A/N: Hey, everyone! It's yet another chapter from yours truly! This was another chapter that I was quite looking forward to writing and releasing. Here, the Fairy Dance Arc continues its progression, but down a slightly different direction that I hope will satisfy and enthrall all of you!

But before we begin with the chapter, I would like to make a major announcement, and you all will be the first to hear of this: I finally got a full-time job! And it's with a government office position! HOORAY!

Now, it's just an entry-level position, nothing truly special right now, but I'm definitely well-situated at the moment. I will be starting my work next week, and as soon as all of that happens, the pace of my writing will slow down for about a few weeks. I don't know by how much, and I don't know how long the slowdown will actually take, but I just want to let you all know that updates to my fics are going to be more likely to come later rather than sooner. Once I become accustomed to my newest schedule and figure out the amount of spare time that I will have to write, I think I'll be able to develop a brand-new, steady pace of writing that I can adhere to.

But yes, new job, new me! Wish me the best of luck, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! I'm going to need it! :D

Alright, that's enough of this rambling! On with the chapter. ENJOY!

P.S.: For updates regarding progress on my writing and just life in general, please check out my profile! I try to update it as often as I possibly can with any status update!

P.P.S.: Due to the slowly improving situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak, I am going to have to remind you all about the basic steps you should take if you want to stay healthy, courtesy of my university's reminder emails:

-Wash hands often with soap and water for 20-30 seconds at a time, and/or use hand sanitizer
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick
-Keep your hands away from nose, eyes, and mouth (I can't imagine how difficult this part is probably going to be)
-Eat well, get adequate rest, and exercise regularly
-Get a flu shot if you haven't already and are able to
-Stay informed on the COVID-19 vaccines, get shots if you're able to, and try to get a booster shot if you're eligible

And if you ARE sick (I hope you get better if you are), please be a good sport and save other folks the trouble of getting sick. You can do this by:

-Covering your mouth and nose with your sleeve, elbow, or a tissue whenever you sneeze or cough
-Not sharing food and drinks with others
-Avoiding touching your mouth, nose, and eyes (Again, I understand this is probably going to be difficult)
-Avoiding close contact with others
-Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects
-Staying at home if you're unwell (PRIORITY NUMBER ONE!)
-Staying calm and keeping yourself well-informed (My personal advice)

If you already know this, then great! If you didn't know any of this beforehand, please keep that information in mind as we all go through this trying time. It's a realm of unknowns at this point, and I wish myself and all of humanity well.

– January 20, 2025 –
Toto Institute of Technology, Ōokayama

Seijirou Kikuoka narrowed his eyes as he stepped into the parking garage. It was swarmed with police officers and crime scene technicians, all of whom were hard at work processing the area. At the edge of the perimeter, several news crews were reporting at the scene, with some of the cameramen surreptitiously trying to record anything and everything they could see beyond the yellow crime scene tape.

It was natural, given the scope of the crime that occurred here.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!"

A young police officer suddenly stood in Kikuoka's way. The bespectacled man idly looked down at him and noticed how youthful and impressionable he was. Despite his uniform and air of authority, he was a far cry from the likes of teenagers like Kazuto Kirigaya and Sachiko Hamaguchi.

"Who are you?" the officer asked, his voice tinged with distrust. "How'd you get past the crime scene tape?"

Muscle memory took over for Kikuoka as he procured his credentials. "You may relax, officer. My name's Seijirou Kikuoka and I'm with the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Telecommunications Bureau. Virtual Division."

"Huh? The Virtual Division?" The officer narrowed his eyes in distrust. "You mean the people dealing with those so-called SAO survivors?"

A hand suddenly placed itself on the officer's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze, causing the man to stiffen. Trembling, he looked over his shoulder, while Kikuoka also stared at the newcomer. He was a middle-aged man with graying brown hair and an extended goatee beard, who wore a white lab-coat over a gray vest, a black undershirt, and a green tie.

"It's alright, officer," the man said with a cold voice. "I know him. I called him here personally."

The officer gulped, cowering underneath the other man's piercing, almost paternal glower. "B-But...I-I need the go-ahead from Detective Igarashi-"

"Consider that go-ahead granted," another voice interrupted.

A fourth man joined them, his dark-brown suit looking just as formal and official as Kikuoka's own muted green suit, yet also clashing with it using its more pronounced colors. The new man's wrinkled face focused itself on the junior officer, an authoritative glare beaming from his dark-brown pupils.

"Kikuoka-san is allowed access to the crime scene," the man said.

The officer saluted almost instantaneously. "R-Right, sir! Understood, sir!"

The young man stood aside, allowing the other two to guide Kikuoka towards the center of the police activity.

"I sincerely apologize for Officer Sekine's behavior, Shigemura-sama," said the man in the dark-brown suit. "He's always looked down on everyone involved in the SAO Incident. Survivors and victims alike."

"He's got no right to, Sergeant Igarashi," snarled the man in the white lab-coat. "My own daughter is among them. Only God knows the kind of hell they went through in that death game! And just because they're gamers-!"

"Let's relax now, Shigemura," Kikuoka interrupted. "We need to focus on more pressing matters...such as what happened here earlier today."

"Well," Igarashi replied, "this much is certain, Kikuoka-san."

By that point, the trio bypassed the crime scene tape and approached an unassuming silver sedan, which had a copious amount of blood spattered all over its side, along with trail marks of additional blood running down the otherwise-cleaned windows. Splayed on the ground, in a pool of blood beside the sedan, was the corpse of a well-dressed older man with a bald head and graying black hair on his temples. Shigemura grimly bowed his head as a sign of respect.

"This is NOT your typical robbery gone bad."

CHAPTER 7: POINT OF SYMMETRY

Dicey Café, Okachimachi, Taitō Ward

Kazuto blinked at the sight of the small wooden building tucked between a couple of commercial buildings. In contrast to the activity of the surrounding local restaurants, no one was coming in and out of the wooden building, and it seemed as if there were no signs of life inside. But he knew better than to ignore an establishment that was not catering to tourists and locals at the moment.

So, the boy stepped inside and was immediately greeted with the compact but relaxing interior layout. It was bright and colorful despite the absence of customers, and there was classic blues music coming out of the jukebox situated against one of the farther walls, next to a poster of Uncle Sam. There were only four tables in the entire café, but there was also a counter with several stools next to it and shelves of glass bottles behind it.

And standing behind that counter was the person Kazuto came to see.

"Yo!" Andrew Gilbert Mills greeted while wiping off a cup with a smile. "You're early, man!"

"What'd you do?" Kazuto jokingly asked as the door closed behind him. "Scare all your customers away?"

Andrew smirked. "Very funny. Man, at night, it's off the hook in here."

The black-haired adolescent removed his backpack, set it down on one of the stools, and took a seat on another one.

"Well..." Kazuto said hesitantly, "I'm here. What's the deal with that picture you sent?"

From the moment he saw her, Kazuto's metallic eyes were instantly drawn toward her chestnut hair and hazel eyes. Even though these were pixelated due to the photo's poor quality, he knew there was no mistaking them.

"Yeah..." Andrew replied while he reached underneath the counter, "that's gonna take a little explainin'. But first..." The bartender finally took out a case and placed it on the counter. "Check this out."

He casually slid the case across the counter and into Kazuto's hands. At that moment, the boy realized it was a case for a video game. And it wasn't just any video game.

"Wait a minute," he said in realization. "ALfheim Online?"

"Yeah..." Andrew tilted his head slightly. "Why? You playin' it?"

"No, not at all. But..."

The image of Sachi's smiling, beautiful face flashed before his eyes. He felt his guts tighten up even as his heart skipped a beat.

"I know somebody who does."

– X-Y-X –

Tanashi High School, Nishitōkyō

"I...I don't even know who I am anymore. ...Thank you. Goodbye."

The words echoed in Sachi's head as she stared down at the spot on the street, beside the sidewalk adjacent to her high school. Even though she couldn't see it anymore, the memory of the pool of blood was fresh and tangible in her mind to this very day. She then glanced at the students taking the same sidewalk as school was being dismissed for the day. The gangs and cliques of teenagers had already forgotten about the tragedy that erupted in front of their school all of those months ago.

But she didn't. She still remembered everything about Shirou Tokita, down to the last detail.

Shirou Tokita. Her fellow survivor. Her fellow outlier.

The one that she failed to save.

"Look! Look at me! I survived, just like you did! We're both the same. We survived SAO, and now we're both trying to move forward, as best as we can."

"Hello, Tokita-san..." she whispered, her voice melding into the cool air while she continued to stare at the dreaded spot. "It's me... Sachiko Hamaguchi... I...I want you to know that I'm still thinking of you. I can't claim to understand how you felt in those last moments. But just understand that I've never forgotten about you, and that I've still got my eye on the light at the end of the path. I will reach the end of that path for you, Tokita-san. I won't let your pain and your trauma be the final chapter of your story. I'll carry on for you. Just know that. But..." She took a deep breath. "In the meantime...I hope that you've finally found happiness and closure, wherever you are right now..."

She continued to stand there, staring at the spot that she knew marked the crossroads for two different lives. A nice and gentle breeze blew, causing her hair to flutter.

And then, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Sachi...?" Shino asked.

Sachi took another deep breath and then nodded with a quivering lip. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, Sinonon. I'm fine now." She gazed at her bespectacled friend. "Thank you."

Shino could only give her a nod of affirmation, but that was all Sachi needed from her.

Then, the moment was interrupted by a vibration in Sachi's skirt pocket.

"Hm?" The girl reached inside and took out her cellphone to read it, before her heart leaped in joy. "Oh! It's Kirito."

"Oh. Him." Shino pursed her lips, but only for a second. "So, what does he need?"

"Hmmm...he's asking if I still play ALfheim Online."

Shino blinked idly. "Unless Kotone took over your account, I'd say you are."

Sachi restrained a giggle while she typed her response.

Yes, I do. Why? Do you wanna try it out?

After several seconds, Kazuto texted a response. Sachi's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"I think he wants to try it out, Sinonon!" she cried. "He says he wants to ask me some questions about it!"

"O-Oh..." Shino then cleared her throat. "W-Well, that's good. More opportunities for you to get closer to him. I guess."

Just then, Sachi received another text from Kazuto. "Huh...? He just sent me an address for a...Dicey Café? He says he's already there and wants to meet with me there."

"Dicey Café?" Suspicion flooded Shino's face as she quirked an eyebrow. "Odd. Why in the world does he want to meet in a café of all places?"

"I dunno, but..." The realization hit Sachi, and she could barely resist the urge to squirm in excitement. "It sounds like a date already!"

"A date, huh? But I thought you two already scheduled something later in the week?"

Sachi blushed in embarrassment. "W-Well, i-it's the thought that counts!"

"I see." Shino cracked a tiny smile and turned on her heel so she could walk away. "Well, gotta go."

"H-H-Huh?!" Sachi frantically looked at her retreating friend. "Si-Sinonon? Y-Y-You're gonna-?"

Shino stopped. "Leave you here? Of course." She finally looked over her shoulder. "It'd be awkward to have a third wheel being dragged along for your date, now would it? Unless..." Her grin widened by a centimeter. "You're into threesomes?"

...

With a deadpan look and a stronger blush, Sachi started pushing her abruptly mischievous friend down her original path.

"Yeah, you go on home without me. I'll let you know how it went."

Shino could only smile. "I can't wait."

– X-Y-X –

Unbeknownst to Sachi and Shino, three pairs of eyes watched them as the two separated. As soon as Sachi went out of sight, one of the pairs zeroed in on Shino's awkward form as she longingly watched her friend go. There was a predatory glint in them, like an insect.

– X-Y-X –

Dicey Café, Okachimachi, Taitō Ward

Initially, Sachi was surprised when she saw Dicey Café for the first time. While on her way to Okachimachi, she imagined it to be a large, bustling, French-style establishment, full of couples laughing with one another and enjoying the food and drinks. The small, wooden, frankly unimpressive building, tucked between larger commercial buildings, was the furthest thing from her imagination. But she knew better than to judge a book by its cover, so she opened the door and stepped into the building.

She was further surprised when she saw only two people occupying the small interior.

"Uhhhhh..." Sachi called out while looking around nervously. "I-Is this the...Dicey Café...?"

One of the occupants looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Oh, Sachi! I'm glad you could make it!"

She blinked at him in incredulity. "Ki-Kirito?"

"Oh, and don't worry about how the place looks." The boy teasingly pointed his thumb at the bartender, a towering bald man of African descent. "Agil here is a well-known swindler, so people know to avoid him when they see him. Our lil' talk won't be overheard here."

"Hah hah hah," the bartender replied with a smirk. "Very funny." Then, he gave Sachi a genuinely friendly smile. "All that aside, Kirito and I know each other from SAO. The name's Andrew Gilbert Mills, but everyone calls me Agil."

"Agil..." Sachi repeated. Then, she respectfully bowed her head. "I'm Sachi. I'm...I'm also a-"

"SAO survivor." Andrew coolly started cleaning the cup in his hand. "Yeah, Kirito filled me in all about you. You are one of the people who got out of the game early. Heh, wish I had a NerveGear like yours. I checked mine sometime after I woke up and it didn't have the manufacturing defects that the reports were talking about."

"Oh..."

The girl awkwardly approached the counter Kazuto was sitting beside and took a seat on the stool next to his. As soon as she did, she noticed the ALfheim Online case in his hand.

"Is that yours, Kirito?" she asked.

"No, Agil gave this to me," the boy replied while raising it and looking at it.

"Yeah, that's mine," Andrew replied. "I started playing ALO about a couple of days ago. Business has been a bit slow, so I decided to take a lil' advantage of the extra time on my hands. Heard of this game on MMO Today and thought I should give it a try."

Sachi looked at the bartender in surprise. "Even after what happened to you in SAO?"

He gave her a confident smile. "Hey, if you could go at it for about a year, then I think I could too. Besides, I'm avoiding all of the PKing stuff for now and focusing on setting up a shop in Nisseus. Because of that and the number of days I've been on ALO, I don't know jack, so Kirito had to call you in."

"Wait, Nisseus? You're a Gnome?"

"Yeah. Did a lil' researchin' on all the nine races on the forums before diving in and thought a Gnome would suit me best. Besides, operatin' underground sounded nice for a change."

"Figures," Kazuto replied. "You always did need a hole to scamper off to in case a customer caught onto one of your little scams."

Andrew's eyelid twitched, and he scoffed. "Hah hah hah."

"Anyway..." Kazuto gave Sachi an intense gaze that made her blush. "What can you tell me about this game?"

"W-Well, y-you heard my stories of what I've been up to-"

"Yes, I know, Sachi. But..." The boy took a moment to ponder his next words. "Just...g-give me an overview of the game and all its mechanics. Pretend like I wanna play the game, but I don't know where to start."

"Like you wanna play the game? Well..." Sachi also took a moment to ponder her next words, before clearing her throat and beginning. "W-Well, it's just like Agil said: PKing's allowed. It's sorta to be expected when the game revolves around nine different races of Fairies competing to be the first to clear quests."

"Nine different races of Fairies, huh...?"

"Yeah. There are the races that I've told you about the most, the Undines, the Cait Siths, and the Sylphs. And then there are the bad guys, the Salamanders and the Imps. But there are also the Gnomes, the Pookas, the Leprechauns, and the, uhhh, the Spriggans."

"I see. And Agil told me about this, what was it, Grand Quest?"

Sachi nodded. "Yes. Each of the nine races is vying to be the first to complete it. They need to reach the top of the World Tree, one of the highest points in the game. The highest, actually."

"The highest point in the game..." Then, a realization dawned on Kazuto, and he looked at Andrew. "Wait, are you saying the photo was taken at the World Tree?!"

"Hm?" Sachi looked back and forth between the two males. "Photo? What photo?"

Andrew looked back at her, stunned. "Wait, you didn't tell her, man?"

Kazuto suddenly looked embarrassed, prompting Sachi to ask, "Tell me what? What did you not tell me?" She glanced at Kazuto, confusion and dread bubbling up inside of her. "Kirito...what's going on...?"

The boy looked at her, and she instantly recognized the somber look in his eyes. He only had it whenever he visited her.

"Agil showed me something..." he said.

"Yeah, I've got the photo right here," Andrew piped up. He reached into his back pocket and took out a photo, which he laid before Sachi. "Kirito tells me you've seen her before. Look familiar?"

Sachi glanced at it with a raised eyebrow. The photo was of an image apparently taken by an amateur from a handheld perspective. It was slightly blurry, so it was difficult to make out some of the features. However, from what she could tell, it appeared to be of a cage high in the sky. And in that cage was a girl dressed in somewhat scandalous clothing, bearing the features of an average female ALO player.

And there was no mistaking the flowing chestnut hair.

"Huh?! No WAY!" Sachi stood up from her stool. "Is...I-Is that-?!"

"It is," Kazuto replied gravely. "It's Asuna."

Andrew hesitantly looked at him. "Well, it ain't a hundred percent confirmed, but given the circumstances of the photo, it is all a bit strange."

At that moment, Sachi noticed how close the cage seemed to those familiar clouds, and there wasn't anything else in the background. She looked at Andrew in surprise.

"Are you saying one of those Launchers took this photo?"

"Launchers?" Kazuto blinked. "What're those?"

"People who try to cheat the Grand Quest by stacking themselves, with the bigger players at the bottom, and launching themselves in the air like a rocket. They are frowned upon in ALO..." Sachi looked at him again. "See, the reason why no one's been able to reach the top of the World Tree thus far, at least in the right way, is 'cause of the game's built-in flight limit. All players can only fly for a certain amount of time-"

"Wait, fly?!" The boy shot up from his stool, nearly knocking it over. "You can FLY in this game?!"

"Well, duh," Andrew replied, giving him a raised eyebrow of amusement. "You're playing as a fairy, after all. Didja forget that fairies have something called wings?"

"The game's got a flight engine called the «Flight System»," Sachi clarified. "Once you figure it out, you can fly."

"Whoa..." Kazuto's eyes widened in amazement. "How does the player control it?"

"There are two different ways to do it. The mainstream way is by using a joystick. You can summon it when you hold up your hand like you're about to hold something. Then, you gotta move it in certain ways in order to ascend and descend, turn left and right, and accelerate and decelerate. About ninety to ninety-five percent of players use this method. But the use of a joystick can be a bit distracting, especially in combat. The second method, which I use, is a lot more efficient. It involves using your own thoughts."

"Using your own thoughts?"

"Yeah! It's called «Voluntary Flight». All you have to do is imagine you have bones and muscles in your back, a bit above the shoulder blades. That will summon your wings without the need for a joystick. After that, you just imagine using and controlling those bones and muscles."

"Whoa..." The boy looked at the ALO case again. "Sounds like you gotta have a lot of skill in order to master «Voluntary Flight»..."

"Mm-hm! Another thing about ALO is that it's not level-based like SAO. Rather, it's skill-based. You need to use your skills over and over to improve them, and how you fare in combat is dependent on your physical abilities IRL. And then there's the Magic Spells."

Kazuto glanced at her. "Magic Spells?"

"Yes. Like the nine races, there are nine different types of Magic. Each race specializes in one type, but you can learn all of them if you try. There's Water Magic for the Undines, Beast Taming Magic for the Cait Siths, Wind Magic for the Sylphs, Fire Magic for the Salamanders, Dark Magic for the Imps, Earth Magic for the Gnomes, Sound Magic for the Pookas, and Crafting Magic for Leprechauns. Oh, and don't forget Illusion Magic for the Spriggans! Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, not to mention its own strengths and weaknesses against the other types."

"I see..." The boy furrowed his brow as he delved into his thoughts. "So not only is it a matter of using the kind of Magic that suits your abilities and skillsets, but it's also a matter of figuring out what kind of enemies you'll fare better or worse against in combat..."

"Yeah. For example, me, an Undine, can use my Water Magic against a Salamander's Fire Magic with no problem. But if I am up against a Sylph's Wind Magic, then I'm done for, since air-based attacks can easily repel any water I hurl at them. And moreover, you've gotta understand the language needed to invoke Magic Spells."

"There's a language too?!"

Sachi nodded. "It's called the «Words of Power». It's derived from Old Norse, so you have to study that language if you wanna recite the Spells. Otherwise, if you mess up, you'll blow yourself up. Even one little mispronunciation is enough to send you back to square one."

Kazuto's jaw was agape at this point. "That's...pretty hardcore..."

"Yep," Andrew commented. "That's why I'm staying away from all the PKing stuff. Ain't got the time or skill for that ATM."

"No wonder you said this game is skill-based." The boy's metallic eyes quickly sparked alive with an enthusiastic energy. "You have to work hard both in the game and IRL if you wanna be a pro at it! You sure are awesome, Sachi, for knowing all about this and mastering it within a year's time!"

Sachi blushed so intensely that her face almost resembled a cherry. "Oh, please! You act like it was so easy for me! I-It's only because I had such great teachers that I got this far! And trust me, I know there's a lot more that Leafa and Recon have to teach me and Sinonon- er, I mean Asada."

Even as she downplayed Kazuto's compliment, Sachi can feel her insides melting with absolute joy.

"Ohhhh, my God! Kirito's so impressed with me! I mean, I'm usually so impressed with him! For this to be the other way around, it's...it's just too good to be true!"

"Ahem!"

Sachi and Kazuto both glanced at Andrew, who was frowning at them with a raised eyebrow of confusion. Remembering the original topic, Sachi settled down and looked at the photo of what appeared to be Asuna.

"So," she said, "a Launcher was able to take this photo?"

"Yep," the bartender replied. "I hear it's the highest these cats have ever gotten. Five players in total. And the one at the top was able to snap a couple of photos of what he could see. When the party reviewed the photos, they found this."

He produced another photo of higher quality, which depicted green foliage of the World Tree. And tucked away, amongst the foliage, was...

"A birdcage?" Kazuto asked.

Sachi's eyes grew wide at the sight of the strange cage. "So...this could be what's waiting for us when the Grand Quest's completed? I...I feel like such a cheater for looking at this, but..."

At that moment, she took notice of the cage's color. "Wait, that cage is gold, like the bars in that photo of Asuna!"

"Yes." Andrew put the two photos together side by side. "The pic of Asuna, or the person who looks like her, is a zoomed-in version of the original. The players zoomed in as much as they could to see what could be inside that cage, and that's when they saw her."

Sachi looked at him. "Where'd you find this photo?"

"In an ALO forum. Everyone's either convinced the pics are fake or chewing out the players for trying to cheat the Grand Quest." Then, a thought came to Andrew's head, and he scratched his chin. "Speaking of the forum, the person who took those photos posted there a couple of times, trying to convince everyone that they're the real deal. And he said someone in his party recognized the girl. 'Parently, that person's a hundred percent sure that's Asuna. But I'm erring on the side of caution here."

"So, someone in the game knows about Asuna and her condition?" Kazuto asked with narrowing eyes. "Where can I find that person?"

"I dunno. 'Fraid you're gonna have to find the person who posted in the forum first. He should be able to lead you to that player." Andrew took out his cellphone and pressed on the screen a few times. "Here, that user was dumb enough to ID his own avatar name. Take a look."

He showed his screen to Sachi and Kazuto, who closely, attentively read the forum thread.

"Umbra..." Sachi read. "Umbra... That's the Latin word for 'shade'. It sounds like he could be an Imp."

"That's the only lead I got for you." Andrew put away his phone and crossed his arms. "Now...Kirito, d-did I hear you say, 'Where can I find that person?'"

"Yeah." Kazuto stood up and started to put on his backpack. "I gotta check this out."

"Check it out?" asked Sachi. "Are you sure about this, Kirito?"

"Of course!" He shot her one of his charming smiles of confidence. "A game where it's okay to die shouldn't be that big a deal."

"O...Okay..." Then, feeling a swell of courage in her, the girl stood up as well and raised her clenched fists midway. "The-Then I'm going with you!"

Kazuto looked at her in surprise. "Wait, you are? Are...Are you sure about this?"

"Uh-huh!" Swallowing all of her regrets, Sachi gave him a vigorous nod. "I know all the ins and outs of the game, so I'll teach you on what to do! W-We can dive in together! I've already got the game and the hardware for it! Plus, Asada's got a spare AmuSphere that you can use! We can dive at her place!"

A strong glimmer of doubt passed through Kazuto's face at her words. Noticing this, Sachi furrowed her brow and latched her hands onto his shoulders. As she spoke, she stomached all of the anguish that was clawing away at her innards.

"Kirito, this...this is Asuna we're talking about here! Look, if this pic's legit, that means she's indeed trapped somewhere up in the World Tree, and we gotta go rescue her!" Sachi briefly bit her lower lip before continuing. "Kirito...re-remember what I said about not giving up and the battle not being over yet? Well, I think the end of the battle is coming! We could end this! We can end the nightmare that's SAO, together!"

"I know, but..." Kazuto put his hands on her forearms and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I'm...I'm worried about...you..."

Sachi flashed a confident smile of her own. "Well, it's like what you said! A game where it's okay to die shouldn't be that big a deal."

He gawked at her for a few seconds and seemingly ruminated his next course of action. Eventually, he released a heavy sigh of defeat...and then he smiled warmly at her.

"Well," he said, "if you're gonna stop at nothing to help me, then who am I to hold you back? Thank you, Sachi, for doing this...for me..."

"Hey, no problem, Kirito!" she replied while giving him a forced smile. "It's...It's for Asuna, after all."

The two adolescents stared at one another for a long while, metallic onyx eyes meeting gentle sapphire pupils. Then, the tender moment was abruptly disrupted by a sharp cough.

"Well!" Andrew had to stifle a laugh while he watched Sachi and Kazuto break apart and look away with blushes painting their cheeks. "If you two are gonna do this, then count me in as well."

"H-Huh?!" Kazuto looked at the bartender in surprise. "No, Agil, you don't have to do this-"

"Aw, come on, man!" Andrew clapped the boy's shoulder with a hammy hand. "Didja hear what the lady just said? This is Asuna we're talking about." He suddenly lowered his voice a little. "And don't ya forget it."

Kazuto suddenly felt slightly concerned. "O-Okaaaaay..."

The bartender withdrew from his younger friend and gave both teenagers a confident smile.

"'Sides," he added, "knowing ya, you're probably gonna need a lil' merchandising expertise if you're gonna get by in this game. It'll be just like the good ole times, wouldn't ya say?!"

"Y-Yeah!" Recollecting himself, Kazuto smiled determinedly at him. "Li-Like old times! As long as you don't try to swindle anyone in ALO, then we should all be good."

"Heh, I'm gonna take that as a compliment."

"Your friend was nice."

"Yeah. Just don't let his size and his wiles get to you."

Sachi walked side by side with Kazuto as they departed from the Dicey Café. They were close to one another, and Sachi knew it. She channeled all of her perceptions of touching to her hand, fully aware of how close it was to Kazuto's own. If she didn't have any self-restraint, she would've easily reached out and grabbed it within a millisecond's notice. But every time she entertained the notion, the low-quality picture of Asuna kept returning to Sachi's mind, a constant warning for her not to indulge in such a sinful manner.

"That girl in the photo..." she thought. "It was definitely Asuna. Even if I've never seen her eyes before...they match her beauty to a tee... But what's she even doing in ALO in the first place? How'd she get transported from SAO to the top of the World Tree? Could it just be some weird coincidence...?"

"The-Then I'm going with you!"

"Even if it is...I'm locked into this now. I can't let Kirito down. I've gotta help him. And, if anything, it's a chance for me to get...closer to him..."

Asuna's photo flashed in her mind again, and she subtly but painfully grimaced. She subconsciously placed a hand over her cheek, the exact same one Kazuto kissed yesterday. The sensation of it was still fresh...

"Hey, Sachi?"

Kazuto's voice dragged her from reality, and she looked at him. "Y-Yes?"

He pointed at her skirt pocket. "I think your phone's ringing down there."

The sound of her Christmas-themed ringtone filled her ears.

"I-Is it?! I-I-I'm sorry!" Sachi hurriedly whipped out her phone and checked the number; once she did, her dread spiked drastically. "The...The police?"

"Alright, Sachi," Kazuto remarked jokingly. "What'd you do now?"

But she wasn't amused. "Not now, Kirito! Something must've happened! I...I gotta answer this!" She felt beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead as she answered the phone. "H-Hello?"

"Hello," a stern but feminine voice greeted. "Is this Sachiko Hamaguchi?"

"Y-Yes, this is her." She looked at Kazuto, and he now had his brow furrowed in genuine concern. "How can I help you?"

"It's about your friend, Shino Asada."

The image of Shino's departing form returned to Sachi's mind, and her heart froze while her blood ran deathly cold. She nearly dropped the phone in her horror.

"Why? What happened to her?"

Metropolitan Police Tanashi Police Station Shimohoya Substation

"SINONON?! SINONON!"

The bespectacled girl looked up from the sanctuary of her chair, and Sachi's heart broke at the sight of the bruise on her cheek. She ran up and knelt before her friend with wide, watering eyes. As she did, Sachi noticed the small stains of dirt and grime all over her school uniform.

"Ohhh my God, wh-what happened?!" Sachi exclaimed. She grabbed Shino's hands and was dismayed to find they were shaking, badly. "What happened to you, Sinonon? Please tell me!"

But Shino closed her eyes and silently shook her head with a quivering lower lip. Her whole body was trembling severely by this point, and she almost seemed ready to break into a million pieces like dropped glassware. Sachi looked up at the policewoman who escorted her and Kazuto in.

"What happened to her?!" she demanded.

"A couple of passersby found her in an alleyway," the officer replied. "She was lying in a pile of trash."

"An alleyway?! In a pile of TRASH?!" Horrified, Sachi looked back at Shino. "Sinonon, d-did they...they...?"

She could not bear herself to say the word, but Shino seemed to understand. To Sachi's immense relief, she feebly shook her head while tears leaked from her eyes.

"She's denying that anyone raped her," the officer explained. "Of course, we won't know for sure until we run some tests, but-"

Sachi suddenly felt Shino squeeze her hands. The bespectacled girl shook her head again, this time with more vigor, and Sachi knew right away.

"A-Are you sure, Shino?"

A nod.

"Officer..." Sachi hesitated. "Th...There's no need."

Another, softer nod.

"Are you sure, young lady?" the officer asked.

A third nod, punctuated with a sniffle.

"...If you insist. But you have to understand that some tests could help us narrow down the identity of your attacker-"

Suddenly, Sachi felt her hands being squeezed tightly again. She looked deeply into Shino's eyes, through the curtain of her eyeglasses, and she noticed the fresh, raw trauma behind her bloodshot eyes. At first, she was confused. Then, she suddenly remembered something.

"That look of pure terror... I haven't seen that since..."

"Ooh, ya better be careful! She's probably plannin' to shoot us."

"Why? Do you not know what Asada did when she was little?"

An index finger pointed in a cruel shooting gesture...

She lowered her voice to a terrible, hateful hiss. "It was Endou, wasn't it, Sinonon?"

"Hm?" The policewoman blinked in interest. "Endou?"

"Who's Endou?" Kazuto asked, his voice reaching Sachi from far away.

But Sachi ignored them both. Instead, a white-hot fury that the girl had never felt before, even for someone like Seijirou Kikuoka, started to boil inside her, infecting her mind like a virus. The sight of a broken, teary-eyed Shino only amplified her feelings even more. The heat in her burned brighter and hotter, until it felt as if she could materialize it and spread it through the police station and burn it down to the ground, reducing it into a heap of ash.

And then, a thought crossed her mind, a dark thought that nevertheless seemed so tempting, like an apple hanging from a towering tree.

"I'm going to KILL that bitch."

Asada Apartment, Nishitōkyō

"It's okay, Sinonon. We're home. We're home..."

Sachi mouthed her gratitude to Kazuto as he closed the front door behind them. While he locked it, Sachi guided Shino to her bedroom; her arm was wrapped around her shoulders while her head was touching her friend's in a tender gesture of consolation. The trembling had finally subsided in Shino's body, but her normally cool eyes were still wide and bloodshot as she aimlessly wandered into the bedroom. On occasion, she would shoot distrustful looks over her shoulder, directly at Kazuto's direction.

"It's alright, Sinonon," Sachi said warmly. "You remember Kirito. He won't hurt you."

By that point, the girl helped Shino sit down on the bed. Once she did, Sachi exhaled, flexed her fingers, and then looked around in search of something that would keep her friend's mind off of Endou. It didn't take long for her to spot the two AmuSphere units sitting side by side on Shino's desk, and she grabbed them both while she tried to curl her lips into an encouraging smile.

"Hey, I know what'll cheer you up!" she said optimistically. "We could dive into ALO and go exploring together! Kirito here wanted to try it out, and I promised we'd teach him the ropes! Whaddaya say, Sinonon?" She raised the two AmuSpheres so Shino could have no choice but to stare at them. "Think it's time for the Sapphire Shielder and the Archer of the West to shine once again?"

Shino looked straight into the two visor-like devices, and her posture started to relax, much to Sachi's relief. However, it took a few minutes for the bespectacled girl to muster a nod as a response.

"Good! Good, good, good..." Sachi then started looking around in search of something. "Do you still have that free extra AmuSphere they sent you, Sinonon?"

Shino silently nodded and lifted a quivering finger toward her desk. Realizing her friend's message, Sachi set the pair of AmuSpheres down, approached the desk, and opened the built-in drawers, one by one, until she finally found it. It hadn't even been taken out of its plastic box yet.

"Here, Kirito," Sachi said.

The boy finally took a step into Shino's bedroom, awkwardly averting his gaze from the bespectacled girl as he did so. He reached out, took the box from Sachi's hands, and stared into it, analyzing the visor-like device contained within.

"So..." he said, "this is what replaced the NerveGear on the market..."

"To tell you the truth," replied Sachi, "I think ALO's also compatible with the NerveGear."

He looked up at her. "Is it now?"

"It's basically a regular NerveGear with more security. It's got low-frequency microwave transceivers like the NerveGear that saved me, and various additional sensors that monitor blood pressure and brain-waves. If these sensors detect any irregularities or abnormalities, an emergency logout system is activated. It can even automatically log you out if you are still for too long, since it'll think you may have fallen asleep or something."

Kazuto looked back down at the AmuSphere. "So basically, it was designed with the NerveGear's bad rep in mind..."

"Pr-Pretty much."

"Uh-huh..." He narrowed his dark eyes slightly. "Were...Were you allowed to keep your, you know...your NerveGear...?"

"My NerveGear?" Sachi stiffened for a moment before relaxing. "Yeah, I've got it on a shelf in my bedroom. But...I've got no plans of using it ever again."

"Even after they rendered the microwave transceivers safe?"

"Even after all that." Sachi took a step closer to him. "Why? Do you plan on using it?"

A tense silence hung in the air for a few moments before Kazuto finally replied, "Well...y-yeah. You said ALO's compatible with the NerveGear, right?"

"Y-Yes, but...why do you wanna use it instead of that?" She pointed at the AmuSphere next to Shino. "Aren't...Aren't you afraid that it'll bring up bad memories?"

"Yes, but...I feel it's...only fair..."

"Fair for what?"

"I dunno. It's like...I feel like I gotta use it." A realization seemed to hit Kazuto, for he looked deep into her eyes. "In my view, if Asuna's still trapped in a video game, then that means SAO isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. Even if the game's different. So I-"

"So you need true, total closure from SAO..." Sachi completed in realization. "And...using the NerveGear will be a part of that closure."

He nodded in affirmation. "Exactly. As long as Asuna, Silica-chan, and all of those other players are still trapped, I didn't truly clear SAO. I didn't beat the final boss. I didn't become the hero that you believe me to be... So..." The boy held the superfluous AmuSphere unit out to Sachi. "Once I get those 300 players back to the real world, then I can perhaps find a use for this. But not today. Thank you though, Sachi."

The girl took the unit from Kazuto's hands. Their hands briefly grazed one another, causing soft blushes to blossom upon both of their faces.

"Y-You're welcome, Kirito..." Then, she smiled fondly at him. "Alright, then. You buy your own copy of ALO, go home, put it in the NerveGear, and dive in to create your account. Sinon- uh, Shino and I will be waiting for you at the town of Olso. That's in the Neutral Territory, if you're confused."

"Okay. That sounds like a pretty good plan. I'll relay it to Agil on my way out." Kazuto turned his back on her and started to depart. "Be seeing you in an hour or two, tops."

"Wa-Wait, Kirito!" Sachi blurted out, stopping him. "A-Are you sure you don't wanna do this now, right here? Y-You've got a perfectly working AmuSphere here, and you don't have to waste your yen on a game that we have here too-"

"Naaaah, I think it's for the best. 'Sides..." Kazuto looked over his shoulder, and this time, he wasn't focused on Sachi. "I think I overstayed my welcome in the eyes of my host."

Sachi followed his dark eyes and realized what he was talking about. Shino had been watching the entire exchange while remaining seated on the edge of her bed. All traces of fear had completely evaporated, only to be replaced with a muted look of wariness and testiness on her face.

"I-I see..." Sachi commented awkwardly.

"Well, gotta go!" Kazuto started heading for the front door while giving the two girls a backwards wave. "Can't have the neighbors thinking we're doing something illicit here, anyway!"

Sachi could only start blubbering indecipherable nonsense at his joke, while Shino stiffened up in shock and displeasure.

– X-Y-X –

"Haaaaahhhhh... 'Bout time I left... Damn, that got awkward... What the hell kind of a joke was that, anyway?!"

Steeling himself again, Kazuto headed for the staircase. However, his five senses suddenly felt dull, and they could barely comprehend his current surroundings. Every time he looked at Sachi, starting with their rendezvous in the Dicey Café, he could only think of the time he kissed her on the cheek and accepted her invitation to a meeting at Kawagoe Park.

He subconsciously placed a hand over his lips. The sensation of Sachi's silky skin against them was still fresh...

"Sorry, Sachi..." he thought somberly. "But...if I stayed another second longer...who the hell knows what I would've said or done... I can't do that, not to Asuna." Once he reached the topmost step, the boy slammed a clenched fist against the handrail. "Damn! I should have at least taken Sachi's extra AmuSphere instead of giving her that little speech about my NerveGear!"

But Kazuto didn't have time to second-guess his decisions any longer. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket, and with a hum of puzzlement, he took it out. After identifying the number, he exhaled and answered the incoming call.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Yo, Kirito. You by yourself right now?"

"Yeah, yeah I am. Why?"

"Before I do that, I just wanted to let you know that there'll be no hard feelings against you, no matter what you wind up saying. 'Kay?"

"...Agil, what's going on...?"

He heard Agil heave out a sigh. "Is there...something you should be telling me about...that Sachi gal?"

Kazuto's heart skipped a beat in terror. "Wh-What're you talking about, Agil?"

"You serious right now? Don't play dumb, man. I saw how the two of you acted 'round each other! You keep jabbing at my merchandisin' methods, but I can tell when something's truly dicey."

The boy sighed as he began his descent. "Look, Agil, it's not what you think."

"Oh? Then enlighten me, Kirito. 'Cause the way you look at her is the same way you look at Asuna."

"No, I-" He then froze. "Wait, you serious?"

"I've had you two as customers enough times for me to catch on to your little quirks and tells. And trust me, I'm seein' the same shindig happenin' between you and another girl." Agil briefly sighed. "Look...Sachi's nice, man. I ain't denyin' it. And she knows her stuff. But if you're two-timing Asuna while she's still under, then-"

Kazuto gritted his teeth. "I'm not two-timing Asuna!" he snarled. "Who do you think I am, Agil?! Some...Some hound?! A fucking horndog chasing after the most convenient skirt?!"

"Well, you need to tell me what's really happenin', then, my man, 'cause...frankly, I'm gettin' a lil' worried. I like Asuna too, and I'd hate to see her gettin' caught up in any drama, ya know what I'm sayin'?"

The boy testily sighed and pinched his forehead. "Look, Agil... It's... I won't deny it, it's...a little complicated between me and Sachi right now."

"How so?"

"Well..." Kazuto resumed his descent down the stairs. "I told you how I was a part of her guild, and how I watched them all die."

"Right. You felt guilty 'bout it 'cause you had to hide your true level from them. Because all their levels were lower than yours."

"Yeah. Well, during that time, Sachi was a completely different person. You would have been so shocked to see her then. She was deathly afraid of everything, including death. A weakling, as she'd put it."

The realization seemed to dawn on Agil. "Ohhhhhhhhhh... And you were pretty much her confidant..."

"Yeah. Her death hit me the most, Agil. My loss of her is the reason why I got so far in SAO. Why I had the strength and the willpower to beat Heathcliff and clear the game. But now...now that I know she survived, and that she's a part of my life now, it's...it's just made things so confusing for me... I don't even know what to call our relationship anymore..."

"I see..." Agil replied. "Well, you gotta do something about your lil' confusion, quick. 'Cause what do you think is gonna happen once we find out what's going on with Asuna? What happens if we get her outta ALO? Once she meets Sachi, shit's gonna hit the fan, Kirito. Hard. And I for one do not have the experience to guide you through that."

Kazuto didn't have an answer for the bartender. Instead, as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he simply froze in his tracks and stared absentmindedly into the oblivion ahead of him.

Kirigaya Residence, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture

"Sugu, I'm home!"

Kazuto entered the Japanese-style home and removed his shoes. A tan plastic bag containing a familiar video game case dangled from his right arm. Then, he stepped onto the floorboards, the soles of his feet barely feeling the coolness of the polished surface through his dark-gray socks. The boy proceeded towards the base of the staircase and looked upward.

"Sugu?"

But Kazuto's call was met with no response. At first, he slowly blinked in perplexity. And then, he suddenly remembered the last time he and Suguha had a conversation, by this very staircase no less.

"I...I WISH YOU WOULD'VE JUST DIED IN SAO, WITHOUT THAT PROPER GOODBYE!"

He took a deep breath of dissatisfaction and looked down at his palm. Even if it happened yesterday, the memory of the prickling sensation was still fresh.

"Guess she's still mad, huh...? Well, that would be putting it lightly. And I wouldn't blame her one bit..."

Sighing unhappily, Kazuto traveled up the steps and towards his bedroom. He took a fleeting glance at the doorway of his sister's room, which was closed. With an idle blink of his eyes, the former swordsman stepped into his own room, closed the door behind him, and locked it.

Once he did, he forced his head to turn towards his dusty, neglected bookshelf, where a helmet sat in the corner.

The NerveGear that could've killed him at any point during a two-year period.

"I feel like I gotta use it. In my view, if Asuna's still trapped in a video game, then that means SAO isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. Even if the game's different."

With narrowing metallic eyes, Kazuto set the plastic bag down on his bed, walked up to the shelf, grabbed the NerveGear unit like it was nothing, and sat down on his bed to look at it. The peeling but official NerveGear logo stared back at him, a stark reminder of everything he had gone through in SAO.

"Who would've thunk it...? Me, the beta tester, the Beater...the Black Swordsman who cleared the death game, crawling back to you for help... It almost feels wrong... So wrong, indeed..."

At that moment, Kazuto's hands started to tremble, as the haunting memories of enemies and boss battles and traps and near-death experiences and lost friends started to refill his head like a violent flash-flood. But then, the taunting words of Nobuyuki Sugou returned to his memories as well, overcoming his memories of SAO.

"We're having the ceremony here on January 26th, a week from now. Save the date."

Kazuto's still hands tightened around the NerveGear, and he narrowed his eyes in resolve.

"I need your help again," the boy said determinedly. "One more time."

A dim ray of sunlight reflected off the NerveGear's dusty surface, causing the helmet to gleam in agreement.

– X-Y-X –

Alfheim, Olso, Neutral Territory

The first thing Sachi and Sinon heard was the familiar, comforting clamor of the hundreds of players in Olso, all of them hailing from all nine races. Their feet touched the cobblestone pathway at almost the same time, marking an end to their descent from the night sky. As they felt their wings vanish with one last flutter, Sachi walked in front of Sinon and gave her a warm, compassionate smile.

"Here we are, Sinonon!" she said. "We're back in one of your favorite places in the game! We can hang out while we wait for Kirito and his friend Agil, okay?"

"Mm-hm..." Sinon replied with a soft nod.

This response only disheartened Sachi. "Oh, no. She's still traumatized from what happened..." She took a glance at Olso and its populace of players. "I gotta keep her mind occupied somehow. Hopefully Kirito gets acclimated to the game and finds us soon..."

All of a sudden, Sachi felt a hand clasp around hers. She looked at Sinon, who had her face lowered; her eyes were now obscured by bangs of cyan hair.

"Uh, Sinonon?" the Undine asked. Then, she yelped when the Cait Sith started guiding her deeper and deeper into Olso, using the streetlight-illuminated walkways. "Wh-Wha?! Sinonon? What...?"

At first, Sachi didn't know what had gotten into Sinon. Nevertheless, she didn't protest, and her half-dragging turned into a steady gait behind the Cait Sith archer. Eventually, she realized where her friend was taking her: a row of dainty homes located near the town's southwestern edge, all of which had two stories and didn't look too far off from the Ayano home in appearance.

"Why'd you take me here, Sinonon?" Sachi asked. "You...You wanna buy a house here?"

"Yeah..." Sinon replied, and the sound of her voice uttering even a single syllable made the Undine's heart leap. "When I was sent here during our first day in ALO, I...I saw these houses." She longingly looked up at the one in front of the duo. "I felt...safe here... A feeling that I rarely feel in the real world..."

"I see..." Her eyes softening, Sachi then approached the house's sign and read it. "Ohhh, unfortunately, even if you want to split the price with me, we're still going to need more «Yrd» to buy this one."

Sinon's catlike ears twitched. "Yeah. I've read all the signs of the houses that're available, every time we were here. This is a pretty expensive area. Only high-level players with enough «Yrd» could afford a place here."

The Undine looked at her in awe. "Hold on, you've been browsing here ever since day one?"

"Yes." The archer lowered her head. "When I first saw this place, saw Olso, I knew...that it was paradise. That this is the place I wanted us to live in, Sachi."

Sachi blinked in surprise. "Us?"

"Yeah. You, me...Leafa, Recon...all of us..." Sinon looked at her. "We keep spawning in our home territories, Sachi. Away from each other."

"That's true..." Sachi morosely looked at the house. "That's true. A drawback to playing as different races, I suppose..."

"Olso's our de facto rendezvous point. There's nowhere else like it. I thought...we might as well make it official and brand it as such." Sinon slowly approached the house's small, wooden gateway and gently stroked its individual planks. "Make it our home... Our shelter... Our safe place... A place where we don't have to worry about conflict... Where we don't have to be truly scared..."

Sachi looked at her friend with a face adorned with soft sympathy. She noticed the way Sinon was tenderly gazing at the entire property, her eyes sweeping through it and absorbing every last detail like a newlywed searching for the home she would live in, with her beloved, for the rest of her life. And then, she thought about the life Shino lived. All of the horrible things that happened to her. The life she had to take to save her mother's.

"A place where we've got each other..." Sinon completed with a smile. Then, she shook her head. "Oh, I'm sorry. I...think I'm talking too much-"

"No, Sinonon." Smiling as well, the Undine approached her friend and patted her shoulder. "You can never talk too much. And I understand completely."

The Cait Sith looked at her, hope glimmering in her eyes. "You do?"

"Of course! And don't you worry."

Sachi looked back at the house in front of them, remembering the Moonlit Black Cats' last desire to buy a house of their own in Aincrad. Her eyes lingered on the small fountain in particular, enjoying the way it spouted out water from the top level and into the clear pond in the bottommost one.

"As soon as we help Kirito out, we will get the «Yrd» we need to buy a place like this. Here, in Olso. We can do it. I know we can."

Sinon tenderly smiled at her. "Yes... Yes, I know..."

– X-Y-X –

Ancient Forest

"Hey! Wait up for me! Leeeaaafaaa!"

At the edge of Sylph territory, the ever-so-panicky Recon followed after Leafa as the Sylph duo soared through the star-splashed sky, passing the occasional airborne island with waterfalls pouring out of their sides. He helplessly stared at her back, musing over how in the world he managed to secure his spot trailing behind the Sylph warrior despite having more experience than her.

"Hurry it up, Recon!" Leafa called while looking over her shoulder. "A little further and we'll be in Sylph territory!" Then, to Recon's dismay, she followed this up with a gasp of surprise. "Watch out!"

Several beams of fire blazed towards them from the forest below. With a childish yelp, Recon maneuvered himself away from the attacks with his joystick. The fiery beams missed him by a few centimeters, and he could feel the searing heat on his skin, clashing against the cool air of the night. Leafa dodged the attacks too, her body moving more skillfully and gracefully than his ever could.

Then, they saw them: the Salamander Kagemune and four members of his Lance Group. The quintet rocketed straight at them, their red wings and predominantly red uniforms standing out in the sea of green, like specks of blood.

"Damn!" Leafa spat. "Kagemune sure has it out for us, doesn't he?!"

"If only Sachi was here..." whimpered a terrified Recon.

"Fear is the obstacle to victory. Overcome fear, and you also overcome the enemy." Without hesitation, the female Sylph unsheathed her katana and slashed it across the air in a display of power. "Prepare for battle!"

Recon flew beside her, looking close to tears. "Ohhhhh, what're you doing?! Sigurd and the others are expecting us! They are probably waiting for us at the-"

"It doesn't matter! If we keep running away like this, the Salamanders will never take the Sylphs seriously!" Leafa took a deep breath and took on a fighting stance. "I'll keep these guys busy. You try to knock one of them down, okay?"

"If you say so..." Recon replied feebly.

He heard Leafa chuckle with confidence. "Show me how useful you can be!"

With that, the female Sylph charged at the incoming Salamander party. Recon's brow furrowed in concern as he watched dodge Kagemune's first strike and then follow it up with a counterstrike that hit him squarely in the back. With a cry, the Salamander commander plummeted in the air for a few seconds before catching a wind current and regaining his flight.

Then, Leafa started to engage the other Salamanders in battle, leaving Recon to watch from the sidelines.

"Leafa..." he thought. "I...I am useful..."

Leafa swung her katana at an opposing player, slashing him across the chest. "HYAH!"

"I'm the one who taught you the ins and outs of this game, after all..."

She thrust her katana forward in a powerful jab, piercing another player. "HIII-YAH!"

"But now..."

She slashed at the same player, causing him to disintegrate into a shower of red sparks. "HAH!"

"You've already gone miles beyond me..."

He watched as yet another Salamander took notice of him and charged at him.

"And so have Sachi and Sinon..."

He unsheathed his dagger with a shaking hand.

"It's so embarrassing... How could I be this pathetic?!"

He took on his own fighting stance, even as the Salamander continued to advance upon him, undeterred.

"I...I-I wish... I wish that I could prove myself! Prove that I am your mentor! Y-Your equal! Show how truly strong I am! How useful I can be!"

The Salamander player flew up to him and raised his sword. Recon immediately froze up, overwhelmed by fear and self-doubt.

"But...how...?"

"AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH! WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT, WATCH OOOOOUUUUUT!"

A blur of ebony-black appeared from above and collided with both Recon and the Salamander warrior. Together, the two plummeted to the forest below, knocked off-course and their joysticks dematerializing from the impact. They fell with the strange black object, the owner of the odd new voice. At first, Recon didn't know what had just happened. He could only see Leafa, Kagemune, and the remaining Salamanders watching them in confusion.

Then, Leafa started flying after them, her face full of exasperation while she tried to reach after Recon.

"Damn it, Recon!" she yelled in a mixture of anger and concern.

"Sooooorryyyyy!" Recon yelled back.

When Recon regained his senses, he found himself lying on the floor of the Ancient Forest. For a moment, he desperately wanted to close his eyelids and fall asleep. Then, the Sylph remembered what was happening. With a gasp, he scrambled up to his feet, just as the Salamander player he was about to engage charged at him again with his sword.

"I don't know what the hell just happened," the opposing player snarled, "but I've got ya this time! Mark my words, I am gonna finish you for GOOD, Sylph!"

Recon raised his dagger upward, only to find that he had nothing clenched around his fist. He frantically looked around in a cold sweat and saw his dagger lying amongst some roots by a tree a small distance away. Out of his reach.

"HAAAAAHHHHH!"

A red, pixelated gash sprouted across the Salamander's chest, breaking through his armor. He stumbled, his killing blow interrupted. Then, the male player exploded into a bright flash of crimson polygons, bright enough to make Recon flinch and shield his face with his hands.

"DAMN IT!" the Salamander wailed, his voice fading out quickly.

When the bright flash subsided, Recon lowered his arms and found Leafa protectively standing in front of him. There was still a trace of his enemy's physical data on his sword, though that too dissipated into nothingness.

"Leafa..." Recon whimpered.

"Come on, Recon..." Leafa hissed, just as Kagemune and his remaining cohorts caught up with them. "I told you to show me how useful you can be!"

"I tried, Leafa... I tried..." The male Sylph hung his head low in misery and sniffled. "I'm sorry..."

"Awwwww," Kagemune said tauntingly as he hovered closer to the two Sylphs. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Just give up your money and your items, and we'll let you and your girlfriend go."

Leafa raised her katana in preparation. "Like hell we're gonna hand over our stuff to the likes of you! We'll die before we admit defeat!"

"L-Le-Leafaaaaa!" moaned Recon.

"Heh." The Salamander commander aimed his lance at Leafa, an act that was mirrored by his comrades. "You've got guts for a pretty girl. It's a shame the Sapphire Shielder ain't here to protect your ass."

Leafa gritted her teeth in fury. "Go on, try it! But I'm taking one of you with me! Whoever's not afraid of dying, come on! Step up and get some!"

"Alrighty, then..." Kagemune replied, with an unseen but evident sneer. "Since you've decided to be a stubborn girl that's not gonna go quietly, I'm afraid we'll have to forgo the easy way and do this the hard way."

"Aw, come ooooon, Kagemune!" one of the commander's soldiers whined. "Why're you dawdling around?!"

"Yeah!" the other soldier added. "We haven't fought a chick in forever! Come on, let's waste her!"

Kagemune sighed and shook his head. "Alright, alright..."

With that, the three Salamanders elevated themselves further up in the air, the tips of their lances aimed right at Leafa's heart. Recon's eyes grew wide in terror, especially as the unobstructed moonlight reflected itself off the metallic surfaces, giving the lances a deadly, blinding gleam. He then looked at Leafa and saw that her fighting stance had not changed one bit, even if she was outnumbered. He desperately wanted to join her side and look just as confident and heroic as her, be side by side with her in the midst of heated combat, but his body remained glued to the ground, and for good reason.

For one thing, he was unarmed, with ready access to his best weapon completely cut off.

For another, his resolve was close to nothing, and his heart was taken over with paralyzing fear.

He was absolutely useless, as much as he didn't want to be.

"AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH! OOF!"

Everyone's heads turned towards the root-tangled base of one of the many nearby trees. Pathetically face-planted on the ground, apparently powerless, was a sixth player, clad in all-black clothing, which currently had leaves and twigs tangled in the fabric. Recon vaguely recognized the color scheme.

"Uuuuuggggghhhhh..." The new player's feet finally touched the ground. "Damn... Gotta work on those landings..."

Recon, Leafa, and the Salamanders could only stare blankly at the newcomer. It was then that Recon recognized the type of clothing as belonging to a Spriggan.

"Wh...What's a Spriggan doing here of all places?!" he thought.

Soon, the Spriggan recollected himself and stood back on his feet, the moonlight illuminating his features in full. He had spiky jet-black hair, befitting his uniform, and his large eyes were colored in a metallic onyx, though they gleamed with a certain mischief. Equipped on his back was a standard, lightweight starting-gear sword.

"That sword... This guy must be a newbie!"

Leafa evidently reached the same conclusion, for she shouted, "What are you doing?! Go, get outta here!"

But to the stunned amazement of both Sylphs, the Spriggan didn't seem intimidated by the scene before him. As soon as he brushed his spiky hair, he casually looked up at Kagemune and his cohorts, like they were low-level enemies good for farming and nothing else. An expression crept onto his face, one that seemed to communicate years of experience with a host of enemies and nasty situations such as this in spite of the player's gear.

"Sooo, would someone tell me why three big guys are fighting two little girls?" the Spriggan asked calmly, like it was all a big joke. "That's pretty uncool if you ask me."

"H-Hu-Huuuuuh?!" Recon squeaked.

Kagemune's two inferiors reacted almost instantaneously.

"What did you SAY?!" snapped one.

"Better get your ass outta here, newb," snarled the other. "Fast."

But even with that threat, the two Salamanders closed in on the Spriggan with killing intent. In response, the Spriggan's lips tugged upward into a confident, even arrogant smile. This only served to irk the Salamanders even further.

"You asked for it!" one of the Salamanders growled. "Get ready to DIE!"

He lunged at the Spriggan, his lance poised to strike. Recon could feel Leafa try to make a move to protect the Spriggan, but the Salamander's movements were quicker. There was no way she would save the new player in time-

"Ugh! H-Huh?"

The sounds of confusion coming from the Salamander drew Recon's attention again. To his surprise, he saw the Spriggan still standing on his two feet. And he was...

"He's holding his lance like it's nothing?!" the male Sylph screamed in his own thoughts. "And with ONE HAND?!"

"See ya."

The Spriggan casually threw his enemy aside like he was a paperweight bag. With a scream, the Salamander collided into his ally, knocking the both of them to the ground. Then, the Spriggan started walking further up to the scene, circling his arm around in a casual muscular exercise.

"'Cuse me!" he called, catching Recon's and Leafa's shared attention. "Hate to interrupt! You mind if I take care of this?!"

"Uhhhhh...I guess if you really want to!" a puzzled Leafa replied. Then, she glared at the Salamander soldiers while while they stood back up. "It's not like they were gonna let you walk outta here alive anyway!"

The Spriggan's smile became smaller, but the haughty confidence remained. "Then sit back and lemme at 'em."

With that, he unsheathed his starting-gear sword, its edge glinting from the moonlight as it moved out of its sheath. The new player stared down the two opposing Salamanders, a strangely overwhelming resolve now exuding from his metallic eyes. It made Recon's jaw slide open in awe and a little admiration.

"Whoooooa..." the male Sylph thought. "He's a definite newbie...and yet...he's totally unafraid of what he's gotten into!"

Then, before Recon could comprehend the Spriggan's fighting stance, the new player took a step forward. As soon as he blinked, the new player was suddenly gone.

"Crap!" one of the Salamanders cried while tensing up. "Where'd he go?!"

Another second later, the same Salamander exploded into fiery sparks, his forcible logout punctuated with a fading yell of confusion and exasperation. A couple of feet behind where the player once stood was the Spriggan, still suspended in his finishing blow. His partner gasped in shock, while even Kagemune, observing the abrupt developments from the safety of the air, stiffened while glowering down at the Spriggan. Recon and Leafa were just as stunned and puzzled by how swiftly the odds turned in their favor.

And with an elated sigh, like he had been craving this act of release for years, the Spriggan slowly, intimidatingly turned towards his victim's cohort. The defeated Salamander's remaining essence flowed through the air between them, giving the Spriggan a semblance to some sort of deathly entity or heroic figure.

– X-Y-X –

"Okay," Kirito said with a smile. "Who's next?"

– X-Y-X –

Helmstok, Neutral Territory

"Yo, yo, you guys see the feeds today?!"

"Definitely! Those pics we took are stirrin' up quite the storm!"

"'S a shame over half the people on ALO think we faked the whole thing."

"As if! After all the hard work we put into that effort yesterday!"

Four players were huddled close to one another at the end of a large, oblong table occupied by many players. Each came from a different race: one was a Salamander, another was a Leprechaun, yet another was a Gnome, and the fourth was an Imp. They spoke in hushed voices, which did not matter due to the overall rowdy and festive mood of the tavern they were in.

"The hell do those people know?" the Gnome asked with a casual shrug. "It's not like any one race is gonna complete the Grand Quest before the year is over."

"Ya said it, Orceus," replied the Salamander. "The Grand Quest is borderline-broooooken. We're doin' those idiots a favor by giving 'em a sneak peek of what's to come! And they have the nerve to call people like us 'Launchers'!"

"Hey, like they say, Pyre," the Leprechaun responded while casually stirring his drink with a silver spoon. "No good deed goes unpunished."

"Heh, damn right, Squiggly."

The Leprechaun suddenly scowled. "It's Squiggle. Get it right, man."

Pyre ignored his teammate. "Yo, next time we do somethin' like this, I say we sell the info to anyone who's interested."

"Sounds like a great idea, man," Orceus replied.

"I'm down for that!" Squiggle exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Same," the Imp replied. "I'm behind on the rent, anyway. Thank God for GP2C!"

A dissatisfied Orceus quirked an eyebrow at the Imp. "Yo, did you really start investin' in that crap, Umbra? I hear RECT Progress is startin' to crack down on those things."

"All the more reason to start cashin' in now! 'Sides, I hear that upcomin' first-person shooter VRMMO is gonna do it as an official function of the game. Won't be long till RECT Progress gets dollar signs in their eyes!" Then, Umbra looked across his shoulder. "Anyway, what about you, newbie? You down for sellin' new batches of info from now on?"

He was met with a deathly silence. A short distance away, another Imp stared blankly into his steaming mug. His boyish face was as weathered as any military veteran's, and his brow was furrowed to the point where it left several noticeable creases on his forehead. Strands of grayish-brown hair fell over his face, partially obscuring his hazel eyes as they stared into his darkened and distorted reflection in the liquid contained in his cup. His purple-and-white-striped scarf obscured his lower jaw.

"Heeeeellooooo?" Umbra called playfully while leaning over to wave a hand at his teammate's face. "Earth to newbie! You there?"

"Probably still broodin' over the hottie that we snapped," Pyre said with a snicker. "Recognize her, my ass."

"Talk about lame," added Orceus. "I mean, imagine being so hopelessly single that you fawn over a friggin' NPC!"

But Squiggle sighed. "Come on, ya guys. Give him a break. I mean, he's the one who gave us those killer pics in the first place. For a newb, he sure had killer strength and agility." He then looked at the second Imp. "Anyway, whaddaya say to our new plan? We'll give you a bigger share of the profits, for being such a badass photographer!"

The other Imp didn't respond, and instead, he continued to sit there in silent contemplation. Meanwhile, Squiggle did not have time to follow up his query, for his teammates started voicing their outrage.

"Hey, no fair, man!" protested Pyre. "We should earn equal shares of what we get!"

"D'you know what happens to me when I fall short on the rent, Squiggle?!" Umbra snapped. "I'm a dead man, ya hear?! Dead!"

Squiggle surprised a snicker. "Relaaaaax, Umbra. I've seen Mr. Ditkovich before, and he ain't no hitman."

The Imp's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "Ohhh, not when the rent is concerned! He- Ow! He's got a- Ow, fuck! What th-?! Agh! Ack! AUGH!"

Umbra suddenly shot up to his feet, knocking his chair over in the process, and clutched his head. The loud abruptness of it all drew eyes from all of the tavern patrons, even the new Imp player in the Launchers' party.

"Dude!" Orceus exclaimed in concern. He hesitantly held a hand out to the writhing Umbra. "You okay there, man?"

But Squiggle derisively rolled his eyes. "Ahhh, come on, man! You bein' serious right n-" His eyes widened in realization. Ohhhhh, lemme guess, it's Mr. Ditkovich coming to get his rent. I am sooooo sca-"

"AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!"

Umbra collapsed to the floor and started convulsing wildly and violently while keeping his hands latched to his own head. Everyone could see his bloodshot eyes and his increasingly pale skin. Then, as his erratic, desperate movements became more frenzied, the Imp started tearing his own hair out, like he was trying to remove an invisible object from his head, to no avail.

"The hell?!" Pyre cried while standing up in a panic. "You havin' a seizure or somethin'?!"

"Holy crap!" an Undine cried.

"Somebody help this guy!" hollered a Sylph.

"Is this part of the game or what?" asked a confused Cait Sith.

"Squiggle, you live nearby, right?!" Orceus asked while glaring at the Leprechaun. "Go check on him!"

But Squiggle didn't react, instead keeping his eyes transfixed on his writhing teammate in terror. With an agitated growl, the Gnome shoved his shoulder, catching his attention.

"Check on him, damn it!"

"B-But my-" the Leprechaun began.

"Forget your folks! You can come up with a story later, right?! Just go and check on him!"

"G-G-Gotcha!"

With that, Squiggle summoned his menu with a shaky finger, and he logged out within seconds. As for Umbra, the other players watched in terrified helplessness as he continued to scream and convulse for a few more moments. Finally, after what seemed like an agonizing eternity, his AmuSphere's forcible logout function activated, causing his body to disappear in a purple flash.

And then, a terrible silence entered the tavern and enshrouded every corner, like the shadow of Death itself.

"But no matter what, even if life works against you, both in the real world and the virtual world...even if the end is obvious, that doesn't mean you should give up. Especially when it comes to the matters of the heart. When it comes to love. Just like a wise person once said, if you really love someone that much, even when things look hopeless, you can't give up. So don't you give up, no matter what."

Next Time: Internal Tangent

A/N: And we're officially diving into ALO now, no pun intended! :D :D :D

But now, instead of Kirito looking for Asuna alone off the bat, he's being joined by some familiar faces! Sachi, Sinon, and even Agil! And let's not forget throwing Leafa and Recon into the mix! Makes you wonder who else might sign up on this search-and-rescue mission, eh? ;D ;D ;D

Also, it sounds like Agil's a little suspicious of what's going on between Kirito and Sachi! :O Will Kirito see the light at the end of the tunnel from Agil's words and try to handle whatever's going on between him and Sachi? Or will he decide that his relationship with Sachi might be more meaningful than his marriage with Asuna? Stay tuned to find out!

Oh, and it seems as if something else is going on inside ALO, something that Kirito and company do not know about! Oh, whatever could it be?!

Anyway, I'd like to thank the following for reviewing:

-MassiveCollateralDamage:

1) Hey, it's good to be reading stuff in the afternoon for a change! You're gonna need all the healthy sleep you can get!

2) I'm glad you're still liking my development of Sinon! I hope her role in this chapter was just as interesting!

3) Yeah, it's a pretty good movie.

4) Oh yeah, and plus the Alicization arc has a lot more content than the preceding arcs, so that's going to take a trilogy of entirely new stories to flesh out my interpretation. But like I said, some elements of Alicization will find their way into this fic; it'll just be in ways you wouldn't expect.

-MeMyselfAndI82907:

1) Or maybe whatever's happening outside ALO is part of something bigger and not having to do with a game at all...

2) Well, it's not like Asuna's mother didn't have any sort of input in the decision either.

3) Yeah, that scenario sort of stretched the basic rules of logic a little. But I'm going to provide my own little spin into all of this, so don't you worry!

4) Yes, I intend to make Sugou a more dangerous villain and hate sink in this one! But who knows? The most dangerous villains are the ones who tend to be cornered... ;)

5) Mm-hm! And things are just going to get more complicated for him down the road...

6) It's alright! I totally appreciate the in-depth reviews. The more stuff to say, the merrier! If you're able to churn all of it out, that is. If not, that's alright; I'm not forcing you to do so. :D

-Kairan1979:

1) Yeah, looks like Sachi's living out her own "Beater" moment here.

2) Fate sure does work in mysterious ways, doesn't it?

3) I suggest you keep paying attention to Leafa, because I intend to make it a little more complicated when it comes to "connecting the dots"... ;)

Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!