Everyone, I'm back! I hope you have a good day today. Cause I have. I got my first, second and third reviews. It was wonderful. Gave a clap of applause to our first reviewer, Tyrannus Max, second reviewer, Doreiku Dragon and the third, Sunlight Summoner.

Thank you for all your supports from the three of you, and to the ones that support me with following me and favoriting me. I thank you also.

Chapter 3: Captive Queen

The Salamander on the right was stunned, as he stared in surprise of the stranger.

Leafa look on in surprise too, as she couldn't believe the speed the stranger held. As everyone was astonished by his speed, Izayoi turns around as a smirk could be seen from his black scarf.

"Who's next?" Izayoi said with a smirk, as the right Salamander player, turns to him in surprise. Izayoi took a step forward, as he instantly vanished, and reappears before the shocked Salamander player. Izayoi slashed at his chest, slicing him into half, and killing him instantly, as he then turns to Kagemune.

Izayoi sensing that he wasn't going to attack, pointed his daito at him, making sure that he didn't mean harm. "Well? You want to fight, too?" Izayoi asked staring with a pointed look at him. Kagemune put his hands up a little, "I'll pass. My magic skill will reach 900 soon. I'd rather not incur a death penalty." Kagemune explained as Izayoi snicker at his answer.

"Smart..." He said as he then turns to Leafa.

"What about you, young lady?" Izayoi asked as Leafa put her hand up.

"I'm good, too." She said as she look at Kagemune. "Next time, I'll win." She stated at him.

"I'd prefer not to fight you one-on-one, either." Kagemune said as he flew up and away from them.

"Is this Player Killing? It's better than I thought." Izayoi commented as he look down at his black daito.

"Hey, what are these flames?" Izayoi asked poking one with his daito.

"Don't touch that! They're Remain Lights. Their minds are still there." Leafa stated as the two flames dissipates.

"So what should I do now? Thank you? Run away? Or fight?" Leafa said raising her sword at the last sentence. Izayoi snickered, as he laugh which confuses Leafa.

Izayoi then stopped laughing as he stood there, and he could see the young lady in all her glory. She has bright green eyes and wears white and green clothes. She also has a white and green collar on her neck. She has long blond hair, tied up with a flower like hairband. Her hair bangs, however, are not tied up with her hair. Also, her ears are quite long and pointy.

After Izayoi inspected her, he went to answer her question of fighting him.

"You wouldn't stand a chance against me, young lady. Not even close." Izayoi said as Leafa narrowed her eyes. "Really? Well, how about we test it now?" She said raising her sword at him.

"You'll..." Izayoi said as he instantly vanished from his spot, as Leafa look around for him.

"Lose." Izayoi said appearing behind Leafa, with his daito at her neck. Leafa glanced behind her, surprised that he appear that fast. She never seen anyone that fast before, never.

"You win." Leafa sighs in defeat lowering sword and sheathing it inside its sheath.

"That's much better." Izayoi said with a smile, vanishing behind Leafa and reappearing on his previous spot. The black daito in his hand disappear, as Izayoi stood there with a thoughtful loo, thinking about the young lady's question.

"Personally, I see myself as the hero who just saved the princess. Crying and running into my arms would be a good start. And reward." Izayoi stated with a thoughtful look.

"Are you stupid?!" Leafa asked as the statement anger her, while Izayoi chuckles, as he held out his hand, waving it in dismissal.

"I'm just kidding. But if you want to, we can do it at another time." Izayoi said as Leafa was starting to get annoyed from his jokes.

"That's right!" A voice startled Leafa. "You can't do that!" The voice said as Leafa tried to search from where the voice was coming from.

"Yui..." Izayoi sighs with a smile, as Yui flew around Izayoi. "The only ones who can hug Papa are Mama and me!" Yui exclaimed stopping beside Izayoi's ear, spreading her arms to defend her father.

"P-Papa?" Leafa said in surprised as she approached Izayoi. "Oh, well this is..." Izayoi exclaimed as he pick Yui by the hand, covering her mouth with his finger.

"Is that a Private Pixie?" Leafa asked.

"Something like that." Izayoi said with a nod.

"Fine, but why is a Spriggan wandering around here?" Leafa asked as she slowly circled around him.

"Well, I got bored and took a stroll here. And well, I got lost." Izayoi simply said as Leafa stopped as she laughed.

"Your territory is way to the east! Is it even possible to be that lost? You're so weird." Leafa said laughing as Izayoi sighs, not wanting to cause any false alarms that he just newly log in the game.

"Anyway, I should thank you. Thanks for saving me. My name is Leafa." Leafa said introducing herself to him.

"Anything for a lovely lady like you. My name is Izayoi." Izayoi said as Leafa's eyes widen.

"I-Izayoi?!" Leafa asked in her mind, as she can't believe that Izayoi was here. "Calm down... Maybe he used the same name... " Leafa calmed herself down, as Izayoi raised an eyebrow at her behaviour.

"Leafa, are you okay?" Izayoi asked putting his hand on top of her forehead. "You're not having a fever, that's for sure." Izayoi said while Leafa who stood still, blushed at the close contact. She then pushed away his hand, from her forehead, as Izayoi stare at her in confusion.

"I'm okay." Leafa reassure him, as Izayoi nods, as he then continued on his introduction. "This is Yui." He said as Yui bowed her head, as she sat on Izayoi's hand. She then flew up and sat on Izayoi's shoulder.

"So, I-Izayoi-kun." Leafa stuttered as Izayoi raised an eyebrow on the stutter, while Leafa inside she was having a mental breakdown. "Is it him? Is it Izayoi?" She asked herself, as she couldn't accept the fact that he was here with her and that he just saved her.

Leafa then shook her head out of her thoughts, as she focuses on to Izayoi, finally seeing him completely. He had light blonde hair swept in all direction, and he had purple eyes. All the things that he had, was the same as Izayoi in the real world. Also, he was slightly taller than her, with her eyes standing at the same level as his scarf that covered his mouth.

"What will you do now? If you'd like, I could buy you a drink as thanks. Well?" Leafa offered wanting no more than to get out of this awkward situation.

"That would be nice. But I like the you fall in my arms, better." Izayoi joked as Leafa turn away from him, for a second.

"Keep it together, Leafa! He just using the same name, which he somehow had the same characteristics of a person... I like..." Leafa thought as she then turn towards Izayoi.

"Actually, I was looking for someone who could tell me some things." Izayoi reasoned.

"Like what?" Leafa asked.

"About this world, and especially about that tree." Izayoi said referring to the World Tree.

"That tree? The World Tree?" Leafa said as a smile formed on her lips. "Sure. I've been playing this game a long time. There's a neutral village to the north. It's a bit far, but let's fly there." Leafa said as she went ahead. "Isn't the town called Sylvein closer?" Izayoi asked.

"You really don't know anything, do you? That's Sylph territory." Leafa answered.

"So?" Izayoi said

"That means you can't attack Sylphs in their territory, but they can attack you." Leafa explained as Izayoi scratched his head. "They wouldn't just start attacking all of a sudden. And I have you with me, Leafa-chan." Izayoi exclaimed with a smile, as Leafa blushed a little but kept her composure on things.

"Just call me Leafa. If you insist, it's fine. But I can't guarantee that you'll survive. Then, let's go." Leafa said as green wings materialized on her back.

"You can fly without an ansist controller?" Izayoi asked as Leafa look at him. "Yeah, what about you?" She said as Izayoi intend to lie, just to get a better understanding how to fly.

"I just recently learned how to use this..." He said showing her the assist control. "There's a trick to flying on your own. Turn around, and don't use your controller." Leafa said as Izayoi turns around.

"Okay." Izayoi said.

"Can you tell me where I'm touching you?" Leafa stated as Izayoi nodded, while Leafa inside she was blushing.

"Imagine virtual bones and muscles spreading out from here, then try to move them." She explained to Izayoi.

"Virtual bones and muscles, eh?" Izayoi said as his black wings began to spread widely.

"Like that! Just like that." Leafa said as she released her hand from him.

"Try the same movement again, but stronger." Leafa adviced as Izayoi sighs, not wanting to do it anymore as he already learned by himself. But before he could have say anything, he was suddenly pushed by Leafa as he instantly flew upwards, crashing through some tree branch in the process.

After a while, Leafa started to get worried as she then realized that Izayoi hadn't come down yet, "Oh, crap!" She said as she and Yui look at each other, as the two flew upwards.

"Papa!" Yui called.

"Izayoi-kun, you okay?" Leafa asked as they look around for him. Then they suddenly looked up, as the two saw Izayoi fell down through the sky, as he directly crashes through the ground, making a crater of where he crash landed.

"That was not fun..." Izayoi mumbled in the crater, as he then laid back on the ground, to get some rest from the launch pad, to which he was the and Yui flew towards Izayoi, as the two could see he was getting some rest.

"Izayoi-kun?" Leafa asked as she and Yui look down towards Izayoi.

"Papa? Are you okay?" Yui asked.

"Do you think I'm okay? That was not fun, I tell you. When you give a push like that next time, give me some warning would you?" Izayoi groaned laying down on the ground, as he still need some rest from his sudden burst of speed to the sky.

Leafa and Yui look at each other, as they laughed. "I'm sorry, Papa!" Yui said while laughing.

"That's hilarious at least..." Leafa said laughing at Izayoi, who laid there.

"This is refreshing and great." Izayoi said as he flew in the sky. "It is, right? You've got good instincts." Leafa said as she and Yui watched Izayoi flew back and forth.

"Now, follow me." Leafa said as she flew the other way, "Okay." Izayoi said following right behind her.

"Go slow at first." Leafa stated.

"We can go faster." Izayoi said with a challenging smirk on his face, but it could only be seen a little as his scarf covers his mouth.

"Oho?" Leafa said as she went faster, propelling her forward.

"Easy." Izayoi said disappearing, as Yui look around for her father, but as she knows that he was going to catch up to Leafa, she flew towards Leafa.

"Is this fast enough? I don't think it's fast enough to say the least. I mean is this the fastest we can go?" Izayoi asked reappearing behind a surprised Leafa.

"Don't blame me for whatever happens." She said as she went even further.

"I can't go on..." Yui said flying beside Izayoi, as she then flew inside Izayoi's jacket pocket that was near his stomach.

"You might be the first other person who can handle this speed." Leafa praised to Izayoi as the two headed for Sylvein.

Sylph Territory, Sylvein January 20, 2025

"We're here." Izayoi stated as he look down at the players walking by their hometown.

"We'll land at the base of the central tower." She said as she then realizes something.

"Izayoi-kun, do you know how to land?" She asked as Izayoi sighs.

"I don't think..." His answer made Leafa close her eyes. "Um... Sorry! It's too late. Good luck!" Leafa said wishing him good luck as she them flew down while Izayoi just kept on going through the tower.

"You got to be kidding me. Well, how about we try something like this?" Izayoi muffled under his scarf, as he maneuvered his body, so that his feet was gonna hit the tower than his face.

Boom! All of the Slyphs look towards the sound, while the birds around the town flew off.

Izayoi look down at the ground, as he kept a grip on the ledge from the crater that he created. "Well, I hope there's a soft bed waiting for me below." Izayoi said with a sigh, as he let go of his grip on the ledge, and he propelled down on the ground.

"And... There's not a soft bed below me." Izayoi stated, laying flat against his back on the ground, as Leafa knelt down, as she look down at him.

"That was horrible, Leafa." Izayoi said with a sigh.

"It's okay. I'll heal you." Leafa said as she chanted incantations as green light covered Izayoi.

"Is this magic?" He asked watching the green light heal him, while looking up at his HP, that was recovering from the spell.

"Only Undines can use high-level healing magic. But that's a really important spell, so you should learn it, too." Leafa adviced.

"So different races get different bonuses? What are Spriggans good at?" Izayoi asked as he stood up.

"Treasure hunting and illusion magic, I guess. Neither of those is much use in battle." Leafa said as Izayoi nodded knowledgeably.

"Okay." Izayoi said to Leafa, accepting her information on Spriggan.

"Illusion magic, huh?" Izayoi thought for a second.

"So this is a Sylph town? It's pretty." Izayoi commented. "Isn't it?" Leafa stated appreciating the comment.

"Leafa-chan!" A voice called out to them, as the two turned around.

"You're okay!" Recon shouted waving his hand at her, as he then stopped in front of her and Izayoi.

"Oh, Recon." Leafa said welcoming him.

"You're great, Leafa-chan." Refon said as he finally notices Izayoi.

"A Spriggan?!" He said surprised as he grabbed a hold of his dagger that was in its sheath.

"It's okay. He saved me." Leafa said as Refon looked on in confusion.

"This is Recon, my friend." Leafa stated as Izayoi extended a hand to Recon.

"Hi, I'm Izayoi." Izayoi said as Recon sheepishly came towards him and shake his hand with Izayoi.

"Nice to meet you." Recon exclaimed as his eyes widen, "No... No, no, no!" Recon stated jumping back from Izayoi, as he grip his dagger.

"Are you sure about this? He isn't a spy or anything, is he?" Recon asked Leafa, as to which she replied with a smile. "It's fine. He's a little too dim to be a spy." Leafa said as Izayoi turns to her with a raised eyebrow.

"Isn't that a little too mean towards the one that saved you?" Izayoi stated as Leafa smiled at him.

"Sigurd and the rest saved you a seat at the usual tavern." Recon announced.

"Oh, okay." She said as she thought about the offer for a second. "I'll pass today." Leafa said clapping her hands together, indicating that she was sorry that she couldn't accept the invitation.

"Eh? You aren't coming?" Recon said in mild surprised.

"No, I promised Izayoi-kun a drink for saving me." Leafa reasoned, as she grab a hold oh Izayoi's hand and began to drag him. "See you later!" She said as the moved on to grab a drink.

"Is this okay?" Izayoi asked as he glanced back at Recon.

"Leafa-chan..." Recon called out, as he was left alone.

At a Tavern

A waiter handed Izayoi and Leafa their drinks, as she then left.

"Was that you boyfriend?" Izayoi asked raising an eyebrow.

"Your lover?" Yui added, holding a piece of bread in her hands.

"N-No! He's just a party member." Leafa said shaking her head.

"You seemed pretty close, though." Izayoi stated.

"I know in real life. He's in my grade at school. But that's all!" Leafa explained as Izayoi smiled. "Don't worry. I'm just joking. I know your friend from the start." Izayoi said as Leafa raised an eyebrow at him.

"When those Salamander chased you, I've seen you and Recon fought." Izayoi explained. "Then why don't you help us? You could've simply killed them all with your speed." Leafa reasoned as Izayoi shook his head. "It's not that simple after I just learned how to fly. But I can help you nonetheless earlier. I thought I could simply watch from the sidelines, and let you handle it." Izayoi stated as he lean back in his sit.

"But after you were hit and fell down. Well, I have to take things in my own way. And then I met you and now we're here, getting a drink for me. Which I could think of is a small price than saving your life." Izayoi commented.

"Why is that?" Leafa asked.

"Well, I think the run and crying into my arms offer, it's much better then getting a drink. And I would enjoyed it every second of it." Izayoi teased with a playful smirk, while Leafa blushed, but tried to hide it, as she coughed a couple times to get rid of the blush, that was starting to spread across her face.

"Anyway. Thanks for saving me!" Leafa said as she and Izayoi brought their cups together.

"They were pretty aggresive. Are group PKs like that common?" Izayoi questioned drinking his cup and then setting it done on the table.

"Salamander and Sylphs don't get along, to begin with. But an organized PK like that is pretty new. I'm sure they'll start trying to clear the World Tree soon." Leafa said which intrigued Izayoi.

"About that, I'd like you to tell me about the World Tree." Izayoi said.

"You said something about that. But why?" Leafa asked.

"I want to get up there." Izayoi stated as Leafa look down at the ground.

"I think that's true for all the players. That's ALO's grand quest." Leafa said as Izayoi stare at her with a curious look.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You know how you're limited in how high you can go? And no race can fly continuously for more than ten minutes. But the first race to reach the Floating City atop the World Tree, and hold an audience with the Fairy King Oberon, will be reborn as an advanced class known as Alfs. And they'll be able to fly as much as they like." Leafa explained as Izayoi nods.

"I see. That does sound nice." Izayoi said agreeing with her, as he ate a chocolate cake from the pantry.

"How do you get to the top of the World Tree?" Izayoi asked.

"The base is a big dome. You can reach the Floating City from there. But the NPC guardians that defend the dome are really powerful." Leafa said to which Izayoi was a bit surprised by that.

"They're that strong?" He questioned.

"The game's been around for a full year. Would you believe no one's beaten the quest yet?" Leafa reasoned as Izayoi look down.

"Everyone must be missing a key quest. Or it's set so that one race can't get there by themselves." Izayoi explained as Leafa wore a smile on her face, when he explain it.

"You have good instincts. Everyone's searching for a missed quest as hard as they can right now. But if it's the latter, no one will ever clear it." Leafa exclaimed.

"No one?" Izayoi questioned.

"Because it makes no sense! Why would you help another race with a quest if only one can clear it?" Leafa stated as Izayoi narrowed his eyes at the statement.

"Then, does that mean it's impossible to reach the top of the World Tree?" Izayoi asked with a sad tone in his voice.

"I think so. But you can't just give it up. Not once you see how fun it is to fly. Even if it take years, someday..." Leafa said as Izayoi clench his fist tightly.

"That's too long..." Izayoi said as his hair shadowed his face. Yui flew towards her father's shoulder as he put her hands on his cheeks, calming him.

"Papa?" Yui asked as Izayoi closed his eyes and breath a deep breath, trying to calm down. He then look up at Leafa, "I'm sorry. But I need to reach the top of the World Tree." Izayoi mutters.

"Why is it so important?" Leafa asked as she grabbed her cup.

"I'm looking for someone..." Izayoi said.

"What do you mean?" Leafa questioned which a frown appear on Izayoi's face. "It's not easy to explain." Izayoi said as he look down, his eyes took a sad color to it, as Leafa gasped a little as she look down too.

"Thank you, Leafa. That information helped a lot." Izayoi said as he then stood up and prepare to leave, but Leafa stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"Wait. Are you going to the World Tree?" Leafa asked sadly.

"Yes, I need to see for myself. Whatever it takes." Izayoi said as he prepared to leave a again, but not before Leafa speak up. "'It's crazy..." She said as Izayoi let go of her hand, and then continued to leave.

"It's far, far away, and there are a lot of strong monsters. Sure, you're strong, but..." She exclaimed, trying to stopped Izayoi from leaving, but it seemed it was useless.

"I fought monsters worse than this..." Izayoi mutters as he began to exit the tavern.

"Then, I'll take you there!" Leafa said stopping him, as Izayoi turns to her.

"But I couldn't ask that of someone I just met." Izayoi stated looking at her, as Leafa walked closer to him.

"Do you know how to get there? What about the guardians?" She said as every time she speak, she gets closer to Izayoi.

"Well, I'll think of something." Izayoi said as Leafa stood in front of him.

"It's fine. I've already made up my mind!" Leafa said turning her face away from him, as a smile spread on Izayoi's face.

"Now isn't that easy to follow?" Izayoi asked looking at her, with a playful smirk.

"Um..." Leafa said as a blush adorned her cheeks. "Can you log in tomorrow?" She asked glancing at him, as Izayoi smiled.

"Yeah." He stated with a nod.

"Then be here at 3:00 PM. I have to log off." Leafa said as she open her menu. "You can use the rooms upstairs to log out. See you tomorrow." She said as she tapped the Log Out button, but before she does, Izayoi stopped her, by grabbing Leafa's hand that was about to tap the Log Out button.

"Wait." Izayoi stated as Leafa turns to him. Then, her eyes widen as she was suddenly being hugged by Izayoi. "Thank you." He whispered as he let go of the hug, to which Leafa could stare in shock.

Izayoi smiled at her, as he grasp her cheek. "Wh-What are you doing?" Leafa asked as her eyes wandered around here. "T-There's people in here!" Leafa said in a panicked voice, trying to reason with him, but failed to do so.

"Don't worry, this is just a thank you gift." Izayoi whispered as he leaned towards Leafa, and then peck her forehead. There was a soft and warm situation around the two of them, while Izayoi pecked her forehead.

Leafa's eyes widen, as she recalled how Izayoi peck her forehead in the real world.

Izayoi back away from Leafa, releasing his hand from her cheek, as he again smiled at her. But this time, he lowered his scarf, so that she could see finally see his smile, from his scarf.

"Thank you, Leafa." He said with his charming smile.

"Izayoi?!" Leafa shouted mentally, as she instinctively raised her hand to cover her mouth from gasping.

"What's wrong, Leafa?" Izayoi asked raising an eyebrow, after seeing Leafa strange reaction. Leafa stammer on what to say, she can't believe that Izayoi was here! She was thinking on what to say but she was tongue tied to say what it was.

"Huh? O-Oh... It-It's nothing! It's just your face is familiar to someone, my friend likes." Leafa simply said, as she couldn't think of anything to say, but she hoped that Izayoi believe it.

"Oh? Well, if she wants to see me. Then, I don't mind." Izayoi replied with a smile, as Leafa stared at him, calming down for a bit, seeing that Izayoi believed her. After a while, she turns to her menu, and then to Izayoi.

"Bye. See you, Leafa." Izayoi stated with a wave of his hand, as Leafa smiled and then tap the Log Out button.

In the Real World

Suguha wakes up, blinking her eyes several times, adjusting her view, seeing as she looked upon a poster on the ceiling. She then took off her Amusphere, as she recalled her encounter with Izayoi. Then, her face went red as she trashed around on her bed, and she turns on her side, hugging her long sized pillow in the process.

"Izayoi..." She whispered as she recalled her statement to Izayoi, and the peck on her forehead.

"My friend likes..." She mutters the last sentence, as she hugged her pillow tightly.

Suguha then touched her forehead, of where Izayoi pecked it. Instantly, her face went red again. She turns to look at her door, wanting to sneak inside Izayoi's room, to see if it was true, that he was playing the game, but she decided against it. She will ask Izayoi later, when the time is right.

"Izayoi-kun..."

In a rented room, Yui flew towards Izayoi, who was laying on a bed, as she flip, turning back to her original form.

Izayoi turns to his side, to look at her. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, as his hands were behind his head.

"This is goodbye until tomorrow. Right, Papa?" Yui asked as Izayoi wore a small smile.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon, to see you again." Izayoi said to her.

"Um... Papa, can I sleep next to you until you log out?" Yui said nervously as one of her hand were scratching the other one, behind her back.

"Yeah, sure. Anything for my little princess." Izayoi said with a smile, as he already could tell she was nervous when she ask him.

Yui brighten when she heard his answer, as she climbed up onto the bed beside Izayoi.

"Let's save Asuna, and buy a house somewhere again, okay?" Izayoi said looking at Yui.

"It sounds like a dream, living with Papa and Mama again." Yui stated as one of Izayoi's hand grabbed her shoulder.

"It isn't a dream. I'll make it real soon." Izayoi exclaimed as Yui smiled and nodded.

"Let's go to sleep, shall we?" Izayoi asked as he turn to his side, his back against the soft bed.

"Goodnight, Yui." Izayoi said as he closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

Yui smiled watching him, "Goodnight, Papa."

At the top of the World Tree...

A saddened Asuna was sitting all alone, inside a giant golden birdcage. Two birds were pecking around a table, and Asuna extend her hand to reach one, but they flew away from her, which saddens her more.

"I love that look of yours more than anything, Titania." A voice that Asuna knew, as she looks up.

"The one where you seem about to cry. I want to freeze it and hang it on a wall." The Fairy King Oberon said with a sinister smirk.

"Then, go ahead." Asuna said calmly, sitting on a chair.

The locked gate on the birdcage opens as Oberon enters and walked towards Asuna.

"You can do whatever you like, right? You're a system admin." She said.

"You're so cold. Have I ever touched you when you didn't want me to, Titania?" Oberon asked with a smirk.

"Stop calling me that weird name. My name is Asuna, Sugou-san." Asuna said with a pointed look.

"You're ruining the fun... In this world, I am the Fairy King Oberon. The ruler of ALfheim, whom all players regard with awe. And you are my bride, the Queen Titania. Isn't that enough? When will you open your heart to me as my bride?" Oberon, who was Sugou stated, looking down at her.

"It's hopeless. The only things I have to give you are disgust and hatred. That's all." Asuna simply said, not wanting to look at Sugou, as she just stare down at the table in front of her.

"You're very strong willed. But you know... Lately, I've been thinking it might be nice to take you by force." Sugou said as he inappropriately touched her face, and then he went down to her top, which had a red ribbon.

He then tried to take the top off, "Stop it..." Asuna mutters under her breath, as suddenly Sugou was blasted away from a shocked and glowing Asuna.

Harm Intention Detected

"W-What is that?" Sugou asked as he saw that his clothes were slightly burned, and his sleeve were burned right off its fabric. Sugou then look at Asuna who was glowing in a yellow light.

"I'll always protect you, Asuna..." A voice in Asuna's head, suddenly reminded her of when she felt a strange kind of energy engulfed her, when she hugged Izayoi, before he slowly turns to light.

"Izayoi-kun... Thank you." She whisper under her breath, with a small smile.

"H-How can this be? I can't seem to destroy or detect where it is coming from." Sugou said after checking his menu, about the strange energy coming from Asuna. He wanted to delete it after confirming that it's real. But all he got was unknown, and an unknown user.

"Looks like, you can't touch me anymore." Asuna said while inside she wore a smirk.

"No! This can't be! How can a measly, weak shield appear and doesn't have code access to it. Who is behind this?" Sugou said with hatred laced on his tongue.

"Nevermind, I will find out about that system on you later. Titania. But it won't be too long before you start to want me." Sugou said with a evil smile.

"Are you insane?" Asuna asked as the light around her disappeared.

"You won't be talking like that for long. There are tens of thousands of players enjoying this game right now. But they don't understand the true value of the full-dive system." Sugou said as Asuna look warily at him. "By expanding the brain's control regions, it's possible it could control thought, emotion, even memory." He explained as Asuna gasp.

"No... They wouldn't allow that!" Asuna stated.

"Who wouldn't? Many nations are already researching it. But human experiments aren't easy things to perform. But one day, I was watching the news and I discovered ten thousand perfect test subjects!" He shouted spreading open his arms, to show his superioness, while Asuna just look at him shocked.

"Kayaba-senpai was a genius, but a fool. To prepare such a splendid vessel, and be satisfied using it for nothing more than making a game. It wasn't hard at all to adjust the routers to grab a few players when they logged out. And as a result,I got three hundred test subjects of my own! In just two months, my research has taken great strides. The technology to implant new objects into human memories, using them to induce emotion is almost complete." Sugou explained to Asuna.

"You're lying." Asuna said griping her white skirt tightly. "My father would never allow that!" She said glaring at him.

"The research is being performed in secret by a very small team and myself. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sell it." Sugou stated.

"Sell it?" Asuna asked with narrows eyes.

"A certain American corporation is eagerly awaiting its completion. I'm going to sell it at a high price. And RCT, too, someday." Sugou said to her

"I won't let that happen. Once I return to the real world, the first thing I'll do is alert the police." Asuna exclaimed with narrowed eyes.

"You're in the same position as the other subjects. If I wanted, I could alter your memories, too." Sugou stated with a sinister smile, while Asuna just stared at him in shock.

Suddenly, the yellow light appear, as it glowed around Asuna, as Sugou look at her again.

"Alter Memories Disabled" A screen says appearing in front of Asuna, while Sugou read it with wide eyes.

"What is this? This possibly can't be!" Sugou said opening his menu, checking about the screen displayed in front of him.

Then, a message appear beside him, as Sugou look at it, "I'm on my way. Wait for orders." He said to the message.

Sugou then look at message displayed in front of Asuna, as it then disappears.

Sugou turns to Asuna with glaring eyes, "I'll deal with that later." He said to her.

"If that message wasn't there, I don't want to turn you into a mere doll. I hope you're a little more submissive the next time we meet, Titania." He stated with a sinister smirk, as he walked towards the birdcage gate, while Asuna viciously stared at him as he entered the combination at the locked gate.

"Farewell, then." Sugou said as he leaves.

After he left, Asuna then fell to the ground, and broke down in tears.

"Save me, Izayoi-kun..." She cried out as tears fell down her cheeks.

To Be Continued...

So, that's the end of the Chapter. Hoped you all like it. And if you ask if Izayoi's weapon is Tensa Zangetsu, then yes it is. The power he receive is from The Fatal Scythe, if you all remember from my previous story, The Thousand Blades. Oh, and if you want to see Kirito, I think I squeeze him in for just a little, but that's it. Because this Izayoi story okay? So, if you could give me your thoughts on this story, or just comment about it, it would be much appreciated.

Follow it or favorite it, or review it, these three counts if you want faster update, okay? Well, I have to go, Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!