TheKaiSenpai doesn't own SAO or anything else used here, and this is just something he does when he's bored.

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Chapter Six: The Invincible Hero

[Floor Twenty-Eight] [Rechsole, Bell Tower Suite] [May 4th, 2023] [8:11 PM] [DaTa]

"Huwaaaah," Asuna yawned, stretching as I opened the door for her. "That was exhausting! Who would have thought that the [Field Boss] would take so much [Damage]? It's a goddamn flower!" I rolled my eyes and smiled, entering the apartment after her. I closed the door behind us, hearing the sound of pots and pans being moved in the kitchen. The hotel had pretty much become an apartment for the three of us; Asuna, Lilly, and myself. Lilly had decided to merely [Power-Level] her [Sprint] and [Acrobatics] [Skills], as well as household [Skills] like [Tailoring] and [Cooking] to catch up with Asuna and I. She'd mostly stayed behind to play the part of the housewife, while Asuna had developed into more of a warmaiden.

"Well, flowers can be pretty tough," I told her, [Unequipping] my things and dressing in my sweatpants and t-shirt. "You ever seen flowers during a typhoon? They're pretty adamant." Asuna grumbled.

"It's still stupid," she replied. I chuckled once more, walking to the kitchen as Asuna [Unequipped] her armor and weapon, dressing in jean shorts and a sleeveless yellow shirt with green frills on the edges of the shoulder straps.

"Good evening, Lilly," I called to the blonde preparing dinner in the kitchen. She turned around, a gentle smile on her face.

"Welcome home, Keito," she replied, giving me a shallow bow of acknowledgement. It wasn't really necessary; it was kind of nice. "I'm making kaiseki ryori, or at least what I can manage from in-game ingredients." She seemed slightly annoyed by the fact that the flavors in the game were just a little bit off from what real life held. Lilly turned back to the kitchen counter as she tried to figure out how best to put the food together to give them a similar taste to the traditional Japanese dish. I smiled, though, and wrapped my arms around her, making her jump slightly before leaning back in my arms.

"Relax," I told her, kissing her cheek afterwards. "You'll figure it out. And if not, Asuna can help you." I inwardly grimaced, noticing her smile waver a bit at the mention of Asuna. Despite the two of them getting along now, for the most part, there was still a bit of an ongoing rivalry between them for my affections. I didn't expect them to instantly start out as best friends, but it was a constant cloud hanging above us. I figured it would take time, though. After a while, it would simply become a fact of our lives, and wouldn't interfere so much.

"Yes…" Lilly let out a soft sigh, the unease in her slowly slipping away as I gave her a gentle kiss. "In fact… Asuna, would you please come here and assist me with dinner?"

"Geez, thought you'd never ask," I heard from behind me. I let Lilly go and stood aside, giving Asuna space in the kitchen. Asuna had taken to sharing me better than Lilly. Either that, or she hid it better. Still, Asuna did what she could to get things sorted out between all of us. We'd all agreed that it wouldn't be a triangle. Lilly and Asuna had no interest in being romantically involved with one another. Their sole interests were on me.

I watched calmly as Asuna began re-explaining how to make a few different flavored sauces from local plants that tasted similar, if not spot on, to sauces in the real world. She was much better at improvising her cooking, while Lilly seemed to prefer a more traditional approach. It was fun to watch them interact, with Asuna's boldness and more active approach, coupled with Lilly's calmer, yet just as strong mindset. I frowned as I heard a light ringing sound, notifying me of a [PM]. I opened my[PMs], spotting the one just sent from Kai. I sighed softly, opening it. We'd only just seen one another, so this must be important.

[Hey DaTa,] it started, [I've been hoping to talk to you with a few other people. We both want to, actually. Hisao's got a few choice words about your… relationship. Well, I think PaperGirl18 does, but she's probably talking through Hisao. Anyway, meet me at the restaurant beside your hotel in a few minutes. We'll meet ya there.] I sighed, watching as the two girls I loved cooked dinner.

"Girls," I spoke aloud, getting both of them to turn their heads to me. I smiled. "I'm going to head out for a bit. Kai wants to meet with me. I'll be back for dinner though, alright?" Lilly's face seemed to fall into slight sadness, and Asuna's glare was not hidden.

"But he just saw you!" Asuna protested, placing her hands on her hips. "What could be so important that he'd call you out again?" Lilly had returned to cooking, and I motioned my head towards her. I mouthed Hisao to her, making her sigh. "Fine, whatever. You better get back here to eat though or I'll drag you back."

"Yes, ma'am!" I gave her a mock salute, taking off to the meeting place. I [Equipped] my outfit as I ran, making it there in only a few minutes. Hisao and Kai were waiting for me. Hisao had a soft frown on his face, while Kai's grin was back and better than ever, since the [Boss Raid].

"The man of the hour!" Kai exclaimed, his smile widening. He stood, shaking my hand before seating me at the table. "Excuse me, miss?" he called to the waitress tending a nearby table. "When you get the chance, grab this guy a nice 'ol frosty mug of beer!" He raised his own, as if showing her what he wanted to get me. The [NPC] smiled and nodded. Kai's attention then returned to me. His eyes narrowed, a predatory grin marred his face. "So, bud, I hear ya got two lovely lassies in your lap, now!" he grinned, like a tiger sizing up his prey. His fist flew in front of my face. "Well done my good man! Truly, yours is the epitome of manliness! All hail the King of Masculinity!" Where those tears falling from his face!? No, it was just my overactive imagination. Ugh, he drew me into his own little world, his enthusiasm is so intoxicating. I bumped his fist anyway.

"About that…" Hisao spoke up, obviously a bit uncomfortable with how Kai was acting. His eyes were firmly set on me. "I'll just let you know, that if you ever hurt Lilly, I'll-"

"Hisao, you aren't threatening," I pointed out. "Please don't try." He sighed, exasperated. "I'm not going to hurt Lilly or Asuna. Not… not on purpose, anyway." I smiled and nodded towards the [NPC] waitress when she set down the alcoholic beverage in front of me. The drink would give you a drunken-like state when consumed en masse. I would be better off with just this one. Kai seemed to have been drinking for a while, considering the six mugs in front of him. I took a sip of my drink, enjoying the, personally, refreshing taste and feel of the heavy beverage. It had been a long time since my last drink. I set it down after a few sips. "If that's all, I'll be returning to my room for dinner." I looked them both over. Kai's eyes were a bit glazed over, but a hint of sharpness returned to them.

"Don't do anything stupid, mate," Kai grumbled, looking me dead in the eyes. "They're still women. They'll still break you if you let them. Don't let them control you, and don't trust them further than you can toss 'em." The playful glint appeared in his eyes once more. "But don't let it keep you from having fun, eh? Go knock 'em up, mate!" He paused. "Err… not really. Fuck it, I'm tired. Piss off." I chuckled and patted his back as I stood. I glanced at Hisao.

"And Hisao." He looked up at me. I sighed, giving him a comforting glance. "Take care of Hanako. Lilly's been worried about her." I paused. "It might be best if you guys pulled away from the front lines for a while." The boy nodded slowly, a solemn expression crossing his face. "Goodnight," I left with those words, heading back to my room.

When I arrived, Asuna was setting food onto the table. It was a rather large meal, consisting of a stew of some sort, several types of what I assumed to be sushi, and Lilly's kaiseki ryori. Lilly must have still been in the kitchen, but Asuna spotted me. She smiled, clapping her hands together lightly.

"Welcome home, Keito!" she called to me. I chuckled, changing back to my home clothes as I walked towards the table. "Did Kai say what he wanted to that was so important?"

"He was drunk," I told her, making her face sour a bit. "It was fine, though. He's really gotten his groove back, so I'm happy for him." Asuna nodded, sitting at one side of the table.

"Lilly, hurry up! Keito's home!" Asuna shouted into the kitchen. I peered into the room Lilly was in, and she was carrying several glasses in her arms. As well as a bottle of wine.

"Be patient, Asuna," she chided the auburn. Lilly set the glasses down on the table at both sides of the table, and at its head. I chuckled, sitting at the head of the table, as Lilly sat down opposite of Asuna. "Honestly, in such a rush. The food will not cool, and the night will not suddenly disappear." I smiled and took both of their hands, giving them both a light squeeze.

"Well, shall we eat?" I asked, unable to contain my smile. The three things I loved the most were in front of me. Asuna, Lilly, and their cooking. How could I not be overjoyed? They both nodded, and we began our meal. Like all of the ones before them, it was magnificent. Yet behind my joy, I couldn't stop the lingering doubts of this entire relationship. I was afraid their jealousy would cause things to crumble. Only time would tell.

XXXXX

[Floor Twenty-Seven] [Crystal Caves Labyrinth] [June 22nd, 2023] [4:50 PM] [TheKaiSenpai]

I chuckled, swinging my blade through another [Perturbed Gargoyle]. It was another few days until the [Boss Raid] meeting, and DaTa had suggested that a few of us blow off some steam beforehand. MechManiC, DaTa, Asuna, Hisao, and myself were just making quick runs through the different floors, allowing the game to be just that, a game. Against the five of us, all at around [Level] fifty-two, none of the [Mobs] really stood a chance. In fact, I was pretty close to gaining a [Level]. I grinned as I heard MechManiC and DaTa speaking together.

"Ya know," DaTa muttered before slicing his blade through four unsuspecting [Stone Golems], "I think we should start calling Kirito back to the front lines. He's been gone for quite a while."

"Hurrrah!" MechManiC grunted, pounding a [Angry Miner] into dust. "You sure? He's kind of a dick to everyone, dude."

"Dick or not, he was useful," I sighed, blocking an attack. "I agree, we should bring him back. At this point he's just slacking off, not taking a vacation." Asuna scoffed.

"Really? Kirito's the definition of lazy asshole," she retorted. I shrugged.

"That's fair," I replied. Hisao seemed a bit confused.

"Who's Kirito?" he asked. The rest of us laughed. "What? What's so funny?"

"Kirito's… a very special case among the [Clearers]," DaTa spoke carefully. "He's one of the most unbearable assholes you'll ever meet, but damned if he isn't good at the game. Kai and I could probably fight him to a standstill, but Mech and Asuna would have some trouble."

"As insulting as that is," Asuna grumbled, "he isn't wrong. Kirito's biggest strength is his reaction speed. It's like he just loses focus on everything around him, and acts on instinct. Direct fighting, or going against him without a strong defense is pretty much suicide." Hisao seemed to think about that for a moment before continuing. Our assault lasted for about a half hour before we came upon a familiar sight.

"Oh look, a single chest in an empty room," Kirito spoke to the people around him. Some kid with a yellow beanie was already running into the trapped room. No… "Even we're not stupid enough to fall for that, right-"

"Hey, it's empty!" called from inside the room. Fucking idiot! I rushed into the room after them before the door shut behind me. I growled, surprising everyone in the room.

"Kai!" Kirito shouted as the room turned red and alarms started blaring. [Stone Golems] and [Angry Miners] began [Spawning] in the room. A [Monster Room]. My eye twitched. "Kai, I can explain!"

"Shut up, kid!" I roared, pounding my sword against my shield, grabbing the attention of most of the [Mobs] in the room. "You just focus on killing these fuckers!" I took a deep breath and let it all out in a primal scream. I was pissed off. First Kirito leaves for God knows how long, then I suddenly find him leading these underprepared kids to their deaths in a high [Level] [Dungeon]!? "ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAR!"

"Is that really 'The Laughing Fox'?" one of them asked.

"Not right now, Tetsuo!" Kirito shouted as the ambush began. "C'mon! I didn't train you to be quitters! Kick some ass so we can get out of here!" I roared and slashed through the incoming [Mobs] like butter. Not one of them would harm the kids behind me!

"Agh!" I heard a scream, and the shattering of polygons. Fuck! My eye twitched, and my blade glowed a fiery orange. Slicing faster than the eye could see, I ripped through the [Mobs] ahead of and beside me.

"Wha-Why!?" another scream, another burst. These fuckers could wait. I turned around, rushing towards the sound where the screaming was coming from. I hacked and slashed madly, hoping to save at least one of them.

"Sachi! No!" Kirito cried out. He sounded genuinely afraid, a first. I saw the arm come down on the raven haired girl, who was blocking another attack, unawares of the danger behind her. I snapped. No! No more deaths! No more misery! Kayaba had taken too many lives today!

"RRRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRR!" My [Howl] was so loud, the entire room shook. But I didn't care. All that mattered was that this girl survived. No matter what. She was important to Kirito. Even if he was unbearable, and nasty, and completely idiotic, he cared for this girl. He cared for someone other than himself, and I wouldn't let him lose her. Sha-BAM! The sound of my shield blocking the attack meant for her made the room shudder. It was a hollow, metal sound that made me stumble from my unready stance. But I kept my foothold and pushed the [Stone Golem] back, immediately killing it. I glanced back at the girl. "You ok, kid?" I asked her. She shuddered, nodding to me. My eyes narrowed, noticing that every [Mob] was focused on me, now. I grabbed the girl and tossed her over the line of enemies that had surrounded us. "Now get the fuck out of here!" I shouted to both her and Kirito. I stared down every hateful enemy. They would pay for their transgressions with their lives. I was severely outnumbered. I was tired from fighting through every floor for the last few days. I was at a disadvantage. Just the way I liked it. My expression turned to one of aggression and bloodlust. And I let out all of my stresses. My hatred. I let everything loose.

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[Asuna]

We stood outside the doors, waiting patiently for them to open. While I wasn't worried about Kirito or Kai, the thought of [Underlevelled] players being in a [Dungeon] like this had me on edge. What was Kirito thinking, bringing them here!? I finally caught my breath as the doors opened, Kirito stumbling out with a crying girl.

"H-Hey… it's ok, Sachi… we made it out…" he whispered to her. Inside, Kai was walking towards the door with an angry expression on his face. He was glaring at Kirito. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry about…" Kirito… was crying?

"You IDIOT!" Kai bellowed with rage I'd never seen on him before. It kind of scared me. "You killed innocent lives today! For what, a little treasure!?"

"I didn't mean to!" Kirito shouted back. He seemed terrified of Kai. I didn't blame him. Kai was like an angry parent right now. What person our age wouldn't be a little scared of him? "I thought they would be fine, and they wanted to come here! I told them not to but does anyone listen to me? No!" Kai kicked Kirito, sending him flying against the opposite wall. His eye was twitching, but I could see he was beginning to calm down.

"You're no longer one of the [Clearers]," Kai spoke in a firm tone. "You are not welcome on the front lines. Now get out of my sight." Kirito scrambled away, but not before grabbing the girl's hand. Keito sighed, glancing at Kai.

"That was a bit rough, Kai," he told the man. "I understand you, but that was a bit more than necessary." Kai crossed his arms and remained silent. It looked like he was trying to reign in his temper. Keito turned to the rest of us. "Let's get going. I've lost my spirit to keep moving forward, here." We all agreed. We all pulled [Teleport Crystals] from our [Inventories].

"Teleport, [Sharbon]."

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[Floor Seventy] [Sherwood Town, Black Forest Inn] [August 17th, 2024] [5:32 AM] [DaTa]

I smiled, wrapping my arms around the two beautiful women on either side of me. Both of their heads laid against my shoulders, their breathing soft and gentle. They were asleep, and I didn't really blame them. After all, tonight was a milestone for us. A first time for us. Connecting as one. I chuckled at the thought, causing Lilly, who was on my left side, to mumble in her sleep, wrapping her arms tighter around me. She was pretty clingy when she slept. Asuna, on the other hand, tended to move around in her sleep. It wasn't a rare time in which I'd find myself being hit by Asuna's tossing and turning. While it was a little annoying, it was kind of cute in her own way.

As I laid back, a little bit tired from the night's activities, I reminisced on how I'd gotten this far. Well, I'd joined this game on a whim, hoping to have a bit of fun with it. I'd accidentally met Asuna, and had taken her under my wing. Things happened, and I found myself falling for her, and her for me. After a while, though, we'd separated for a bit, before I came back to her. We'd managed to work things out very well, then Lilly appeared. We had a slump, but everything worked out. They still competed with one another for my affections, but now it was more like a contest between sisters would be. Kirito had been banned from the front lines for a while, but after a few close calls we decided to invite him back. He'd also brought that girl, Sachi, along.

I sighed, getting closer to the present. [Laughing Coffin] had become a huge pain recently, making even bolder moves than before, probably because we haven't gotten many words on them and had left them unchecked. Still, their pride would be their downfall. We'd gotten a note from a former member on their whereabouts, and were planning a [Raid] tomorrow. I closed my eyes. Asuna and Lilly had gotten worried. Scared, even. So they trapped me in bed tonight, and had their way with me. Not that I particularly minded. I blinked as I heard Asuna yawning beside me.

"Keito…?" she murmured. I glanced over at her, staring into her still sleepy, half-lidded eyes. "Oh… you're awake…" I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Yeah," I replied in a hushed toned, as to not wake Lilly. Asuna's left arm wrapped around mine, and her right hand laid itself on my chest. She sighed contently. "Worried about tomorrow?"

"I'm scared…" she admitted. "There are… actual people… We're going to be fighting people who want to kill us…" I closed my eyes and pressed my lips against hers, making her squeak in surprise, but it was ultimately returned. Her hand began trailing lower down my body, and I felt myself smile during the kiss.

"We can't go far," I told her, getting a slow nod. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of what she was doing. "Hmmm… the [Raid] will be short…" I told her. "Fighting among humans usually don't last long. I'm not sure how it'll translate over a game." She nodded slowly, her grip tightening a bit as she became more confident in what she was doing.

"Right… you were a ninja," she mumbled. I chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. "Still hard to believe that."

"Mmm, get used to it, cutie," I told her. "You're looking at a king." Asuna merely rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Yeah, well here you're a near world champion gamer and Youtuber," she retorted. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen." I grinned even more, checking the time. It was almost time to get up, so it would be a waste of time to fall back to sleep. I glanced back at Asna and winked.

"Wanna see if we can wake up Lilly?" I asked, grinning. Asuna blushed, but nodded regardless. I grinned even wider, pulling myself over top of her.

"A-Ah!" Asuna squealed in surprise as our fun began.

XXXXX

[Floor Twenty-Eight] [Fields] [August 17th, 2024] [1:30 PM] [TheKaiSenpai]

I sighed as we approached the alleged [Guild House] of the [Laughing Coffin]. With them out of the way, things will be easier as we try to beat this game. I let my grip tighten and loosen around my sword a few times, getting the blood flowing in my hands and arms. As we came upon the cave, and yes, it was a cave, I turned back to the entire [Clearing] [Party]. Everyone was here. Kirito. The [KoB]. The [Hopeful Foxes]. Klein's merry crew. Thinker, and the entirety of the [Aincrad Liberation Force]. Well, the ones he could muster up, anyway. The [Shadow Clan]. The [Roaring Dragons]. DaTa had even managed to get every single member of the [Howling Samurai] to join us. We were a force of over seven hundred players, against a [Guild] of at most fifty. The only difference that could lead to our downfall, was that [Laughing Coffin] had no limits about killing. It was time to remove ours as well. I sighed, knowing I was taking a great risk. I stood in front of the legions of people in front of me. I didn't care if the [Red Guild] could see us. I wanted them to. I wanted them to see us, and hear me. Beside me, to my left, stood DaTa. To my right, was Kirito. The three of us were beacons of hope to these players. I would not let them down.

"We are here," I told them all. "And inside, our enemies lie in wait, preparing for us!" I scowled, trying not to think of the lower [Levelled] members of my [Guild] who had been murdered during New Year's. "They, who killed our friends!" A roar of anger bellowed through the fields. "They, who slaughtered innocents!" Another cry of outrage. "And even now, as we speak, they plan on how to kill us!" Yet another roar echoed across the fields, those with shields banging their swords against them. I looked them all over as they listened for my words. "They would kill us in an instant. These beasts have no limits on the pain they'd inflict on us." I hesitated. "I ask of you, my brothers and sisters, to take upon yourselves the willingness to sacrifice part of your humanity…" I sighed, there was no turning back, "to do unto them, as they would us." Murmurs broke out amongst the [Clearers]. "I know it is a hard decision, and not all of you are willing to make it. I understand. In fact, I commend you for such bravery. To ease your minds, I will make it another priority to force them into surrender." I pulled out a [Corridor Crystal] from my [Inventory]. "I have with me a one-way path to the [Iron Palace Prison], where they will rot until the end of the game, where we can have them arrested in real life for murder!" A cheer went up from the [Clearers]. "But I beseech you! In a choice between your own life, and theirs! I'm sure we'd all rather that it be you, speaking and celebrating with us when this is all over, than them rotting in prison, laughing at their victory over you!" I grinned. "Now! Brothers and sisters of the [Clearers]! Today is not to be a victory for the [Hopeful Foxes]! Nor the [Howling Dragons]! Nor the [Midnight Black Cats]! No! Today will be a day, marking the victory of all of us! We, the brave men and women who dared to fight! Dared to clear this game, and free everyone from the tyranny of Kayaba Akihiko!"

A cry of pride arose from the sea of players before me. I grinned widely. I had them pumped. "Now! As one, we roar! For victory over our foes!"

"For victory over our foes!" they replied.

"ROOOOOOAAAAAAAAR!" I shouted.

"RRROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!" was the bellowing reply. I turned to the entrance of the cave.

"Surely, they tremble in fear of the mighty beasts before them!" I cried out. "Go and triumph! Fight, for those who lost their lives!" With that, I charged headfirst into the cave, the massive sea of players following me. I raised my shield, ready to block any incoming attack. Moments later, I felt something hit it. I grinned, shoving whomever it was back. I engaged the man, who was smirking at me. The top half of his face was hidden under the shadow of his hood. I got a look at his name. PoH. I smiled. How fitting for the two leaders of the battle field to face one another. I chuckled, stretching a bit.

(( watch?v=dZLMdy9DiLY ))

"You've come quite a long way from the little hero on the [First Floor]," PoH spoke to me, staring me down as the battle raged around us. It was more like a massacre. Even though the members of the [Laughing Coffin] fought back, they couldn't fight our overwhelming numbers. They couldn't even compete with us. PoH chuckled. "Yes, I see how fruitless our efforts are, trying to fight against you. Just like you, taking no chances whatsoever. The 'Baitor'." PoH's grin widened. "You are the hero of this story of ours, and I, the villain." A long blade slowly descended the long sleeves of his robes, and he grabbed it by the hilt. I readied my shield and sword. "Come, and prove to me what type of hero you are."

I grit my teeth as he burst towards me at speeds that DaTa would move. My eyes widened with concentration as I let out a yell. "Hah!" I shoved my shield forward, knocking away his blade as he swung at me. The sword spun in the air, making me lose track of where he could strike next. He used the recoil to spin, coming at me from the side. I grunted, feeling his blade slice my arm. Fuck, that hurt! I scowled, hating his easy smile as he reared back, swinging for my neck. I raised my shield to block it. Once more, he used the recoil to his advantage. Once more, his sword spun in his hand. I had to attack! I moved my shield to the side, slashing downward at him. He easily sidestepped my attack, his blade stopping in a reverse grip as he sliced at my legs. I grunted, feeling my knees buckle. His blade began to shimmer, and I was assaulted by a flurry of slashes. My armor and shield blocked most of the attacks, though.

"Come now, I was expecting more from the great 'hero," PoH taunted me. "Perhaps that bravado of being a great hero was just that, hollow words!" I growled, steeling myself and ignoring the pain of his previous attack. "I'm not even using my favorite sword! What good is a hero who cannot fight his enemy!" He swung at me. I blocked, pushing him back before I immediately attacked his left side, managing to cut his arm.

"Shut the hell up!" I shouted at him, noticing that the battle around us had ended. All that was left was our duel as both those from [Laughing Coffin] and the [Clearers] watched on. "What do you know of being a hero!?"

"Nothing," PoH admitted, parrying my next strike. I raised my shield just in time to block his strike in return. "But I know that you can never be one unless you defeat me. If I were using my favorite sword, this would have been over." He smirked, tossing his current blade away and summoning a new one from his [Inventory]. "There, now I will not hold back. You had better not, either." I grunted, trying to steady my breathing. Even DaTa wasn't interfering. This was a matter of my own pride. Still, this was an impossible battle. He was too quick, too unpredictable in where he'd strike. I knew there was something funny about that sword, too. Probably a [Paralysis] [Enchantment]. They did love their [Paralysis]. Now I had to avoid getting hit at all.

"You don't know anything…" I readied myself, raising my shield once more. "And I won't let you win!" PoH laughed.

"So melodramatic!" he taunted me. "Even if you lose, no difference will be made, today! My [Guild] has lost. I am surrounded. You only fight me for your own stupid pride!" He paused. "And you will die for it." He smirked. "Give up. You'll only get yourself killed, boy." I sneered at him, but knew he probably wasn't wrong. In a fair fight, I was outmatched. He simply would pull any trick that he could. But still… "Give up, and just turn me in. Don't turn this into a pyrrhic victory."

"Are you gonna sit there and take that!?" DaTa shouted at me. "You're The-motherfucking-KaiSenpai! You can own his ass like nothing else!" Did he really believe in me?

"Show him who's boss, dude!" MechManiC followed up. "Some punk can't beat the [Raid Commander] of the [Clearers]!"

"Naturally, I'd beat him easy," Kirito spoke up. "But since this is your fight, you'll have to do it for me. Don't disappoint me, alright old man?"

"You can win!"

"Don't let his words knock you down!"

"You're our fearless leader!"

"Don't listen to a word this dumbass says!"

"You're our hero!"

My grip tightened on my sword, and I was filled with determination. "I might not be all that," I spoke to PoH. "I might lose against you. I might only be fighting for my pride. But so are you! You could have given up at any time, but you still keep fighting against me for no reason! But here's the difference between us… You're the villain, and I'm the hero! You have nobody to stand by you in your time of need. You have no one who will watch your back! You're a selfish pig who wants nothing more that control and power!" I grinned widely. "But me… I have friends… family! I have my brothers and sisters who'll support me no matter where I go, and I'd gladly give up my life to do the same for them! As a hero, I don't only carry my own pride and power on my shoulders, but the hopes and dreams of everyone who stands beside me!" I raised my blade to the air. "So I, the 'Laughing Fox', will defeat you!" I lowered my blade towards PoH. Without giving him a chance to respond, I took a deep breath.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" I bellowed, dashing towards him. He raised his blade to deflect and parry mine, instantly pulling back his blade before thrusting it forward towards my head. I craned my neck to the side, flipping onto the ground and tumbling before I spun, extending my legs and kicking him twice. PoH stumbled back as I jumped back onto my feet. I dropped my shield and spun, swinging towards his torso. Of course, PoH blocked it, but I did something he would never have expected. I grabbed his blade tightly. It dug into my hand, and I could feel the [Paralysis] begin to set in. "For the murder of my friends!" I grunted, pulling my blade back behind my head. "My kin!" I thrust forward towards his neck. "This is their vengeance!" I felt my sword slice cleanly through his neck, before falling from the [Paralysis] from grabbing his sword. I fell to the ground, unable to move as I heard the shatter of polygons. I chuckled to myself, closing my eyes as people crowded me, and I heard Asuna heal me. "Get… dunked on… mate…" I felt myself pass out from exhaustion.

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[Floor Seventy-Four] [Kamdet, The Blooming Flower] [October 7th, 2024] [1:25 PM] [Asuna]

"-as well as becoming more attentive to me," Aya spoke in a happy tone. Ever since the [Raid] on [Laughing Coffin], Kai had been spending more time with Aya, as well as balancing out his work as [Raid Commander]. I guessed after a show like that, he deserved some control over his life. It wasn't easy though. It was pretty much an assurance that getting out of this game would be a lot slower than it had been, but I don't think people minded as much, now. We'd already been trapped here for almost two years. As much as we wanted out, people were starting to see [Aincrad] as home, just like Keito did. "It's nice to have my fiancé back. I don't know what DaTa did or said to him, but Kai's saying it's his doing."

"I don't either," I replied. "DaTa hasn't brought it up at all. I don't think he knows that he inspired Kai at all." Aya and Hanako both laughed.

"D-DaTa seems to b-be oblivious to the th-things a-a-around him," Hanako pointed out. She was more confident than the girl I'd met all those months ago, but she still had issues with huge crowds, and she still had a stutter. Hisao had been doing what he could to help her, but he told us that sometimes, doing nothing was all he could do. Hanako seemed adamant on helping herself.

"Please, if anyone's like that, it's Kai," I rolled my eyes at her statement. "It's like he has no clue what's going on around him, and just does his own thing."

"Well, you aren't wrong," Aya smiled as she spoke. "My fiancé has always been a bit melodramatic. He likes to live in his own little world. He's actually described how he sees the world, to me!" I leaned forward. I had to hear this! "He says he imagines the world like an anime. Music sometimes runs through his head at certain points, and all sorts of sound effects and plotlines will sometimes pop into his mind at random."

"D-Does he need h-h-help…?" Hanako asked cautiously. I was wondering the same thing. This sounded serious.

"He's also acknowledged that none of it is real, and is all part of his overly active imagination," Aya eased our worries. "He mostly keeps these things to himself, but…" Aya trailed off. "Sometimes he's so excited, so charismatic… You just can't help but be drawn into that world with him…" Her eyes were half-lidded, and she was staring at the cup of tea in front of her. Even still, a happy smile graced her face, like she was reliving an old, happy memory.

To be honest, I understood what she meant. When the [Clearers] were watching Kai fight PoH, we didn't have to cheer him on. I'm sure that we all silently knew that Kai could outmatch the [Red Player]. Even still, like a crowd cheering on a hero, we called out to him. And like a hero, he stood to rise to the challenge. He gave a speech that had been recorded by someone, and passed around the whole of [Aincrad]. The days after that speech he made, we received a huge influx of players who claimed they wanted to join the [Clearers]. We had to turn most of them down, though. They simply weren't high enough in [Level]. But still, if we had accepted them all, the [Clearers] would have doubled in size. One man… could inspire hundreds to pick up their swords and fight.

Yeah, maybe we had been drawn into Kai's own little world. But the strange thing was, I don't think anyone minded. He was a beacon of hope, now. People were starting to call him the 'Invincible Hero'. The term 'Baitor' had all but disappeared. Membership for the [Hopeful Foxes] had quadrupled, and Kai had asked Amako, his Vice Commander, to turn them down for him.

"I didn't have the heart to tell them 'no'," he'd stated publicly. "If I were the one to answer, I'd always say yes. But I knew that I couldn't put them in harm's way. So I sent the wall!"

"It's astounding how much he's changed the people in this game," Aya stated once more. "People are starting to have hope again. After a year and a half, things died down pretty quickly, but now…" She giggled lightly. "Now… I'm proud of him. He finally became the hero he always dreamed of being." She turned to me. "How is DaTa faring? He's been training extremely hard recently, I hear."

"Yeah…" Hanako agreed with Aya. "L-Lilly has told me that t-too… Is he o-ok…?" I sighed, frowning a bit.

"Yeah," I replied flippantly. I'd already gotten this question from MechManiC. "He's just trying to catch up with everyone else. Well, he's trying to surpass Kirito, actually. I asked him why, but he wouldn't respond to me about it." I paused. "I think something big is going to happen. I can just feel it. DaTa talks in his sleep, and he keeps muttering about the [Seventy-Fifth Floor]." Both of the women across from me grimaced. It was common knowledge now that every twenty-fifth [Floor] held a [Boss] that was more powerful than usual. "I think he's afraid of it."

"With the numbers among the [Clearers], I would assume any [Boss] would be easy," Aya stated. I shook my head.

"[Boss Rooms] will only accept so many players until the others are all cut off," I said. "We're all training to be the ones picked to fight. Only the top [Levelled] players are allowed to go on [Raids]. The rest are mostly there to help with [Field Bosses] and exploring the [Labyrinth]. It helps speed things up, but [Bosses] are another matter completely." Aya hummed thoughtfully.

I took another sip of my tea as we sat, thinking things over. I wondered what DaTa could have said or done to inspire Ki so much. It had to have been some kind of ancient wisdom, or something he learned from one of his other lives. I smiled. Regardless of what it was, it made me happy to know he was in my life. I sighed, also remembering how I had been assigned a bodyguard. While he wasn't on duty yet, it was still annoying to know I had to have someone following me around all day. Probably some pervert, I'd bet.

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[Floor Seventy-Four] [Kamdet, Teleportation Courtyard] [October 18th, 2024] [9:00 AM] [DaTa]

I yawned, waiting for Asuna to arrive. I'd agreed to bring her along on my training, something she'd happily accepted. Lilly had deigned to pass, though. She admitted that fighting was not her specialty. Even at my insistence, she wanted nothing to do with it. So we let her be, and today would just be about Asuna and myself. I promised her a day of just ourselves, soon.

"Get away from me, you weirdo!" I hear Asuna shout from behind me. I turned around just in time for her to run into me, instantly putting me between her and…

"Kuradeel?" I spoke aloud. "Eh… Asuna, what's going on?" I turned back to speak to her as the rather wrinkly [KoB] member stood before us.

"That creep was sitting in front of our door!" Asuna shouted. My eyes widened as I glanced back at Kuradeel.

"What the hell!?" I growled. The man had the gall to look indignant.

"As miss Asuna's bodyguard, I am required to guard her body at all times!" he claimed. I glanced at Asuna.

"Wait, you have a bodyguard?" I asked her. She glared at me. "Right, right, back on point." I sighed and turned to Kuradeel. "Alright, let's get this straight. Being a bodyguard doesn't mean being a stalker. Give her some distance, man!"

"I will not be told how to do my job, by a [Guild Master] who cannot even lead his [Guild]!" Kuradeel shouted. I approached him.

"Kuradeel," I rested my hand on his shoulder, glaring at him. "You really don't want to mess with me. Now turn your wrinkly ass around, and walk away." A conflicted expression appeared on his face, before he did just that, mumbling all the way. I chuckled and smiled, turning back to Asuna. "So," I walked back to my girlfriend. "Wanna get going?"

"Oh look, it's ginger and the beast," I heard a voice speaking from the [Teleport Platform]. I turned, seeing Kirito and Sachi stepping off. While Kirito tried to avoid us, Sachi was dragging him towards Asuna and myself.

"Kirito," she spoke in a disappointed manner.

"Sorry," Kirito sighed, surprising me. My expression morphed into a sly smile.

"Balls trapped in her purse?" I asked the boy as they approached. Kirito shot me a pointed glare. "Hey, easy there, tiger. I know the pain." I chuckled, smiling towards the both of them. Sachi had improved greatly since I'd last really seen here in the [Labyrinth] of the [Twenty-Seventh Floor]. I gave her a light smile, which she returned.

"Are you both going to the [Labyrinth]?" she asked.

"Yeah," I replied, resting my hand on the hilt of my blade. "I'm assuming you're doing the same?"

"No, we're going to the [Town Square] to have sex in public," Kirito responded before Sachi could talk. The raven haired girl's face turned red.

"Wha-Wha-What!?" she squeaked. Kirito merely smirked and crossed his arms. "Kirito!" Sachi punched the boy in the arm. "Th-That's inappropriate!"

"Wanna come with us?" Asuna asked them, trying her best to ignore Kirito's comment. I grinned and winked at the boy, getting a smile in return. "We could use some extra firepower." The two of them glanced at one another before Kirito nodded.

"I could use two meat shields," he said, but there wasn't much bite behind it. While he was still kind of an ass, Sachi had been able to take the edge off of him. She was a good girl. I nodded towards them.

"Let's get moving, then," I told them. "We don't want to waste all our time standing around." With that, we made our way towards the [Labyrinth].

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A/N: I had originally planned for this entire chapter to be in DaTa's PoV, but realized that it would be much more interesting to write the [Raid] in Kai's. After all, his entire theme in this story is his desire to be more than just a man. If you've followed his struggle through this story, it's him trying to balance what he wants to be. He wants to be a hero and a leader, but he also wants to be a loving fiancé to Aya. What we've mostly seen is him trying his hardest to maintain both, but he's been struggling with it. He doesn't think he can. Finally, he snaps when he sees Kirito being a bad leader. I think he saw a bit of himself in Kirito then.

I decided this would be the best place for him to finally resolve his inner struggle. We see him being taunted, having it rubbed in his face that he's being selfish, and only really doing all of this for himself. PoH points out some pretty valid things, like how melodramatic Kai is and how everything he's done has been for some pretty stupid reasons. Things I hadn't really thought of until now. And yet, Kai rises to the challenge with the help of his friends, and finds some good things about what he's done, and how he's affected the people around him. He finally comes to peace about what he's doing. This chapter was, admittedly, a bit rushed. To be honest, I planned the entire Aincrad Arc to be a type of Prologue of sorts, introducing the characters and shaping them for the future. I realize I haven't taken much time to develop my characters, so I've decided to slow down a bit, and devote some chapters to the main characters, letting them actually grow.