Sword Art Online Alicization Alternative: War of Underworld
Chapter 2: Raids
"SELKA!" Alice screamed, a hoarse cry escaped from Alice and she dashed back to the house. However, she stood petrified just as she got on the porch.
"Alice!" Eugeo exclaimed, running after her. He understood her anguish, their families were in danger, his sister, Selka, their parents. They had to save them. But what about the other villagers?
If they tried their best to save everyone, she would need to fight the forces of darkness head-on. But did the strength to do so remain in Alice's current self? The source of Alice the integrity knight was her almost blind loyalty for the Axiom Church and the Highest Minister. Now that she lost that faith along with her right eye, could she truly swing the Fragrant Olive Sword and use her sacred arts? Eugeo, she couldn't send on his own, it would be selfish if she sends him on his own or does the fighting with the Blue Rose Sword. Standing frozen, Alice's and Eugeo's ears picked up a sound, from within the cabin.
Her left eye and Eugeo's eyes flashed wide open. A chair fell over in the middle of the dim living room and beside it was a black-haired youth crawling on the floor.
"Kirito…" Alice and Eugeo moved their paralyzed legs and entered the cabin.
The light of determination was absent as usual from Kirito's eyes. That said, the motive for his sluggish movement was evident. His arms reached out straight towards the three swords hung on the wall.
"Kirito… you…" Something hot was caught between her chest and throat. It took some time before she noticed what faintly warped their sight were tears.
"Ah… aah…"
Kirito's frame moved without pause as his hoarse voice escaped, desperately approaching the swords. Alice and Eugeo swiped at her eyes, then ran straight to the youth and raised his frail body from the floor.
"Everything will be fine, We will go. We'll save the villagers. So please settle down and wait for us here." Quickly whispering so, the pair drew Kirito into a tight hug. Thump. Thump. The reverberations of his heartbeats reached them from their touching chests. Persistent willpower lurked in those beats even with his heart closed off. Even as indistinct embers, they still transmitted distinct warmth to their body. Taking both his arms, they helped him back on the chair and put a hand on his shoulders.
"We will be back immediately after saving them," Alice said.
"What about your powers as an Integrity Knight? The way you are now…" only for Alice to cup his cheek to assure him, their eyes meeting.
"I'll be fine. What matters is our families. Grab your armor and your sword, let's go." she ordered her tone most soft. first took her armor and sword belt out from the closet where they were this whole time before equipping them atop her sleepwear. Same with Eugeo who grabbed him, the armor that once scattered the top of the cathedral was recovered by Bercouli so he would look the part of an Integrity Knight. Rushing over the eastern wall next, Alice grasped her beloved sword without hesitation.
The Fragrant Olive Sword weighed down her two hands as they held it for the first time in half a year. Attaching its scabbard's metal clasp onto her sword belt, she threw an overcoat on while sticking her feet into boots, then ran down onto the front yard again. Eugeo grabbed his Blue Rose Sword and clipped it to the belt of his armor. Even when he became one with his blade, it was a part of him. Throwing his overcoat over his armor, rushed out to follow Alice outside, hearing the golden blonde call out to her dragon.
"Amayori!" A gigantic silhouette flew out at once, lowering her head after she called out towards the bed in the east. Alice commanded in a keen voice after leaping onto the base of her long neck, Eugeo climbed onto as quickly as he could and held Alice by her armored waist. "Go!" Her pair of silver wings beat loudly and the flying dragon lifted straight off into the night sky after a short ground run.
They could see the catastrophe in Rulid after gaining a little altitude. The grandly rising flames were mainly from the village's north end. The aggressors likely did come from the Dark Territory through the mountain range at the edge after all. Eldrie had said that there were no abnormalities at the «North Cave», blocked on Bercouli's orders, last night. The numbers required to be mobilized for removing all that rubble in a single day exceeded a mere ten or twenty.
It seemed small units had been sneaking in via the three caves through the mountain range at the edge under the cover of night to commit evil deeds since times long past. Kirito and Eugeo had claimed that they fought a group of goblins in the northern cave before they arrived at the central capital too. However, she had never heard of an attack this extensive yet told. The whole of the land of darkness might truly be thinking that the time is ripe for an all-out assault on the Human Empire.
Amayori flew over the dense forest in a single go and arrived at the skies over the wheat fields at Rulid's outskirts even as such thoughts went through Alice's mind.
Alice had no reins, but she still conveyed her instructions to hover by lightly tapping the dragon's nack. Eugeo felt the wind blowing his coat and hair, but he kept calm. They needed to get to their home and protect them.
'Sis. We need to protect them from the dark forces. Only we can do it.' Alice Zuberg spoke up in his head.
'I know. I'll protect our home!' Eugeo exclaimed mentally.
Alice leaned forward and focused her eye on the village's state, Eugeo still holding on to look as well. The main street crossing from south to north shone red with flames on its northern end and she could spot the distinct shadows of the advancing attackers. The nimble goblins dashed as though they were leaping forward. The large orcs, too, advanced with a short distance from them. An impromptu blockade was built from furniture and lumber piled up immediately north of the central plaza, but the goblin vanguards had already reached there and their drawn swords flickering in the light struck as one to pass the obstacle.
The ones fighting back were of the village's guard corps. However, they were likely surpassed by even the goblins: be it in numbers, in equipment, or experience. At this rate, it would take but a brief moment before the orc unit, causing tremors as they approached from behind, pulverized them. Eugeo was certain his family was in the village, it matters the most they are okay.
Holding back her desire to dive into the midst of that battle this very moment, Alice continued checking the situation. Flames rose all about the eastern and western sides of the village as well. It seemed to have yet suffered damage from the plaza to the south, however. Aside from the guards, the other villagers, including Selka, of course, must have fled from the south gate and evacuated to the forest. Eugeo scanned the village, spotting someone was in danger. He prayed to the Goddesses it wasn't his family.
Alice focused her eye on the plaza once more with that thought in mind and could not help but to let out her voice, "Why…!?" Countless silhouettes were sticking close to the central fountain, surrounding it in the circular plaza before the church. It escaped her immediate notice as there were far too many of them. Nearly the whole of Rulid's inhabitants must have been gathered there. Why did they not escape from the village?
"What are they doing? They need to get out of there!" Eugeo exclaimed.
The guards would certainly be crushed in no time when the attackers' main force reaches the blockade. Unless they begin moving straight away, it would be too late to evacuate. Alice tapped the flying dragon's neck again and shouted out a line after moving right above the plaza.
"Amayori, standby here until I call! Eugeo, hold onto me tight!" Alice exclaimed. Eugeo nodded, squeezing Alice's waist close to his chest. And they jumped from the height of several tens of mel without the slightest hesitation. The hem of their overcoats blew violently as they fell, slicing through the cold night air.
The villagers, numbering an overwhelming three hundred, who huddled in a circle might have been prepared to put up a fight as there were men positioned on the edge carrying farm implements such as spades and scythes. Alice and Eugeo landed right beside two men who shot off orders from the side.
The stone paving cracked in a radial pattern with a thunderous roar. An intense shock ran from the sole of her feet to her head and her Life probably fell somewhat, but that was as far as it went. When Eugeo let Alice go, he stood beside her. He felt his heart racing. He never thought he would leap from a dragon but Alice was very fearless. Even with a bit of her life decreased from that stunt, they were alive that's all. Only an Integrity Knight would withstand a drop like that.
The two men; the wealthy farmer, Nygr Barbossa, and Rulid Village's chief, Gasupht had their words scared out of them by the silhouette suddenly falling from above. Seeing not only Alice but Eugeo dropping the sky. Though Alice felt her breath momentarily stop upon seeing her father's face, she recovered quickly enough to take advantage of the silence she caused and shouted out, "You will not be able to hold them back here! Evacuate all of the villagers through the southern road at once!"
"Chief Gasupht, where's my family? Are they okay!" Eugeo exclaimed, his voice more firm speaking to the man. The shock grew on the men's faces as they heard Alice's instructions and Eugeo's. But what came out from Nygr's mouth after he came to his senses was a throaty, harsh voice.
"Don't be stupid! How can we run away and abandon my mansion… this village?!" Alice refuted the wealthy farmer, veins popping from his brow, in a sharp tone.
"You can still escape from the goblins' reach now! What is more important, your assets or your life?!" Alice and Eugeo exclaimed.
Replacing Nygr who could grunt in reply, Gasupht the village chief let out his voice, deep and tense, "Fortifying our defenses in a circular formation was the instruction from the guards' chief, Jink. Even I, the village chief, have to abide by his orders in such a situation. That is the empire's law. I'm sorry Eugeo, but Orick and your mother and siblings are still in the village, they didn't escape in time."
Alice and Eugeo were the ones who went speechless this time. During emergencies, the one who accedes to the sacred task of the guard chief gains temporary authority to command all residents of a village or town in place of its leader. That provision certainly existed in the empire law of Norlangarth North Empire. However, the guard chief named Jink was a young man who only recently inherited his sacred task from his father. It was doubtful he could maintain his composure and assume command under such abnormal circumstances. The pronounced anxiety on Gasupht's face showed that he, too, thought so inside. That said, the empire's laws were absolute to the villagers. They could only have Jink, commanding the defensive line fighting at the north side of the plaza, pull back and change his orders to start the evacuation at once, but there was insufficient time.
What? What could they...
"Let's do as Alice and Eugeo say, father!" The cry of a young yet resolute voice reached Alice's ears then, as she stood frozen.
Looking back forward with a gasp, she saw a short sister healing the burnt villagers with sacred arts.
"Selka!" they exclaimed. Thank goddess, she was fine; Alice and Eugeo took a step forward towards her beloved little sister, but Selka stood up and weaved through the crowd to the trio.
"Your family, I saw them in the east of the village, you better hurry!" Selka exclaimed.
"Okay! Alice, I'll let you handle things here, I'm going to get to my family!" Eugeo replied and dashed away/ As much he wanted to help, this was Alice's moment, getting in her way wouldn't be right/ Besides, he had faith in her to regain her strength.
After showing a brief smile towards Alice, Selka's facial expressions immediately tensed up as she spoke to Gasupht, "Father, has Alice ever been wrong even once? No, even I can tell. At this rate, everyone will die!"
"But… but still…" Gasupht stammered with a bitter expression. His mustache, stained with white, quivered slightly and his sight wandered futilely through space. Taking the place of the village chief who went speechless, Nygr Barbossa erupted once more in anger.
"This is no place for children to meddle! We will protect this village!" he demanded.
His two bloodshot eyes stared at the Barbossa's' mansion built near the plaza. What was on Nygr's mind was unmistakably the mass of wheat just harvested in autumn and the gold coins hoarded over many years. Returning his sight towards Alice and Selka, the farmer, naturally enough, yelled out shrilly, "Yes… yes, I've got it! You are the one who invited those beasts from the land of darkness to this village, aren't you, Alice?! You were defiled by the darkness's power when you crossed the mountain range at the edge in the past! You even dragged Eugeo into this as well! You witch… this girl must be a terrible witch!"
Alice lost her words, jabbed by that fat finger. The clamor from the villagers, the clashes between weapons resounding from the defense line, and the war cries from the monsters closing in from the north all felt far away. Since she began living in the village's outskirts, Alice had countless fallen the forest's gigantic trees on Nygr's request. This man had practically writhed to thank her each time. And yet, he could still spew those words as his family's fortunes occupied his entire time; how could. And he dared to drag Eugeo into this, the boy running to protect his family, wasn't at fault for what happened eight years ago or now. Alice averted her eye from the middle-aged man with an expression much like the evil countenance of the orcs and murmured inside. How about you deal with it on your own?
'I will simply do as I like. I will take Selka, the elderly Garitta, my parents, Eugeo, and Kirito away from this village and search for a new home somewhere far away.' She grinds her teeth audibly; she lowered her stream of thoughts put forth an opposing view. But the foolishness Nygr Barbossa and the other villagers displayed was created by the rule by the Axiom Church over hundreds of years. The masses were bound by countless principles and laws under the Taboo Index and while they were granted a tepid peace, something important was steadily stolen from them. That would be their ability to think, and to fight. Where had that imperceptible power, plundered from the masses over endless years and months, accumulated? Within the integrity knights who numbered merely thirty-two. After she took in a deep breath and let it out, the force Alice's left eye flashed open with practically made a noise.
Nygr's face abruptly turned pale, as if from fright, in her sight. In contrast, Alice felt mysterious energy overflowing from within. A power like a flame burning blue-white, quiet yet hotter than all other. The power that she thought lost at the end of that battle on the cathedral's highest floor, one that led Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice to face off the Human Empire's mightiest ruler. Alice took in a deep breath and announced.
"I will revoke Guard Chief Jink's order. I shall have every villager gathered in this plaza retreat to the southern forest with those bearing arms in front." Her tone was gentle, but Nygr's upper body bent back as though hit by some unseen hand. Nonetheless, one could still say his courage was admirable with how he still replied in a quivering tone, "By… by what right can a girl who has driven away..."
"The authority of a knight," Alice answered.
"Wha… what knight!? This village has no such sacred task! Even if you can swing a sword around a little, do you know what will happen should the esteemed knights in the capital hear about you just claiming to be one…?"
Alice gave Nygr, frothing as he continued screaming, a firm look as she gripped her overcoat at her right shoulder with her left hand, "I am… My name is Alice. Third among the Axiom Church's integrity knights, overseeing the Centoria City Region, Alice Synthesis Thirty!" She tore the overcoat from herself as she loudly announced her name. The moment the thick cloth her entire frame was clad in was taken off, her golden armor and Fragrant Olive Sword gleamed brightly as they reflected the blazing flames.
"Wha… an, an i-integrity knight…!?" Nygr fell on his rear while looking upwards as a voice, now completely shrill, leaked from him. Gasupht's eyes opened wide as well.
Alice's proclamation of her name could not have been a lie. After all, there could not be any in this world who could pass themselves off as an integrity knight, none who could disobey the authority of the Axiom Church. Kirito and Alice were probably the only two capable of doing so, but it was not as if Alice abandoned her sword, the proof of her knighthood, even after escaping here from the central capital. The villagers making a din around, too, fell silent. The swords clashing at the defense line in the north as well as the war cries of the guards and goblins, too, felt far away.
What broke that silence first was a whisper from Selka, "Alice?"
Turning her left eye towards her little sister who had her two hands grasped together before her chest, "I am sorry myself and Eugeo for keeping it from you all this time, Selka. This is the real punishment given to me. And, my real duty." Alice smiled gently.
Tear droplets appeared from Selka's eyes upon hearing those words. "Big sister… I…. I always believed in you. That you were never a criminal. You are beautiful… so, very…"
The next to act was Gasupht. Kneeling on the stone paving with a firm noise, the village chief shouted with a strained voice while looking downwards. "Your will shall be done, esteemed integrity knight! We'll leave things to you and Eugeo!" Quickly getting up, he turned back to the villagers behind and issued clear instructions.
"Everyone, stand! Those bearing arms shall lead the way, run to the south gate! Once you are out of the village, escape to the forest south of the cleared land!" An uneasy stir ran through the villagers standing stiffly. But that, too, lasted but a brief moment. The villagers had no option to resist orders from the village chief in the first place; all the more so when it was the will of an integrity knight. The muscular peasants fortifying the surrounding stood up and urged the women, children, and the elderly to stand as well.
"Father, please take care of everyone… of Selka and mother. We'll handle things here." Alice called to Gasupht who joined in at the head of the pack to stop and spoke in a hushed voice.
Gasupht's stern expression quivered for a mere instant and he gave a terse reply, "Do take care of yourself too, esteemed knight." This father would likely never call Alice his daughter again. That, too, was part of her payment for the power she was granted. Carving that into her heart, Alice pushed Selka's back and made her go along with Gasupht.
"Big sister… don't work yourself too hard, please," Selka said with concern.
Alice smiled as she nodded to her little sister whose eyes were still watery, and then turned towards the north. The villagers moved off as one behind her.
"Ah… aah… m-my mansion…" That pathetic moan came from Nygr Barbossa whose rear was still on the ground. His gaze flickered between the villagers running off and his mansion where the flames were closing in towards. Deciding to leave him alone, she focused on the overall state of the village.
Eugeo sprinted through the small village, even it's size didn't mean he didn't search for his family. The damage dealt with the houses weren't as bad as the direction of the fire. He had to keep moving. He scanned around, hoping to find them. He wanted to call out for his family, but unless some stray goblins were present, he didn't want to give them attention. He stopped, finally seeing some stragglers, Five people, their bodies trapped until logs. He gasped sharply, seeing it was his parents and siblings. In fear, they would be crushed or their Life decreasing by the weight, Eugeo rushed over to them, grabbing log after log. He put a hand to his mom's cheek, his armor glove touching her.
"Ahhh…" Eugeo's mother groaned before stirring awake, looking up at her son, "Eugeo, what, what are you doing here?"
"We saw a fire from our cabin, we had to come to see if you were all okay," he said.
"You didn't have to. I'm sure we would manage… I mean until you found us here." she replied.
"Is everyone else okay?" he asked.
"They're breathing, but they'll manage. Now you need to escape before more of those creatures return," she ordered, trying to get up off the ground. She struggled but collapsed to the ground.
"Mom, you okay?!" Eugeo exclaimed.
"I'm fine. Guess I might have been weighted by the logs longer than I thought." she said before looking at her young son, smiling, "I was taken aback when you announce you would leave, but I'm glad to see you are well and healthy. Where's that other boy you lived in the church, the black-haired lost child of Vecta?"
Eugeo froze, looking away at his mother. "He's…" only for the sound of growing to catch him off guard. He quickly shields his mother from sight, only to yell into the night.
"I know you are here, show yourself!" he screamed.
From above on the building, several figures job down before him. Green skin, yellow-orange eyes, pointed ears and were taller than an average human. Holding blades, they are goblins, the same that have attacked villages. Eugeo flinched, the sheer fact that goblins attacked Rulid, but this time he had no Kirito to help him.
"Some white lums didn't escape. Finally, we can have some fun and kill them." one of the Goblin's spoke.
"The boy lum looks weak, we can kill him." another spoke,.
"Mother, step back. Make sure the others get somewhere safe after I deal with them." Eugeo orders her.
"But, those goblins… you sure you can handle him?" she asked. Eugeo smiled at her, smiling cheerfully at her.
"Don't worry about me. I was one of the twelve Elite Disciples at Swordcraft Academy. I can fight these goblins now than back then." he said and her mother blinked. Back then? Did he mean when the Chief's younger daughter was captured by the goblins and Kirito and Eugeo went to save her? She remembered seeing a rip in his clothes and she didn't think it was from a goblin.
Eugeo stepped forward and took from under his overcoat his Blue Rose Sword. He gripped it tightly, thinking to himself.
'Eugeo… I know you can do it… But I feel you are scared... Scared you'll make a mistake... Scared you'll be like those goblins… but don't worry. I'm with you.' Alice Zuberg said and Eugeo made a stern smile.
'I know… two years ago, I was cut by goblins, Selka and Kirito saving my life and after it all, I learned to wield a sword and become a swordsman in hopes to find you. Now I've changed. I'll always feel I'm worse than the goblins, after what I did to Humbert. I still remember by anger wanting to kill one of the Integrity /Knights, then I let Quinella use my memories of you and Kirito like you two were leaving me behind. Then I believe my mission was to save and fuse with my Blue Rose Sword and ready to risk my life. But Kirito, he gave me a second chance, saved my life twice now. I'm fighting not to prove myself that I'm not a coward from two years ago. I'm going to fight for this world Kirito saved.' Eugeo thought ready to fight as he tossed aside his overcoat, revealing his armor to the goblins. At the same time, his whole family, Orick, his brothers, and his sister finally woke up to see Eugeo standing before him,
Not wearing his village garb, the nineteen-year-old now donned elegant bluish and silvery-white armor with a cape behind him. In his hand, the blue-white sword they saw him with the day he announced he was to be a swordsman. Was this the same Eugeo? Pointing his sword at the goblins, a look of anger and fear was present on their faces. "Creatures from the dark territory do not belong here, not while I am here! Elite Disciple of Swordcraft Academy, Eugeo Synthesis 32!"
"An Integrity Knight lum in this village?!" one of the goblins exclaimed, panicked that your attack on the village was thwarted by an Integrity Knight.
"It's only one of them., We kill him, The Goblin Territory will praise us for killing an Integrity Knight!" another exclaimed with a growl.
Eugeo walked more firm than ever, his cape lightly moving in the light night breeze, his thoughts sharp on the battle. 'Sir Bercouli explained to me those two weeks that my powers as an Integrity Knight were still present inside me. I thought once that module was gone, I was a normal human again. But that module was only so she controlled me once I said that sacred art. If I am still a Knight who serves under the Axiom Church, then I will fight for them. Not for the lies, Quinella planted on us, for me. Alice, Cardinal, Kirito… I will not fail you!'
"Kill the Knight lum!" ordered the larger Goblin. The four small goblins ran towards Eugeo, their sword held in their hands. Swinging their swords, the first clashed with Eugeo, sparks flying from their blades. Eugeo pushed the first goblin back as the second came running to him as they locked blades. Eugeo, using all the strength he could, pushed the second Goblin back, then pushed back a few mels. Eugeo used the chance with the two Goblins away to finally use a sword skill Kirito taught him from his Aincrad Style. The blade of his sword glowed blue, using the weight of swing as he dashed, a single horizontal slash that hit the two goblins down the middle cutting them in half as blood spray from their waists. Aincrad Style, Horizontal. The next two goblins looked horrified, but they weren't going to give up against an Integrity Knight. The next went close to Eugeo clashing their swords at Eugeo, their blades connecting to his. Two against one to push him back to break his hold on his Blue rose Sword, as mindless these Goblins were, they were at least thinking. Eugeo gritted his teeth, his mind flashing back to when Kirito clashed swords with Eaios. Letting out a yell, his sword glowed sky blue once more, using the force of his swing to cut the blades clean into two. Eugeo's family gasps as he swings his sword at the overwhelmed goblins. The first hit is a horizontal swing from right to left hitting the first goblin. The sword then bounces back, and after an instant of being held still at his left side, another horizontal swing from left to right is executed, hitting the second goblin. Deep cuts were forming from their bodies but Eugeo wasn't finished just yet. The force of this blow sent Eugeo's body spinning clockwise, with the sword ending up at his left flank and unleashing a third horizontal strike from left to right hitting both of them. The skill is finished with a forehand strike from the right. The skill's four swings drew a square of light that expands outward as the last goblin was motionless. Like their brethren, they too were cut, now in pieces. Aincrad Style, one-handed sword skill: Horizontal Square.
"No way, Eugeo took on four goblins on his own. I know from his letter he said he got strong, but to take on four of those creatures. Is that the skill he learned at the academy?" one of his brothers asked.
The larger goblin growled in anger as Eugeo kept his sword held. "I won't kill you. Retreat to the caves and return to the Dark Territory. Then I'll spare you."
"Curse you Knight Lum!" the large goblin roared, raising its sword high in the air. Eugeo sighed, it gave it a chance to leave, but it was a being from the dark territory, their enemy, it doesn't deserve a chance to live when they attack his home first. Eugeo ran towards the large goblin, the goblin mad with anger. Once it was close to Eugeo, it's sword was brought down with a vertical swing. Eugeo evaded it, moving to the before running behind it made at distance, mels from the goblin. The goblin could see Eugeo's family, it could go for them, but its mind was on the knight that killed his brethren. Eugeo held his other hand, red light form from his armored hand.
"System Call: Generate Thermal Element." Eugeo chanted, before the lights formed into an arrow from his hand, "Form element: Arrow Shape! Discharge!" and fire the arrow at the goblin. The goblin guarded, using it's shield its face at the Sacred art was gone. But as it looked back, Eugeo was running close to him, his sword glowing a pale blue light as he was charging a thrust as he ran.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Eugeo screamed, light surging from his Blue Rose Sword, aiming the sword into the goblin's chest, piercing its heart. The large was shocked, coughing up blood as it looked at Eugeo dead in the eyes. Its sword fell with a clatter, feeling its Life decreasing
"A white lum… Killed me…" it spoke weakly. And it fell with a loud thud, Eugeo's sword splashed with blood and he looked at himself in the reflection of the blade that wasn't bloody.
"I didn't think I could pull that one off for the first time. Aincrad Style, Rage Spike… What did you think?" and looking up into the night sky, spotting Amayori, "Kirito?"
"Eugeo!" the sound of his father getting him out of his thoughts of his friend and seeing his family and okay. His father was helped by his brothers as his sister was helping his mother who looked to be in pain from almost being crushed.
"Dad, everyone!" he exclaimed, running up to them and sheathing his sword, "Are you okay?" he asked, worried they might be all hurt.
"We're fine Eugeo. But I can't believe you took on five goblins on your own. And you are an Integrity Knight. My brother, the tree cutter is a knight. I guess I should respect you now, sir knight." his brother said cheerfully.
"Thank you. If it wasn't for you, the goblins would surely have killed us or we would have been crushed Eugeo!" Sedina said excitedly.
"Thank you. I'm proud of you son. You have grown so much in two years." Eugeo's mother beamed. Eugeo smiled, seeing the words of gratitude from his family. Before he spoke up, he looked back to see what Alice might be doing. Seeing that Amayori was circling from above, waiting for Alice's orders.
'My part here is done. It's all on you… Alice Synthesis Thirty…'
Alice did succeed in setting the villagers into action, but they still numbered three hundred. It would take time for them all to escape from the village. But the defense line was reaching the end of its rope and besides, the enemy's footsteps approached from the east and west too. A young man's shout, much like a scream, rang out from the north side of the plaza then.
"We can't hold on any longer! Retreat! Retrea—at!" The voice belonged to Guard Chief Jink. Nygr stood up upon hearing that, as though revitalized, and flared up Alice.
"Look… just look at that! We should have stayed in the plaza and defended! We will get killed! They will murder all of us!"
"No need to worry; there is all this space. I will hold them back here." Alice shrugged her shoulder and refuted calmly.
"As if you can! You can't possibly do it, not a chance! Even if… even if you are an integrity knight, what can you do alone against so many of those demons?!" Nygr continued crying out despite the goblins' horrifying silhouettes already pressing in from the east and west. Ignoring him yet again, Alice glanced behind. The last of the villagers were still in the plaza, though enough of a distance from Alice and the rest in the center. Alice gripped Nygr firmly from his nape and pushed him towards the south. That hand thrust straight into the night sky and she called her beloved dragon's name out loud.
"Amayori!" Alice commanded, looking above her. A mighty roar immediately returned from the skies. Swinging her raised right hand down from the west to the east, "Burn them to ashes!" she shouted.
The noise of flapping wings poured down like a storm and Nygr, standing still, along with the grotesque demi-humans charging into the plaza, the goblins, hooked straight up at the same time. The gigantic flying dragon diving through the skies, dyed red by flames, opened its jaw wide. A bluish-white gleam flickered from deep in its throat...
Shubaa!
That resounded as a glaring light came forth. The heat ray that made contact with the west streets mowed down the east streets as well, cutting through before Alice and Barbossa's eyes as they stood on the southern side of the plaza. Time stopped briefly. Terrible flames swelled up along a line and freed themselves into the night skies. The goblins swallowed up were blasted up high with shrill screams. The heat ray that instantaneously slaughtered over twenty of the aggressors while vaporizing the fountain in the middle of the plaza and thick white smoke rolled out into the surroundings. Amayori flew off, skimming atop it, and Alice called out instructions to standby before glancing her eye behind. Nygr collapsed back onto the stone paving, perhaps due to the strength in his waist leaving him, with his two eyes peeled.
"Wha… whaa… a…. a, a d-dragon!?" Alice was wondering what happened to the middle-aged man whose slackened cheeks went into spasm before desperate footsteps approached from beyond the hanging steam. The ones who appeared, all clad in leather armor, were the men from Rulid's guard corps. The decision to beat a hasty retreat was a good call as their condition showed; despite suffering slight wounds, none were hurt badly among the several tens of guards. A young man with a large frame who admirably ran at their end. Guard Chief Jink— noticed the plaza was mostly empty and shouted with a shocked face.
"W-Where has everyone from the village gone!? Didn't I tell them to fortify their defenses here!?"
"I had them retreat to the southern forest," Alice answered and he blinked as though just noticing her existence. His sight shifted between her head and feet countless times as he spoke, dumbfounded.
"You… Alice? Why are you?" he asked
"There is no time to explain. Is this all of the guards? Are there any left behind?" Alice asked.
"Ah… yes, I believe so…" he replied, not at all sure himself.
"Then please escape along with everyone. Aah, and take Barbossa there with you," she ordered the man.
"B-But… they are right behind…" Before his words finished….
"Gihii—!" A vulgar roar rang through the entire plaza, "Where! Where did you go, white iums!"
The ones who broke through the thick fog as they rushed into the plaza were goblins clad in coarse plate armor with long feathers on their heads, holding machetes similar to lumps of metal in their right hands. These seemed of a different tribe, having a slightly better physique when compared to those who appeared from the side streets earlier and were incinerated by Amayori's flames. Alice stared at the demi-humans as she placed her right hand on her cherished sword's grip. Flying dragons could not fire their heat rays in succession. Alice had to face the enemy on her own until Amayori stockpiled the thermal elements within herself again. One of the goblins noticed Alice who was clad in golden armor, and the colors of bloodthirstiness and lust welled up in his eyes shining golden as he cried out.
"Gihii! A ium giirl! Kill heer! Kill her and eat heer!" Quietly taking on the demi-human who charged straight towards her while brandishing a machete with his abnormally long arm, Alice murmured deep in her chest.
'What a terrible power I was given. My very existence is practically a sin. This body of an integrity knight.' Alice thought.
"Gyaa!" The heavy machete swung down as he leaped and was caught by Alice who carelessly extended her left hand. Though she felt an immense impact through her naked palm, it neither broke her bones nor tore her skin. Gripping the blunt blade with her five fingers, she crushed it as though it was nothing more than thin ice. Even before the metallic fragments, broken and scattered far too easily, fell to the ground, the Fragrant Olive Sword was already drawn by her right hand and tore a horizontal line through the goblin's torso. The bright golden air from the sword swept in three goblins approaching from behind and blew away the cluster of dense vapor as well in no time at all. The four enemy soldiers' golden eyeballs were peeled open, as though unaware of what had occurred, while their upper body left their lower body before they could let out a single word, collapsing haphazardly onto the ground. Avoiding the blood that shot up a moment later, she muttered to herself within once more.
"Highest Minister Administrator. You were wrong, after all. You collected all this power into merely thirty integrity knights and made them puppets without a will of their own. You thought to grasp all of the power that should have been split between the masses of the Human Empire through that. However, this far too ill-distributed strength served only to delude and mislead both its owners and those around them. Like how you were swallowed by that overwhelming might and lost your humanity…" she muttered aloud.
That mistake was now beyond redemption with the loss of the highest minister. Thus, at the very least, she had to expend every last drop of this strength for the masses. Not as an integrity knight of the Axiom Church, but as a single swordswoman; she had to think on her own and fight on her own will. Like how those two brave swordsmen did. Kirito and Eugeo, she owes them a lot. Her left eye was shut throughout that swing; Alice opened it with resolve. At the same time, the defense line hastily built at the plaza's north was smashed into small pieces from the other side.
The invaders' main unit charged in as though to bury the wide main streets. The goblins numbered over fifty and were accompanied, though in lesser numbers, by orcs whose giant, plump frames were covered in thick iron armor, each with a trident in a hand. Upon seeing them whose golden eyes gleamed, aflame, and roars filled with hate and desire, moans of despair leaked from Jink, the other guards, and Nygr Barbossa. But Alice's heart was at ease. She relied not on the talent for the battle she obtained as an integrity knight. Not even a knight could escape with light wounds if they were to be surrounded by such numbers and stabbed by their spears. What gave Alice strength was a new realization.
'I will fight for what I, myself, seek for from now on. I will fight to protect my little sister and my parents, along with the people of the Human Empire who Kirito and Eugeo hoped to protect.'
Alice vividly felt the remaining doubts about herself and her sense of futility disappear into a white light deep in her heart. That light surged through her, finally accumulating at her right eye, covered by that black patch, and generating intense heat. "…!" She clenched her teeth as she withstood a fierce pain that shot to her eye socket from the back of her head. But that pain is somehow nostalgic, or heartrending. Alice gripped the bandage across her head with her left hand and took it off all at once. Her right eyelid that had been closed since that day nearly half a year ago opened slowly. A red light expanded from the center of her dark vision and eventually turned into flicking flames. Visions of houses lit aflame overlapped and gradually closed in on each other, finally finishing as one. Alice looked at the black cloth held in her left hand with both eyes.
Kirito made the eye patch, discolored from being washed many times, by tearing it from his clothes. The cloth that protected her for months ever since her right eyeshot away along with that seal might have finally reached the end of its life here as it began to disappear from its edges as it melted into the air. Alice realized while staring at that fleeting, beautiful sight. She thought she was looking after Kirito who had lost his heart through this half-year. However, she was the one protected instead. Both Kirito, who's in his way protected him, and Eugeo, who's lived with her for half a year too. The two boys before all of this had no recollections, have been there for her for half a year.
"…Thank you, Kirito... Eugeo." Pressing the black cloth to her lips immediately before it utterly vanished, she whispered, "I am fine now. I will likely still be at a loss, worry, and lose heart in the future… but I will go on. For us both to achieve our goal."
Her head flipped up just as the cloth disintegrated. Her two eyes gazed at the distinct sight of nearly a hundred goblins and orcs letting out a multitude of roars as they flooded forward. The fleeing footsteps from the guards and Nygr Barbossa echoed from behind. There was no fear in Alice's heart as she faced the enemy army on her own.
Breathing the burnt stench deeply, she yelled, "I am a knight of the Human Empire, Alice! None of the blood or slaughter you seek shall happen while I stand here! Return to your land through the caves you came from this instant!"
As though awed by her refined, distinct shout, the goblins running at the head slackened slightly. However, a large orc in the middle of the group, possibly the general, immediately brandished his two-handed ax with a brutal roar. "Graaahh! Cut-Feet Moricca here will have that one little white ium girl on her knees before long!"
The voice gave strength to the goblins. Alice put a decent amount of distance between her and the enemy army charging in as a massive black wave...
"Amayori!"
A huge shadow rapidly dived from the skies the moment she called out that name. Though the thermal elements accumulated were not enough for firing the heat ray yet, the flying dragon intimidated the demi-humans with her body and thunderous call while savagely skimming past their heads. The anxiety of the astonished enemy army rose beyond earlier.
Not letting that chance escape, Alice raised the Fragrant Olive Sword held in her right up to high and shouted. "Enhance armament!" It was half a year since she last chanted those words of the armament full control art, not to mention how she shortened the main body of the art, but Alice's beloved sword responded to her will. The golden blade was divided into countless small edges with a clear metallic noise and soared into the night sky while reflecting the fires' glow. "Rage… flowers!"
The golden storm of flowers fell upon the enemy army with numerous zaas. The first to be wrapped in a spray of blood was the orc general who called himself Moricca. His entire body was stabbed through by many petals, instantly robbing him of his life, and he fell onto the ground with a tremor. The orcs around him, too, bent down onto the ground with screams one after another. The Fragrant Olive Sword was a sacred tool among sacred tools with the world's oldest tree rooted in the core of the Human Empire before the world began as its source. As its alternate name, Eternal Immortality, implied, even when divided into hundreds of flower petals through its armament full control art, each held a priority on par with famous swords forged by artisans. Coarse cast iron armor could not possibly defend against them.
The invaders became restless at losing their main force, including their general, in an instant. The charge's momentum weakened before long and came to a stop around ten mel from the plaza. Alice sharply swung her right hand that held her sword's grip at the goblins lined up at the front, lost at whether to obey their greed or fear. The hundreds of petals danced through the air with light zaas, forming dense vertical stripes between Alice and the enemy army. Alice gave a subdued proclamation while gazing at the demi-humans through the fence gleaming golden.
"This is the wall dividing the Human Empire and the Land of Darkness. Even if you dig through the caves, you will not defile this earth as long as we knights live. Choose, to advance and fall into a sea of blood, or to retreat and flee back to the Land of Darkness!"
Not even five seconds passed before the goblin vanguards turned back with great force. As the Goblins fled, Eugeo finally returned to where Alice was and saw her turn around. He saw with the glow of the fire, the Alice he remembered: that stern determination, that drive, this was the Alice he fought together at the top of the Cathedral. Both of her eyes were present now as she looked at him with a smile.
Once the fire was put out, it would be time to make repairs, the villagers of Rulid thanked Alice and Eugeo for protecting the village, and were able to come to their aid with minor casualties. Eugeo didn't feel he did much, he only wanted to protect this family but they were safe, so he did help in his way. It was Alice who stole the spotlight. With her regained resolve, they were able to clear the goblins from the village and they fled back to the mountains and into the Dark Territory where they came. While it was an accomplished mission, Alice had one place to go before they would return home. The Cave where the goblins in the End Mountains. Taking Eugeo with her, they flew towards the mountains, landed near the cave, and walked inside. Eugeo used a Luminous element that lit their way and navigated through the cave. Eugeo revealed that the goblins once captured Selka who was looking around the End Mountains for her two years ago. It was that they heard the voice of Alice Zuberg and that started their journey to Centoria and the Swordcraft Academy. When they arrived at the end of the cave that separated the human Realm and the Dark Territory, Eugeo stood away and against the wall. Alice walked closer, before holding out her hand.
"System Call: Generate Cryogenic Element. Discharge!" Alice chanted, the blue lights from her flying from her fingertips and forming ice that expanded from the top of the cave to the bottom. A thick sheet of ice was present, the mist from the ice was admitting and Alice put her hand down, turning back to Eugeo. "This should keep them out from attacking the village."
"That's good to hear. Looks like your resolve has returned." Eugeo pointed out, seeing Alice was much more her old self now.
"I have. My heart might still hesitate, but I do know what I'll do. Now let's go home." and walked much closer to Eugeo and put both armored hands to his cheeks, surprising him, "Thank you, both of you." and before Eugeo could utter a word, Alice pressed her lips to his. Eugeo didn't know how to respond when Alice just kissed him out of the blue. The Taboo Index prohibits kissing from one another as they aren't married. Why would she do that? As Alice removed her lips to his, she just smiled at him. He has been kissed twice in his life: Alice Zuberg in his mind six months ago and now Alice Synthesis 30. Alice was an Integrity Knight, the rules didn't apply to her unless otherwise like killing another human or haunting animals. When they left the cave, Eugeo was confused, but at the same time, happy Alice might feel the same for him.
The sun was about to rise the morning after the night for Eugeo and Alice. Eugeo opened his sleepy eyes and scanned his surroundings. He remembers the other night, seeing Eldrie again and shouting at him, then Rulid Village being attacked, the two fighting, and the last memory, Alice kissing him. He hoped it wasn't a dream, it felt too real the last part, it would suck. Eugeo looked around the bed, Eugeo saw Kirito, the black-haired young man who tried to grab his sword despite having no way to move but move on the notion to protect others. And then there was Alice, who slept in the middle of the bed. Only this time, Alice had gripped his arm and looked peacefully asleep holding him. Now he was certain it wasn't a dream now. As it was going to be morning, he tapped Alice's forehead and the blonde knight groaned before opening her eyes.
"Morning, Alice." he greeted.
"Morning…" she greeted, rising from Eugeo's arm and yawning.
"You slept well Alice?" he asked.
"Best sleep I had in months actually." she replied softly, "What about you?"
"Same. Better sleep than worrying about you or Kirito again," he replied, remembering the kinds of a nightmare of being away from his childhood friends.
"Anyway, Eugeo. I've decided to return to the other Knights and defend the Human Realm against the Dark Forces," she confirmed, her face sterner and focused now than ever.
"I thought the same way. I promised to help against the Dark Territory, now I resolve to keep this land safe, that Kirito protected," he said. Alice smiled leaning to see the sleeping Kirito.
"Then we agree. We'll leave in a week. We'll have to say goodbye to Selka, the village, this cabin. But if we survive… No, we will survive, we'll come back. Before the last drop of Life escapes my body, I'll come back here… to our home…"
A vibrant ensemble of hammers whirled up into the clear, blue winter sky.
Alice and Eugeo lifted their hand to her brow and looked at circular Rulid Village towering beyond the wheat fields. Today marked a quick one week since the army of darkness's assault. Many of the houses built in the north of the village were burnt down, but with the village chief's decision to put nearly every villager's sacred task on hold to work on that, the progress of their reconstruction was rapid. Twenty-one of them had unfortunately escaped too late and lost their lives, and a joint funeral service was held for them at the church three days earlier. After attending the service as they were requested to, They rode Amayori to the northern cave to confirm its long cave that should have been collapsed on Bercouli's orders was dug out to such an extent that even the orcs' giant frames could easily pass through and the area closest to the Dark Territory showed signs they camped over many nights. The attackers did not hollow out the cave in a single night. They must have repeatedly collapsed the entrance after sending into a party of combat engineers from the Dark Territory. Thus, there would have already been a concealed group of goblins within, steadily working at it, when Integrity Knight Eldrie checked the entrance. Care and wariness unbelievable from the goblins and orcs of old. This invasion could be surmised to be no mere reconnaissance, like those done many times before, by that alone.
Instead of collapsing the cave once again, Alice dammed the small river flowing from the middle which previously served as a white dragon's nest for a time and completely flooded the interior of the cave. Next unleashing the countless cryogenic elements she generated beforehand, she sealed the cave with ice rather than stone. Alice sealed the entrance to the Dark Territory the same night they sealed the whole cave, making sure they couldn't get in. Eugeo remembered just waiting in Amayori's nest while Alice made quick work with her advanced Sacred Arts usage. Now, no one could pass the cave without an art user on par with Alice generating thermal elements to melt the ice.
Taking her sight off Rulid Village and the white mountain range at the edge rising beyond it, Alice fastened the last bag of her belongings to Amayori's left leg. Eugeo tied a bag to Amayori's right leg and stood beside Alice. Both now donning their armor with his sword sitting with Kirito.
"Erm… big sister, Eugeo." Selka, who had been helping out with her preparations for departure with an adamant smile so far, opened her mouth while looking downwards. "…Father wanted to see you off too. He was all absent-minded since this morning, you know? I believe he must have been glad inside that you came back, big sister. I want you to believe in that at least."
"I know, Selka," she replied.
"He also said something about you and Eugeo entering adulthood that you should finally settle down and get married," she added and both looked at each other and blushed. It didn't help that they kissed a week ago, it didn't help that they felt closer than ever and almost a couple but the thought of marriage now? When it's all clear Alice hasn't come to terms of love with who she is to even see Eugeo more than a friend.
"We'll think about that." she said and both Eugeo and her hugged Selka's petite body and whispered in return, "I left this village as a heinous crime and returned as an integrity knight. Eugeo left to become a swordsman, fought against the Axiom Church, and became an Integrity Knight as well. But next time… when I am done with all my duties, I will be back as simply Alice Zuberg. That would be when I truly can say this. I am back, father."
"Things aren't over that I'll fully go back home either. This land needs it's protectors and Alice and I will fight to keep it safe. We'll be back to tell our families stories of what we saw. I still hold the sins of being a criminal too but I will bear the burdens this time not alone. So Selka, I'm going to keep my promise still to bring Kirito and Alice home. As we will just be Alice Zuberg, Eugeo, and Kirito once again. So let mom, dad, my siblings know, Eugeo won't be back just yet." Eugeo requested Selka.
"…Okay. That day will come for sure, right?" Selka murmured with a watery voice, raised her face, and then wiped it with the cuff of her apprentice clothes.
Turning about, she called out to the black-haired young man sitting in a wheelchair by the side with as cheery a voice as she could muster. "You stay well too, Kirito. Hurry up and recover and help Alice out, you hear me?"
Holding his lowered head with both hands, the sister, young in terms of age, drew a charm of blessing before she took several steps back.
Alice approached Kirito, then gently took the two swords from under his arm and stored them in the bag placed on the saddle on Amayori. Following that, she lifted Kirito, who had grown thin, easily, and sat him down on the front part of the saddle. She pondered leaving Kirito in the village under Selka's care. After all, if they were to proceed to the Great East Gate which would likely become the decisive battlegrounds against the forces of darkness, Alice would be occupied as a member of the Human Empire Defense Army and unable to attend to Kirito throughout the day like what she had been doing. Eugeo wanted to fight but wanted to leave Kirito occupied alone. But still, they decided to bring him along.
Kirito tried to take up his sword and head for the village on the night of the attack a week ago. The will to fight for another remained within Kirito. Thus, the battlegrounds to protect the Human Empire could be where best to find the means to regain his former spirit. Should the need arise, she would protect him even if it required her to strap him to her back with leather. Eugeo joked and said that it's not as different as when they are held by chains under Amayori so it's not that out of the realm of possibilities. Alice and Eugeo hugged Selka whom she held dear one last firm embrace.
"We will be going, then, Selka," Eugeo said, patting her head with his armored hand.
"Yes. Take care… and be sure to come back, big sister. You too Eugeo."
"I promise. …Please give my regards to Mr. Garitta too. …Stay well and focus on your studies." Alice instructed.
"I know. I'll become a fine sister for sure… and one day, I'll also…" Selka trailed off there and showed a disheveled, tearful smile.
Gently stroking her little sister's head before releasing her, Alice endured her reluctance to leave as she walked to her beloved dragon and rose immediately behind where Kirito sat on the saddle. Eugeo shed a tear but kept a brave face, leaving once again from home, He took his spot behind Alice. During the week, they adjust Amayori's saddle so he has room to hold on better. It did help, and Amamyori didn't feel too much weight carrying three people. They nodded to Selka on the ground and faced the blue skies. The reins lightly rang out and the dragon began her ground run between the wheat fields with the strength that showed no sign of the two humans and three swords weighing her down.
they would return to this village one day. Even if they to ease their boredom were to fall on the battlefield, either his or Alice's spirit would still return; it surely would.
Alice shook off a drop of tear in her eyelashes and yelled out in a crisp voice.
"…Hah!"
Softly. The sensation of floating came as they left the ground. Having grasped an updraft, Amayori circled as she dashed into the sky. The vast fields and forests; Rulid Village in their middle with a brand new roof gleaming at its core; Selka waving both hands as she earnestly ran; she burnt the sight of them all into her eyelids… Alice had the flying dragon turn its head towards the eastern skies. During their flight, Eugeo spoke up, his voice most calm.
"We will come back… I know we will…"
Even the self-proclaimed super genius Higa Takeru was unable to predict all that had happened in the past two hours. The attack from the invaders that attacked the Ocean Turtle and cutting the power. Fortunately, they escaped into the sub-control room. Thirty-three minutes passed since the attack in Ocean Turtle, the members of Rath and their two visitors were held up in this room, the intruders in the main control room. But, the current situation could be called extremely startling, and could only be described as dumbfounding. Unexpectedly, a delicate young woman of roughly eighteen or nineteen used her thin right hand to seize and hoist up the collar of a man fifteen centimeters taller than herself. The tasteless Hawaiian shirt was gripped so tightly it was nearly torn apart; heels of sandals floated in the air.
With both eyes, brightly flashing as though they were ablaze, staring straight at Lieutenant-Colonel Seijirou Kikuoka, Asuna Yuuki let words sharp as swords out of her cute cherry red lips. Her other hand balled into a fist, ready to make this man pay for one boy's situation.
"If Kirito-Kun can't wake up like this, I will never forgive you." she declared, her tightening, almost trying to lift Kikuoka off his feet.
From Higa's position, it was impossible to see Kikuoka's expression under his black-rimmed glasses reflecting the ceiling light. But the Self-Defense Force Officer who was supposed to be a black belt in both judo and kendo was seemingly crushed by Asuna's words; he swallowed, and slowly raised both hands to his left and right, as though in a gesture of surrender.
"I understand. I will take responsibility: I will make sure Kirito-Kun recovers." Solemn silence flooded the dark Auxiliary Control Room.
No matter if it was Higa, who was sitting in the chair in front of the console, or Koujiro Rinko, who was standing beside him, or the numerous RATH staff inside the room, no one dared to speak. It was clear how surprising the youngest woman's verve was. As it was, that young woman deserved the title of a Survivor of a true battlefield. Higa couldn't help but think this aside. Finally, Asuna wordlessly released her right hand. Kikuoka, having been freed, let out a long sigh with an almost dispirited expression. Asuna stepped back, swaying on the spot. Rinko immediately moved forward and supported Asuna's back, her white coat flying.
The female physicist who was a senior to Higa in the research facility tightly hugged Asuna to her chest whispered with determination:
"It's all right, everything will be fine. He'll come back, back to your side." Her gentle voice instantly soothed Asuna's extremely taut face:
"Yes, you're right. I'm sorry… for being so panicky." Asuna said apologetically.
Asuna's eyes leaked tears that had been absent even when enduring the attack. Rinko gently wiped them away with the tip of her finger. The sound of the sliding door being opened tightened the slightly relaxed atmosphere again. Running into the room was Lieutenant Nakanishi.
Nakanishi, whose dusty white shirt was soaked with sweat and whose shoulder holster revealed a large pistol grip, glanced at Rinko and Asuna and said loudly to Kikuoka behind, "Report! Complete sealing of blast doors one and two, plus completion of evacuating noncombatants are confirmed!"
Kikuoka adjusted the collar of his Hawaiian shirt as he stepped forward and nodded. "Good work. How long can the blast doors hold?"
"Yes… That would depend on the attackers' equipment, although small firearms are unable to penetrate it. Even using tip saws or similar tools to cut through it would take at least eight hours. If explosives are used, it might not hold… I assume, though, they would not, since near the central blast door." Nakanishi said.
"There is a light cube cluster." Kikuoka finished his sentence, pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and sank into deep thought. But he immediately raised his head and surveyed the slightly small Auxiliary Control Room, "Good, let's straighten out the situation. Nakanishi, report of casualties."
"Yes sir. Civilian research team, three lightly injured, in treatment at the bow infirmary. Our combatants, two heavily injured, two were lightly injured, all in treatment with no risk of death. Ready for combat, six, including two lightly injured. Under that kind of fierce attack, it's a miracle that there have been no deaths… Then, report any hull damage. There are rupture points all over the bottom dock control room. It's impossible to shut them remotely now. The passageway from the dock to the Main Control Room is the same, but these are just negligible damages. The most severe is because the main power line has been cut… although the auxiliary line can supply stable power if we don't restart the control system we can't turn the propellers." Nakanishi explained/
"A sea turtle without fins. And its belly has been bitten by a shark." Kikouka said with a sigh.
"Yes, sir. Zones One through Twelve of the Lower Shaft and the bottom dock have been completely taken." The extremely short-haired Nakanishi, whose face represented strong will itself, unwillingly knitted his brow. Comparatively, Kikuoka's teacher-like long hairline twisted up, as he leaned onto the console while shuffling his clogs with his toes. "The Main Control Room, STL Room One, and even the nuclear pile have also fallen into their hands… Most, fortunately, their goal is not to destroy."
"Is… is that so?" Kikouka asked. If their whole plan was to attack the Ocean Turtle, it would be as simple as destroy everything, set a bomb, and blow them all up. No this was planning on something they wanted to get here.
"If they just wanted to destroy, they wouldn't use submarines to carry out such an exaggerated surprise attack. Striking us with a cruise missile or torpedo would do. That begs the question: who are they… Higa-Kun, what do you think?"
At the sudden question, Higa blinked several times, turning his brain that had not yet fully recovered from the impact. "Uhh, yes, yeah." Mumbling meaninglessly as he turned towards the console, he manipulated the mouse with his right hand and brought up an in-ship camera recording on the big monitor.
Although the video window he opened was dark and indistinct, he paused at a random place and adjusted the brightness and contrast. What appeared were several figures in combat suits, sprinting forward in a passageway inside the ship. Their faces were half-covered by helmets with multi-function visors, and they wielded serious-looking assault rifles.
"So, as you can see, from head to toe, there are no markings whatsoever, such as flags, that can identify them. From the color and specifications of their equipment, they don't seem to belong to any regular army. Their rifles appear to be Steyrs, but those are quite common… The only thing we can say is that, from their average physiques, they're most likely not Asian."
"Which means, at least they aren't Japanese Special Forces. How pleasing." Kikuoka talked offhandedly about the frightening situation while scratching his chin. Emitting a sharp aura from his calm eyes usually squinted, he looked up to the monitor, "We can confirm one more thing… These people know the existence of Project Alicization." Kikouka confirmed and Higa nodded.
'The only ones who know of this project outside Rath are Kirito-Kun, myself, and Shinonon. Could someone find out about this project? Granted letting two high school students know about a government project is crazy on its own.' Asuna thought.
"Yeah, that's right. After their assault from the bottom dock, they immediately ran to the Main Control Room. Their goal is crystal clear: to seize the STL technology… No, the true bottom-up AI A.L.I.C.E.." Higa said. In other words, the information had severely leaked in long-term work. But Higa did not directly say it; he resisted the urge to scan the face of every RATH worker in the room for any sudden motions, and said in an optimistic tone, "What's fortunate is, the Main Control Room lock caught up. It's securer than physically damaging the console; I've made sure direct commands to the Underworld aren't working anymore. Any intervention towards the simulated experiment and the ejection of the Fluctlight of «Alice» from the Light Cube Cluster just can't be done."
"But, it's the same for us, isn't it?" Kikouka asked.
"Indeed. Using this auxiliary console, we can't execute administrator privilege commands either. No matter if it's from the opposite side – the Main Control Room – or this side – the Auxiliary Control Room – it is impossible to eject «Alice»'s Fluctlight by way of external commands… But Kiku-san, doesn't this equal our victory? See, they can't access the Cluster by physical means or informational means, as long as we wait until our escort Aegis destroyer to dispatch reinforcements for a counterattack, those guys are a piece of cake, a piece of cake." Higa responded.
"I don't know what kind of cake… but therein lies the problem." Kikuoka's expression remained solemn as he inquired towards Nakanishi, "How about it, has the Nagato moved?"
"Uh… about that…" Nakanishi channeled power into his chin to steady his voice and bowed his head slightly. "The Nagato received orders from the Yokosuka Fleet Command to maintain its current distance and standby. It seems that Command has classified us as hostages."
"Wh…" Higa's mouth dropped open, "Hostages? But, all hands have retreated here in an evacuation!"
"I'm afraid those people clad in black have connections with the higher-ups of the Self Defense Force. The Nagato pulled away from the Ocean Turtle at eight in the morning, about six hours before that bunch broke in. By the time Nagato receives an order to come to the rescue, they would have seized «Alice»'s Light Cube. Of course, there must be a time limit." Kikouka said calmly, "That means… Those people aren't just normal terrorists. This is bad… If there are experts on the other side as well, they might find out. The hidden way of collecting Alice. Operating from within the Underworld, right?… Now that they have control over STL Room One, it's possible to set the virtual console installed within the Underworld to complete the ejection command…"
"What will happen if that command is executed?" Rinko asked. Higa turned around and answered Koujiro Rinko's question:
"The target Light Cube will be retrieved from the Light Cube Cluster within the Main Shaft and transported by vacuum tube to any control room. It'll exit there." He pointed at a square hatch on the side of the console and turned his eyes towards the door on the wall inside.
There was a small metal plaque set on the aluminum door, with the words [STL Room Two]. On the other side of that door, there were two STLs – that is, Soul Translators. In one of the machines lay a youth currently under the care of Nurse and Sergeant First Class Natsuki Aki. He, Kirigaya Kazuto, had been playing an important role since the beginning of Project Alicization and drove the direction of the project even more so today.
Kikuoka turned away and crossed his arms, speaking in a sincere and solemn tone, "Our last hope will have to rest on his shoulders again. Higa-Kun… How is Kirito's condition?"
Hearing the weak breathing, Higa raised his head and directly met eyes with the intense glare of Asuna, who was being hugged by Rinko. He sank into a hesitation over how to convey the current situation to her, who was Kirito's, that is, Kirigaya Kazuto's lover. Immediately, however, a hoarse but determined voice reached Higa's ears.
"Don't worry, I will be fine. Please say it, the true situation." Asuna assured him, wanting to know the worst of the damage of the power getting cut.
Taking a deep breath, Higa nodded, "To summarize in one sentence… It's gonna be… It would be a condition just shy of the worst possible." Higa said in a newly serious tone, manipulating the mouse again. The image of the attackers disappeared and another window was opened. What appeared was an irregularly flashing colorful stereoscopic image. "This is an imaging of Kirito-Kun's Fluctlight."
Everyone in the room silently stared at the screen, "A week ago, since he was injected with succinylcholine in Tokyo, his heart and lungs ceased normal function. Fortunately, he has managed to stay alive, but a portion of his brain… Specifically, his Fluctlight network has been damaged. Although treatment would be difficult with current medical methods, there might be a chance of recovery if STL technology is used. Therefore, to foster the synthesis of new networks, we attempt to grant new dynamism to Kirito-Kun's Fluctlight through unrestricted STL." Higa sighed, picked up the bottle of water on the console, and took a sip. He was not used at all to this kind of long explanation, "To proceed with this treatment, it would be necessary for him to dive into the Underworld. If his Fluctlight cannot move around as though it were in the real world, the treatment would have no results. Therefore, same as his Dive at the Roppongi branch: we concealed Kirito-Kun's memories and let him land at the border of the Underworld… This is what we originally planned. But, even today the reason remains unknown… I'm afraid it is due to the damage to his Fluctlight; his memories had not been concealed at all. Kirito-Kun has been placed into the Underworld under his current real-world condition of Kirigaya Kazuto. We just found out from his contact with him from inside…"
"Wait… wait a minute." Rinko Koujiro interjected. "Then, has he, in the time-accelerated Underworld, spent those days as Kirigaya-Kun? How many months… inside…?"
"About two years," Higa confirmed. Hearing Higa's reply, Asuna's body that was being hugged by Rinko trembled slightly. Even though his words were likely to be extremely shocking to her, Higa continued, trusting in her earlier promise.
"At that time, Kirito-Kun has contacted the artificial Fluctlights in that world. I'm afraid he also knows that the Fluctlights will eventually, due to the end of this current virtual experiment, all be destroyed… So, his target is installed in the center of the Underworld and was once the contact console connecting the starting village with the real world. Kiku-san, he was planning to request you to protect all of the Fluctlights." Higa glanced to the side; Kikuoka, whose glasses reflected the light of the monitor, was still gazing at the stereoscope image. He turned back to Rinko and Asuna.
"…This is not something simple, since the contact device is buried in the stronghold of the ruling power, now called the «Axiom Church». Since the Fluctlights belonging to the Church possess absolute status value, Kirito-Kun, who was set as a common person, had no way to fight them. Originally, shortly after he breaks into the Church, he would [Die], and log out of the Underworld… But he did it. Being attacked, we could not confirm detailed information from the logs, but we assume that he recruited some people, who of course are artificial Fluctlights… that is, the help of partners. In the fight against the Church, those partners nearly all died, except one ally, a young boy his age, when he successfully opened a connection to here, he felt deep guilt. It can be said that he attacked his Fluctlight. In that instant, those black-clothed people cut the power line, creating a short-circuit that instantly spiked the STL output. As a result, Kirito-Kun's impulse of self-destruction has become reality… His [inner self] has lost activity."
'He saved someone, how?' Asuna asked in thought.
"Inner self… Lost activity? What do you mean?" Rinko asked.
Hearing Rinko's question, Higa turned back to the console:
"Please take a look at this." He quickly typed on the keyboard and magnified the live feed of the activity of the Fluctlight labeled as Kirigaya Kazuto. Near the center of the irregularly flashing spectrum-colored cloud, a small puff of darkness like a dark nebula was cradled, "Compared with the artificial Fluctlights in the Light Cubes, we are still quite far from a full analysis of human organic Fluctlight structure. The general mapping, however, has been completed. This black hole, what was originally in here, simply put, is the [Subject] …Self-Image."
"Subject …An image of the self-determined by the self?" Rinko asked.
"Yes. All human choice is determined by a Fluctlight Y/N path: [Whether or not I will proceed under these conditions.] By way of example, Rinko-senpai, have you ever ordered a second bowl in a gyudon restaurant?" Higa asked towards the woman.
"…Of course not," Rinko replied.
"Not even have the slightest thought of 'I still want to eat' or 'I can have one more'?" Higa asked again.
"No." Rinko answered again.
"That is to say, these were the results of Rinko-senpai's Self-Image circuit processing. Similarly, virtually no decisions can be made and no movements can be undertaken if they do not pass through this circuit. In Kirito's situation, the majority of his Fluctlight is unharmed. But, because the vital circuit has lost its function, no matter if it is processing external input, or outputting voluntary actions, it cannot be done. What he is capable of now… I'm afraid, are reflexive actions ingrained within his memory. For example, eating, sleeping, and related tasks."
Rinko bit her lip, as though she were thinking about something. She eventually whispered, "Then… then now, how is his state of mind?"
"… Regrettably…" Higa hesitated, lowered his head, and continued, "He does not know who he is, or what he wants to do; he cannot say or do anything… That would likely be his condition…"
Silence permeated the darkroom for the third time.
'Kirito-Kun…' Asuna thought, her hands to her front, covering the promise ring he gave her after the Ordinal Scale incident. What happened to him? She walked quietly from the Rath members towards the STL room Kirito was in, she wanted to be with him. She held the young man's hand, the boy who's done so much for her, has risked his life for her more times than she could count. She looked from Kirito to the other STL unit. If there was any way she could help, it would be diving into the Underworld to see what Kirito was feeling.
Next Time: The Final Stress Test
Michael: A faster update but mostly because, no real major changes to the overall story besides, Eugeo present. This is still Alice's arc, so Eugeo can't intervene in her arc. He is known as one of the two knights who protected the village but he had his moment saving his family which I still have no clue on two fronts, Eugeo an Integrity Knight still or having a mother. I guess for this what if, let's say he is on both fronts to save headaches. And for anyone who wants to know, while this follows the flow of the Light Novel, these chapters end as the episodes themselves. Episode 3 will be going from several points of view including the anime original content with the girls, Klien, and Agil. I'm shocked no one was curious about who's the other character in this diverge with the SAO team. You will see them in this chapter. Also thank you for all the followers and favorites, glad people are liking this what if. I'm not going to promise anything, except enjoy the ride. As we are currently staying safe at home, I don't have much to do except watch anime and type. I do start my next term in college, so that will keep me occupied as I update 20+ stories finally.
And yes you read it right, Alice kissed Eugeo, but can't you kiss someone on the lips because the Taboo Index prohibits that unless you are married. Alice is an Integrity Knight, so who knows if knights have some higher authority who they can kiss. I had to look up the actual rules and even that is baffling. I blame The Administrator for that. Not much to talk about or bring up anything to say relating to the chapter, we completed this part and got to where we can start episode 3 and 4, might do those back to back as there's not much to change in those except the mysterious character and how I will change Lipia and Vixer. And shockingly enough, changing their fate isn't as complex, all you need to do is change one crazy mistake they made that ended their lives, no fetish or non-con, just change their fate where they don't get themselves killed. And since I have nothing to say, see you next time and stay safe.