"So what is it," I ask Bercouli as he leads me to a tree-filled area of the ACTF base. He wants to speak to me privately before my team departs for the eastern kingdom, so I leave final preparation for that to Eydis and Alice. Still, Bercouli speaking to me alone is quite...nerve-racking.
"You can relax. I just want to show you my abilities."
"But I've seen them before when you fought Hersyrian."
Bercouli shakes his head. "Not quite. Its Memory Release ability, which I don't terribly enjoy unleashing."
"Why show it to me here and now?"
"We just had to deal with Medina having her faith in the Pontifex twisted against us. And as you're well aware, that same vulnerability remains in those of us with Piety Modules installed."
He has a point. Even though they've done well, even Alice and Eydis are suspectible to the Senate Representative and, though Alice's case may be exempt, even the Pontifex's influence. "I don't see you falling to Hersyrian, though."
"If I was alone, you would be right. But the fact remains, I am commander of the Axiom Church's Integrity Knights and my subordinates are both my strength and my weakness. I will not hesitate to kill anyone to protect them, not even you. That said, I do owe you and Kirito a great deal, so I would prefer it to be a fair fight."
I nod. "I completely understand. I know that sentiment very well. So what's your Time-Piercing Sword's Memory Release?"
"It's called Doublecross, which cuts time like Nullcross, but instead of the future, it cuts the past. With it, I can cut the location my target was ten minutes prior to damage them now."
"That's...impressive. And I can probably see why you wouldn't want to use it unless it was a last resort."
"Indeed. It's an unblockable, unavoidable blow, which forgoes effort and technique. Of course, to use it I need to keep track of where you were exactly ten minutes ago."
"Probably not easy to do, but I'm sure you can."
"Probably not someone like you. But would you like to find out? I would certainly like to know."
Not even the part of me that likes a good duel wants to know if I could be struck down ten minutes before it happens. "I hope that's not why you really called me here."
"Of course not. Although I AM curious, as I have watched you cross swords with others yet never got the opportunity myself. Knowing your strength would put me at ease, since civilians are in your hands."
"Fair." I reach for my blade and partially take it out. "Shall we--"
"Goodness. We've finally found you. What are you doing all the way out here?"
"What are you doing with that sword, Mr. Mage Knight?"
Bercouli chuckles as all color in my face drains from the glaring eyes of Eydis and Alice. "Just having a chat.
"I see… Jaymes, preparations are complete. We can depart as soon as you return."
"Right, Alice. Right behind you." As the girls leave, I sigh and turn to Bercouli. "Well, best be off."
"Take care out there. And keep an eye on the little ladies for me, Kirito. Especially Eydis. She's more vulnerable to our enemy than Alice, so protect her at all costs."
"Will do."
Sivilla Mountains, Eastavarieth
"Disappearing guards… Normally, I would chalk it up to nobles being nobles, but based on what that sentry said, I don't want to rule out the Clamps or these Dark Knights either. What do you know of these Dark Knights, Eydis?"
"Umm… Well, I won't say I encounter them often, but the Eastern Gate is usually where they'd enter the human realm. I know their vice-captain somewhat. She's a pretty lady."
I roll my eyes. "is every woman you know cute?"
"Fanatio could do better when she's not gushing over the commander. But no is prettier than my dear Alice."
I chuckle. "At least we know where you value yourself."
"Huh? What are you trying to say? I can be pretty, you brute. I just have no good reason too. Besides, I wasn't the one blushing like a fool that one intimate time." I hear a chorus of 'oohs' from the younger women in our troupe, which still consists of Deusolbert's two apprentices since he's still away, Renly also decided to stick with us, so at least there's another guy here. I'm starting to feel like the star of an anime right now with all these women.
"We're coming up on the location the guards were vanishing," Alice calls out.
"And to welcome us are beasts. We're definitely on the right path." Medina springs off her horse and slashes the closest beast to us dead with a falling spin attack. On cue, the wayfarers mop us the rest with ease. Yeah, I am totally glad to have someone do the meaningless fighting for me. While Medina secures the area, I hear Ronie call to me and lead me just a short way up the path. There, we come across Tiese trying to help an injured sentry.
"Is he okay?"
"Just a little banged up is all. I can heal him."
I nod and kneel down. "While my apprentice does that, mind telling me as to what you know about what's going on with the missing guards?"
"You're investigating? I owe you my life then. Very well. While I was out on patrol, I found this really weird plant. I determined it to be no threat and made my way back to the town. But when I turned around, someone was standing behind me. Ugh, just thinking back to it sends a chill down my spine."
"W-Who was it," Ronie nervously asks. "A knight...wearing raven-black armor, with a sword on his belt."
Tiese gasps. "A Dark Knight."
"Yeah, it was. I've never seen one before, but I have heard the stories."
"I've never seen one myself either… And you were attacked by this Dark Knight?"
"That's right. And dreadfully powerful he was too. With what little strength I had, I ran. Luckily, he soon abandoned the chase."
"Good thing you're okay," Eydis says as she walks over. "Dark Knights are indeed said to be strong, but they're nothing compared to us Integrity Knights. Some do manage to slip through into the human realm, but rarely do they get this far without being noticed. If they got this far, I believe we're not just dealing with a few brave adventurers."
"An invasion force, then? It falls in line with the commander's theory. Must have been an interesting time period." Dusting off my knees, I give my orders. "Tiese, Ronie, escort the man back to town with the little knights. Eydis, the rest of us will investigate and find this Clamp."
"Before you go...there was a young boy who rescued me. He was wearing some unusual clothes for someone his age. They were like high-ranking priest robes. I can't remember his face very well, though. He fired some kind of light into the temple and sealed the Dark Knight into it."
"Strange."
"Yes. Then he said, 'My light breath can only seal the temple for a short time' and disappeared into thin air."
"Ghosts, huh? And this temple, the Dark Knights are there?"
"Yes."
I turn to my favorite Integrity Knight and smirk. "Afraid of ghosts?"
"If the living aren't scary, what makes you think I'm scared of ghosts?"
"Just know, you cannot enter without undergoing purification at the spring. It's said nobles offered up a prodigy to protect themselves from the knights. It was an offering to assuage the loneliness of the hero worshipped there."
"That's what they say," I comment. "Anyway, go with the girls, they'll take you back. Tiese, meet us back at the temple, we should be done there by then."
Tiese nods. "We'll make it quick. Come on Ronie, sir."
"Meanwhile, let's go purify our bad souls in this spring."
For some reason, Eydis managed to convince the three other girls and Renly that the two of us could go to the spring together. I repeat: Eydis did this, not me. If this was my idea… Renly would be going by himself. What's even more shocking is that everyone was fine with it. Well, Alice had a look, Medina had a look, but no one was vocally against it.
"I guess we have to...bathe in the spring." I face Eydis who suddenly starts to take off her armor. "Wait, wait, wait, what are you doing?"
"Huh? I can't cleanse myself in my armor."
I sigh and turn my back to her, using my cape as a barrier. "You know what I mean. You can't...well...it's not proper for you to get undressed while in my sight. And that's the respectful side of me saying that. And while we're on it, why am I even here?"
"I wanted to talk to you, that's all. We didn't get much downtime before this, and you were with Medina for a time. Plus you've seen me beyond my underarmor. Now come on, get in." I partially look back and see that Eydis is completely nude and sits in the water, keeping her back in my view. Sighing, I walk into the water, throw my cape on land, and sit back to back with her.
"So what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Nothing."
This girl is going to drive me up the Central Cathedral. "Then why--"
"I had a dream of sorts recently, I was in a bath with this little girl so I...well, wanted to know what it felt like when I heard we had to purify ourselves in the spring. Why you? I... Well…"
"Let me guess, you feel more comfortable out of your armor around me than with other girls? That's the first time I've heard that. Why would that be an--Hey!" Eydis moves in front of me, and being caught off guard, I see enough to last my memory a while. She sits down and looks at me with a glare while I try to ignore my peripheral. "This is not helping your case."
"You worried me the other day, back when you saved Medina. You just shot away from us, and when we finally catch up, you've unconscious. You have to stop being reckless!"
"You're right, but because I got there in time, she's alive."
"And I'm happy for that, but...I'm still mad at you, and I don't know why."
"Eydis, if it was you, I would have done the same."
She shakes her head. "No you wouldn't. If you had to choose between saving me or her, it would be a simple choice. You go to her. I'm an Integrity Knight, I can handle a tough situation for a while."
"And I'll still come for you."
"Why?"
I sigh and look at her in the face as best I can. "Because the last time I knew someone who could protect themselves out of my sight, she died in my arms after being attacked. In other worlds where death is not the end of life, I could be lax about it, but here in this world, I cannot do that. If it was between you and Tiese, Ronie, Linel or Fizel, yes, the choice is easy, but between you and the others, not so much. Maybe I would prioritize Liena or Medina, but I will still come back to you and Alice even if its foolish."
"But why?"
"Because Bercouli asked me to watch over both of you, and I think he could kill me without me knowing. But more importantly, you're the first person I fought with here in this time period, and history has dictated I care more about the first girl I meet with a weapon in her hand than anyone else afterwards."
Eydis blushes, and then flips the switch on me. "So do you only say nice things when a girl is naked in front of you?"
"No, I tend to get meaner, like me now knowing why you don't want to be around the other girls." As she blushes harder and brings her knees to her chest I decide we've been here long enough. I grab my cape and throw it around my shoulders. "We should get back. No telling if that seal has...Eydis?" I feel her pressed against me through the cape (thankfully) but I'm still caught off guard by her sudden...sensitivity.
"Jaymes...promise me you won't do something that reckless again."
"I wish I could, but last I was asked that, I couldn't keep it. But...promise me that if I am ever doing something that reckless again, which will happen, you'll be there by my side to stop me. And same promise vice versa."
"...Deal."
"Great. No go get dressed."
"What took you six so long?"
Before anyone can answer Fizel, I point to Alice with my thumb. "Alice wanted to look pretty for the dashing knights of the Dark Territory."
"Excuse me?"
I quickly change the subject to the temple. "Has anyone come out the temple?"
Tiese shakes her head. "No, we're just getting here ourselves, but though you'd be done."
"Very well," Medina says. "The wayfarers will stay with you while the six of us investigate. Let's make this quick." We all agree and head inside the temple. If there was a barrier to entering the temple, it is not present now as we walk inside easily.
"I don't see the ghost around, yet if it is the boy, I feel like we have his good graces."
"Aye. Maybe he wants us to defeat the knights and protect the people this region, just like the hero did."
"But what happened to him and the hero? If the kid was to befriend the hero for eternity…"
"Something tells me a certain Pontifex doesn't like to be challenged in longevity of life. We'll defeat the Dark Knights as he wishes...and look this this, easy as pie, found them." Three Dark Knights stand around a Clamp as if they're protecting it. As described, they're in raven-black armor from head to two, with swords at the hip.
"I've never seen one before, but they do match what I know of them."
Medina points to the ground behind the knights. "Look at the ground around them. They look like the knights crawled out of them when the Clamp revived them."
Sortiliena frowns. "Three knights here, but more than enough graves…"
"We'll ask them." Alice steps forward with Renly and Eydis around her. "I am Alice Synthesis Thirty, an Integrity Knight of the Axiom Church. With me are Eydis Synthesis Ten and Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven. Where have the other Dark Knights gone? And what is your objective here?"
The Dark Knights answer by drawing their swords. Renly sighs and takes his Twin-Edged Wings in hand. "Not the talkative types."
Eydis looks back to us non-Integrity Knights and smirks. "Allow us to handle our natural enemies."
Sortiliena nods. "At least we can do is give them an honorable fight, right?"
I nod and turn away. "Agreed. Have fun. Remember to cut the Clamp when you're done and all."
Alice, Renly, and Eydis return to the rest of us in victory. "Well, that was not terribly productive."
Eydis nods along. "Guess the others are long gone. No reinforcements came to help them."
"The question is, where would they go?" Renly is right on that. I can only think of two options, and the Centoria route would have definitely been noticed by us. So the other is further east
"HQ needs to be notified of this. Renly, could you ride back and tell the commander?"
He nods. "I can update him. What about the rest of you?"
Eydis frowns. "I see what you're thinking, Jaymes. We would have heard if they tried Centoria, which means they've gone farther east… Renly, let the commander know we're going as far as my posting. If Dark Knights are rising from graves, I know of a few Dark Knight gravesites myself from encounters in the last few decades and probably more. We'll check them out."
He nods. "Good luck on that, everyone." As Renly departs, I look to Eydis and gesture her to take the lead.
"Let's move."
Ocean Turtle, 37 minutes after Jaymes entered the Underworld
"Umm, as far as Kirito's condition in the real world is concerned, like I just explained, things aren't looking too optimistic. That said, Kirito still remains logged in the Underworld. Even though his self-image has been damaged, his Fluctlight is still active and is receptive to various stimuli. He lost his soul because he blamed himself so vehemently. With Jaymes logged in, he could do it, but with his hands tied with what's going on down there…"
"I'll go!" Asuna walks up the stairs to the three adults, looking at Kirito's Fluctlight. "I'll log into the Underworld. I want to go, help Jaymes, and tell Kirito that he did a good job. To say, 'I know you went through so much sadness and pain, but you did the best you could.'"
"It's true that we do have one more vacant STL, but the Underworld isn't exactly stable right now. Not only is there something going on as Jaymes is there now, but because we're about to enter the last stage of the scheduled final load test."
"Final load… What's going to happen?"
"The Durability of the Eastern Gate, which divides the Human Empire and the Dark Territory to the east, will reach zero, and an army of monsters will flood the Human Empire. If the humans had sufficient defenses in place, they would've ultimately been able to drive them back. But during the last experiment, Kirito pretty much destroyed the ruling organization, the Axiom Church. Jaymes is currently with what remains of it, the Anti-Cedar Task Force, and to some degree, the humans are doing well in the current crisis, but who knows what will happen."
Kikuoka sighs. "As of right now, Jaymes is approaching the Eastern Gate, and his early intervention in the crisis with the ACTF may help bolster the humans' defenses now. Either way, we may have reached a point where one of us will have to dive in as well. Once the invasion begins, it's possible that Alice, who is with Jaymes now, could be killed in the chaos. If someone can enter with a superuser account, assist Jaymes in transporting Alice to the World End's Altar, and from there, eject Alice's Lightcube to the Sub Control Room…"
Higa turns to Asuna. "Meaning having Asuna and the other dive in might be our best option. As well as the ability to communicate with Kirito and Jaymes, whoever goes will need combat ability to protect Alice in the Underworld, after all. Besides, I bet Jaymes is expecting Asuna to show up..."
Kikuoka nods. "Then we should have her use the highest account level possible."
"Well, then, the choices are endless. A knight, a general, a noble, there are all kinds of superuser accounts to choose from."
"Hey, hold on," Dr. Kojiro intervenes. "Isn't there a chance that our attackers could come up with the same idea?"
"Oh, yeah. True, they're just as likely to catch onto this method, as well. But they won't have time to crack the login password for any superuser accounts. Their only option would be a Level 1 ordinary citizen...that's it."
Kojiro raises an eyebrow as Higa tenses up. "What's wrong?"
He shakes his head. "Never mind, it's nothing… Mr. Kikuoka, should we let Roppongi know the details?"
He nods. "Already done. But first… I want Asuna to meet her partner in this endeavor. It will be a while before preparations for your dive are complete, Asuna, and I believe we'll hear from Jaymes before then. So for the time being...here." Kikuoka hands Asuna his phone, with a number already dialed. "When you are ready, call in. They're expecting you."
Asuna takes the phone and walks back to the STL bay, taking her seat between Kirito and Jaymes. As she does, she looks at both boys, one her boyfriend, the other her best friend. She may not be able to help Jaymes in his current endeavor, but in the next, she'll be there for him, along with an unknown force. With a sigh, she presses the call button and holds the phone to her ear.
"Um… Hello? Mr. Kikuoka?"
And as soon as Asuna recognizes the voice, it is too much to bear...
