The stage was soon set once more as it opened to show the figures of many shadowed knights and our heroes currently inside the virtual world as they prepared to face off against the Integrity Knights.

Act 2

Alicization Rising

The scene soon opens with the group running down the hall as they head towards the armory to retrieve their weapons.

"Whoa...look at all these weapons. Are they building an army?" Subaru asked.

"No...the opposite. The church probably took all this so no one could oppose them, actually, to be even more accurate, that administrator chick." Seiya said.

"Quinella, all she's doing is oppressing and purging these people of their free will." Miriam said.

"I think that's pretty much been established already." Belladonna said.

"But that is why we're here. We're going to eliminate the Administrator." Peko said, reaching for the door before jumping back as arrows were fired into them. "Seems we already have someone to greet us." she said as they saw the same knight standing on top of the stairs leading up.

"Seriously? This guy again? Ugh… I've had enough of this guy." David said.

"Burst Element!" Kirito said creating bright lights, making it difficult for the knight to get accurate aim as he fired at them.

"Now's our chance!" Roy said.

"Futile." he said, grabbing multiple arrows and firing them into the air as they rained down like lightning bolts.

"Whoa!" Theo said as they quickly dodged the arrows as they rained down. "Least he's out of ammo."

"System call….Enhance Armament." the knight said as he became engulfed in flames as was the arrow he held.

"Time to fight fire with ice." David said as he fired ice crystals at the knight.

"Futile." he said as the ice melted as soon as it got close. "The last time I bathed in these flames was two years ago. Now I call upon them again. You have the skills but I cannot forgive you sinners for what you did to Sir Eldrie. You corrupted his mind and lead him astray with your dark arts." he said.

"Oh, and attacking unarmed men and children is okay? Bet that makes you feel all high and mighty, doesn't it?" David taunted.

"I do not understand what you mean. We knights are summoned from the heavens for a simple purpose...to protect the human empire from criminals like you." he said as he created an arrow of fire. "I was ordered to take you alive but now that I've activated the conflaguration bow...one of your arms may be incinerated."

"Do I sound like I care? Like I give a damn what a coward like you thinks." David said.

"Your words have no meaning but since you are so stubborn, I'll let you remember my name. I am Deusolbert Synthesis Seven. Remember it as you lose your arm!" he said, firing the arrow.

"He really has no idea who he's dealing with." Eri said.

"Go ahead. All I need is one arm to clobber you off your little high horse." David said.

"Fool!" Deousolbert said as the arrow was flying at David as it was slowed by the ice crystals fired. He then noticed the group jumping at him as they attacked him as David followed with an ice claw strike.

"Ohh…." Deousolbert said, shivering from the cold as he saw his bow frozen. "Boy...that style...what sword style is that?"

"It's no sword style, my motormouthed adversary. You just had the unfortunate luck of tangling with the Reaper." David said.

"Hmm...I had thought I had seen it all. I've been from one end of this realm to the other and even beyond. But...there is still so much in this world I have not yet seen. I can tell you are very disciplined. You have spent years of training in your style. Earlier, I accused you all of using the dark arts on Sir Eldrie. But I see now that I was mistaken. I would be honored to know your name. I have already given you mine." Deusolbert said.

"David Ishihara, from Tokyo, Japan. Leader of the Brave Adventurers, and a disciple of the Arctic Style of Color Fighting, under Sayuri." David said.

"Haaa...on the 50th floor, in the great hall of ghostly light, Integrity Knights wait. Unlike me, they have orders to extinguish your lives should you pass me. If you charge them head on like you did me, you will meet your end." Deusolbert said.

"I am well aware. But I'm not scared. My comrades and I are willing to do whatever it takes." David said. "Besides… We've been through worse."

"Come on...let's go." Kirito said as they continued up the stairs.

They travelled up the stairs until they reached the 50th floor where a knight in silver armor stood in the room with soldiers by their side.

"This one...they aren't like the arrow guy." Theo said as the soldiers moved in to attack. "Oh crap!" he said quickly going on the defensive against the soldiers along with the others.

"Hey, back off!" Kirito said as he went and charged at the knight in silver.

"Fool, you cannot simply charge the vice commander like that. We are your opponents!" one of the soldiers said.

"It's fine. He is mine." the knight said as Kirito jumped back. "System Call. Enhance Armament." they said as light gathered within the sword as it fired a light ray that pierced through Kirito's side.

"The heck? How is that…" Tsubaki said.

"I see...so that's how it works. It refracts light. Like a mirror." Agito said.

"Are all these Integrity knights packed with ridiculous skills?" Flamberge asked.

"Yeah...don't care what he says...this is nothing like we've faced before." Naofumi said running to Kirito's side. "Mirror Shield!" he said as his shield became a mirror as it reflected the shot back at the knight, knocking off their helmet, revealing them as a woman.

"What?" Duran asked.

"What's with the shock? Women are allowed to be knights. Isn't that right?" Crusadermon asked, looking to Duran.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry. I'm just surprised." Duran mentioned.

"Don't you dare look at me like that." she said. "Don't you dare look down on me in disdain for my gender."

"Huh?" Duran said.

"Fight me in earnest!" she said dashing at Duran who blocked. "I am a knight! An Integrity Knight!"

"Look, I understand how tough it is, being a girl in a man's world." Crusadermon said. "But gender shouldn't matter. It's the spirit that's more important, right?"

"Besides, some of us have lost to women before, so that's not an issue." Kirito said as the knight clashed fiercely with Duran.

"Man or woman, I see all warriors as equals." Duran said as his sword glowed.

"I can tell. Many men lose their conviction upon looking upon this detestable face of mine." she said as she raised her sword. "Release...Recollection." she said as the sword started firing rays of light across the room that were hitting everything, including herself.

"Don't hold back!" Duran said, raising his sword into the air as a burst of light was unleashed. "Glint Slash!" he called, slamming his sword downward and causing another burst, dissipating the attack. "Haaa!" he called out as his power overpowered hers as she was sent flying into the ceiling, shattering the stained glass dome above them.

She came back down and crashed to the ground, losing her sword.

"You're pretty tough. That's one of my best moves." Duran said. "You've got a lot of power, and determination. You must really want to prove yourself."

"No...I just want...the one person here that I cannot." she said weakly.

"Miss...you were a valiant fighter." Crusadermon said. "Who are you to this world?"

"Fanatio Synthesis Two." she said.

"Curaga…" Ayase said as the woman was left there to heal. "Let's hurry. Look, there's an elevator. We can go up to the next floor."

They got into the elevator as it started moving until it stopped upon the 80th floor. They opened the doors to a large indoor garden, complete with trees and a river. They walked down the path before getting a sight of the next knight.

"Oh man...of all the Integrity Knights in this castle, it just had to be her." Theo said as they saw the knight standing there was Alice.

"Alice." Ace said.

"First you went and corrupted Eldrie, then you somehow got past Deusolbert and now you've managed to best Fanatio. I cannot begin to comprehend what sort of power you all would call upon to best such knights. I do not comprehend why you would disrupt the church's order. If you will not give me answers, I will get them with my blade." Alice said as the tree beside her transformed into a sword.

"All we will say is that the church is not what you think it is." Cheetah said.

"You will not shake my faith." Alice said as her sword transformed into a golden flame as it blasted at them, knocking a number of them back. "And just so you know, I was holding back on that strike as a warning."

"Wow...that is kinda awesome." Ethox said. "I can understand why she was chosen as a hero."

"Yeah...Alice...en guarde!" Theo said as he, Ethox and Kirito clashed with Alice before being pushed towards the wall. "Gotta admit...you have skills, Alice. But...those aren't enough!" he said knocking her sword upward, disturbing her stance. "Now Eugeo. Get her with…" Theo said before they saw the wall crack as it broke open, sucking out Alice, Theo, Ethox, Subaru, Naofumi, Kirito and Seiya before it resealed itself.

"Alice! Kirito!" Eugeo called out.

"We can't help them right now, we have to keep going." Ace said. "I'm sure they'll catch up with us somehow."

"Don't go telling lies just to make me feel better." Eugeo said, continuing on solemnly.

"It's not lies. We know those guys. They'll be fine." David said.

Outside of the Cathedral…

"Okay...that was...way too damn close." Theo said with his blade stuck in the side of the wall as the others were hanging off him.

"Looks like the hole sealed itself so guess we can't go back that way. And we dropped a few floors. So...Alice...uh...what's the closest floor that can get you and us back in?" Subaru asked.

"The 95th floor." Alice said. "But I will not allow criminals like you to continue on like this."

"Look, I understand you have your duty but...let's call a truce...just until we're back inside." Theo said. "Please?"

"Very well." Alice said.

"Okay...this...is going to be a long climb." Theo sighed.