Inside a forest in an unknown area, a hooded girl in blue with orange hair and a dagger runs through, looking back a bit. She seems to be afraid of something, but suddenly, a boy in black somehow appears in front of her.
Kirito: What in the world?!
Girl in Blue: Huh?!
She trips over a rock and bumps into him, sending both each other flying back, and forcing her hood off. She takes out her dagger and swings it at him.
Kirito: What are you...
The Black Swordsman dodges her attacks and takes out his Elucidator. They both swing swords at each other, and as they do, Kirito notices the girls cursor being orange.
Kirito: An orange player?!
Finally, they both swing and chain blades.
Orange Player: Who are you?
Kirito: I'm the one who should be asking!
Suddenly, a giant enemy appears next to them. They both jump back. They notice that the enemy is the Skull Reaper from Floor 75.
Kirito: A skull reaper?! That's the boss that slaughtered most of the assault team back on Floor 75! Why is it here?!
Orange Player: Darn! I thought I gave that thing the slip, but I guess I've got no choice but to fight it!
Kirito: Hey! You! Do monsters like this usually appear around here?
Orange Player: I'm not interested in talking to people like you.
Kirito: People like me?! I think you're mistaken right there!
Skull Reaper: ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRR!
Kirito: Look out!
Just as the skull reaper swung its scythe at the orange player, a blue blur quickly saves her.
Kirito: Huh?
Sonic: Anybody call for a friend? Got one right here!
Kirito: Sonic!
Orange Player: Sonic? Did I just get saved by the fastest thing alive?
Sonic: Yup! And if you can't run from it, then you gotta fight it! Man. This thing was extremely hard to fight back then. Seems kind of weaker now.
Orange Player: Fight it?
Kirito: Let's call it a truce until we get rid of this thing.
Orange Player: Why would I wanna join forces with...
Sonic: No time for questions! Kirito! You take care of its scythes! Me and this orange Missy will take care of the rest!
Kirito: Got it!
Kirito takes out his Dark Repulser and deflects its scythes with both his swords.
Orange Player: Why would you people help me? How do you know I won't stab you in the back?
Sonic: Listen here miss! You wanna live? Help us kick this things butt!
Orange Player: ...
Kirito: Sonic's right. It goes without saying, but I don't want to die either.
Orange Player: Ok. I'll help you people just this once.
Sonic: Alright! Let's go!
They fight against the skull reaper. Sonic using his spin attacks, and both Kirito and the orange player using their sword skills, they were easily able to take out the boss. Just as its health reaches zero, the enemy disappears into pixels.
Sonic: Nice job, guys!
Kirito: Yeah. Thanks.
Orange Player: That was a skull reaper? I've never seen a monster like that before.
Kirito: It looked exactly like the boss on Floor 75.
Orange Player: But what's a floor boss even doing here?
Sonic: Who knows. But I guess I was right. It was weaker than the actual floor boss itself.
Kirito: And if it had the same attributes, there's no way either of us would survive. Anyway...
Kirito and the orange player stare at each other.
Kirito: Now I know we weren't seeing eye to eye, but I'd prefer not to fight you, if possible. Do you think we could avoid that?
Orange Player: Hmm?
Kirito: I mean, if we did something to upset you, we're really sorry.
Sonic: W-Wait a minute!
Orange Player: You two aren't any of them? Really?
Kirito: Them? Who's them?
Orange Player: I guess you aren't. You can see it, right? My cursor?
Sonic: Yeah. Yeah we do! And I got something to ask. Why do you have it?
Orange Player: I think you already know why. I killed someone.
Sonic and Kirito: !
Orange Player: It's true. That's why you shouldn't get involved with me. So, I guess this is goodbye. Thank you both for helping me out back there.
The girl starts to walk away.
Kirito: Hey! Wait!
Orange Player: What is it? I thought I told you not to get involved with me.
Kirito: I know, but there's something else we wanna ask you. Where exactly are we? I mean, I know we're inside SAO, but...
Orange Player: I don't know. I got thrown in here about a month ago. And it's been a struggle for survival ever since. I haven't had time to explore or figure out where I am.
Sonic: A month?! You fought for that long?
Kirito: Then that means... This is an anti-crystal area?
Kirito checks his holo-window.
Kirito: But wait. We can still use everything.
Orange Player: Yeah. There's a lot I don't know about this floor, but at least we can still use our items normally.
Kirito: Do you have a teleport crystal? If not, I have plenty for you.
Orange Player: No thanks.
Kirito: What?!
System Message: Hollow Area access restrictions have been lifted.
Kirito: W-What was that?
Sonic: And did they just say Hollow Area?
Orange Player: That's! Your hand! Something is floating about your hand!
Sonic and Kirito notice some sort of sigil floating above their hands.
Sonic: What the heck is this? Where'd this come from?
Kirito: Does this have something to do with that system announcement about access restrictions being lifted?
Orange Player: Just who exactly are you?
Kirito: What do you mean?! The real question is, where are we? And what is this place?
Orange Player: I don't know. Listen, can I take a closer look at your hands?
Sonic: Huh? What are you?
She inspects Kirito and Sonic's hands.
Orange Player: Yes. It's the same one!
Sonic: Same what?
Orange Player: That pattern. I've seen it before. It's in this place that I know...
Kirito: Well, maybe if we go there, we can figure out what's going on. It's not like we have any other clues to go on. Why don't we head there? I mean, if it's ok with you, would you mind showing us where that place is?
Sonic: Now hold on just a second, Kirito! Why are you thinking about trusting her? She's an orange player!
Kirito: I know that! But she's the only help we have right now! Also, she helped us beat that skull reaper!
Sonic: I mean, I guess that's...
Kirito: We put our lives on the line and fought at each others sides. Here in SAO, that's probably enough for us to trust her.
Sonic: Yeah. You're right.
Kirito: So anyway, my name is Kirito, and you already know Sonic. What's yours?
Orange Player: It's Philia.
Kirito: Nice to meet you, Philia.
Philia: Heh...
Kirito: What?
Philia: I just can't point out if you're really friendly or really stupid.
Sonic: See?! Even she agrees with me! I think I'll call you Knuckles 2.0 from now on!
Kirito: Oh shut up, Sonic. I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character.
Sonic: Yeah, well so do I.
Philia: I guess I should be flattered. Ok then. I'll lead the way.
They move and head to an entrance to a cave.
Philia: If we can move through the forest on the other side of this cave, we should reach the place that had the same design.
Kirito: Ok. Let's go.
They go walk through the cave to the other side.
Sonic: So Philia. What exactly is this place? I don't see a floor number anywhere.
Philia: Apparently, it's called the Hollow Area.
Kirito: Hollow Area, huh?
Philia: Do you remember how you both came here?
Kirito: Well, I was exploring this dungeon, when all of a sudden, I was wrapped in this light. Then, I found myself here.
Sonic: And I was walking around town with Tails, and suddenly, I'm here.
Kirito: It was kind of similar to using a corridor crystal, I guess.
Philia: A sudden teleportation? That's pretty much the same thing that happened to me. There's one thing that's different, though. The symbol on your hands.
Sonic: You don't have one?
Philia: No. And I've never seen any other players with one either.
Kirito: You mean there are others here too?
Philia: Yeah. But there's something strange about them, though.
Kirito: Strange, how?
Philia: It's hard to explain. You should see for yourselves.
Sonic: Alright then. But where exactly are we heading?
Philia: See that thing over there?
They point at a floating sphere in the distance.
Sonic: Oh, that sphere? Have you been inside?
Philia: No. But if you guys are with me, I might be able to go. I mean, it's showing the same symbol you both have.
Kirito: You think beating the skull reaper caused this to appear?
Sonic: But if that's true, why doesn't Philia have one?
Philia: I think it's because of your skills.
Kirito: I never heard of a skill that causes something like this to happen.
System Announcement: The designated time has been reached. The aptitude test will now begin.
Philia: What?!
Kirito: Designated time? Aptitude test? Philia. Do you have any idea what's going on?
Philia: There's no point in asking me! I don't know.
Sonic: Well, it did say aptitude test, right?
Philia: I suppose. Yeah.
Sonic: Well, I don't know what it is, but nothing we can't handle, right Kirito?
Kirito: Yeah. This should be fun.
Philia: Do you both always get so enthusiastic when in situations like this?
Sonic: Hey! I mean, that's how we roll!
Kirito: Look at it this way. There's no way we can avoid this test, right? Besides, we can't help but get excited at exploring someplace new.
Philia: I think I'm starting to think you both are really stupid rather than really friendly. Here I was wondering about what to do the whole time.
Sonic: What?
Philia: Nothing.
Kirito: Well, Philia. Since Sonic and I don't have any info on this place, would you mind giving us all the info we have? Anything on monsters, status ailments, items...
Philia: Alright, alright! Calm down! You'll confuse me!
They start the aptitude test by looking for a mini boss near the exit of the path. They arrive to see the Beefy Bull Horn.
Sonic: How that's a big axe right there. Must be bigger than his ego. Oh well. Hey bull!
Beefy Bull Horn: ROOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!
Sonic takes him out in three hits using his spin dash. The mini boss disappears in pixels.
Sonic: The end.
System Announcement: Clearance confirmed. The verification phase has completed.
Kirito: Verification phase?
Philia: That announcement again.
Kirito: Hmm.
Sonic: What's up?
Kirito: Nothing. I was just thinking.
Philia: About what?
Kirito: This Hollow Area. There's so much that makes me curious. I mean, what's with that test? And that verification phase?
Sonic: This whole thing's got me confused too. You figure anything out?
Kirito: No. But I have plenty of theories. I can't prove any right now so I'll need more info.
Sonic: Where's Tails when you need him? Hope he's not too worried.
Philia: Yes. I've actually investigated this place for ages and I still don't know anything. Now if you showed up here and solved all the mysteries in a few hours, that would get annoying.
Kirito: We haven't even solved anything yet.
Philia: But if you do, I don't think I can keep calling myself a treasure hunter.
Sonic: Oh. You're a treasure hunter? My friend Knuckles is one too.
Philia: Nice. But you see, I don't really care much about fighting monsters or clearing quests. I'm more suited to finding treasures in various dungeons. I mean, there are a lot of important items that are crucial if you want to survive here. That's why I became a treasure hunter.
Kirito: I see. But it's really dangerous to fight battles all on your own.
Philia: It's fine. I've mastered the trap-disarming and search skills.
Sonic: Cool.
Philia: The lockpicking skill is my particular specialty. I've never come across a treasure chest I couldn't open. No matter how powerful the monster guarding the chest is, I can easily sneak past it with my stealth skill and open up the lock.
Kirito: Wow. You gotta show us sometime.
Philia: I guess it depends on how long we'll be together. Still, if I get a chance, I'll show a glimpse of what I can do. But I think we're done talking about this stuff for now. I see another teleporter up ahead. We just need to make it through here.
They move on ahead and arrive at a floating stone with the same symbol Sonic and Kirito have.
Philia: This is it.
Sonic: You weren't kidding. It's the exact same symbol.
Philia: I bet this will take us into the sphere. Can you both give it a try?
Kirito: Yeah. Let me.
Kirito raises his hand to the teleporter and it activates.
Sonic: So that's that. Thanks for the help, treasure hunter.
Philia: Hmm. I don't know what's waiting for you inside the sphere. But I'm sure that you'll both uncover some secrets of the Hollow Area.
Kirito: Yeah. It looks like it contains some secrets. Can't lie about that.
Philia: Is it alright if I come with you?
Sonic: I don't see why not. You're in the same pickle as us anyway. Let's go!
They use the teleporter to go inside the giant sphere. Once they're inside, they find themselves in some room with code all around it, along with a GM console and teleport gate.
Philia: I knew it!
Sonic: So this is the inside of the sphere?
Philia: Looks that way.
Kirito: This place seems safe. In fact, this area seems to be a safe zone. But if so, then what about the guardian?
Philia: I don't see any.
Sonic: This seems different somehow.
Philia: But if that's the case, then we should easily be able to search around.
Kirito: Yeah. Hmm?
Kirito walks up to the GM console.
Kirito: This console seems to have some kind of list. Element implementation? So this room is called the Administration Area. What in the...
System Message: Permission to access confirmed. A teleportation object leading to the Administration Area will be unlocked. A teleportation object has appeared in the Hollow Area.
Kirito: I see. It's the object with the same design we used to come here.
Sonic: Hey! Come over here for a sec!
Kirito: What's wrong?
Philia: Over here. We found a teleport gate. But it looks different than before.
Kirito: Well that's good news. We'll finally be able to get out of here!
Philia: Get out of here. That sounds nice, I guess.
Sonic: What's wrong? You don't wanna leave?
Philia: Don't I?
Sonic: So I guess not then.
Philia: Nope. You two go on ahead. I guess this is goodbye. I'm glad we've met. It's been fun.
Kirito: Well, we'll go on ahead then. We can come back anytime we want though. As long as the teleport gate's still active.
Philia: Right.
Sonic: This Hollow Area is very interesting. We got so many questions.
Kirito: Yeah. I mean, it's weird that there are boss class monsters wandering across the field. Even the other monsters we came across were unusual. And I find it really odd that we couldn't see the labyrinth tower. I thought it was visible from anywhere.
Philia: It is strange.
Kirito: I think there's a good chance we'll find some new weapons and powerful skills in a place like this.
Philia: Hee hee. I feel the same way. Well, if any of you decide to come back, send me a message. I'll come here.
Kirito: Are able to get into the Administration Area without this symbol though?
Philia: Well, I tested it out and it seems that since I've been here once, I can come back whenever I want.
Sonic: Great! We'll let you know next time we're here!
Philia: I'll be waiting. Not that I'm getting my hopes up.
Kirito: Well, take care of yourself, Philia.
Sonic: Catch ya later!
Sonic and Kirito use the teleport gate to return to Arc Sophia, leaving Philia behind.
Philia: See you soon, eh? Maybe I could try teleporting.
She tries but it doesn't work.
System Announcement: System error. You are unable to teleport from the Hollow Area.
Philia: Why? What is it about me?