Jaymes, moments ago

When he initially saw the ghost's identity, Jaymes was stunned. The knight stayed behind on the first floor the last time he saw Diavel. However, Diavel kept watch over the frontier group; a statement that annoyed Klein, who lashed back that it was Diavel stepping away that created the ALS, the DKB, and the volatile link between them.

"Lind and Kibaou... They both tried to take leadership, but instead of helping each other out, but just held each other back. Even though my guild is small, I know that everybody wants to be on top. But...this isn't a normal game. Jaymes, Koharu, and their group tried desperately to help, but they're just arguing. It won't be long before something irreparable happens."

"Exactly. That's why I came back to the front."

"Then why didn't you come out?" Jaymes asks. "You could mobilize plenty of people. Why did you remain in hiding?"

"It'd be quite disgraceful for someone who's called himself a knight and a leader to be grinding levels behind everyone's backs."

"You won't fool us with an answer like that," Jaymes counters, pointing at the armor plates underneath Diavel's cloak. "Visually, it looks like the same light armor from the first floor, but you've leveled it up nicely. And your weapon, too. You continued leveling on the first floor so you could come back anytime. Am I right?"

Diavel smirks as he traces his finger along the edge of his cup. "The leveling part is true. The motive...isn't as beautiful."

Klein shakes his head. "So why act like a ghost? It's childish to make a ghost story to scare everybody."

"The sneaking around was just a by-product. I came to this floor to get information from an old friend. He's in ALS, but only the leaders are allowed to know that information. It'd be bad if people found out he told me. Other players had seen me. So I hid and he covered our tracks. To think I'd become a ghost..."

"Then you were just hiding?" Jaymes sighs and rubs his temples. "You don't have any equipment that makes you invisible?"

"I wouldn't have to hide from people if I had such an item. Because of that rumor, players have been avoiding the cemetery, making solo hunting much easier."

"I doubt you met with Kibaou, then. You two didn't seem like old friends back then."

"No, it wasn't him, and I couldn't go to Lind... I wanted lots of players to work together and get strong. Just never expected such strife and division." And most certainly, a group of players who look to make murder a part of the game. Jaymes keeps that to himself. "Of course, I've got no right to badmouth them since I disappeared on my own. But I want to take responsibility."

Jaymes relaxes, seeing that Diavel is sincere in his motive to return to the front. As the more current reason, he has his suspicion Diavel knows something only Jaymes' group, the PKers, and ALS might know about. "Does that have something to do with the information you received from your friend?"

"Sorry, can't talk about it now. Still, there's a huge reward for whoever takes down the fifth-floor boss. Regardless if ALS or DKB gets it, it's sure to ruin their relationship. And in the worst case scenario, a war might even break out."

"I already know of it; The Guild Flag is the reward for the... Oh, that explains everything."

"Explains what?" Klein inquires.

"I told you this earlier, Klein, but we learned that ALS is preemptively moving to fight the floor boss tonight during the celebration. I didn't know why they'd do it alone, but now it makes sense. If ALS wants to be certain DKB cannot own the flag, they must beat the boss themselves."

"Oh," he says. "But a war between players? That could never happen!"

"I wouldn't say 'never'. We stopped one once before on the third floor, and there are tons of players out there that would hurt others if it benefits themselves...or just for fun. You're a gamer, Klein, so you know some players get kicks for targeting other players only. Here in SAO, that is a real problem for us. It's one thing fighting monsters on the daily, but it's another having to deal with players, too."

"I see... It's terrible, but... Damn, it just might happen. What can we do? What makes this Guild Flag so important?" As Klein asks those questions, a yellow mail icon pops up for Jaymes, the sender being Koharu. Excusing himself for a moment, he walks towards a corner of the restaurant and reads the message. Apparently, she wrote it in a rush, but it details everything Koharu and the others have done in the last hour or so. How they met with Liten and Shivata, who lead the organization of the New Year's party; how the Guild Flag is ALS' goal; how they plan on engaging the boss with fifteen players currently, but she hopes Jaymes can convince Klein and "Argo's contact" to join them.

Chuckling to him, Jaymes closes the message and heads back to the table. "Well, Koharu and the others are planning quite the scheme..."

At nearly three in the afternoon, the assembled players gather in a forest clearing not too far from Mananarena. Kirito had arrived momentarily with Nezha, the former blacksmith behind the second-floor scam; Koharu and Asuna are present with Agil's Bro Squad, Liten and another member of ALS, Shivata, and DKB's subleader Hafner. With Jaymes is Klein, the other five members of his guild Furinkazan, and Diavel, whose identity is hidden by his dark cloak.

Kirito and the others are filled with conversation, but Jaymes' group remains distant from the others. Jaymes doesn't care much for small talk, though he waves to Koharu and the others; Diavel, of course, keeps his identity for a while longer; Klein is just sticking close. It's obvious the leader of Furinkazan wants to speak to Kirito (and vice versa, Jaymes witnessed Kirito glance Klein's way) but hasn't got the nerves yet to do so.

So the two men in red lean together against a tree, watching the others make nice with each other. "Jeesh, that guy's really something."

"Who? Diavel?"

Klein, with his eyes on the ground, nods. "Yeah. He was talking about taking responsibility and all that. He's a bit over-leveled, but just the way he moves and his timing when using skills are great. Watching it is entertaining. He's completely unlike the rumors... People said he was too afraid to fight after almost losing his life during the boss fight."

Klein, Diavel, and Jaymes did a little monster-hunting while waiting on Furinkazan to come. Klein's assessment is valid, but Jaymes knew that Diavel was a great leader and fighter. But after Jaymes saved his life, Diavel completely broke down. and didn't participate in the remainder of the battle against Illfang. Jaymes doesn't blame Diavel for leaving the front then and there; he faltered when he should've been on his feet. If it wasn't for Jaymes, Asuna, and the other two rallying the raiders, the fight against Illfang would have gone differently.

"Is that what people are saying?"

"Just some low-ranking members were talking about it. That's all."

"They're right, you know," Diavel interrupts, joining us at the tree. "That's why I've been on the lower floors this whole time. Since then, I've been teaching players on the lower floors the best way to farm, helping them level, you know. Even though they're under-leveled, they all are chomping at the bit to join. They're all very passionate people. And they gush just thinking about the top guild without even knowing my face or name. Or that I ran away from there."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Jaymes replies with a soft, understanding tone. His eyes trek towards Asuna and Koharu, who speak with the other players with smiles on their faces. "I was able to meet Koharu and Asuna over here, but I imagine they'd still be in the Town of Beginnings if they didn't have someone to fight together with. Even I can't say that I'd be here now without Koharu, Asuna, Mito, and Kirito. After Kayaba departed, I knew I wanted to leave and help others, but part of me didn't want to do it alone. I didn't know what to do, so I just thought of all the possibilities. I put Koharu in constant danger with the only goal of getting stronger, with no results to really show it. I think I can speak on behalf of everyone here and in the two guilds that we're glad you helped us out, Diavel."

Diavel smiles as he places a hand over his chest plate. "It means a lot to hear that... I still firmly believe that the guild should be the hope of all players, not a single player. But during that time, I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't a symbol of hope. I became a coward, instilled with the belief that even if I were to disappear, people would still fight for me."

"You don't have to say it like that," Klein counters. "While off the path, you were getting stronger. You're still setting out to clear the game. I, the great Klein, can assure you that nobody would do what you did while wanting to run away."

"And you came back, Diavel. The floor boss is still alive. Let's clean this up."

"Yeah. We've only gone through four floors, and the big guilds are already on edge. It'll be a while until we can reach floor one hundred like this. That's why we have to get the boss-clear bonus before ALS can act... So I'll ask you this, will you fight with me?"

Klein grins. "I've seen and heard what you're capable of. You can count Furinkazan and me in! To refuse now would be a most cowardly thing to do!" Klein's excitement and the cheers from Furinkazan draw the other's attention, who previously spoke about why Kirito (and Asuna, Koharu, and myself) hadn't joined a guild. I was partially paying them some mind, so I know that Kirito led them to misinterpret why he hadn't joined DKB or ALS instead of staying with Asuna.

Pushing off the tree trunk, I walk towards them with a thumbs up to Diavel. "I'm asking you for help, remember?" I lead the seven behind me to the main group, although Klein gets there first. Whether finding his courage to speak to Kirito or trying to push through the awkwardness, the man with the red bandana waves to the swordsman in black with a huge grin.

"If it isn't Kirito! This Beater is pretty infamous!"

"Ah, heh..."

"You think you're soooo cool having two aliases, yeah? Jeesh, maybe I should've thought of a cooler name to go by! I can hear the crowd roaring as the gallant and majestic spear master enters the battlefield! I can hear them all shouting, 'xCr1mzon Br4vRx Klein!'"

"..."

"Ugh, jeesh..."

"Ugh... That's so cringey..."

"Man..."

Unaware of twenty-one faces set in cringe, Klein taps his chin in thought. "Hm? Well... Maybe something simple like 'Bl4z1n' S4mVr41' would be better..."

Kirito bites his lips, but he cannot hold back the laugh building from within. "Pff... Hahaha! You haven't changed a bit, Klein!"

"That's just how I am, man! Let's catch up after we bust up that Golem. Also, I wanna know more about these hot babes you and Jaymes are with!"

Jaymes scowls while pointing his thumb at Asuna. "Mito, I understand, but her? A hot babe? Pfft. More like 'ice queen.' But speaking of that... Yo, Shivata, my man, I gotta confirm some information I heard about you."

Klein picks up on Jaymes' unsaid topic immediately. "Huh? There's another girl on the frontlines?"

"W-wait! But first, who is this with you?" All eyes turn on the hooded man, who slowly raises his arm and pulls back on the hood. When his face and hair are revealed, fourteen eyes widen in shock in awe as the first leader of the frontlines bows to them apologetically.

"Everyone, please allow me to join you on this raid."