Maple and Sally appeared within the teleport gate of Sabulo, the city of Sand. Sally looked at her holographic map for a reminder of where to go.

This floor was based on a seemingly endless desert, with a few oases around here or there. The place was inhabited by creatures such as large snakes, vultures, and Scorpions of varying sizes. Not to mention the mummies of the night, and the occasional blinding sandstorms that arose at random.

"Okay, so according to the map… there it is!" Sally exclaimed, pointing to the Pyramid structure in the distance. The two walked over to it, when Maple noticed an old friend near the entrance, seemingly looking for somebody.

It was Klein! It appeared he was even wearing some heavy armor and took up a Great Shield, which admittedly made Maple a little curious. Regardless, she went up to her old guild leader and smiled widely. "How're ya doing, old friend?" She asked.

He looked back and down to Maple. "Umm… Hi… do I know you?" He asked.

Maple laughed a little. "Hahaha! Always such a kidder, Kleiiiiiii….." she started, even giving him a punch in the arm before she noticed his username. That wasn't Klein… it was a guy named Chrome.

"-iiiiii see I had you mistaken…" Maple finished, blushing in embarrassment. The guy now known as Chrome, however, just laughed.

"Don't worry about it, Maple! People would get me and Klein confused back IRL all the time!" He replied with his own, heartier laughter. As he finished, however, Klein ran up to them.

"Whew… sorry I'm a little late, Maple… There were these Wyrms surrounding the pathway back, so we had to beat them before we could…. Hey, Chrome…" Klein spoke, begrudgingly when he addressed his doppelgänger.

Sally seemed very confused. Maple, however, was the first to speak up of the two girls. "Oh! You guys are brothers?" She asked, prompting a nod from Chrome, and a scoff of annoyance from Klein. "Then, why didn't you guys start a guild together?" She asked.

"Well, Klein here's just jealous I'm further ahead than he is." Chrome said, patting his brother's head with a gauntlet-coated hand.

Klein, however, smacked the hand away. "Well, yeah! Cause you, Kirito, and that Payne guy people have been talking about recently, have all gotten so far by just being solo players. Must be pretty lonely for you." Klein replied, then continued with a scoff. "At least I have people around me to call friends! Right Maple?"

Maple nodded a little. "Yeah! Though, I know Kirito's doing well. He seems to make friends everywhere he goes! The last time I saw him he was helping this Silica girl revive her beloved pet dragon!" She replied, and Klein just shrugged.

"Ah, well, whatever, then! Let's get into the meeting already. If we're lucky maybe they didn't start yet…" he said, clearly just wanting to end the conversation…

Maple felt a little bad but ultimately was just confused by her former leader's behavior. He wasn't really the type to get jealous like that. Or, at least, she never saw it.

The four entered, Chrome and Klein headed off on their own paths while Maple and Sally stuck together.

"Ah! Glad you decided to come, Maple!" A voice greeted. It seemed to be coming from the center of the room. When Maple looked to see who spoke, she saw a girl with long, reddish Orange hair, wearing a white and red outfit that could barely count as armor. Similar to Sally, the more she thought about it. However, when she noticed the sheathed Rapier on the girl's left hip, it made more sense. Also like Sally, she chose a lightweight outfit to better her mobility.

Maple walked over to the lady, curiously. "Thanks! Though, I don't think I've caught your name…" she said, not wanting to come across as rude, especially if this girl turned out to be someone famous.

The redhead smiled widely. "Oh! Then allow me to introduce myself. I'm Asuna, a commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath, and a lead strategist of the front lines. Glad you could join us. We could use your famous defenses in the fight against Anubis!" She exclaimed, gesturing to a seemingly empty space around the table. "Somebody else was supposed to show up, but… it looks like he couldn't be bothered.." she said, additional grimace near the end of her statement.

Maple and Sally moved towards this new open spot, with Sally behind her as the first iteration of the plan was being explained to Maple. Sally didn't really like the plan, however, Maple seemed to be on board with it. She seemed to even LIKE the plan!

Asuna proposed that Maple would lead the front-lining Tanks to keep Anubis' attention while the DPS would bob and weave in and out to keep the damage coming. The strategy would hopefully result in nobody getting hurt.

Sally got worried when Maple actually began to contribute to the idea, putting her own life on the line for the rest of the players. The idea just made Sally scared. It had only been a month since she joined Maple on this journey and she didn't want to lose Maple for real this time.

Regardless of how Sally felt, after careful consideration, the plan was ready to execute, and everyone dispersed. Before the players could leave, however, Asuna spoke up. "Remember, we're going to take on Anubis in one week, so get whatever gear you will need ready, and we'll begin the assault at noon!" She explained.

Sally and Maple headed out, with Sally looking back with a concerned expression. The fact they were so okay with sending people out to "soak damage" didn't feel right to her. She couldn't argue with the results, however. After all, in the last 5 months, they've gotten over halfway through the game, even if they have significantly slowed down over time.

Sally then suddenly hugged Maple. She hugged back in this sudden embrace. It was numb to Maple, but it at least helped her to know it made Sally happy. Even if she had no idea why Sally was in such a "huggy" mood.

Sally let go of Maple, bashful. "S-Sorry… I just.. I don't like their plan. Sending you guys out there to take the brunt of the blows while the DPS players are safely attacking from behind… in any other video game I'd say go for it, but this is life and death…" Sally began to explain herself, only for Maple to put a single hand on her head.

"Don't worry. I've made it 5 months as 'The Living Fortress', I can certainly make it another 5 the exact same way." She replied with a calming smile. Maple couldn't help but chuckle a little. When Sally looked up at her in confusion, Maple began to explain. "heh… Sorry, It's just funny… You were always the level-headed one, and I was the 'little sister' between the two of us. Now I guess the roles are reversed…"

Sally started to chuckle too, knowing Maple was right. Eventually, the two made it to the teleport gate, and appeared in Floor 23, then each using a teleport crystal to appear in Maple Tree's base.

The two sat down in their living room chairs when Sally spoke. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask… How did you become known as 'The Living Fortress'? They never revealed the story on the news…"

Maple looked a little perplexed. "Huh, I could've sworn they would have told the story when it happened… I guess somebody forgot…" she mused, then smiled. "Well, it happened about two weeks after we beat floor one… the front-liners were breezing through bosses left and right…"

It was Floor 10, set within a gigantic forest, the sky obscured by a roof of endless leaves. This area was crawling with bloodlusted forest creatures for mobs. A player known as Heathcliffe as well as a few other strong players found the boss room, which was down a spiral staircase within a gigantic tree.

Heathcliffe had become the designated strategist for boss fights after the last 8 boss rushes since Diabel's death had strategies amounting to "hit it till it dies!". It didn't take much convincing for the other players to follow his plans, after seeing his stats and the stats of his party members.

Klein finally felt himself and the rest of Fuurikazan were ready to do this boss along with the rest of the Front Liners. Maple's defense would fit in perfectly with the tanks while the rest of the guild played a large chain of DPS. Just like their usual formation when a bigger mob reared its head!

Klein told the guild, and they all rejoiced knowing they would finally be of some use to others. Maple especially was thrilled. She hadn't actually fought a boss monster before, and the smaller mobs were starting to bore her, as it was originally feeling like a nice massage but now it just felt like pins and needles wherever they hit.

As the guild got closer to the meeting spot for the boss fight, Maple looked to Klein. "Umm… Klein?" She spoke up, continuing when he looked down at her. "Whatever happens… know that it has been an amazing time, being in your guild. You guys are the main reason I am still sane, despite this situation we're in… You guys are my best friends here and assuming we survive this, and the rest of the game, I hope we get to be friends in the real world!"

Klein first gave her a disapproving look. "Don't talk like that, Maple… 'assuming we survive this…' hah!" He replied, his expression changing to a grin of cockiness. "Please… we probably have the best tank in the game! And with our combined damage output, we'll beat this guy for sure!" He added, and after a few seconds, he finished by saying: "although, I'm glad to hear that… I know you were really missing your family and your best friend… good to know we at least provided that role for you here… that being said…" he crouched a little and put a finger right in her face, almost like scolding a child. "You better introduce me to her when we meet up out there!" He said, then the two began to laugh, their worries washing away for the last few minutes of the trip…

Just like that, Fuurikazan joined the Front-Liners as they traveled down the staircase of the tree. Eventually, they entered a large cavern, and as the last person touched the floor, the entire staircase vanished. Soon, a drumming sound could be heard echoing around the cavern. Then, a group of monkeys forming a circle around the players started to close in… The health bars above their heads revealed them to be known as Ravager Monkeys. Then, the boss came out from the shadows. He was an abnormally enlarged Gorilla, decorated with tribal tattoos and wielding a large wooden staff etched with a totem pole at the end facing the cool air. With that "cutscene" finished, he began to beat his chest like a drum, and the health bars appeared next to his head. Like that, the fight against Rhakhan, the Ruthless began…

The Front Line Tanks jumped in ahead of the other players. Rhakhan's little servants summoned spears to their hands, beginning to poke and jab at the Tanks. However, the defense managed to stay firm and push through the mobs, cutting and slashing them down with their swords, axes, and other weapons.

Maple specifically was just blocking the incoming attacks while Klein attacked from behind her. Together they made surprisingly quick work of the monkeys that attacked them.

That's when a shadow began to loom over them, and a few other players. Klein and Maple looked up and saw the staff coming down on them. Before either could really react, they were all bashed on top of the head and sent to the floor.

Maple instinctively winced in pain… except there was no pain there… she looked at her health and noticed she hadn't even taken a point of damage. Before either could get to their feet, however, Rhakhan was already gone. They looked around and then finally found him. He was in the middle of a spin attack, and as he actually performed the "attack" part, three tanks were sent flying and shattered into millions of blue to green particles… Maple gasped and quickly shook her head. "No! No more!" She exclaimed, then looked to Klein. "Klein, I need your help!" She exclaimed, with a plan in mind.

On the opposite end of the cavern, a boy with black hair, black robes, and a longsword was managing to fight off several of Rhakhan's little Ravager Monkeys.

That's when one managed to sneak up behind the player, and leaped up with his spear to perform a falling stab from behind. Just as he turned to see the attack coming at him, a sword slashed just above his head, and into the monkey's abdomen, cleaving it perfectly in half before it shattered as well…

The black-haired player looked to his savior and smirked. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Payne… Fancy seeing another Solo player around here on the front lines." He said, and the Blonde now dubbed Payne chuckled a little at the statement.

"Couldn't miss a boss rush! Not after I missed the last one… I assume you feel the same way, Kirito?" Payne replied to him. Kirito found himself with a similar reaction to Payne's.

"Alright, you got me. Enough talk, though…" he said, his expression turning serious as his eyes looked around. "We're surrounded." He said, noting how there was no gap between each Ravager.

The two stood together, back to back, their weapons at the ready. After five seconds, the Ravagers ran in, and the Two Solo Players yelled out as their weapons rang through the air, ready for an all-out assault…

Players were managing to hold their own, except the horde of monkeys just kept coming. When one went down another seemed to almost immediately take its place. It was beginning to Overwhelm the players. The worst part was they were just barely done with the first health bar. They were beginning to lose hope…

Rhakhan was getting a sweep attack ready. The Tanks were ready to defend the DPS with their lives, knowing they were needed for this to end in victory…

The initial swing began, and was almost immediately stopped… the soon-to-be targets were confused until they looked and saw one girl had gotten in the way and was defending with just her tower shield. She also currently sat on another player's shoulders, but he didn't even seem to be putting any extra effort to the push. The players were in too much awe to move, but Maple turned her head with an aggressive expression. "Why are you just staring?! Now's your opportunity! Hurry, he'll make his next attack soon!" She yelled, and sure enough, a flurry of attacks flared over Rhakhan. In response, he let out a scream, and jumped back, then made a leap forward, reeling his fist back to get off a momentum-based punch.

Suddenly, Klein and Maple were in front again. Rhakhan punched only for it to be immediately stopped by Maple's defenses. The players around her were in shock, awe, and overall couldn't believe what they were witnessing… As Rhakhan started to stand up again to prepare his next attack, Maple jumped off of Klein's shoulders, bashing the gorilla in the face with her shield. Suddenly over half of his remaining HP vanished, dropping from one whole bar and one-fourth to a third of his last bar.

Just before he could attack again, Maple yelled 'Provocation', forcing him to attack her, also to no effect… over the course of 30 seconds, the rest of the health was drained, and Rhakhan was defeated.

Kirito, who had still been fighting alongside Payne, saw the end of the fight and couldn't help but stare. Payne was also impressed by Maple's Vitality. Players started to swarm Maple (and by extension, Klein) and started asking her questions, most being related to how Maple got to be so defensive.

Maple blushed profusely as she tried to speak up, however, her stage freight kicked in and she froze…

Klein gently grabbed Maple's hand and raised it, similarly to what he'd see from referees in Boxing and Wrestling matches. "Three Cheers for Maple, the unstoppable fortress of Aincrad! Hip-hip!"

"HOORAY!"

As Klein continued the cheers, Maple watched as everyone was ecstatic because of her. It was the first time that she really felt popular, and for a good reason.

With that, the players warped to the town of beginnings to celebrate their victory with as much Booze as they could stomach. They had earned it. Along with the festivities, the players added Maple to a list of the top players in the game, and gave her the title of Unstoppable Fortress officially, alongside The Black Swordsman Kirito and Payne the Powerhouse. Though, some would still mess it up…

"Ohhhh! So Klein gave you the title?" Sally mused. Maple nodded, and then looked at her friend's list, stopping on Klein.

"I wonder how he's doing…" Maple thought aloud. Syrup, seeing Maple's somewhat sad expression, quickly came to her aid with Turtle Nuzzles… Maple hugged the little turtle and smiled at Sally again. Maple then shook her head. "Now, come on Sally, let's get a plan going…"