Apologies for the late update.

CHAPTER 7

THE RETURN

Asuna found herself in a dark and cold forest. The whole place was drowned in utter darkness and she could feel the snowflakes fall on her. This wasn't something she had anticipated.

"So cold", Asuna shivered and looked around. She couldn't find anyone. Not this again.

But Asuna wasn't the type of person to make the same mistake. She wanted to get back with her guild members as soon as possible. She messaged the others and decided to meet at the only place which was visible from where she was standing, a huge crystal tree far away. She hoped that the others could see it as well. And once she finished sending the message, Asuna chanted a spell, lit her way, and flew at lightning speed towards her destination.

It does not feel right. I am missing something. Boss rooms are never so big. But, this place is huge.

Asuna reached at the foot of the huge tree within minutes. She reached earlier than she had estimated.

And in a matter of minutes, others followed.

Agil, Klein, Liz, Lyfa and Sinon, all reached the spot, to Asuna's relief.

"It's good to be back together. I didn't want to be alone in a place like this with that Fallen guy around."

"So, even the great Lyfa-san is scared huh?" Klein chuckled.

"No." Lyfa smacked Klein in the stomach. "I am not scared, you dummy."

"Well, now what?" Sinon pouted in her usual manner.

"Well, the only thing left to do-"

Asuna was interrupted by fluttering of wings. She could feel that some people were approaching.

"Some people are coming. Everyone be ready."

All of them drew their swords and stood in a circle, when Yui appeared and sat on Asuna's shoulder.

"Go Mama! I know you can do it."

And then they could see it. 29 players surrounded them.

Asuna and the others were completely lost for words. There are too many of them.

Two players who liked very much like each other stepped forward. One was a Spriggan and the other a Salamander. Even though they were from different clans, they had an uncanny resemblance to each other.

Are they twins?

Asuna's question would be answered soon.

"Well well. What do we have here? So, it's just the six of you. What should we do brother?"

"We killed off the other two guilds. It didn't take much time even though there were about a dozen of them in each."

"We could do the same by launching a full-fledged attack on them."

"Where's the fun in that brother? Look at them. They look scared out of their minds"

"So, I think—"

Asuna interrupted the twins' conversation.

"Enough. Do you want to fight or not?"

"Well, if that's what you want then, everyone attack!"

And at the very instant when the Salamander gave the command, the other members of his guild, arranged themselves in a circular formation and cast spells and targeted Asuna and her friends.

Asuna and Lyfa were quick of their feet. They both flew at lightning speed and took on six enemies head on.

"Let's show them what we got Agil. Come on!"

With that said, Klein and Agil attacked the other side of the formation. Sinon and Liz were busy fending off enemy players who had attacked them.

A brutal fight ensued and with the pain absorber level at painfully low levels, it wasn't easy fighting so many. With every attack that hit them, it was excruciatingly painful.

Asuna was surrounded by eight members. She had already killed a couple of them, but looking at her strength, the twins commanded their guild members to get rid of Asuna first.

Klein and Agil, meanwhile had teamed up with Lyfa, Sinon and Liz. Even though, they were hopelessly out numbered, their teamwork helped them defend each other. But, yet their HP was getting low.

At this rate, we will be wiped out.

The twins sat back and looked on.

"She fights well. Doesn't she?" the Salamander twin said pointing on Asuna.

"Yes. She is strong. They all are. They are stronger than the ones we met before. It's a pity that we have to kill them. I am enjoying them watching fight."

Liz's HP hit rock bottom as she collapsed to ground. A homing type spell flew at her, but Lyfa dived in front of Liz to take the hit, and sacrificing her won HP to save Liz from dying in the game.

"Lyfa-san, please don't sacrifice yourself for me. Fight for yourself. There is no need to save me." Liz said with tears in her eyes.

"No, Liz. We are a team. We either win together or die together."

Klein and Agil jumped in front of Liz to protect Liz and Lyfa from the attacks. Sinon on the other hand, was ruthless and was battling valiantly as she took out another enemy.

There were ten players surrounding Asuna now. And they all charged at her with their swords firmly held in their hands. Asuna's HP was pretty low as well. Today just keeps getting worse.

Even though, she knew she wouldn't be able to beat so many all by herself, Asuna wasn't the type to give up. Kirito-kun, now would be a good time for you to come.

"Yui-chan. Take care."

And having uttered this e words, Asuna held her rapier high up in the air and activated the OSS, Mother Rosario. And with the eleven hit combo, she took on all ten of them at once. Asuna's speed and agility combined with her powerful OSS, hammered the enemy players. She killed a few, and slashed the HP of others to critically low levels and with the final and eleventh hit, she slashed two of them in the same hit to oblivion and beyond. There remained only four remaining out of the ten that fought her and even these were lying on the ground, unable to move or comprehend what had just happened.

The twins realized that Asuna would be totally defenseless after such an OSS, and attacked her head on. The force of their attack threw Asuna back. Klein came flying to defend her, but another player attacked him and sent Klein flying in the other direction. Asuna fell to the ground, utterly defenseless and her HP was almost over. As she looked up, she saw the two twins charging at her, to strike the final bow to kill her.

Agil, Liz, Sinon and Lyfa summoned whatever little strength was left in them and managed to escape the enemy's attacks and charged at the twins. But the enemies caught up and they were crushed to the ground, rendering them useless and helpless. They looked on as the twins were about to kill Asuna with their final hit.

Asuna closed her eyes in despair as she was about to be killed. Sorry, Kirito-kun. I couldn't win.

A flash of light filled the whole place and it drowned in utter silence. A blade came flying at the twins, and with one deafening blow, chopped their heads off and they both disappeared in an instant.

Everyone was utterly shocked as the blade which had done that, went and hit a tree nearby almost taking it down.

Is it you K-K-Kiroto-kun?

As much as Asuna felt it was Kirito, it was like him. Coming at the end, and saving her, like he always did, but something was wrong. She had a gut feeling that it was. Somehow it didn't feel as if it was Kirito.

A dark figure slowly walked towards the place where the fight was taking place. His footsteps were the only sound that could be heard as everyone watched in utter shock.

"Kirito! You finally showed up! Couldn't you come earlier, idiot?" Klein happily said as tears of joy and relief rolled down his eyes.

As the person came even closer, his heart almost stopped for an instant. He looked around at the others, Asuna, Liz, Sinon, Agil and Lyfa.

He saw the same expression of horror on their faces as well. Even the members of the Twins' guild seemed to be shocked beyond imagination. Klein swallowed heard as the person walked towards them.

That's not Kirito.

That's...That's... That's Fallen!

A/N:

For once, it wasn't Kirito who saved Asuna.

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