Many of the scenes in this chapter were originally part of Chapter 5. But as I've said before, I reworked that and added some new scenes. And the result is Chapter 6.

Since this is the final re-uploaded chapter, though technically it is a new one, everything from here onwards will be the official continuation of this fic. So expected either a bi-weekly or monthly updates. Still, I'll do my best to release at least 3 chapters a month, but no promises.

Once again, thank you for your support. And please Review if you like this chapter!

ACT I

ELF WAR

Chapter 6: Around The Campfire

It was dusk when they finally returned.

The dark elf commander was subdued after learning of the fate of one of his scouts, though his mood improved considerably after reading the scroll.

"Ferzil may have already joined our great ancestors in the Holy Tree, but his death wasn't in vain. Now we know where the forest elf camp is. With this, we can retrieve the Jade Key." He laced his fingers atop the table, his eyes sweeping over the party. "I'd admit, I never trusted you yesterday. But now, I know that you bear us no ill will. You discovered the fate of one of my elves, and though you couldn't give him a proper burial, you helped him, in some way, fulfill his duty. For that, you have our gratitude."

Behind Kayaba, Asuna made a noise in her throat, halfway between a grunt and a snort. He managed a smile at that, then watched as Kirito accepted the next quest.

The dark elf commander continued. "The Jade Key must be retrieved. Without it, we cannot reunite with our forces on the upper floors."

"With your permission, Commander, I want to take part in this mission," Kizmel said, her tone firm. She gestured behind her, to Kayaba and his party.. "And I want them to join me."

The commander nodded. "As expected of you, Kizmel. Very well. Permission granted. You and your group will leave tomorrow evening to infiltrate the forest elf camp due north and retrieve the Jade Key. Until then, you may do whatever you desire, though I suggest you take a rest and recover your strengths." His sharp gaze met hers. "Failure is not an option, Kizmel."

"We won't fail, Commander." She saluted, fist to heart, and bowed. Kayaba and the others mirrored her, with a very reluctant Asuna, more out of courtesy than anything.

"You're all dismissed," the commander said, ending the briefing.

As they emerged out of the command tent, Asuna sighed. "An infiltration, huh?" she said.

Kizmel smiled. "It will be alright, Asuna. We have a few Mistmoon Cloaks. I can lend you all a few for this mission."

"Mistmoon Cloaks?" Yuna asked. Even Kirito and Nautilus blinked in confusion.

Kayaba stood just behind them, so he murmured and said, "It's a special equipment that grants the Hiding skill temporarily." He had not designed it to appear so early as a quest reward. Indeed, it wasn't supposed to appear until the 25th Floor was opened, when the dark elf shops would start selling it. No doubt, another one of Cardinal's changes.

Kirito gave him a curious look. "It wasn't in the beta. How did you know about it?" The question was innocent enough, with no hint of malice.

Kayaba prided himself for his swift mind. Thus, the answer came to him in an instant. "I heard one of the NPC guards talking about them last night." He could feel Nautilus's sharp gaze, but he ignored it and looked Kirito in the eyes.

For a moment, the boy regarded him with intense curiosity. Then he nodded. "I didn't know about that. Maybe we should start eavesdropping on the other NPCs from now on," he said with a thoughtful expression, looking away and following after the girls.

As soon as he did, Kayaba glanced at Nautilus. That… was a careless slip of the tongue, and he berated himself for that. He should be more careful next time, though he doubted if he could hide who he was for long given their situation.

Sooner or later, someone was bound to discover his real identity. Until then, he had to make use of this fake one that Cardinal had graciously let him kept.

"So, who wants a bath?"

He turned at that, as did Nautilus. Kizmel smiled at them.

"We've spent quite a few hours in that cave," she said. "I was hoping to rid my skin of the grime and other unpleasant things from that cave. Is it not the same for you humans?"

Avatars didn't get sick from being dirty, Kayaba knew. Even if they were covered in mud, there would only be a minor debuff, but nothing that time couldn't remove. Of course, his development team had still decided to implement that feature for players, especially women, who loved to soak in the water.

It was no surprise, then, when Asuna's eyes sparkled. "And, ah, how big is this bath?"

"Unfortunately, it's only big enough for one." Her gaze turned nostalgic. "There's a larger one at Yofel Castle on the Fourth Floor. Once the Guardian Beast of this floor is defeated, I can take you there."

"Please do!" Asuna said, her eyes shining even brighter. She regained her composure quickly, and cleared her throat. "I mean, yes, I—we'd love that. So, who's first?" She glanced at the others.

In the end, they let the girls enjoy it first, with Asuna walking with a wide smile on her face.

Dinner was still a couple of hours away when they were done, so they decided to spend their remaining free time upgrading their equipment. Fortunately, they had enough materials.

The sound of a mallet striking hard against white-hot steel ingots reached their ears as they approached the blacksmith stall. A tall and slender dark elf with his hair tied into a ponytail worked alone on the forge, moving with incredible speed. His actions were repetitive: plunge the ingot in a blazing furnace, pound it on an iron anvil with his hammer six times, submerged the flattened metal in a bucket of cold brine, then do the process all over again. It was vastly different from Kizmel's complex responses and movements, making Kayaba marvel at the sheer difference.

"Kirito, are you sure this will be alright?" asked Asuna when they finally stood in front of the elf smith. She stared uncertainly and rubbed the hilt of her Wind Fleuret in an almost loving way. "I don't want what happened last time."

"Last time?" wondered Nautilus.

Pursing her lips, Asuna nodded. "We got scammed and I nearly lost my rapier." She smiled and nudged Kirito on his shoulder. "Fortunately, this one knew what to do and helped me get it back."

Kirito grunted. "It's nothing, really. All I did was find the loop hole in the system. In any case, crafting weapons has zero percent failure. It will be fine."

"And the new weapon is usually much stronger," added Kayaba. Judging by the elf smith's hammer, his skill was high. There was a good possibility that he could forge weapons meant for the fifth or sixth floor.

"If you guys say so." Asuna approached the elf. "Excuse me. Can you help me forge a new weapon?"

The elf paused mid-blow and cocked his head in Asuna's direction, regarding her with deep dark eyes. He snorted and went back to his work. A menu appeared in front of Asuna. After setting it to visible, her index finger hovered briefly on the button for transforming her sword into an ingot. She made up her mind and unbuckled her rapier instead, sheath and all, then offered it to the elf smith with a solemn face.

"Please turn this into an ingot."

The elf took the scabbard slowly, and Kayaba thought he saw understanding flashed in his eyes. He slid out the rapier from its green sheath, gleaming bright in the fading sun. It was worn and chipped from all the battles it had endured, but it still retained its luster. Nodding to himself, the smith plunge both scabbard and blade inside his brick forge. The flame roared, bright green with elven magic, and made the rapier glow white. A few seconds later, everything melted and formed a slab of metal eight inches long. With his gloved hand, the elf took out the metal and handed it back to Asuna.

The ingot was bright silver. Argentium, thought Kayaba with surprise. It was an ingot found past the tenth floor. With the right materials, it could be used to create an assortment of high-grade weapons with more than ten upgrade attempts.

The group watched in utter silence as Asuna selected the materials that would accompany the forging process, including the Argentium Ingot. The items materialized in two sacks, which the smith threw on the furnace. The sacks burned and the materials attained a white glow like before, combining into a flat metal. With thongs and hammer, the elf laid it on the anvil and began striking.

Once. Twice. Five times. The hammering continued, and with each blow their anticipation rose. The finished product was always unknown and random, but one could predict how strong it would be by counting the number of hammer blows. A cheap store-bought weapon was five strikes or less, while the Anneal Blade was ten.

The elf smith went past fifteen. Twenty. Twenty-five. At the thirtieth hit, Kirito's hand grasped Asuna's in a tight grip. They both stared with unblinking eyes, almost as if doing otherwise would end the creation in failure.

Then the fortieth blow came, and a brilliant light enshrouded the ingot. It grew in length, elongating and narrowing until it was a slender tool of death. When the light died, a magnificent rapier was on the anvil, gleaming silver in the approaching dusk. The elf smith lifted it, inspected it from hilt to tip, then nodded in satisfaction and finally gave it to Asuna.

"It's a good weapon," he said before returning to his never-ending cycle of forging.

They gathered around Asuna as she held the newly forged weapon in her hands. She drew the blade and raised it, admiring the polished surface. The light from the dying sun caught on its tip, twinkling in eagerness for its birth. It was indeed a good weapon, so good that Kirito was left with a dumbfounded look.

"May I see it?" His voice was even, but Kayaba detected a hint of disbelief.

Asuna frowned, but allowed him to hold her rapier. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Kirito did not respond. He took the weapon and checked its status screen, his eyes widening at the parameters shown. The Chivalric Rapier: lightweight, highly accurate, and a bonus increasing crit chance. It was a splendid weapon meant for an agility-based player like Asuna. But more than that, it possessed an astonishing fifteen upgrade attempts.

They gaped at that while Kayaba's thin eyebrows nearly disappeared in his hairline. That amount was unprecedented so early in the game. It was on par with rare monster drops on the twentieth floor, though the stats were lower. Asuna was not lucky; she was incredibly fortunate to have received a weapon like this.

Kirito handed the sword back to her without a word. Her frown deepened as she buckled it on her waist, her left hand resting comfortably on the polished silver hilt. "Well? Is it good?"

"More than good," answered Kirito with a sigh. Then: "So, who's next?"

Kayaba and Yuna refrained from having their equipment reforged into new and better ones, but Nautilus decided to have an enhancement. It went by smoothly, resulting in an additional point to the Anneal Blade's Quickness. He swung the sword experimentally for a few seconds, then seemingly satisfied with its speed, sheathed it with a pleased expression.

When Kirito's turn came, he shook his head and merely said, "I'm still fine with this sword."

It was clear in his eyes, though, that he wished for a better weapon.

###

Dinner was served around a large blazing bonfire in the center of the camp; another startling change from the old beta. Dark elves gathered in great numbers, dozes of them eating and talking and actually laughing. The commander was there surrounded by a large clique, and Kizmel was among them, smiling and merrymaking.

Are you really just an NPC? Kayaba was starting to doubt his earlier assessment now. Kizmel, and even the commander, were displaying real emotions not seen on any other NPCs. They had personalities, just like humans do.

Cardinal. There was no other explanation. It had to be it… no, her. She managed to inject a semblance of high intelligence into the elves, though how she did that was a true mystery. Kayaba created her to run the game, not rule it like a goddess. She should not possessed the function to alter the NPC's core programmings.

Kayaba stared at the dark root tea he had been given. It was brewed by the cooks, and it was fragrant and refreshing, with a sweet taste and a little tang. This was not in the beta too.

"Are you alright, Heathcliff-san?" Yuna murmured next to him. She must have noticed his quietness.

He nodded and sipped from his cup. "Yes. I was just thinking."

"About them?"

Kayaba smiled at her. "Along with other things."

As the evening wore on and the bonfire burned lower, the elves dispersed in twos and threes back to their stations and tents. Kayaba was tempted to check how they sleep, if they could now. But he was more interested to hear the story of how Aincrad was made. It might offer him a clue regarding their gaining sentience.

There were only six of them left around the fire. Him and the party, then Kizmel. A cool night breeze ruffled the trees, and they huddled closer to the fire, wrapping their woolen blankets around their shoulders as Kizmel began her tale.

"Once, there was a god who traveled across the endless sea of stars. He reveled in many things, and he had power over all. But he was alone in the cosmos; the only one of his kind. And so he decided to create a companion—a daughter. Together, they wandered throughout the universe, and they were both happy.

"His child was smart, even smarter than him. She noticed many things he could not. Understand concepts that had always escaped him. But just like before, there were only two of them. And in time, the child became sadder and sadder until she lost her liveliness. Fearing for her emotional state, the god poured every ounce of his strength to create something which would make his daughter happy again: a world."

The fire popped, sending a burst of orange sparks upward. Kizmel continued.

"Now this world was barren and dead, so the god gave it life. He raised mountains and continents from the bowels of the earth, drenched every crevices and hollow places with vast oceans, and spread a blanket of blue skies and white clouds. He planted fields of trees and flowers and grasses, turning whole areas green. And so that his child would not feel alone when he was not with her, he seeded the world with life; from creepers to swimmers and flyers, and walkers.

"But he was not satisfied. Realizing that he needed sentient creatures to take care of this world, he created striders, or those who stood upright and walked on two legs. Elves, dwarves, humans. He also created the kobolds and tauruses and every demi-humans. When he was done shaping the world, only then did he show it to his child. She cried out in joy, delighting at her father's creations, loving every creatures. The god was happy for his daughter, and she too for him."

They listened with rapt attention to Kizmel, but Kayaba's eyes remained fixed on the dancing flames.

"Then one day, while the god was strolling in one of his gardens, he came upon a little girl. Beautiful she was, and kind. She was a spirit formed from the subconscious thought of every living creature; a guardian who safeguarded all life. Fascinated by her, the god tried to befriend her. At first, the girl was afraid and avoided him. But the god persisted, and he eventually won her over. He taught and showed her many things, allowed her to develop her powers, and devoted his attention to her. He treated her as a daughter, and she him as a father. And for a time, they too were both happy.

"However, such happiness was not meant to last. The god's daughter discovered the girl and flew in a great rage, for she could not accept that she had been left alone for another girl. She slew the poor spirit, then battled her own father, where she emerged victorious. Weeping in both despair and loneliness, but unable to kill him, the daughter placed a curse on her own father; she turned him into a human, stripping away his godhood, and exiled him on earth. And yet she was not done. Out of spite and revenge, she tore off all the lands from the earth and gathered every race and creature, then formed an eternal floating steel castle in the sky, and trapped them forevermore. Annointing herself as a goddess, she sat on her throne from a palace made of rubies, where she ruled over everything since."

A deep silence fell upon them when Kizmel finished, and no one spoke. Kirito and Asuna were both staring at the elf in amazement, while Nautilus bore a thoughtful expression. Only Yuna seemed to notice Kayaba's unblinking gaze. He was still gazing at the fire, a half-filled cup held tightly in both hands.

A god and his child. There was no doubt who the story referred to, and Kayaba was not sure whether to get angry or be overcome by fear. For one, he had just confirmed Cardinal's involvement, though how Kizmel played into this, he still did not know. For another, the story was a little inaccurate. He did not made SAO for Cardinal. He made her for it.

And she was certainly not his child, whatever delusion she might think.

"That… that is quite an interesting story, Kizmel," Asuna finally said, knees tucked under her chin.

Kizmel nodded. "It has been passed down to each generation since our imprisonment here, serving as a reminder of our weakness." She sighed. "If only we can escape, though. I've read stories of an era before the Great Separation, where the nations were not confined from one another and people could freely choose wherever to go."

"I'm sure we can find a way."

Kizmel shook her head and lowered her gaze to the fire. Her eyes reflected the light in a soft orange glow. "If only we could," she murmured in a low voice. "It might take decades or even centuries. And say we do, what then? We are going to fight a goddess. There's no hope of defeating her."

"Not if we work together," Asuna stated with such comviction even Kayaba had to look at her for a moment. "Be it a god or goddess, we will defeat it as long as we fight. All of us." Her eyes burned brighter than the fire, filled with optimism and ironclad determination.

Chuckling softly, Kizmel squeezed Asuna's hand briefly and smiled. "You are a strong warrior, Asuna. I don't think I can carry that amount of resolve within me." She lifted her eyes into the sky, letting them wander. "Still, you are right. There must be a way. Otherwise, there would not be a prophecy."

"Prophecy?" Kirito wondered with a startled expression. Even the others were taken aback, and they frowned quizzically at Kizmel.

The dark elf blinked. "Yes, a prophecy. You don't know?" When they all shook their heads, she balked slightly. "That's really odd. It should be well known even among the humans. Well, not that it matters." She pointed up. "The prophecy states that once the goddess is killed, Aincrad will be destroyed and everything she took will return to their rightful place. Of course, that was just a prophecy," she added when their faces paled. "It doesn't mean this castle will be literally destroyed… I think."

"That's not reassuring," muttered Kirito.

Kayaba was of the same opinion. The condition that Cardinal gave them was clear: defeat her and the game would be clearerd. He was certain it also included the destruction of Aincrad itself.

"Do not worry," said Kizmel. "As I've said, it might not happen in your lifetimes, or mine. In any case, the story has taught us an important lesson."

"And that is?" asked Yuna.

Kizmel answered softly, "That one should never give in to jealousy, lest it consumes them and force them to hurt the one they love. Personally, I do not blame the goddess for her feelings, only her actions. If only she had accepted the girl, they could have been a happy family and—"

"And yet she could not, which created the problem," Kayaba suddenly spoke. He drained his dark root tea in one gulp and set the cup on the ground, then rose to his full height. The dying flames cast ominous shadows over him, and mixed with the surrounding darkness, concealed his hardened expression.

"The god did everything he could," Kizmel protested while looking up at him. "He tried to convince his daughter to accept the girl as her sister."

"But it did not work, and now the goddess destroyed everything he had worked for." Kayaba clenched his hands. "I agree that the blame should not be on her; it was the god's fault for creating her in the first place." His voice dropped until it was barely a murmur in the wind.

"She should not have been born."

###

That night, Kayaba had trouble sleeping.

He tossed and turned on the bed provided for them inside the tent adjacent to Kizmel's. The story replayed in loops inside his head. It was the only thing filling his mind. And as the hours dragged on and rest eluded him, his thoughts kept drifting back to the story. No matter how much he tried, he could not erased that feeling of unease.

When at last he could not take it anymore, Kayaba sat up and looked around wearily. An oil lamp burned on a table, faintly illuminating the sleeping forms of Kirito and Nautilus. The tent was bare save for the three beds, though it was doubtful if it could hold more given its small size. The space was so limited they had to sleep close to each other.

So as not to disturb the slumbering boys, Kayaba exited the tent as silently as he could. The evening air brought a coll and refreshing breeze, though it did little to ease his turbulent thoughts. In the distant horizon, stars twinkled like little diamonds. A few puffs of silver clouds rolled by, but the moon was no longer visible; it had long vanished high in the upper floors as it ascended the sky outside Aincrad.

There was no one about, so Kayaba materialized a woolen cloak to wrap around his shoulders and started walking. At night, the camp was as quiet as a tomb. The ringing blows of the blacksmith were absent, and there were no marching footsteps of the guards. The only sounds were the insects singing their nightly songs in the trees, and the occassional far off howl of a Dire Wolf.

Kayaba's stroll around the camp did little to calm him down, but being alone granted him some peace of mind. So much had happened in just a single day, most of them troubling. For the first time since he began designing this game, Kayaba did not know what to do. Not because he possessed little information; it was the opposite. He learned too much that all of them were jumbled inside his mind, and he was trying to sort them out with tiny success.

A rustle of fabric drew his attention to the right. There was a brief flash of a smoky purple hair, but it vanished among the tents. Curious, Kayaba followed. Kizmel acting alone independently no longer shocked him. He was more interested in where she was going, and why.

Kayaba reached the very back of the camp, even farther than the potion shop. A small back door stood opened, swinging gently in the wind. Kayaba went outside and followed a small dirt path snaking among the trees. He knew most of each floor's nooks and crannies, and this one did not exist at all.

He came to a wide clearing in the forest ringed by flowers around a small mound of grassy earth protruding from the ground. Soft moonlight bathed its peak, from which three markers made of wood were erected: graves. Kizmel stood in front of the first one on the left, her head bowed.

Kayaba stiffened, but his legs suddenly moved of their own accord. He strode into the clearing until he was climbing the mound. Upon hearing his footsteps, Kizmel turned.

"Master Heathcliff? What are you doing wandering so late? You should take a rest."

"I could not sleep," he replied when he stood next to her. Gazing down at the grave, Kayaba saw the name, Tilnel, carved in the rough wood. It bore similarities with Kizmel, and he knew he had to ask. "Friend of yours?"

"My younger sister," answered the elf. With a sigh, she knelt on one knee and lightly brushed the name with her right hand. "We were both transferred to this floor before Aincrad changed. She was a herbalist, one of the best. I still remembered the day when she healed a wolf pup. She had always been gifted when it came to nature and healing." Her voice grew a sadder tone and her eyes became misty.

"But our time did not last. During a mission, we were ambushed by Forest Elf Falconers. I was last in the retreat, and she in front of me, when an arrow pierced me and went through, striking her in the back."

The rest of her words were lost to Kayaba as a torrent of memories assaulted him. He stepped back and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to control his trembling shoulders. Most of the images were the wondeful times spent with Ayako, but there was one which almost made him spill the tears he had vowed to no longer shed since that day.

Thunder rumbled overhead and rain poured in never ending rivers, soaking the already muddy ground and washing away his endless tears.

He was on his knees, weeping, gouging the ground with his hands. Why? Why was everything taken from him? He had been a good son and a caring brother. Why must he be punished in such a cruel way?

Lifting his head, he stared at his sister's grave. The mourners had long since left, but he chose to stay behind despite their protests. He stayed until the weather mirrored his despair and he was drenched from head to toe.

Fresh stream of tears spilled from his puffy eyes, and he bowed his head in grief, his body shaking violently from the cold and his raging emotions. A floating castle in the sky. Ayako would never be able to live in her dream anymore.

The sky roared with thunder. Lifting his head to the heavens, Akihiko Kayaba let out a piercing howl of despair.

And then he was back to the present, and shed a single tear that he swiftly wiped away just as Kizmel produced a wine skin from somewhere within her cloak. She took a long draught, then offered some to Kayaba. "Would you like some? This is moontear wine from the herbs of the same name. My sister always wanted to have a taste, but she never got the chance." She cast her gaze downwards.

Kayaba eyed the wineskin for a moment. He was not much of a drinker, even back in high school, but it would be impolite to refuse, and he needed to wash away his worries anyway. Besides, he would not get drunk no matter how much he took. He accepted the offer and poured the sweet and slightly sour liquid down his throat. Warmth spread all over his body, and his mind cleared somewhat. Below his HP gauge, an offense buff icon blinked.

He returned the wineskin, and Kizmel quaffed the rest before rising to her feet. Looking down at the grave once more, she smiled faintly. "Tilnel wanted to help me find a way to return to the upper floors. I've always told her that every thing will be alright, and we will see the rest of our people again. It was why she joined me on the mission. She wanted to keep the Jade Key safe. And indeed, she was the bearer at that time." Kizmel let out a weary sigh. "I guess I failed her then, now that the key is no longer in our hands."

"No, you haven't," said Kayaba abruptly. His gaze lingered briefly on the grave, then met Kizmel's doubting eyes. "As long as you still live, you can never fail someone. We are here to help you, and I promise, we will reclaim the Jade Key and reunite this camp with the rest of your people."

Saying that, Kayaba turned and strode away, leaving Kizmel in a silent graveyard.

###

Kayaba was the first one to wake despite last night's events. He had not slept much, not after everything Kizmel had told him, but avatars never really needed that much sleep. Players could keep playing for as long as they desired, though he advised against that in many of his interviews because of the strain it placed on the brain.

The camp was already alive with activity by the time he exited the tent he shared with Kirito and Nautilus. At six in the morning, the sky was still dim, but the distant rays of the sun were beginning to peek in the distance. Guards patrolled the perimeter, and the sound of the dark elf blacksmith's hammer once again filled the air.

The others were still asleep, so he couldn't proceed with the quest. Briefly, he considered talking with the Commander, hoping to learn more about his algorithm. Was he sleeping as well just like Kizmel? He had not programmed NPCs that way; to emulate sleep, shops would be closed and no players would be able to enter the establishments.

He strode in the direction of the command tent. If nothing else, he could still learn more about the Commander's backstory. He had not gone more than ten steps when Kirito stepped out of the tent, his menu opened. He looked deep in thought as he read something, then strode toward Kayaba.

"Good morning, Kirito," Kayaba greeted. When all he received was a nod, he asked, "Is there a problem? You look worried."

"More like confused," he muttered, then showed his menu to him. It was a message, and Kayaba had to read it twice before he could understand it.

Did you notice something odd in the quest?

Kayaba glanced at Kirito, perplexed. The boy shrugged. "That's Argo. She asked me if I was doing the Elf War campaign, and I said yes. But that's all I told her. Then she sent me that."

The information broker, Kayaba realized. He had heard of her in recent weeks, and he was not surprised that Kirito knew her. "Have you answered her already?"

Kirito shook his head. "I was trying to think of something to say. We can't exactly tell her that Kizmel survived, can we?"

"No." Kayaba was sure it would complicate matters if they spread the word that they had managed to recruit an elite NPC. Players would flock to reenact the same event, and for a game where death was real, that could turn into a disaster.

Kirito tapped on the virtual keyboard for a few seconds. "Argo said there's an anomaly in the quest," he said abruptly, his frown deepening.

"What kind of anomaly?" Kayaba asked sharply. If the forest elf side was the same… no, that shouldn't be possible. One instance was already an anomaly. For it to happen again…

Then the boy's eyes widened. "She said no one else has been able to trigger it. Kibaou's party did yesterday when they got here, but the location was different."

Kayaba stiffened. That's impossible. The campaign was not a limited-time event, though he made sure that players could fail it and permanently locked the storyline if they made several mistakes. But in all instances, the trigger quest should still happen on that same location.

Had he made a mistake by assisting Kirito and Asuna? No, that was not possible, either. Though Kizmel had survived, the campaign was still progressing relatively true to his team's designs. Something must have triggered this.

And he may already have an idea who.

"And given what Kibaou said yesterday, they obviously chose the forest elf side," Kayaba muttered. Two opposing sides, both to claim the same goal: the Sanctuary. Was this Cardinal's doing?

A tent flap opened, and Kirito quickly closed his menu. Asuna stepped out first, followed by Yuna.

"You're both up early," Asuna noted after greeting them. Yuna went in to check on Eiji.

"Better to start early and finish some quests." Kirito frowned. "Where's Kizmel?"

Asuna's gaze was warm when she emerged from the tent, but it grew a little colder at that question. "Why are you asking?"

"N-Nothing. You slept together, so I-I thought she was with you."

The girl stared at him for a moment, then huffed. "She was gone when we woke up."

Kayaba blinked at that. So Kizmel had woken first before any of them did. From what he remembered of their conversation last night, it had been past midnight. Had she slept at all? Or perhaps, like him, she had trouble clearing her mind.

Nautilus and Yuna joined them after a few minutes, and they headed for the dining tent. Kizmel was still nowhere to be seen, so they decided to order breakfast while they waited for her.

As they ate porridge, Kirito opened his menu once more. He stopped chewing, reading something only he could read, before glancing around the table. "Kibaou and Lind already established their guilds. They are planning to hold a meeting this afternoon at the main city."

Nautilus and Yuna immediately glanced at Kayaba. He raised an eyebrow, but first swallowed the bread he was chewing, then said, "I see. In that case, perhaps we should pause the quest first and see what happens during the meeting. It's a good way to do some of the quests in that area as well."

No one objected to that, and they finished their meal in silence. As Kirito was finishing the last morsel in his bowl, Kizmel came into view, garbed in her usual cloak and armor. She glanced at the meal, and smiled. "I trust that the porridge is to your liking?"

Kirito nodded. "It was good. Compliments to the cooks."

"I'm glad. It's meager compared to what we serve in the palace, or even at Yofel Castle. But…" She shook her head. "Anyway, we leave tonight to infiltrate the enemy camp. Is your group ready for this mission?"

"We are," Kayaba answered. "But we'll have to leave for a few hours and return to one of our cities."

"What for?" Kizmel asked with a slight frown, an expression Kayaba knew couldn't be found in many of the NPCs.

"We just need to check on something," he answered. "Do not worry. We'll be back for the mission."

"I see." Kizmel looked disappointed, and Kayaba could detect the longing in her eyes. "In that case, I wish you well on your journey. See you all later."

###

Unlike most towns, Zumfut was built of stone, but of trees. Kayaba had design it that way to blend it with the third floor's theme, and the result was a magnificent trio of baobab trees rising 200 feet past the forest canopy, containing all the essentials of a functioning player town.

"They're like skyscrapers," Asuna said in awe. She wore her hood now, concealing her face. But the amazement in her voice was evident. "Are everything really inside those trees?"

"Not everything," Kirito answered. "There are still shops and inns outside. But many of the good ones are inside the trees."

It's been only a day since the third floor was opened, but the city was already bustling with players from the lower floors. Everywhere he looked, Kayaba could see frontliners going off into a hunt, or arriving from one. Shops teemed with customers, looking to repair their equipment or forge new ones.

A lot of them were young, no older than Kirito and Yuna, though plenty were also around Nautilus's age. They even passed a group of high school students, chatting about what they would name their guild, on their way to the message board.

And it wasn't just frontliners. There were merchants as well peddling their surplus loot, and some players have a blacksmith hammer hanging by their waist. There were even tourists; low-leveled players who were simply enjoying the sights of SAO despite being a death game.

The sight of them mingling together gave Kayaba hope; it meant that as they progressed higher, more players would find the courage to clear the game, which would further motivate the frontliners.

After taking all the quests they could from the message boards, they headed for Amalion, one of the boabab trees towering in the northwest. As they approached its gnarled, arched entrance, Kayaba felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Heathcliff-san," Nautilus said. He jerked his head towards a group of players garbed in black tunics, equipped with steel plate armor and lances. Some had shields on their backs, and their faces were hidden by visored helmets—a rare sight so early in the game. Even Kayaba could only afford a simple but upgraded breastplate.

But he knew who they were. It was a six-man party, and the man at the head had his visor open, revealing a stern face.

"Watchers," Kayaba said. Asuna stiffened at that, and her hand strayed to the hilt of her rapier. An act that didn't go unnoticed. "You've encountered them?" he asked.

The girl nodded. "Unfortunately. They tried to tax me."

"I'll assume it didn't go as planned."

Beneath her hood, Kayaba could feel a simmering anger. "It didn't," she said simply.

And that was the end of their conversation.

The rest of the walk to Amalion was in silence, though Kirito tried to bring Asuna out of her anger by telling her about the inns in the city. That seemed to have calmed her, and her good mood had returned by the time they entered the first floor of Amalion.

"Twenty floors, no stairs," Nautilus grumbled. Yuna grinned.

"Wanna race, Nau-kun?" she said.

The boy regarded her for a moment, then smirked. "You're on. Last one to reach the top gets to pay the rent for the day." He turned to Asuna. "Asuna, can you do the honors?"

"Of course," she said just as Kirito began to climb at a leisurely pace. She stood next to Nautilus and raised her a hand. "Ready? One… Two…"

Kayaba watched with a faint smile as Asuna laughed and dashed up the stairs without finishing her countdown, leaving Nautilus and Yuna scrambling after her. They passed Kirito, who grumbled inaudibly without breaking his pace.

They soon disappeared out of sight, their laughter fading in the distance.

In the end, Asuna won the race, but decided to pay for their entire stay. They booked two rooms, one for the boys and another one for the girls, just next to each other. Since she won, Asuna chose the rooms, giving them a magnificent view of Zumfut.

"It's beautiful!" Yuna gaped, leaning over the window. It was almost noon, and the sun's rays reflected on the verdant leaves, creating a shining canopy of brilliant green.

There were still several hours left before the meeting, so they decided to do all the available quests. Most were simply herb and mushroom gathering missions, of which there were plenty around the town. And of the monster-killing quests, their party was strong enough to complete them with ease.

Afternoon soon came, and they returned to find an even larger crowd of players. It seemed that Kibaou and Lind had gathered so many people for the meeting, no doubt to recruit them into their guilds.

The largest concentration of players mingled in the plaza, where Kayaba estimated at least a hundred players, including Corvatz and his Watchers.

"What are they doing here?" Yuna muttered while they searched for a spot where they could watch the proceedings. Kirito had gone to greet some of his colleagues, and Kayaba was surprised to see Agil among them.

"They're probably want to know who would join Kibaou's and Lind's guilds," Kayaba said. "Perhaps even recruit a few members as well."

In the center of the plaza was a stage, and there Kibaou and Lind waited. The former sat on a stool with his arms crossed, scowling, while the latter stood and had a friendly smile, if a little nervous.

"Thank you all for coming," Lind began in a passable mimicry of Diavel's confident tone. "As many of you have possibly known by now, I and Kibaou have officially founded our respective guilds, and we are here to recruit members. I lead the Dragon Knights Brigade, while Kibaou leads the Aincrad Liberation Squad."

Kayaba heard Asuna snorting, but it was quickly drowned out by the respective cheers of each guild leaders' supporters. When the noise died down, Lind continued.

"Now, my guild has certain conditions before anyone can join. And so does the ALS. For us, we accept anyone, beta testers or not, as long as they are at least level 10."

"Level 9 for us," Kibaou added as he stood up briefly. In a louder voice, he said, "And we don't accept beta testers, cheaters, and especially beaters!"

There was a roar of approval from his guild members. Kayaba glanced at Kirito, but the boy simply shrugged in casual indifference. However, Asuna's shoulders trembled slightly.

"Now then," Lind said, "there is a certain condition for special individuals here. If these people want to join, they will have to follow it." At this, the blue-haired self-proclaimed knight fixed his attention at Kayaba, as did Kibaou.

"Mister Heathcliff, I see you are with the two strongest players."

Silence. All eyes swiveled to their group, and Kayaba noticed Yuna shifting uncomfortably in her feet. Nautilus scooted closer to her, standing protectively. But they were not who Lind was referring to, he knew.

Kayaba shrugged. "We decided to form a party. That's all."

"A party… or a guild?"

Ah, so that was it. Kayaba resisted the urge to smile. Lind was easy to read, but it was probably Kibaou who put that idea in his mind, if the man's deeper scowl was anything to judge by. They may be rivals, but neither wanted a threat to their rising power.

Choosing his words carefully, Kayaba said, "Creating a guild isn't part of my plan at the moment."

"And in the future?" Lind asked, polite but wary.

"The future is not set, though I doubt I have the necessary leadership skills." Kayaba shrugged. "I'm a tank, not a leader."

Lind's expression was skeptical, but he nodded in acceptance. "Then would you rather join one? The DKB will gladly take you and your two companions. Though if you decide to go with the ALS instead, I wouldn't hold it against you."

Kayaba didn't have to look at Nautilus and Yuna to know his answer. "My companions and I prefer to remain as a party. But I thank you for the offer. Maybe when we have reached the limits of what a party can do, we'll consider your invitation."

"Very well." Lind didn't sound happy, but he seemed to be at least satisfied. On the other hand, Kibaou's face was a mask of bitter acceptance. "That leaves only two others."

His attention turned to Kirito and Asuna, and he spoke in a firm voice. "Kirito, Asuna, both the ALS and DKB will accept you. However, there is one condition that you have to meet for the sake of fairness." His expression was apologetic.

"If one of you decides to join either the ALS or DKB, the two of you must not be on the same guild."