at the limit which we can observe the Underworld. Neither are the hardware limit imposed by physical constraints.
Rinko: Then what is the hardware-based limit?
Higa: During the maximum-acceleration phase, the FLA rate will be just over 5 million. The two STL's in Roppongi connected by satellite will be disconnected automatically once they can't keep up with the speed, but in the case of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, Ray, Kirito, and Asuna here on the Ocean Turtle...
Rinko: You can't be serious! We need to hurry! We have to get them out of those STL's!
Higa: But the initial acceleration phase has already begun! If we pull them out of their machines now, it'll damage their fluctlights!
Rinko: Then start the disengagement protocol right now!
Higa: Mr. Kiku! I'm going down their again!
Kikuoka: Okay. I'm going with you this time. We'll both climb down.
Nakanishi: It's too dangerous, Lt. Colonel! Allow me to undertake on that mission...
Kikuoka: No. I need you all to defend the stairs. Since we'll be opening the bulkhead again. And you'll be engaging the enemy directly, so the danger will be even greater for you. Even so, I must ask you to go.
Nakanishi: Understood!
Higa: Oh! Mr. Kiku! When I was operating the STL earlier, I secured a communication channel with Kirito! You can reach him on line C-12!
Kikuoka: Why do I need to?
Higa: Have them escape from the inside!
Meanwhile, in the Underworld...
Asuna: Is Alice safe?
Kirito: She hasn't been captured yet. And Eugeo, Bercouli, and Cardinal are still alive. But there is a massive presence chasing them.
Sonic: We gotta hurry, now!
Kikuoka's voice: Kirito!
Kirito: Huh?
They suddenly stop.
Kikuoka: Kirigaya! Can you hear me? Kirito!
Kirito: Mr. Kikuoka? There's no system console, so how...
Kikuoka: There's no time to explain! The situation is dire. The time acceleration rate... They've disengaged the FLA Limiter!
Kirito: Limiter?
Kikuoka: According to Higa's calculations, no matter how fast we disconnect the STL's, 200 years will have passed in there!
Kirito: 200?!
Kikuoka: Listen, you all have 15 minutes! You have to reach the console by then, and log out manually! You can't log out by depleting your HP! If you die after the maximum-acceleration phase starts, you'll spend 200 years there in a sense of total sensory deprivation!
Kirito: Okay! We'll find a way to get out through the console. We'll bring Alice with us too. So be ready for that.
Kikuoka: Thanks. But I want you to prioritize your escape over securing Alice now. Even if we can delete your memories after you log out, 200 years is far longer than the lifespan of the human soul. The odds of you regaining normal consciousness are almost zero!
Kirito: Don't worry. We'll get back. And Mr. Kikuoka, 6 months ago... or last night, I'm sorry about what I said to you.
Kikuoka: No, we deserve the right to be criticized. It looks like Higa's ready. I need to go now.
Kirito: Okay. We'll see you in a bit, Mr. Kikuoka.
Tails: Did Kikuoka just contact you?
Mighty: What's wrong?
Kirito: We gotta hurry. They disabled the FLA limiter. If not, we'll be spending 200 years in the Underworld.
Sonic: Then we better move fast! Let's go grab Alice and Eugeo and head back to the real world!
They continue on ahead. Meanwhile, Alice, Eugeo, Bercouli, and Cardinal continue flying with dragons. They arrive near the World's End Altar and look back, seeing Gabriel follow them.
Bercouli: Little one. Listen. I'm glad that I was able to have you as my apprentice.
Alice: Y-You're saying it as if we won't be seeing each other again. We'll be coming back, right?
Bercouli: Well, you have your memories back, and you're with the two boys. I'm sure you three have so much catching up to do.
They land at a plateau right below the World's End Altar.
Eugeo: Alice...
Alice: Huh?
Eugeo: Good luck.
Alice: What?!
Eugeo faces Gabriel.
Alice: No, Eugeo! Don't!
Bercouli: Wait! Don't!
Cardinal: Eugeo!
Eugeo points the Blue Rose Sword at Emperor Vecta.
Eugeo: Release Recollection!
Icy vines approach him, restraining his arms, and freezing him.
Eugeo: Bloom! Blue Roses!
Icy roses bloom, stealing away Vecta's life. But then, he breaks free from the ice.
Eugeo: Gah!
Then, the villain fires an umbra element.
Alice: EUGEO!
Suddenly, a big flashing light stops the element from reaching Eugeo.
Eugeo: Huh?
Kirito: Eugeo...
The swordsman in blue gasps.
Eugeo: Is that...
The golden hedgehog and Black Swordsman reveal themselves as the light clears.
Super Sonic: We got this.
Eugeo: Sonic? And...
Alice: Kirito...
Tears come out of Eugeo's eyes. Alice's as well.
Bercouli: The boy in black is finally awake.
Cardinal: I'm very glad he's okay.
Sonic and Kirito stare up at Emperor Vecta, face to face, as the final battle is about to begin.