Hello, everyone. It's me ArtLotus. And I'm here to update the new chapter of Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. I hope you like the last chapter that I've updated.

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Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!

Chapter 18: Quest for the Whale

Pool

"You can swim twenty-five meters now." Keiko commented with a smile looking down at the breathing Suguha after she had swum a full lap in the pool earlier.

"And you can do a full lap." Rika commented smiling at her.

"You really are good at sports, Suguha-chan." Asuna complimented as she stood in the water with Yui in front of her.

"Thank you." Suguha said before she looks at the building where Izayoi and Kazuto were in the counseling office.

"Hmm? Are you sad without your brother or Izayoi?" Rika smirked.

"That isn't it! I was just thinking that they are late."

"You, and Kirito are really close, aren't you? I'm an only child, so I'm jealous." Keiko stated.

"A-Are we?" Suguha asked as Rika nodded.

"But...Before my brother was trapped inside SAO, we weren't that close. I wanted to know about these virtual MMOs my brother loved so much. So I started playing ALO. I'm a big gamer now, too."

"You were the one who brought him to the World Tree, weren't you?"

"Well, I brought him and Izayoi-kun."

"Huh?" Rika and Keiko asked in confusion.

"I met with Izayoi-kun first, but I didn't realized it was him. So is my brother. I thought he was really rude but it turns out he was kind of cool at times. I didn't know why, but I just couldn't ignore him."

-Flashback-

"Papa?" Yui asked as Izayoi closed his eyes and breaths a deep breath, trying to calm down. He then looks 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..."

"What do you mean?" Leafa questioned as a frown appears 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. If you don't mind, I'll be going." He mutters before standing up and turns around to leave but Leafa stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"Wait. Are you going to the World Tree?" A sad tone could be heard in her voice.

"Yes, I need to see for myself. Whatever it takes."

"It's crazy..." She said as Izayoi let go of her hold before continued on his way to leave. "It's far, far away, and there are a lot of strong monsters. Sure, you're strong, but..." She exclaimed, trying to stop 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.

"Tired?" Leafa asked Izayoi.

"Barely." Izayoi replied.

"You're pretty tough. But our journey in the sky is at an end for a while." Leafa informed him, as Izayoi nodded while Kirito raised an eyebrow.

"Huh, why?" Kirito asked.

"You see that mountain, right?" Leafa said pointing her finger towards the big mountain. "It's above the altitude limit, so to pass it, you have to go through the caves. It's the toughest part of the trip between Sylph territory And Arun, or so I've heard. I've never been past this point, either." Leafa explained.

"Really..." Kirito stated looking up at the mountains.

"Caves, huh? Are they long?" Izayoi questioned.

"Yeah. Supposedly, we can rest at a neutral mining town midway." Leafa said as she then turns to Izayoi.

"Izayoi-kun, do you still have time today?" She asked

"It's 7:00 PM in the real world, right? I can keep going for a while."

"Okay... Then we can keep going for a while. We can rotate out here." Leafa said as Kirito look at her confused.

"R-Rotate?"

"We each log out and rest, while the other watches. You can't log out instantly in the neutral area. So you log out in turn, while the other guards your empty avatar." Leafa explained as Kirito nodded in understanding.

"I see... Got it."

You can go first, Leafa." Izayoi stated.

"Okay, thanks. See you in twenty minutes." Leafa said as she opens her menu and tap the Log Out button before she saw Izayoi waved goodbye.

"I'm excited." Suguha said recalling her high five with Izayoi.

Suguha held up her hand, to high five like she did with Izayoi in the game. But she closed her hand, after high fiving thin air.

She wiped the mirror with her hand, in front of her, seeing her reflection.

She closed her eyes, "Izayoi-kun..." She said a smile formed on her face. "I have you, right? A new world is waiting for us..." She mused with a smile as she stood up from her chair and put the shower hose into where it kept, and left the bathroom.

-Present-

"We made it there in only three days, so it was pretty rushed." Suguha said before stifling a laugh.

"Thank you, Suguha-chan." Asuna thanked as Suguha shook her head.

"No, there's no reason to thank me. I had fun, too. Yeah it was hard, but my adventures with Izayoi-kun and my brother were pretty fun."

"So when you were adventuring with him, what did you think of Izayoi-kun? No offense, Asuna."

"It's alright. You can tell us Suguha-chan." Asuna said as she watches Yui sleep on her chest peacefully.

"You didn't know he was him, including your brother right?" Rika asked as Suguha nodded.

"Yeah, my first impression of Izayoi-kun was that he was super quick like anything I ever seen, and his strength, I can't describe that level of power would have even existed in the game." Suguha explained.

"Really? He's always an enigma if you were curious about his stats in SAO. I didn't even know how he had maximised all of his stats." Rika shakes her head before she looks at Suguha. "How about your brother, how did you know that it was really him in ALO?" At her question, Suguha looks down before she sheepishly looks up at her.

"Izayoi-kun told me himself that my brother was Kirito after he got back with Asuna-san." Suguha answered as Rika nodded in understanding before a question pop into her mind.

"So, your brother doesn't know that you're Leafa?" She asked as Suguha slowly nodded. "This is going to be great if we tell him in the game. He is going to be so shock!" Rika smiled as she planned ways to surprise Kirito that Leafa was her sister all along. "Anyway, what did you think about your brother in ALO?" She asked as Suguha thought about her brother while they were in ALO.

"My brother, he…I never thought my brother took every battle seriously than I thought."

-Flashback-

"That's enough, Kirito. If we lose, we'll just have to fly a few more hours! Let's give up!" Leafa said with a concern look as she looks at Kirito.

"No way." Kirito answered as Leafa look at him in surprise. "While I'm alive, I won't let any party members die." He said looking at Leafa from behind his shoulder. "Izayoi would never give up, and so will I. He taught me everything and I intend to keep going." He stated before he turns towards the Salamanders.

On the last attempt to fight the charges, Kirito cried out a battle cry before he dashes straight towards the Salamanders.

Arriving at the three tanks, Kirito stopped in front of them as he grabbed a hold of one of the shields. He then tried to move the shield, surprisingly creating an opening, to which he thrust his sword inside the opening, surprising the three tanks that look at him if he was crazy.

"What the hell?" One of the tanks asked himself, surprised.

"What's he doing?" The other tank asked, looking up at Kirito in shock.

Present

"When I realized that the source of that seriousness was his desire to protect someone, I thought I could have faith in him and Izayoi-kun…"

-Flashback-

"I'm sorry, Izayoi-kun..." Leafa thought as she awaited their answers, while hoping that they would choose to help her.

"In the end, it's just a game, so do what you want." Izayoi said suddenly as Kirito look at him. "If you want to kill someone, kill them. If you want to steal, you steal. I've met more people who think that way than I'd want. In a way, it's true. You can't deny it, no matter what you think. But it's not true..." Izayoi said walking towards Leafa, who held in her breath, with her eyes closed. "There are things you have to protect especially because it's a virtual world. I learned that from someone very important. If you give in to your impulses in this world, the price is that it changes your personality in the real world. The player and the character are one and the same." He smiled as he looks at Leafa. "I like you, Leafa. I want to be your friend. I'd never attack someone like that just for my own benefit. Also, if I did that, I would be a bad friend for doing it, cause I have a precious friend right here." Izayoi exclaimed, pointing his finger at Leafa.

Leafa then opens her eyes, as tears started to form in her eyes, "Izayoi-kun..." She said as she held her hands together in front of her chest.

"The same as my brother, Izayoi-kun showed his seriousness in certain battles. Battles that I didn't know he could do it by himself and won easily. So no matter whom he fought, Izayoi-kun would never run. I believed he'd never lose."

-Flashback-

"Izayoi-kun!" Leafa said shedding a few tears of joy.

"Tch..." Eugene then charge towards Izayoi.

Izayoi continued to soar down from the sky, as he wore a calm look while Eugene charges at him. Eugene then swung his sword at him as Gram phases through Izayoi's daito, and just as Gram was near to slash Izayoi, Eugene was surprised to see that it was suddenly block by Leafa's sword, which Izayoi wielded in his other hand. After he blocks Eugene's attack with his daito, it caused Ethereal Shift to lose its effect.

Eugene was then pushed back by Leafa's sword, making him vulnerable to attack.

"This is the end for you." Izayoi said with a smirk, taking an advantage of his dual-wielding from SAO, he instantly slashes fiercely at Eugene's chest. The general wasn't able to defend against Izayoi's onslaught as he slashed countless of times at Eugene, but then slowly his attacks became more faster and faster, to the point where everyone could see that Izayoi wield a thousand blades and was slashing at Eugene with them.

On the other hand, Eugene felt like he was being slashed at a thousand times or more, as Izayoi won't stop slashing. And then he noticed that Izayoi went even faster slashing at him, which completely shocked him. He looks up at Izayoi who was slashing at him non-stop, with a smirk on his face. Right there and then, Eugene thought he was the Death god.

"Know the name of the Shinigami." Izayoi kept slashing at Eugene, with lightning fast and god like speed. The group of Salamanders from the sides can't help but watched as their general was being brutally slashed at. After a moment, Izayoi stopped his assault as he twirls Leafa's sword, and grabs the handle which he wields at the back of his hand. "Let's have some firework for the crowd, shall we?" He asked as he stabs his black daito at Eugene, and he grab his mask by the side of his head and dragged it to his face, fully wearing it.

Izayoi then grab his daito and pulled it out of Eugene before he disappears out of thin air. Eugene looks around for him even though he was too weak to even move a muscle.

"Over here." Izayoi said as his voice changed with him sounded more demonic, while he wore the mask. He appeared behind Eugene, who turns around to face Izayoi. Eugene gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain and with the last strength he had, he swung his sword downwards at Izayoi.

Izayoi noticing that Eugene was still fighting, throw his daito up in the air before positioning his free palm at Eugene.

"Die!" Eugene shouted.

"How about you first?" Izayoi replied back. "Cero..." Just as he mutters the word, a giant red blast was released from his palm at him and hits Eugene, sending him to the sky before the blast exploded, engulfing the General along.

After a while, Eugene could be seen falling down from the explosion, his armor burned by the blast, which stained his armor in black.

"I win." Izayoi declared as he flash in front of Eugene, with his arm stretched out to the side, catching his daito from where it had gone. With little space between them, Izayoi raised his daito and swung it down, releasing a giant black crescent moon at Eugene, to which he was split apart by it, and was engulfed by flames as he went straight down towards the ground, defeated by Izayoi.

Everyone who watched the battle was eyed wide at the outcome of the battle as silence covered the atmosphere.

-Present-

"It's nice that you two are close and so is your brother, but I'm worried about that between you and Izayoi, it may become forbidden love. I mean, he's a married husband now. It's rude to steal someone's husband." Rika said with a teasing smile.

"Rika..." Asuna said glaring at her as Rika flinch from her unnerving glare.

"What are you saying?" Suguha said to Rika before she stands up. "Forget it, let's just practice!" Suguha announced.

"Okay, let's swim a bit more…" Rika agreed as Asuna smiled before she looks at Yui, who was rubbing her eyes after she had wake up a moment ago.

Standing up, Asuna look down at her daughter, "Do you want to continue swimming, Yui-chan?" She asked as Yui stands up before she looks up at her mother with a smile.

"Yes, I want to continue practicing!" She said as Asuna nodded at her before the two headed towards the pool, followed by Rika and Keiko while leaving Suguha who was deep in thought.

"If only I had known before I fell in with him... But that really added to my already crush of him at that time…" Suguha thought as she looks at the school building where Izayoi and her brother were.

-Flashback-

"What did you just say?" Leafa asked with wide eyes.

"Asuna. That's the name of the person I love. And I'm trying to save her." Izayoi stated as Leafa step backed.

"But then…Then…That person is…" Leafa said as she covered her mouth in shock with her hands, having to discover what Izayoi was looking for in the game, he was looking for her, for Asuna.

"Leafa?" Izayoi asked looking at her with a slightly confused look. "Wait… Is that you, Sugu?" Izayoi asked knowing that Suguha would be sad if he mentioned Asuna's name before.

"This is awful. This isn't fair… It isn't…" Leafa who was Sugu said as she covered her face with her hands. She then open her menu and immediately logged out from the game, while Izayoi stood there staring at where Suguha logged out.

"Sugu?" A voice called to which caused Suguha to look surprise. She turns her head to look towards her door, knowing it was Izayoi's voice that was calling her.

"If you don't want to answer, it's okay. I'll let you think about this. No pressure okay, Sugu? Anyway, I'll be going out for a while. Keep watch of the house while I'm gone, alright?" Izayoi said over the door, before sliding a letter below Suguha's door. Suguha then heard Izayoi walked away from her door, his footsteps slowly disappearing as she hears his footsteps going downstairs.

Suguha tighten her hold on her Amusphere again, while she restrained herself from crying but it was useless as a few tears ran down her cheeks. She then look at her door, and then noticed something lying below it. She stood up from her bed and walked over to the door, picking up the item which was a letter to her.

She opens the letter and she was greeted by words from Izayoi,

"Hey, Sugu. I know it's been tough since you know about me trying to find Asuna. But trust me, It has something to do with three hundred people lives at stake. Since I know that you're crying, and I don't have any comforting words to help you at this moment. Just… Don't be sad, okay? Sorry, if this isn't what you expected, but don't cry, alright? Just remember I'm right here with you."

"Izayoi-kun…" Suguha said as she clutched the letter in her chest.

Leafa landed on a small floating piece of land above Izayoi, as she raised her sword and look at him.

Leafa closed her eyes, letting a few drops of tears to touch the ground below her as she flew down at Izayoi, who in turn flew upwards towards her.

When Leafa was closed enough for Izayoi to slash her, she dropped her weapon, intending to be slashed. But the slash didn't come and she landed in Izayoi's arms, as she look up at him.

"Why?" Leafa asked as Izayoi let out a small amusing smile.

"Imagine that I wanted to apologize to you, and all I get to apologize was to fight to express our feelings? I think that isn't the way it should be." Izayoi asked before he grins down at Suguha. "Just as the letter says, don't cry." He said as tears started to come out from Leafa's eyes before she hug Izayoi tighter.

"I'm sorry." Leafa apologized

"It's okay. Anyway, I'll explain to her after she wakes up. She'll understand." Izayoi said referring to Asuna about him and Sugu's past moments and overall relationship in the real world.

"Okay. So, I'll help you on waking up Asuna-san up!" Leafa said as Izayoi nodded.

Meanwhile, Izayoi's daito and Leafa's sword were embedded in the ground below them and they were positioned in a cross, with the sun's light shining in between the swords.

-Present-

"Hey, Suguha! We can't do this without you! Yui-chan is already way ahead of you right now!" Rika called out as Suguha look at her.

"Right!" She answered before walking towards the pool to continue practicing.

Counselling Office

"So with Kazuto's sister, you reached the World Tree, you completed the Grand Quest, which Sugou had set to be impossible, and you saved Asuna-kun." Kikuoka explained to Izayoi.

"I didn't do it on my own, you know. But when I know that I'm the only one that can save her, I call them to retreat and I destroyed everything that kept the impossible rate to possible." Izayoi said as he stares down at his right hand which he recalled had held a light. A light that can pierce through anything. Then, Izayoi look up at Kikuoka. "But the others deserved the credit for helping me. They played a role in my adventure which I would remember."

"I see. So what I viewed was correct after all, that the whole dome almost being destroyed before you reached to the top of the World Tree. After that, the King of the Fairies Oberon, or Sugou, appeared. I'd think normally, that it's impossible for a mere player to beat a GM like Sugou." Kikuoka explained with a hand under his chin as Izayoi narrows his eyes at Sugou's name.

-Flashback-

Oberon stands up from the ground and spread his arms out instantly, "Hai!" Oberon said as the ground shook, which caused Asuna to hold a scared look.

"Great! This is perfect! You'd never get that kind of look from an NPC woman!" Oberon said as he walked towards Asuna.

Then, Oberon grabbed a fistful of Asuna's hair and sniffed it, "You smell so good. I worked so hard to replicate your real-world scent." Oberon explained as he released her hair. "I even went so far as to sneak an analyzer into your hospital room." He said as he sniffed Asuna. "You should appreciate my efforts." He stated as he put his face right beside Asuna's cheek, but before he could, Asuna turn her face the other way, letting Oberon put his face at her right ear.

"You are going too far. Sugou..." Izayoi said as he tried standing up but he only succeeded on kneeling on the ground.

"Oh, boy." Oberon said as he pulled Izayoi's daito from the ground as he walked towards Izayoi. "Spectators should just shut up and stay on the ground!" He said as he kicked Izayoi in the cheek but Izayoi stayed still.

"You think a little kick would knock me down?" Izayoi asked as he grit his teeth and he slowly stood up from the ground and he look at Oberon with a glare.

"Arghh!" Oberon then thrust his daito in Izayoi's chest, which caused Izayoi to grit his teeth in pain.

"Izayoi-kun!" Asuna shouted as Oberon twist the daito inside Izayoi's chest, but Izayoi only gritted his teeth, enduring the pain.

"System Command!" Oberon said as he turns his body around, and extends his right hand to the side. "Pain Absorber!" He said as a window appears in front of his hand. "Change from level ten to level eight." He said to the window as the red bar in the window decrease to the number 8. When the bar decreases, Izayoi gritted his teeth, still enduring the pain.

"Why are you not yelling?" Oberon asked looking at Izayoi. "Hurts, doesn't it? I'll be increasing the pain slowly, so look forward to it." He exclaimed as Asuna move herself back and forth, trying to save Izayoi, but she was handcuffed to the chains which prevented her action trying to help. "By the way, if you go below level three, it will start affecting your real body." Oberon explained as he turns around and walk towards Asuna. When Oberon stand in front of Asuna, "Now then..." He trailed off as he trace his finger from Asuna's exposed stomach to between her chest, which caused the white fabric that covered Asuna's chest to be slightly exposed and Asuna to look away.

"Sugou... " Izayoi said as he slowly walk towards them, but because he was being pressed down by the powerful gravity, and he had his daito stabbed in his chest, he could do nothing but take a step before he kneel on the ground.

"It's all right, Izayoi-kun. This sort of thing won't hurt me." Asuna assured him, as Oberon laughed which caused her to look at him with a glare and gritted teeth.

"Now that's what I'm talking about! How long can you keep your pride? Thirty minutes? One hour? Go on, hold on to it as long you can!" Oberon said as he pulled on Asuna's top, which revealed the sides of her breasts. Suddenly, Oberon forcefully rips off her top as Izayoi's eyes widen. The red ribbon floating in the air floated in front of Izayoi before it shattered to polygons, followed by her top.

"Should I tell you what I'm thinking of doing to her?" Oberon asked as he walks around Asuna while Izayoi gritted his teeth in frustration. "Once I've had my fill here, I'll go to your hospital room, play a recording of today's act on a big monitor, and then have my fun with you all over again." Oberon said as he grabs Asuna's face and then licked his lips. "With your real body." Oberon said as Asuna held a terrified look which caused him to laugh.

Then, tears started to form over Asuna's eyes as Oberon grab her face to look at him and then he lick at her face. Meanwhile, after Asuna's top was ripped of her chest, her breasts were now being covered by her two long bangs of her hair. After that, Oberon licks Asuna's face, "Sweet! So sweet!" Oberon said as he continued to lick Asuna's face.

"Sugou... You bastard!" Izayoi said with gritted teeth as Oberon lick Asuna's tears from her right eye and then look at Izayoi with a wide smirk. Izayoi tried to move, but the gravity kept pressing down on him. Izayoi couldn't help but watched with narrowed eyes as Oberon molest Asuna's left breast with his left hand while the other was holding her face. While this was happening, Oberon just laughed, mocking at Izayoi's reaction.

Suddenly, Izayoi's eyes widen, recalling each and every memory he shared with Asuna in the real world and in the virtual world. "That's enough, Sugou..." Izayoi mutters with his hair shadowing his face as Oberon look at him with a wide smirk.

"Oh? What do you mean?" Oberon asked as he steps away from Asuna and walked towards Izayoi again.

Then, slowly Izayoi stood up from his kneeling position and disappeared instantly, surprising both Asuna and Oberon.

"Ugh?!" Oberon exclaimed suddenly before he look down at the black daito that was pierced inside his chest. He then slowly trailed the blade of the daito till at the handle of the blade, which was held with one hand. He continued to follow the hand till his eyes widen at the cold piercing eyes staring back at him with rage. "H-How are you able to?!" He questioned with a shocked look, shocked that Izayoi was able to move despite that he was supposed to be on the ground by the powerful gravity magic that he installed.

"You... You're dead, Sugou." Izayoi said with gritted teeth as he pulled out the daito from Oberon's chest and instantly he slashed his daito at his chest, which caused Oberon to scream in pain.

-Present-

"So? That bastard didn't get what he deserved yet. Not by a long shot." Izayoi exclaimed gripping his fist tighter. "Not after he molested her...He never should have touched her in the beginning." He mutters in slight anger.

"Izayoi-senpai..." Kazuto look down at his senior in sympathy.

"I convey my apology for hearing that." Kikuoka frowned, not expecting Sugou to molest a woman in the game he created, especially if that someone was Asuna.

"It's like the game was his world to control and he could do whatever he wants but I didn't let him when he touches her...In front of me." After Izayoi said that, both Kazuto and Kikuoka frowned even deeper.

-Flashback-

"Done." Izayoi said with a smile as he look at Asuna, seeing she was wearing his black jacket and his black scarf was tied around her chest to cover her exposed breasts.

"This... This... Isn't over, Sakamaki-kun." Oberon said as he slowly stands up and swipes his left hand to the side, causing a window to appear in front of him. "This is over when you lay on the ground lifelessly!" He shouted as he snap his fingers and a lot of swords launch down towards Izayoi and Asuna. The same swords that the Guardians wielded.

Izayoi look at the quantity of the swords before he looks at Asuna and quickly pushed her away, causing Asuna to fall to the ground a few distance away from him.

"Izayoi-kun!" Asuna shouted reaching her hand out to him before her eyes widen, seeing Izayoi deflecting a lot of swords with his daito but the swords kept coming down on him from the dark top of the room.

"How long will you last, Sakamaki-kun? Now you will suffer as I did! But much worse! Hahaha!" Oberon laughed maniacally even if his body was hurting all over.

Izayoi gritted his teeth as several swords found its way to scratch his cheek, his arms, and his legs. After a while, Izayoi fell down on one knee as a sword was imbedded in his right hand, causing him to let his daito fall to the ground. When he fell, the swords instantly strike down at his vulnerable state.

"N-no... I-Izayoi-kun..." Asuna mutters as tears begin to cascade over her eyes, seeing Izayoi with swords, imbedding themselves in different parts of Izayoi's body. "Izayoi-kun?" She called out at the unmoving Izayoi, trying to find any response from him that would help her know that he was alive. But after a while, she didn't get any answer or response. "Izayoi-kun, please answer me..." Asuna asked sadly as she tried not to believe that he was dead yet. "Izayoi-kun, please... Answer me..." She mutters before she gritted her teeth and she look at Oberon who was smiling smugly at the unmoving Izayoi.

Clenching her fist, Asuna slowly stand up before she glares heatedly at Sugou. "You... I'll kill you!" Asuna said as she swipes her left hand down, causing a window to appear in front of her. She then pressed something in her item storage, which caused a weapon to appear in her hand and that weapon is her rapier, Lambent Light.

Upon unsheathing her rapier from its sheath, Asuna instantly charges towards Oberon with her rapier thrust forward.

"What? How can you have a weapon?" Oberon asked with a surprised look, wondering how she can have a weapon in her item storage.

"Izayoi-kun gave it to me, that's why!" Asuna exclaimed with narrowed eyes as her rapier glowed purple before she thrust her rapier at Oberon multiple times, just like she used to in SAO.

"Ah!" Oberon exclaimed as he clutch his right arm in pain before he step back.

Asuna pointed her rapier at his throat, which caused Oberon to gulp in fear of Asuna's glare. "Don't think for a second, that I won't pierce your throat." She said as she thrust her rapier at Oberon's chest, causing him to flew back a few feet from her.

"Are you going to yield to the power of the system you once spurned?" A voice said to Izayoi, who was kneeling with both of his legs on the ground.

"No. Who do you think beat you in a duel, Kayaba?" Izayoi asked with a smirk as he look up at the face of his old opponent, Kayaba Akihiko.

"If that's true, then don't give up. Our fight showed me how human will can transcend a system and opened my eyes to future possibilities." Kayaba said as Izayoi smirk wider.

"Get up, Izayoi-kun." Kayaba said before he disappears.

"System Command." Izayoi exclaimed as a window appeared beside him. "Set Pain Absorber at level zero." He said as the red bar decreases to the number zero.

"Wh-What?" Oberon exclaimed with beads of sweat visible on his forehead.

"Don't you dare run like a coward. That man fears no one and nothing. The man's name was Kayaba Akihiko." Izayoi said as Oberon's eyes widen.

"K-Kaya... Kayaba!" Oberon shouted. "I see now. That ID was... Why? Why must you get in my way even after you've died?! You were always like this!" Oberon said as he swing his sword behind him. "You acted as if you knew everything! Taking everything I wanted!" He shouted swinging his sword around.

"Sugou." Izayoi called as Oberon look at him. "I wouldn't understand you. But I know that I never wanted to become him. Unlike you." Izayoi said with a smirk.

"You damn brat!" Oberon said as he swing his sword at Izayoi, who easily blocked every attacks that he sent. "Damn it!" Oberon shouted taking a step back as he then charged at Izayoi with a thrust of his sword, which Izayoi dodged by swiftly moving to the right before he slashes at Oberon's cheek, leaving a cut on his cheek.

"Ow!" Oberon exclaimed as he grabbed his left cheek in pain. He then turns to Izayoi, who look at him.

"It hurts? It's nowhere even near the pain you caused Asuna!" Izayoi said with a frown as he slashes at Oberon, who raised his sword to block it. But Izayoi slashed at his arm instead, which caused his arm to be sliced off from its socket, after seeing Oberon raised his arm in front of him instead of his sword.

"My arm!" Oberon exclaimed with tears running down his cheeks as he hold his sliced arm. "My arm's gone!" Oberon said as Izayoi slashed sideways at his chest, which caused blood to immediately burst out from his waist. After half of his body was cut, leaving the upper body of Oberon to fall to the ground.

"You know you didn't pay fully for your action against molesting a woman." Izayoi said recalling how Oberon molested Asuna, which caused him to grip his daito tightly. "And I'm here to repay that sin." He stated as he grab Oberon by the hair of his head and threw him in the sky.

Izayoi hold his daito to the side, as a bright white light engulfed the daito, the same white light from the attack that he used to completely destroyed the Guardians. He then thrust his sword upwards, as the white light that engulfed the daito immediately forms a blade of white light from the tip of the daito. The white blade then grow longer as it heads straight towards Oberon, who saw the white blade with both of his eyes. Then, the white blade stabbed Oberon in between his eyes as blood spurted out from Oberon's head like a fountain. After that, Oberon burst into polygons as the white blade slowly retracts itself down the tip of daito and the white light around the daito slowly disappears.

After the white light disappeared completely, Izayoi twirled his daito as he then flick it to the side.

-Present-

"…It's true that a GM has great infinitely power. In that world, a GM is almost a god. But that power was simply given to you by the system, nothing more, and nothing less. You didn't find it or train yourself in it. My mother said real power is always within you, whenever you are in the real world or in the virtual." He explained recalling Canaria's words. Then, he looks up at Kikuoka as a wide smirk appeared on his face. "And I'll use that power whenever I can."

"A Hero, huh…" Kikuoka thought with a smile before he saw Izayoi stands up from his seat.

"Anyway, I'll be going. You've got all you need, right?" He asked as Kazuto stand up from his seat.

"Yes. Almost…" He replied as Izayoi raised his eyebrow at him. "In recent days of my investigation, I've noticed that you aren't like any other people, Izayoi-kun. I've read through your physical reports and your body is as ordinary as any other people have. But speed, stamina and especially, strength. How were you born with those enhanced abilities?" Kikuoka asked as Izayoi let out a small smirk.

"I don't know. It's been a long time since anyone asked that question."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Anyway, are you going to take me and dissect me to find out why?" Izayoi smirked as Kikuoka held up his hands in surrender.

"I intend not to. It would be unwise of me, because where I'm sitting, you can simply zip through, am I correct? Anyway, it wouldn't be good if the press found out about an elite member of the Virtual Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs taking in Sakamaki Izayoi into custody for personal interrogating. That situation would put me in a dire situation, including it would ruin my reputation as one of the elite members." Kikuoka explained with a smile. "I can assure you, I mean no harm whatsoever. I've got all I needed to hear. But It's a good thing you came early than I expect to which you can still spend some time with your friends and more importantly, your family, Izayoi-kun. You're free to go as you please." He stated as Izayoi smiled amusingly.

"If that's all, I'll catch you later." Izayoi bid before he turns around and was ready to leave.

"One more thing," Kikuoka said as Izayoi stop and look at him from his shoulder. "Have you ever heard the name, 'The Seed'?"

A small smile crosses Izayoi's lips before he answers, "Yes, I've heard of it." He answered before he turns his head around and left the room followed by Kazuto.

After the sound of the door closes, Kikuoka look at where they left and smile. "I'll see you again, Izayoi-kun." Kikuoka said as the sound recorder still continue to count.

Pool

"I'm so tired…" Lizbeth said leaning her back against the wall of the shades and breathe. "Where are they? I thought they'd be finished by now."

"Rika, they're in emergency counselling. I think it's pretty usual they are this long." Silica stated as Asuna nods before she tends to her daughter, who was eating another sandwich from the picnic basket.

"How much did you eat, Yui-chan?" Asuna asked with a smile as Yui eats the piece of sandwich before showing four fingers at her mother.

"Four. No—Five!" Yui exclaimed lifting up another finger to show five.

Don't eat a lot okay? You'll have a stomach ache when you enter the pool. You have to wait your stomach to digest the food."

"Okay, Mama." At her smile, Asuna smiled back before she checked the time on her smartphone and was about to send another message but she was interrupted by a voice.

"Are you having fun?" A voice asked gaining everyone's attention as they look to the boys' changing room and their eyes spotted both Izayoi and Kazuto in their swimming trunks with their respective colour, red and black.

A smile slipped onto her face as Asuna made a move to stand up but she was stopped by a shout.

"Papa!" Yui shouted in pure happiness as Izayoi smiled at his daughter, knowing she was waiting for him.

Digging his hands into his hoodie pockets, Izayoi walk along the pool towards where everyone was gathered followed by Kazuto who was walking next to him. When the two of them arrived at the set up blue blanket, Izayoi was instantly hugged by Yui, to which put a smile on his face and everyone's.

"You're here, Papa. You made it." Yui said hugging her father in happiness.

"I said I would make it, right?" Izayoi asked as Yui nods before she look up with a wide smile.

"You know what, Papa? I can swim now!" Yui exclaimed as Izayoi raised his eyebrow in amusement.

"Really? Then, why don't you show me what you learned?" He asked as Yui open her mouth in happiness before she nodded.

"Can I join?" A voice asked as Izayoi look up while Yui look behind her. When Izayoi look up, he was caught in surprise by the sight of Asuna wearing a red striped bikini.

The two of them look at Asuna walking towards them before stopping to stand in front of them. She smiled down at Yui, who smiled up at her.

"You can join, Mama! We can swim together!" Yui exclaimed as Asuna nods before she look up at Izayoi, who stare at her in amusement.

Looking at his stare, Asuna slightly blushes in embarrassment.

Grabbing her right hand with her left from behind her, she then glanced away, embarrassed to look at Izayoi. Even though Izayoi had saw her half naked before, she can't help but still be embarrass on showing her body to him and adding to the fact that she wore a bikini, it makes her all the more embarrassing to even speak.

"Asuna wanted to seduce you, Izayoi. That's why she wore that in the first place." Rika teased from behind Asuna while Kazuto look at her in slight surprise from next to her.

"Really?" Izayoi questioned in amusement as Asuna glared at Rika from her left shoulder, to which she respond by a holding up her hands in mock surrender while still having a teasing smile visible on her face. "I think that's why she always wore a bikini whenever we go out swimming before." Izayoi stated as Rika look at him in surprise, never expecting him to say that.

"Mou…Izayoi-kun, you don't have to say that…Anyway, it's not always..." Asuna mutters with a blush, recalling whenever she goes out swimming with Izayoi, she always wore a bikini to impress Izayoi. But in the end, it always makes her blush out of proportions whenever he makes a compliment towards her swimsuit. Sighing, Asuna glance up to look at Izayoi's eyes, "…Does it look good? I thought you would like it if I wore it…I mean, we were going swimming…" She trailed off before glancing down as Izayoi lean his head down towards hers, to which Asuna senses his movement and look up, seeing a smile crosses Izayoi's lips.

"You look beautiful." He commented as Asuna instantly blushes in embarrassment and she glanced down, trying to hide her blush. Then, a hand caressed her chin as Asuna look up and a pair of lips was placed on hers. Smiling under kiss, Asuna kiss back before wrapping her hands around his neck, wanting to deepen the kiss as much as possible.

After a while, Izayoi pulled back from the kiss as he and Asuna smiled at each other.

"Welcome back, Izayoi-kun." Asuna greeted him from his counselling session.

"Yeah, welcome back, Papa!" Yui followed smiling at her father as Izayoi look at the two before nodding with a smile.

"It's good to be back."

"Why can't we do something like that…?" Rika asked under her breath with a pout, feeling jealous at her best friend for being kissed from her lover. She on the other hand, was still stuck on phase one, to which she held hands with Kazuto whenever they go out. But after seeing Asuna being kissed by Izayoi, she wanted to be kissed by her own as well. Rika sigh before she let out a small smile to cross her lips, "Oh well, If I have to wait then I'll wait. It'll be worthwhile soon enough…" Rika smiled under her breath imagining her kiss with Kazuto.

Letting down her hands from his neck, Asuna looks at Yui who was standing next to Izayoi. "Yui-chan, don't you want to go swimming?" She asked as Yui smile widely before nodding towards her mother. Smiling down at her daughter, Asuna and Izayoi followed Yui towards the pool, leaving behind Suguha, Keiko, Rika and Kazuto to stand under the shade.

"Come on, Papa!" Yui smiling splashing water at Izayoi, who smiled down at her while Asuna stifle a laugh from behind Yui.

"Okay, okay." Izayoi said as he grip his hoodie zip and pull it down before stripping his hoodie off and let it down to the side of the pool. When he strips off of his hoodie, everyone look at him in surprise, except Asuna and Yui.

"I did not expect this…" Rika trailed off as she stared down at Izayoi's abdomen that revealed six packs abs, much to her and everyone's surprise.

"Me too." Keiko agreed staring at Izayoi's abs.

"I didn't know Izayoi-kun look like that underneath…" Suguha thought with a blush, trailing each of the abdominal muscles with her eyes.

"Liz?" Kazuto called out to the dazed looking Rika before he waves his hand in front of her, to which broke her of her stupor.

Shaking her head, Rika look at Kazuto before sheepishly smiling at him.

"I can't help it." Rika admitted before Kazuto sighs.

"I think you need to work out a bit, Kazuto." Izayoi said to him before he looks down at Yui. "Here I go!" He said before he jumps down into the water, sending little waves to swept Yui and Asuna off while bringing laughter to both of them.

"I think I have to." Kazuto said slightly deflated.

"Kirito-kun," Rika called out as Kazuto look up at her and he was greeted with a smile by her. "You don't have to work out. You're fine, I like the way you are now. Remember I'm with you right?" She asked to which make a smile appear on Kazuto's face.

Nodding at her, Kazuto put his hand on his neck before rubbing it sheepishly. "That's true."

"Ain't that sweet, Liz? May we leave you to yourselves? I guessed we're not wanted here." Asuna teased at the couple.

"I think Kirito-san and Rika-san need to kiss because it makes you feel good when it does. Mama and Papa kisses and it made me feel good every time! So you two should kiss right, Mama?" Yui asked her mother, who smiled at her.

"Right."

"I think your definition of kiss is different, Yui-chan." Rika replies with an awkward smile while Kirito sweatdrop.

Looking at the brunette, Asuna speak up. "Yui-chan's right. It does make you feel good. You two should try it." Asuna explained trying to convince the two to kiss.

"Why you, Asuna!" Rika thought with a twitch of her eye.

"I think the boys have to take the first move, right?" Izayoi asked standing next to the floating Yui, who looks at him and smiled. "So make sure it's a good one, Kazuto!" He yelled at the couple which caused them to blush.

"Yeah, Onii-chan. You shouldn't be single for the rest of your life!" Suguha added cupping her hands over her mouth to make her voice louder.

"So do you, Rika!" Keiko shouted right beside Suguha before the two of them high fived at each other.

"Um..." Rika hesitated to speak since she was too embarrassed to strike up a conversation with the black haired standing in front of him. Looking up, she grabs Kirito's hand, "Kirito-kun, we should just-?!" She was cut off as a pair of lips mashes with hers, catching her in surprise.

Rika's eyes widen in surprise before a smile appears on her face and she kissed back in happiness, enjoying the taste of a wonderful first kiss.

After a while, Rika felt his lips pull away before she hears Kazuto speaks. "I hope you didn't mind but I wanted to do that for a long time now." He explained scratching his neck before Rika looks up and smile at him.

"You really did?"

"I know that we just held hands so far and I know that you're expecting much of me. I'm sorry that-" He was abruptly cut off by a pair of soft lips pressing on his.

"Don't apologize. You don't know how long I've waited to do this." Rika mutters under the kiss to which caused Kirito to blush before he let out a small smile to cross his lips.

Meanwhile, everyone watches the scene with a smile.

"I can't believe my brother would be the one to make the first move."

"Well, Kirito-san does the craziest things. I think this is one of them and that trait of his worked out pretty well, don't you think?" Keiko asked with a smile as Suguha let out a smile before she nods.

"Yeah, it worked out pretty well for him." She exclaimed, feeling proud that her brother was happy and she was grateful that she could see it for herself, to which it was reassuring to see.

"Looks like it end well for him, after all." Izayoi said as Yui nodded while she was seated on his neck.

Then, Yui looks down at her father. "Papa, I was right about the kissing, right?"

"Yeah, you were right." Izayoi answered. "Kissing someone you love will always make you feel good no matter where you are, and that's the truth." He explained before he looks at Asuna and smiled. "Without kissing, you and Mama wouldn't be able to like each other more."

"Really Papa?" Yui asked in surprise looking down at her father. "If you didn't kiss Mama, you wouldn't be here?"

"No. Sooner or later, Papa will find your Mama." Izayoi admitted as he looks at Asuna. "No matter what. Because to me your Mama is and always be the most beautiful girl and the most fun person I ever met."

At his explanation, Asuna blushes profusely with her cheeks colored like roses.

"But Rika said that Papa and Mama is a fated couple to be. Because Mama met you in SAO without knowing that you were in the game." Yui explained as Izayoi looks up at her in wonder before a smirk forms on his face.

"Really?" At his question, Yui nodded with a smile.

"Yes! Liz-san said that."

"Then your Papa was fated to be with your Mama after all in the first place." Izayoi said before glancing at his right, seeing his wife blush crimson.

"I thought so too!" Yui looks down and shared smiles with her father. Meanwhile, Asuna still blushed from their comments, not knowing that the both of them could make such comments that it left her blushing for minutes. She knew that her husband usually make her blush with his teasing and words. But she didn't know her daughter could make remarks that it would build for many ways of embarrassing her. Her daughter is the constructioner while her husband is the conclutionist.

"Mama?" Yui called out as Asuna look up at her worried look. "Are you upset? I didn't mean to, Mama. We're sorry..." She apologized as Asuna stare at her before she smiled softly and bring her hand to grasp her daughter's cheek.

"I'm not upset, Yui-chan. I'm just surprised." Asuna reassured.

"Really?" Yui looks at her with a small frown, still bothered that she could be the cause of upsetting her mother. "I just want to know that Mama and Papa were fated couple as Liz-san said."

Hearing her last statement, Asuna thought about her answer in her mind. Looking at her daughter, a smile graces her features as she had thought about the answer she would give. "If you want to know, then I should give my opinion to what I think, right?" Asuna asked as Yui looks down at her mother in curiosity. Asuna then looks at Izayoi and begin speaking. "I can't deny that Liz said was wrong. I thought to myself that our meeting in SAO was a coincidence but coincidences don't always work in mysterious ways. So to me, I guess it was fate that reunited us." After she finishes, Asuna smiled at Izayoi who smiled back.

On top of her father's neck, Yui looks between the two and smiled, "Then Mama and Papa was fated to be!" She exclaimed as both Asuna and Izayoi smiled at her.

Time Skip

Pool

Evening

"Yui-chan, let's get changed." Asuna called out extending her hand towards her daughter, who looks up at her while she held a piece of sandwich in her mouth. "It's getting late. The pool will be closed soon."

"The pool will closed?"

"Yes."

"But I want to swim more." Yui pouted, not having realized that her time swimming was over.

Looking at his daughter, Izayoi put his hand on top of her head causing her to look at him. "You can swim more when we get home."

At this, Yui looks at him in confusion before realization struck her and she smiled widely. "I can!"

"Then you should change."

"Okay, Papa!" Yui smiled before she stands up and turns to her mother, grabbing her hand in the process. "Let's go, Mama."

Smiling at her daughter, Asuna looks at her husband. "We'll be out in a moment." At this, Izayoi nods.

"Don't forget anything."

"Will do." After that, Asuna leads Yui towards the girls changing room.

"Is it really that late?" Rika asked standing up stretching her hands before she looks at the orange colored sky. She then looks at Keiko and Suguha who was resting against the wall. "We better get changing you two."

"Yeah. After this, we have to work hard for Yui-chan." Keiko smiled as Rika smiled back before the brunette looks at Kirito dozing off next to her.

"Kirito-kun." She called out as Kirito opens his eyes and stare at her for a moment before he rubs his eyes tiredly. "It's late. You should change."

Looking at the environment around him, Kirito nods before he yawns. "Yeah, I'm going." He stands up before he effortlessly walks forward.

"Kirito-kun, wait!" At Rika's call, Kirito turns his head back to look at her in time before he fall forward in the pool with a loud splash, causing the brunette to wince at her boyfriend.

"Ah!" Kirito resurface with his mouth wide open. He grips the ledge of the pool with his hands while he coughs out water from his lungs.

"Are you awake now, Kazuto?" Izayoi smiled with a raised eyebrow.

Looking up at him, Kazuto let his head down on top of his hands. "Yeah."

"Kirito-kun." Kazuto look up at Rika's smiling face and her offering hand in front of him.

Grabbing her hand in response, Rika pulled the black haired out from the water before she slightly chuckles.

"Is it funny?" Kazuto raised an eyebrow at her chuckle.

"No. Yes, it's a little funny."

A small mischievous smile spread across Kazuto's lips before he grasp both of Rika's shoulders.

"Huh?" And pulled her into the pool with him.

Shaking his head in amusement, Izayoi watches the couple playing in the pool before he stands up and prepares to go change. But before he could leave the pool site, a hand grasps his right arm from leaving.

"Izayoi-kun."

At the voice, Izayoi did not make a move to turn his head to look at her.

"About the words you've said to me that you would make things better by telling Asuna about our relationship..."

"A lie?"

"..." Suguha looks down. "From the beginning, our relationship wasn't going to work out is it? You've only love Asuna, right? Of course you do."

"Are you upset?"

"...I-I don't know how to feel about this."

"Then, do you want to forget everything? Of the times we've spent together?" At this, Suguha looks at him in surprise.

"Everything? N-No! I don't want to forget..." Then, she glances down.

"Then, don't be so uptight about it." Suguha felt Izayoi's hand slip past her before she felt his hand gripping hers. She looks up to meet the pair of purple eyes she would always remember. "We had a great time together, don't forget. I know it didn't work out in the end but we're still connected than those pairs that are separated." After he said this, Izayoi leaned his head down as Suguha watches as her forehead touches against his. "Sorry." He smiled with his eyes closed.

At the single word, a tear slip past Suguha's eyes.

"Don't say that. It's not your fault."

"But I feel guilty."

"...I'm fine the way the things are right now. I'm still recovering but I know I will get through it." Suguha reassured with a smile. "I know I will get through it, because just being by your side and seeing you makes me feel happy, and that's all for me." She then recalled the times she and the blonde spent times in ALfheim Online, much to her happiness. "I can still be with you."

"Suguha." At the call, Izayoi lift his head up from Suguha's forehead just as Suguha looks behind her, seeing Keiko walking towards her. "Let's go change. It's getting darker."

"Okay." Suguha smiled.

But just before Keiko could walk pass Suguha, her feet slips on the water beneath her and she reached her hand to Suguha, who looks at her in surprise. But Keiko went down on the ground instead and she moaned in slight pain. "Suguha..." Keiko looks up and she felt something in her hand. "What is this?" She asked herself as she looks at the piece of fabric and her eyes widen.

"Kya!" Suguha squealed as she hugs Izayoi immediately, covering her exposed breasts from being seen.

Keiko's cheeks turns red and she stands up with her redden face. "Suguha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She apologizes profusely while bowing her head each time she apologizes.

"Why me?" Suguha questioned as Izayoi looks at the puddle behind Keiko. He looks at both Kazuto and Rika, who look at the puddle before they turns around and tried to escape. But just as they came out of the pool, a voice called out.

"Kazuto, Rika." Both of them freezes as they look behind and they saw Asuna dressed in her street clothes while she had her arms crossed. The two of them watches as Asuna narrowed her eyes at them.

Smiling at her wife catching the culprits, Izayoi looks down at his hoodie that he left lying on the ledge of the pool. He looks at Keiko, who noticed the hoodie and immediately picks it up before handing it to him.

"Sugu. You can let go of me." Izayoi said as he put the hoodie around her shoulders. He watches the black haired shakes her head before he smiled. "No one is going to see you. You can go straight to change with Keiko right now."

"Really?" Suguha asked with closed eyes.

"Yeah."

At his answer, Suguha opens her eyes and saw the hoodie around her body.

"Turn around."

At the blonde's command, Suguha quickly releases him from the hug and zip up the hoodie to her neck. She then looks at Keiko, who gestured her to the changing room and the two of them rush towards the said room, leaving Izayoi looking at them.

He then turns his attention to his wife and an amused smirk appears on his lips as he look at both Kazuto and Rika deflated form while his wife scolds them. Then a frown appears on his face as he looks on at the counsellor's office which Kikuoka was sitting earlier.

"Kikuoka Seijirou..." He thought before he turns around and left the pool to change. "What's your agenda?"

Time Skip

ALO Turtle Island

July 25, 2025

"You know, Kirito, I've never been so happy that ALO's time isn't linked to the real world." Klein explained lying down on one of the seat next to Kirito.

"In the real world, isn't it night?" Kirito answered with his eyes closed while his hands were behind his head. After that, Klein sits up from his seat with a happy look.

"This is how to enjoy the ocean!" He said raising his hand to the air while the other was on his chest. "Blue skies."

"White sand."

"The sound of waves." Klein posed the other way.

"The dazzling sun."

"And..." Simultaneously, the two of them focus at the sight in front of them, but instantly they were interrupted by something smacking into their faces, earning a groan out of the two.

"Girls, right? Get your mind out of the gutter, you two."

"Izayoi, why did you interrupt the moment?!" At this, Izayoi laughed before he looks up and saw Egil landing in front of him, his back facing him.

"Glad you could make it, Egil. You've act as a perfect defense." Izayoi teases as Egil looks up at him in confusion while Klein's mouth hung open in surprise.

"...Damn it! Why?!" Klein exclaimed in frustration while holding his head. Meanwhile Kirito grabs the coconut from his face with a wince.

"Why me...?"

"Sorry, I coincidentally found two coconuts on the way. So, I thought I should use it for a reason."

"That reason is...?"

"You just experienced it."

"...I should have known."

"What's with you two?" Egil asked Klein and Kirito in slight confusion.

Chuckling at the two, Izayoi turns around halfway to look at the girls playing in the water. A smile slips past his lips as he watches his daughter playing with his wife and her friends.

Just as he looks at his daughter playing with his wife, he watches as Yui looks back at him and promptly runs towards him. "Papa! Papa!" At the shout, Izayoi looks at his daughter arriving in front of him and grabs his hand forward. "Let's play!"

Smiling softly, Izayoi nods his head at his daughter. "Lead the way, Yui."

At the answer, Yui smiled and pulls him forward just as Egil, Kirito and Klein saw the two running towards the water, causing the three to smile in unison.

"He is sure a great father." Klein commented.

"Right." Kirito agreed wholeheartedly.

"It's so cold!" Silica shouted as she shielded herself from the splashes of water hitting her.

"I'm putting my while STR stat into this." Lizbeth said as she splash water towards Keiko, hitting her whole. Lizbeth wore a pink bikini with a short jean pants that reached her thigh.

"I won't lose." Keiko said as she looks at her pet, Pina that was placed on her left shoulder. "Pina, water breath!" She commanded as Pina lands down in the water to swallow water and breathed it out towards Lizbeth, hitting her square in the face. After she had been hit in the face, Lizbeth fell behind in the water. "Way to go Pina! You did it!" Keiko raised her hand victoriously while she wore a two-piece bikini with frills while her tail poke out from the back.

Looking at Keiko, Asuna smiled at their antics before she focuses her attention at Leafa, who puts her head in the water. After a while, Leafa lift her head from the water.

"Leafa-chan, do you think your practise this afternoon helped?" Asuna asked at the blonde, who wore a white bikini with yellow accents. Whereas Asuna wore a white bikini with red accents matched with a pareo around her waist.

"Y-Yeah, it worked great. I'm not scared anymore." She looks down at her feet. "As long as my feet can touch the ground..."

"Ah, glad to hear it." Asuna smiled before she realized something. "But where we're going..."

"That's right." Leafa looked at Asuna. "I wonder how deep the undersea dungeons are." She asked as Asuna tilt her head up and puts her finger on her cheek in a thinking position.

"I think about a hundred meters underwater?"

"A h-hundred meters?" Leafa said in surprise before she slaps her cheeks. "No. I'll do my best!" She said positively. "It's for Yui-chan." She watches with a smile as Yui was on Izayoi's neck and promptly closed his eyes, hiding the smile that was on her face from her amusement.

"Thank you, Leafa-chan." Asuna thanked as she looks at the blonde and smiled.

"Mama! Mama! Come play with us! I've got Papa blinded!" Yui called out as Asuna looks at her direction and smiled before she runs towards her daughter and husband.

"Wait for me, Yui-chan!"

"Oho? You called backup, huh? Let's see if your backup can arrive in time to save you." Izayoi free his hand from holding onto Yui's leg and promptly punches the water in front of him, causing a wave to form and sweeps forward towards Asuna, Leafa, Keiko and Lizbeth.

Equipping her rapier in her right hand, Asuna quickly thrust her rapier to form a hole in the wave causing her to rush through the hole without getting hit with the large wave.

"Run!" Lizbeth shouted before she, Keiko and Leafa were swept off by the wave.

"By the looks of it, you got no backup, Yui. You're all alone now."

"If that would happen, Izayoi-kun." Asuna smirked standing in front of Izayoi with her rapier gone.

"Huh?" Suddenly, Yui's hand disappeared and Izayoi could see again but he was immediately greeted by the water that envelope his whole body.

"Serve you right, Papa!" Yui said in her fairy form while fkying next to Asuna, who laughed at her husband. She then transforms back in her human form and raise her hand up to her mother, who high-fived with her daughter in victory.

But all of a sudden, the two of them looks forward and their eyes widen, seeing Izayoi who was holding a smirk on his face.

Slicking his hair back, Izayoi takes a step forward just as Asuna takes a step back. "Where are you going, Asuna?"

"…Yui-chan, run!" Asuna shouted as she turns around to run but a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist entrapping her.

"There's no escape." Izayoi smirked behind Asuna, who looks at Yui her human form.

"Yui-chan, it's okay. I'll sacrifice myself. Go and defeat him!" She said as Yui nodded determinedly and splashes water at both her parents, enlightening a smile on their faces.

Flashback

"The moment when your Papa pulled out the fish from the lake, he asked me to kill it instead of him."

"Really?"

"I didn't think it was suited for me to kill it. Your Mama wanted to us to join in on the fishing, so I let her kill it."

"Yeah, the two of us worked as a team. With your father fishing out for the fish and your Mama finishing the kill. But fortunately we don't have to eat it."

"Yeah, who eats a four-legged giant fish? It would taste bad if we put on a pan."

At this, Yui laughed causing Asuna to follow laughing while Izayoi smiled at the two.

"It must be nice. I wish I could've seen that fish."

"You can see it if New Aincrad reaches level 22. We'll buy that log cabin again and fish at that lake. You don't have to worry, but you might cry if you see the size of the fish." Izayoi exclaimed with a hint of a smirk.

"I will not cry!" Yui replied leaning her head forward. "No matter how big it is, given the size of the lake, it can't be bigger than a whale in the real world."

"Yui-chan, have you seen a whale?" Asuna asked in slight surprise.

"No, I just estimated its size using the numbers and video data."

"Right. If only there were whales in Alfheim, then you could see them. They're really big. They leap out of the water, and then slam back down."

"Since they are no other ways to see a whale in the real world up-close, how about we'll try to find one in here?" Izayoi asked crossing his arms.

"Huh? Really? There is?" Yui asked with her eyes shining in wonder.

"Yeah, after we cleared a quest in the southern Sylph area in which whales appear."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I've heard about it."

"I want to ride a whale!"

"Okay, if that's what you want, Yui. Anyway, no one has ever ridden a whale in the real world so maybe you can be the lucky one to."

"Yay!"

Present

"Kirito, you're sure whales are in this quest? I mean, you and Izayoi have talked about it before all of this started, right? So atleast, give us some convincing evidence that there will be whales."

"Izayoi-senpai said so himself. Anyway, I've heard about the quest too. It is possible that whales can appear but that's what the two of us heard."

"Yui-chan's really excited. If it turns out to be clione or jellyfish, she's gonna be really upset!"

"Why are you talking to me? Shouldn't you discuss it with Izayoi instead? Including your third question about evidence?

"I think he would maybe reply in a different way than yours." Klein scratched his neck awkwardly.

"Anyway, I kind of like to see a giant clione..." Kirito explained before he looks at Egil. "Egil, did you hear any info?"

"Nope. It's a quest out on the world map's very edge. Hardly anyone even knows of it. But it seems to be true that a huge aquatic monster lies at its end."

"That sounds pretty promising! Okay, let's do this!" Klein said excited before he stands up from his seat and called out to the girls. "Everyone, it's about time to get going!"

"We'll be there, Klein-san!" Yui replied as she, her mother and her friends walked towards the others.

"Ha!" Klein's eyes bugged out as he watches the steps each girls took excluding Yui, much to his pleasure. But before he could take another millisecond of watching, he was sent flying back into the forest behind from a flying coconut.

"Didn't I tell you should mind your own business?" Izayoi asked with a raised eyebrow as Yui smiled.

"Score!"

Dropping the coconut from his face, Klein looks up at the girls that had fully dressed themselves from their swimsuits, much to his demise.

"You know, all four of them are restricted to look at, right? Two of them are already taken." Izayoi explained as he equipped his battle attire. He wore a white elbow sleeved trenchcoat, and underneath his jacket was a white zipped vest with small straps at the top of the collars of the vest that reaches below his mouth. He also wore white pants and white combat boots. There were blue lines and accents running along his sleeves and along his trenchcoat. There were also blue accents on his pants and gloves. The same pattern as Asuna's current Sylph's attire which was similar to her KoB uniform but replacing the red with blue to which makes both of them look like a couple-made attire for them only.

"Thanks for relaying that message, Izayoi-senpai." Kirito said fully equipped in his current armor in ALfheim Online along with Egil's. The only difference is that he changed his ALO's hair with his old SAO's hair and he also equipped a new long sword in exchange of his broadsword.

"No problem for the newly made couple." Izayoi teases with a teasing smile as Kirito blushes along with Lizbeth.

"I thought you were over with that!" Lizbeth shouted in embarrassment. Lizbeth's avatar in ALO is similar to her appearance in SAO: she has pink hair, wears a red and white dress and also has brown boots. The only difference is that she has pointy ears.

"How can I? It's fun to watch." He snickered.

"Well, how about you two?" Lizbeth pointed to him and Asuna standing side by side. "Your clothes are like made... for you two only..." She said in realization, never expecting that each of their attire had the same blue accents and lines on their white attire.

At her statement, Asuna blushes having realized that the pinklette was right.

Have you realized this just now?" Izayoi asked with a teasing smile.

"I didn't know, okay? It's not like I'm jealous." Lizbeth glances away.

"Are you going to wear darker clothes now to match with Kirito?" Izayoi smiled amusingly while raising an eyebrow.

"Huh?!"

"Surprised much?" At his response, Lizbeth turns her head around with a small blush visible on her cheeks.

"Just because black doesn't suit me, doesn't mean I have to wear it..." Lizbeth whispers.

"Don't worry, you're alright just the way you are." A voice said as Lizbeth looks forward to see Kirito standing in front of her with a reassuring smile. Her cheeks colored at his response before she smiled at him.

"Thank you, Kirito-kun." At this, Kirito smiled in appreciation. Then, Lizbeth turns to face Izayoi. "Anyway...How did you make this? Match yours with hers?" Lizbeth asked with a raised eyebrow. "Did you two go to the same clothing shop to make those? Your clothing is exactly what couples have! It's matching!"

"But what I wonder is how much does it all cost to start with? From what we could see, yours doesn't look cheap, Izayoi." Egil asked crossing his arms. "With that much detailed added to your clothing, I'm sure it isn't a boss drop, right? I mean, it looks too expensive to be a boss drop."

"Yeah, it isn't a boss drop or a reward." Izayoi answered with a smile before he looks at Lizbeth. "For your question, we did go to a clothing store to make these out from scratch. It took quite an amount but it didn't dent my fortune much."

"Did all of your money from SAO transferred to ALO?"

"Being a mercenary for several guilds can be useful in ALfheim Online."

"Did you work for them, Izayoi-kun?" Leafa asked with a surprise look, suspecting the cause of his mass fortune to accumulate.

"I might be. I mean, they asked nicely."

"Is it nice?" Leafa raised an eyebrow at the blonde, recalling that both Sakuya and Alicia fought for Izayoi to be in their guild by seduction.

Smiling at the blonde Sylph, Izayoi opens up his menu with his left hand and taps a few buttons until his inventory storage was in view. He then taps an item from the inventory and a black scabbard immediately appears on his back. Everyone who was present watched as the blonde exit his menu and lifted his right hand up in front of him. Suddenly, a bright light appears as everyone shielded themselves from the light for a moment before they look at the source of the light after it had dissipated.

"That's..." Klein mutters with a surprised look, tracing the outline of the blade that was in Izayoi's hand.

"The Sword of Light." Lizbeth finishes the red head before she crossed her arms. "Honestly, where in the world do you get one of those destructive weapons in the first place? That blade's stats have already been maxed out in SAO the last time I've checked."

"Yeah. But this isn't SAO anymore. The stats of the blade might change compare to the previous one's version." Izayoi explained with a small smirk in amusement while Lizbeth hold a surprise look.

"Hold up! You're telling me you want to improve that blade more? But it has already maxed out."

"Better to be safe than sorry, huh? Blacksmith?" Izayoi smirks in mirth. At his response, Lizbeth think in deep thought for a while before she looks up at the blonde.

"When we have time, I'll examine it."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it, call it a favour from me after you saved 8147 people in SAO, and amongst those was me. So, if you are in the area near my shop, we can improve your weapon. But all I can do from here is examine it." Lizbeth explained with a small smile.

"I got it." Izayoi answered before spinning his sword and instantly sheath the blade inside its scabbard. The blonde then addresses his group.

"I'll be your party leader for our quest today. Follow my order if we see the giant whale during the quest." Izayoi explained in front of everyone. Adding to his attire that looks serious, everyone nodded to him.

"Okay, Izayoi-kun." Asuna smiled.

"Okay, leader!" Everyone said in unison.

"Last but not least, do your best." He then looks at Asuna and Yui before looking at his group. Offering a smile, Izayoi summoned his wings and levitate in mid-air. "Let's go." He commanded before he flew ahead followed by Asuna and Yui along with the others, leaving Klein to sulk at the beach.

After a while of flying above the sea, Izayoi stops before he looks at Kirito, who opens his menu and looks at the map.

"The coordinates should be around here, Izayoi."

"Yeah, it is." Izayoi answered looking down at the sea floor and everyone looks to where he looks and they all could see something shimmering in the water. Glancing at Asuna next to him, the chestnut brown haired nods.

"Okay, I'll cast Water Breathing." Raising her hand, Asuna chanted in the ring of words before everyone was enchanted in blue sparkling light.

Looking up at the top right of his HP, Izayoi could see the icon for water breathing visible. He then looks back at his group and notices Leafa looking a little troubled.

"Izayoi?" Kirito asked looking at him from behind as the blonde turns to him.

"You can go ahead." At this, Kirito started to question why in his mind before he pushed the thought away and looks at the group.

"Let's go." Kirito commanded as he dives in towards the shimmering water followed by the others.

When everyone had already dived in, Leafa was beginning to feel dizzy just as she entered the water but then two pair of hands grabs her hands.

"Don't fall back now. We've only just started." Izayoi stated with a smirk before Asuna who was next to him nodded.

"You can do it, Leafa-chan!" Yui cheered in her fairy form while riding on Pina next to Asuna.

At the encouragement, Leafa smiled before she proceeded to dives deep with Izayoi, Asuna and Yui.

Just as the group dives deeper and deeper, Kirito's eyes widen at a sight in front of him.

"Wow!" Keiko said before Lizbeth pointed at something.

"There's someone over there!"

"It's a quest NPC." Egil stated looking at the individual standing on the altar before the temple in front of them.

"Underwater, the only people who'd need your help are mermaids!" Klein exclaimed with a smile as Egil looks at him from his right. "I'm coming to help you, mermaid girl!" He then dives straight towards the NPC and kneels down in front of the NPC. "May I help you with something, young lady-" He looks up and was instantly greeted by an old man.

"It isn't a young lady. It's an old man." Yui stated appearing next to Izayoi and Asuna while Leafa was beside her mother.

Walking from his group, Izayoi stands in front of the old man. "Do you have any matters that we can deal with, old man?" Izayoi smiled amusingly before a menu pop up in front of him.

Do you want to begin the Deep Sea Invaders quest?

Smiling at the interesting subject, Izayoi taps the Yes button which caused the menu to disappear.

Quest Accepted

The icon appeared above the old man before the old man started to move and looks up at Izayoi.

"Ho~Fairies of the surface world, are you here to help this old man?"

Meanwhile, Leafa looks at the NPC's name and she holds a disturbing look as she stared at it for a moment. Noticing her troubled expression, Asuna voices out her concern.

"What's wrong, Leafa-chan?"

"Ah, nothing..." Leafa responded looking at her. "I was just thinking I'd seen that man's name before." At her statement, Asuna looks at the old man in confusion.

"You see, thieves living in this temple stole a present I was going to give to an old friend...I'd like you to regain it for me." The old man explained to Izayoi and his group.

"That's all? Oh well, we handle it from here old man."

"Oh, thank you. The present is a pearl, about this big." The old man estimated the size of the pearl over his chest.

"That's huge!" Lizbeth gasped in surprise at the size he showed them as Keiko looks at her suspiciously.

"Don't walk off and try to sell it!"

"I w-won't...Not this time, anyway." Lizbeth exclaimed turning to look the other way while she touches her chin with her finger.

"Thank you, fairies. If you can get the pearl back, I'll reward you well!" The old man stated to the group.

Quest Progress

Looking at the icon above his head, Izayoi turns around to face his group. "Since this quest is a retrieval quest. It might be hard, it migt be easy. But unfortunately, there are monsters inside the temple. So, be careful." Izayoi then looks at Klein and Kirito. "For those of you at the front, your weapons are slower underwater except for me." Lifting his right hand, his Sword of Light appears inside his hand and he twirls his sword easily before flicking it to the side. He then looks at Asuna and the other two girls. "Those at the rear, you can't use lightning magic."

"Okay, leader!" Asuna and the rest said at the same time. But after a while, Leafa let down her hand and looks at the NPC with a troubled look.

"We should go then." Izayoi commanded as he walks ahead of the group to which they followed behind his lead.

As the group enters the temple, they walk along a hall. Each of them was lined in a single straight line as they walk through the halls.

"Hey, Kirito...Leafa-chan isn't good at fighting underwater, right?" Klein whispered behind Kirito, who glances back at him. "Shouldn't you help her out a little?"

"Leafa...Sugu..." Kirito thought recalling the conversation he had with Kikuoka. "But...It's one thing if it's just the two of us, but when we're all in a party, I don't really know how to act around her."

"Just act natural...You're her big brother, so take care of her."

"But I just found out that she's my sister."

"Huh?"

"I only found out today. So, what do you think I should act-?!" Suddenly, Kirito and Klein fall off from the pavement and into a whirlpool in front of them. The two of them quickly swim up into the surface and put their hands on the ledge of the pavement for support.

"Who walks into a trap they can see?" Egil asked the two.

"I think those two are." Izayoi answered looking at the two with a smirk while standing at the other side of the drain trap.

"To think these guys were once among the best players SAO had to offer. And one of those two is Kirito-kun..." Lizbeth stated looking at his boyfriend.

"It's okay. No matter what he is like, Kirito will always be him, isn't that right?" Silica asked the pinklete.

"Right." Lizbeth smiled before she walks forward and stands in front of Kirito, who looks up at her. Extending her hand towards him, Lizbeth smiled at the black haired. "Do I always have to be the one helping you from now on?" She remarked amusingly as Kirito looks at her before he grabs her hand and smiled in return.

"Sorry, I'll try not to." Kirito replied before he was pulled up by Lizbeth and stood in front of her.

"It's okay. I'll always help you. It's nice to you know?"

"Papa, in front of you!" Yui shouted pointing her finger in front of Izayoi.

At her shout, Izayoi and the others immediately look towards the drain trap where both Klein and Kirito fell in. A burst of water came out of the drain trap, surprising Klein who had gotten out of the trap in time.

"Is that the whale?" The red head questioned.

"No." Izayoi answered as he and everyone looks upwards and saw a giant fish appearing before them. They then followed its movement that was circling around them before finally placing itself behind everyone and screams at them. The fish is called Armachthys. An Armachthys is a large, black with a large gray spot fish that has a pair of large fins in its front, three more pairs of fins on its bottom side, with the last pair being larger than the first two, and two more large fins on its top side. The monster's head is covered in tough bone armour with a horn sticking out of its top. There is a small opening in the armour at the top of its head. The monster has two bright red eyes and sharp teeth with two large fangs at the center of its jaw.

"Prepare yourself." Izayoi commanded as everyone armed themselves with their weapons and prepare for combat. But before they could attack according to the blonde's order, they were startled by the burst of violent water passing over them accompanied by the sound of an explosion. Everyone braced themselves from the violent burst of water pushing them.

After a moment, everyone looks up and their eyes widen seeing Izayoi standing in front of them with his Sword of Light at his side. The giant fish that was called Armachthys that stood in front of them mere moments ago lie in a big crater in the stone pavement where it was slashed and crashed at.

"Did he overkill it?" Klein asked in surprise, never expecting the blonde to be immensely strong before. Even though he had witness his power for the first time when he fought with the Blue Eyed Demon.

"I think so. It isn't moving." Lizbeth stated looking at the lifeless eyes of the giant fish lying in the crater.

"I only put little strength in that attack." Izayoi thought looking down at the giant fish called the Armachthys. "It shouldn't be affected this much to be defeated so easily." He glances down at his Sword of Light, knowing that he had gotten the blade recently after Alfheim Online had begun to change for the better. Even if he didn't use the blade for a month, he knew that the blade stats hadn't drop due to transferring to a different game. But he also knew that the blade wouldn't be able to kill a monster in a single hit above level 70 or 80, judging from the monster's stats themselves.

"But isn't it weird that the monster hasn't disintegrated yet? Shouldn't it shatter like the others?" Leafa stated out loud to everyone, who thought that her statement was the truth about the game's system.

"Yeah. We should continue. It'll be faster to clear the quest." Izayoi stated. "Even that old man looks suspicious." He thought before he raises his sword to strike down the fish. But before he could strike the final blow to the monstrous-sized fish, his eyes looks down at the fish's eyes and noticed that it glowed faintly. Noticing the gesture, he immediately strikes his sword down but he was caught by surprise as the fish's eyes glows a deep red and it instantly disappeared from its position.

Looking back, Izayoi followed the fish's movement that leads him to the drain trap in which Klein and Kirito fell in earlier. "Be careful." Izayoi commanded to everyone who looks at the monstrous-sized fish.

The Armachthys then spins around in a circle just as it arrives in front of the drain trap. The circular motion causes a water vortex to appear around the fish and pulls everything in the water current towards the vortex.

"That fish knows how to act." Izayoi thought narrowing his eyes at the water vortex before he spotted someone at the corner of his eyes.

"Leafa-chan!" Asuna called out as she reaches her hand and grabs onto the flying Leafa that was nearing towards the vortex.

"Leafa-san, hang on!" Yui exclaimed to the blonde from Asuna's shoulder.

"Yui-chan, Asuna." Leafa called out to them.

"Don't worry, I got you." Asuna grips onto the blonde's hand and tried to endure the violent water current from pulling but she felt she was slowly pulled towards the vortex. In an attempt to pull the blonde, Asuna's eyes widen as she felt her feet no longer touch the ground and she along with Leafa were immediately pulled towards the vortex.

"Papa!" Yui's shout went unnoticed before it disappears into the vortex which causes Izayoi to narrow his eyes at the vortex that had sucked both his wife and daughter in.

"Kirito, let's go!" Izayoi exclaimed running past Kirito, who looks at him before he grips his handle and followed behind after the blonde towards the vortex. Crouching down slightly, Izayoi jumps inside the vortex with Kirito behind him.

"Kirito-kun!" Lizbeth shouted.

"Izayoi-kun!" Silica shouted.

Inside the vortex, Izayoi looks around him as he maneuvered himself to touch his feet above the ceiling of the halls. He glanced at his right, seeing Kirito positioning himself on the ceiling before looking at the blonde. "Right." Izayoi looks at the target as Kirito followed him.

"Left."

Immediately, the two burst through the center of the vortex towards the monstrous-sized fish. When the two combatants were near their target, their swords glowed brightly as Izayoi pulled his sword back and slashes the fish at the right side while Kirito slashes at the left.

Meanwhile, both Asuna and Leafa look up from the ledge of the drain trap and saw the duo standing at opposite sides with their backs facing each other while the Armachthys in between them shatters into polygons. Leafa was holding onto the ledge with her left hand while her right was holding onto Asuna's hand and was keeping her from falling any further in the drain trap.

"Papa did it!" Yui exclaimed in happiness as she held onto her mother's shoulder.

"Izayoi-kun..." Asuna smiled at her husband.

In front of Asuna and Yui, Leafa looks up at Kirito and recalled something from her past.

"That's right...I fell into a pond that day...What happened next? Who saved me?"

"Sugu!" A voice said as a hand grips around her wrist and she looks up at Kirito who was holding her hand while he was supported by both Egil and Klein.

"Onii-chan?"

With a single pull by the three men, Leafa was slowly pulled towards the pavement but she felt her grip loosen around Asuna's hand and she looks back. "Asuna!" She shouted as she bends her body forward to reach for the blue haired Sylph that was slowly falling down towards the drain trap.

But then Leafa felt a burst of wind flew passed her and she looks up at the other side of the pavement, noticing that Izayoi had his back facing her. A smile plastered on her face as she sighs in relief, seeing Asuna in his arms.

"Papa..." Yui looks up from Asuna's shoulder while her mother smiled at the present of her husband.

"Thank you, Izayoi."

"No problem. I'm here right?" Izayoi smiled at both Asuna and Yui before he stands up and looks at Leafa smiling at Kirito along with everyone else.

"You saved me again huh, Onii-chan?" Leafa asked as Kirito's eyes widen at her. "Thanks for saving me when I fell." At her next statement, Kirito looks at her in surprise before he smiled.

Time Skip

After proceeding deeper into the temple and defeating a large crab monster, the group arrived in front of the giant double gates. Both Klein and Egil grip the sides of the gates and pulled it open to Izayoi and the others.

Standing in between them, Izayoi walks through the gates along with Asuna and Yui. Then, Silica, Lizbeth and Kirito followed from behind before Klein and Egil follow through.

Stopping in his tracks, Izayoi looks at the pearl sitting on a nest made out of twigs. Raising an eyebrow at the nesting place, Izayoi looks around the giant room.

"Izayoi-kun? What's wrong?" Asuna asked in curiosity.

"You heard what the old man said, his gift was stolen by thieves and they took refuge in the temple, right?"

"Yeah, we haven't seen any signs of thieves while we venture deep in the temple." Lizbeth explained with a small frown.

At the pinklette's explanation, everyone looks around at the room, noticing there weren't any monsters around or the present thieves that Nerakk had talk about. An unsettling feeling begin to grow inside the group's mind as they recalled back to what the NPC had said.

"We all heard him say that we have to retrieve his pearl that he wanted to give as a gift to his friend, right?" Silica asked as Asuna nods.

"Yes. But why those thieves stole the pearl and fled to this temple? They'll be cornered right in this room with no way out. It isn't a thief to get caught easily." Asuna stated as Izayoi steps upon the stairs to the green colored pearl and pick it up by the hand.

"We're about to find out."

Time Skip

After retrieving the pearl, the group walked back to the entrance of the temple while fighting back the monsters that had respawned through the halls of the temple. Just as the group reaches the entrance and walk out of the temple, Klein takes a sit on one of the steps that leads down to the NPC.

"I don't want to see shrimp or crabs for a long time." Klein said with closed eyes, recalling the aquatic monsters he had battled.

"No squid or octopus, either." Egil sits next to him.

"We never did see the whale."

"But Yui-chan seemed to have a great time." Silica stated standing above the two.

"Here, old man."

Everyone looks at Izayoi who was standing in front of Nerakk along with Asuna next to him while Yui was sitting on her father's right shoulder. Everyone then stares at the pearl that was held in the blonde's right hand, speculating that the pearl held some secrets they didn't know seeing as what they found deep in the temple troubled them. Especially the words spoken by the NPC and his overall story, much to their confusion.

We have your present right here." Izayoi smiled extending his right hand that held the green pearl towards the old man.

"I hope your friend appreciate the gift." Asuna said with a smile with her hands at her side.

"This is definitely it." The old man mutters before he reaches out his hand towards the pearl. But before he touch it, his eyes widen at the sight of the pearl being pull away. He then looks up at the smirk that played on Izayoi's face.

"You know, old man. For your age, I don't think you should be lying let alone stray young people into a wild goose chase to get this pearl."

At his statement, Nerakk stayed silence.

"As we reach deep into the temple, there wasn't any thieves that you mentioned before. The pearl was unguarded too. Care to explain about the false story you lay to us?" Izayoi smirked knowingly at the Nerakk who looks at the blonde for a while before speaking up.

"Does that mean you will not give the pearl?"

"Depends. There wasn't any boss to this quest which I found boring. We didn't come here to find a pearl, you know? Anyway, all the suspicious clues we found leads up to you and your false story. There was a need for you to make us go inside the temple and get the pearl, correct? But what is that need exactly?"

"So you will not give the pearl?"

At this, Asuna suspiciously looks at him before she pulled the pearl back. "No, we will not."

"You're hiding something, old man. If teory serves me right, your name Nerakk is one of that Norse mythology."

"But how is that?"

"If you rearrange the letter of the name, you will get the answer."

"Nerakk...Kraken." At her answer, Leafa looks up at the old man who undoubtely frowns.

"If you will not give the pearl," Just as he finishes his sentence, he looks at Izayoi and Asuna. "...then so be it."

Asuna steps back as she looks at the old man's eyes that glowed red before his tentacle like beard grew and transformed into real tentacles. Before long, Izayoi and the others look up at the giant kraken in front of them. The letters Nerakk above the kraken changes to Kraken the Abyss Lord. Following after that, 7 HP bars appeared beside the kraken.

"The sea monster from Norse mythology?" Leafa stated in surprise.

"I thank you, fairies. A barrier kept me out of that temple, but you retrieved the Prince's Egg from it...Now, hand it over!" The Kraken said to the group, specifically Asuna and Izayoi.

"We refuse! We're taking the egg back to the temple." Asuna stated as Izayoi lift his right hand up in front of her protectively. Then, Leafa, Silica and Lizbeth walk to stand in front of them followed by Kirito, Klein and Egil that stood on the front lines.

"Foolish insects...Then I'll send you to the abyss!"

Just as the Kraken said, he lifted one of his tentacles up and brought it down before Klein and Egil raised their weapons, blocking it. Magic word rings appear around the two as Leafa and Silica chanted their protective spells.

Then, Kirito came up right beside the kraken with his sword engulfed in flames before slashing one of his tentacles, causing the inner skin to be revealed. But foam started to engulf the wound and the outer skin instantly regenerates itself, shocking Kirito.

"Kirito!" Lizbeth shouted as she jumps towards him and pushes him with her to the ground, avoiding a tentacle down strike. The strike causes the ground to burst and send both Kirito and Lizbeth in the air before falling down with the rest of the group.

Kirito looks up at the kraken and saw that his HP was in the red bar, shocking him greatly. He then look at the stats on the kraken and was genuinely shock upon seeing it.

"Izayoi-kun..." Asuna mutters with a frown, seeing her friends lying down on the ground in front of them and their HP were all in the red bar.

Looking at the kraken, Izayoi lets down his hand in front of Asuna and take a step forward.

"Papa, that octopus's stats are too high! They're much higher than a New Aincrad Floor Boss!"

Just as she finishes, the kraken open its mouth revealing countless of razor sharp fangs. It then started to make sucking noise as everyone looks at the mouth in fear.

A smile slips past Izayoi's lips as he takes another step forward.

"Izayoi-kun?" Asuna mutters as Izayoi kept moving while avoiding stepping on his friends.

"Izayoi?" Kirito asked looking at the blonde as he passes by him.

"I've waited long enough for this." Izayoi said to his group as he kept walking towards the kraken, who was charging up something with its mouth.

Gripping his sword, Izayoi unsheathes his Sword of Light and wield it with his right. He then lifts his left hand as everyone saw a black daito appearing in his grasp.

"Where did he get...?" Lizbeth asked.

Suddenly, a burst of energy flows out of Izayoi as black and red energy pierces the deep water and straight towards the surface. A wide smirk spread across Izayoi's lips as a line of a mask begin to appear at the left side of his mask starting at his mouth to his forehead. Then instantly a half wolf mask appeared covering Izayoi's left face, shocking everyone except Leafa and Yui, who had already seen the mask when he fought against Eugene.

"Oh, how long i've waited for this. A boss that is stronger than the Floor Bosses in New Aincrad? Ha! My blood is boiling!" Izayoi smirks as both of his swords glowed bright in their respective color. Instantly, Izayoi disappeared and reappears in front of Kraken's mouth. He instantly throws his daito as a black chain materialized itself from the tip of the handle. Gripping tightly at the chain in his hand, Izayoi watches as the chain materialized longer just as the daito went even further inside the kraken's mouth. Suddenly, the kraken stop making sucking sounds as it stop moving.

Clenching the chain in his hand, Izayoi simply swipe his hand to the side a little before swiping to the right and stop. Suddenly, cutting motions begin appearing all over the kraken before it exploded sending body parts scattering around.

"What..." Klein gasped in shock as everyone looks at the scene in pure shock.

"Hm...?" Izayoi looks at the head that was slowly regenerating and he smiles in delight. Pulling his chain back, it causes his daito to instantly fly back towards him. After gripping his blade back, Izayoi adjust his foot before disappearing in thin air releasing bubbles.

Appearing above the kraken from a distance, the blonde could see that the octopus had already regenerated its head and its body parts already.

"Fool! You can't defeat me!" Kraken said as it looks up at Izayoi.

Suddenly, a burst of energy burst out of Izayoi overflowing him with black and light blue energy. Everyone watch the scene with wide eyes as they noticed his clothing changed. The left side of his attire had turned to black with red accents while the right side remained the same. The straps that were aligning up to his collar had transformed into white sharp teeth of a wolf.

"There's nothing that I can't defeat. Unfortunately, impossible isn't in my dictionary." Izayoi said before raising his daito to the side and throws it towards the kraken, piercing the water current which could slow the blade but didn't. Just as the blade nears the kraken, Izayoi raise his hand which held the chain in place and pull it slightly before moving downwards and moves to the left. The motion causes the blade to shift slightly and sway back and forth. Lastly, Izayoi let his grip loosen from his hand before letting go of the chain.

"Why did...?" Klein asked

"Look!" Silica pointed

"Huh?" Klein looks up at the blade and his eyes widen along with the others as the blade started to travel faster than before and instantly vanished from sight.

"Where...did it go?" Just as Kirito finishes his sentence, his eyes spotted the kraken's movement stop and his eyes spotted the black chain once again. He then traces the chain that came out of the octopus's back to the hilt of the daito which had stab itself into the sea ground.

"There's no running away, old man. Not from me!" Izayoi said as everyone could see another blade forming in his left hand. It was the Heavell Sword.

Smiling at the feeling of his swords just like old times, Izayoi pulled his swords back and instantly his swords turns into their magic big version. A smirk spread across his face as Izayoi appears instantly in front of the kraken. When he appears the kraken immediately went to strike him down with one of his tentacles.

"Don't make a fool out of me, fairy!" But before the said tentacle was about to attack the blonde, it immediately stops, so is the kraken. Everyone saw the motion and wondered once again what would happen next.

Suddenly, countless of slashing motion appeared around the octopus as everyone watches the spectacle.

Gripping tightly around his swords, the motion causes the swords to lit brighter and brighter. "This is over." Izayoi mutters before he disappear and countless of slashes begin to appear around the kraken combined with the slashes earlier. Thousands upon thousands of slashes were landed upon the kraken.

"What is this? Who are you, fairy?" Kraken mutters as his regenerating ability couldn't catch up to the speed at each slashes travel across his body.

"Know the Shinigami."

"Shinigami?"

After a while, everyone saw Izayoi appearing right above the kraken with his face completely covered with the white wolf mask.

"Prepare to face your death." The deep voice returns from the blonde's mouth as everyone were surprised by his changed voice, except Leafa and Yui who had heard it.

Leaning his back forward, Izayoi looks forward and shot towards the kraken with his swords at his side.

"Why can't I...?" Kraken thought as he couldn't raise any of his tentacles to attack. He then notices that his tentacles weren't regenerating as fast enough due to amount of slashes it had took in the speed of light.

Just as Izayoi neared the kraken's head, he raised his swords and brought it down upon its head which caused a white light to engulf the area around them.

"Izayoi-kun." Asuna thought as she closed her eyes at the light that engulfed her along with everyone.

After a while, the light dissipated and everyone opens their eyes and look up. The moment they look up, they were in awe. The pavement in front of them had been destroyed along with the sea ground beneath it. The sea rocks and nearby aquatic sea lives had been reduced to nothing. But they were most awed by the sight of the kraken that was left with nothing but the small remains of his tentacles. Its head and body were vaporised and were not to be found.

The group then look at the blonde standing in front of them, his back faces them. They watched as his swords in his hands disappear in a burst of light before they noticed that the color of his clothing had been turned to normal. They then watch at his mask that was slowly disintegrated into small particles of energy before travelling upstream towards the surface.

"Izayoi-kun." Asuna called out as she approaches the blonde from behind in slow strides. But during her approach, she noticed the blonde was silent and unresponsive towards her early call. Casting a worried look at her husband, Asuna was about to reach out her hand towards him before she watches the blonde fall forward slowly to which causes her to rush ahead and support his shoulder with her right while the left hold his arm. The pearl that was in her grasp was safely placed on her lap.

Dropping into a kneeling position, Izayoi pants tiredly. "I guess that took almost my energy away."

"Are you alright, Izayoi-kun?"

Looking at her, Izayoi reassured her with a smile. "Never better. I just don't use that skill and power often."

"I noticed. I never saw you did those moves before."

"Surprise."

At his answer, Asuna shakes her head with a smile before she and her husband looks forward at the remaining parts of the kraken.

"At least, it's over." Asuna said as Izayoi grasp her hand above while he looks at the kraken's remains.

"It's not over yet, fairies." A voice stated as Izayoi's eyes widen along with Asuna. The both of them look up at the foam that had started to appear from the remains of the kraken and was gathering up to one point before watching the form of the kraken appeared right in front of them. One of the tentacles moves and randomly jumps into the air and smash down at the pavement in front of Izayoi and Asuna, causing a cloud of smoke to block their vision.

"How can it be alive?" Leafa asked. "Izayoi-kun put everything into his attacks!" She frowned.

"But it's not good enough." Lizbeth frowned at her own statement.

"This is really a boss that is stronger than the Floor Bosses in New Aincrad." Kirito stated standing up as Lizbeth stood next to him.

"What can we do now? We can't fight it or even damage it without it regenerating." Silica explained to everyone.

"We can't."

"Kirito-kun?" Lizbeth asked looking at him in confusion.

"We simply can't do anything in this situation. This boss is simply too powerful."

At his statement, Lizbeth look at the couple in front of them. "Izayoi, what do we do?"

"Papa..." At her daughter's call, Izayoi looks at her, seeing she was standing on top of Asuna's right shoulder and she was looking at the cloud of smoke in slight fear.

"It's going to be alright." Yui looks at her father in response before she nods.

Looking at the cloud of smoke, Izayoi could see that the smoke was beginning to clear up. But before he could continue to wait for the smoke, he looks up and spotted a gigantic tentacle heading down at them. Izayoi immediately covered both of his wife and daughter with his arms wrap around them before an explosion could be heard blowing debris pass them.

After a while, Izayoi glance behind while Asuna and Yui look up. The three of them could see a lance in front of them imbedding itself into the cracking pavement. They then spotted the end of the tentacle that was lying over at the side of the lance.

"It seems you acquire assistance, Izayoi-sama."

At the voice, Izayoi smiled amusingly and raised an eyebrow.

"It seemed you have come to the game at last." Izayoi stated as he moved to the side and kneel next to Asuna. "Leticia." He called as the blonde woman named Leticia floated down in front of them.

"Leticia-san!" Yui exclaimed in surprise and happiness.

A smile greeted her as Leticia grabs her lance and unlatched it from the ground. "It's good to see you again, Yui-chan. How are you?"

"I'm alright. Both Papa and Mama are alright too!"

"That is good to hear." Leticia smiled before she turns her head to the tentacle next to her and lightly vaporized with a swipe of her lance. After that, she focuses her attention to the loud shout behind her.

"Foolish fairies. No one will save you." Kraken announced as a burst of wind hits them and everyone could see the full view of the kraken with the cloud of smoke out of their way.

There weren't any scratches on the kraken's body or even a wound to see on the body, much to their surprise. The HP bar beside the kraken was full as it was before compare to the time where Izayoi's attack that reduced the seven HP bar to one.

Seeing the unscathed kraken, Izayoi looks at his wife, noticing the worrisome look she held. He then look at his daughter who was looking at the kraken in slight fear. Looking down at the ground, Izayoi trailed his sight to his right hand and recalled something.

"There is no mercy for you, fairies!" Kraken said as he lift his tentacles and shoot it towards Izayoi and Asuna.

"You will not harm them while I'm here." Leticia declared as she pulled her lance over her head. After that, her lance immediately covered in flaming red energy as the tip of the lance burns brightly and dances freely underwater. Looking at the approaching tentacles, Leticia throws her lance towards the tentacles with the flames burning brightly around her lance. When the projectile weapon hits the tentacles, it immediately causes an explosion that covers the area around it and engulfed all of the tentacles.

But when the explosion receded, Leticia narrows her eyes at the tentacles that were scattered all around the pavement. She then watches as foam started to come out of the tentacles and joined themselves to the kraken's body, regenerating its limbs.

"You cannot defeat me! I'm the Abyss Lord! I will send all of you to the abyss!"

Leticia stretches her hand as her lance forms in her hand, surprising everyone who thought that the weapon was destroyed by the explosion earlier. The blonde prepared to defend the couple behind her from the kraken before a voice greets her from behind.

"I'll handle it from here, Leticia. You can stand down." Izayoi declared as Leticia looks back at him, watching him as he stands up.

"Are you sure?"

Looking at the woman, Izayoi nods before he set his sights at the kraken before him. But before he makes a move, he looks down at his wife and daughter. He offers a smile to them, "It's gonna be alright, I promise."

"Papa..."

"Izayoi-kun..."

Smiling at them, Izayoi looks at the kraken once again and begins to walk calmly towards it without his swords with him, much to everyone surprise.

"What is he going to do? He's unarmed!"

"Is he going to defeat the kraken once and for all?"

"I'm not sure..."

"You are one brave fairy, I will comment on that. But you're naive if you think you can defeat me all by yourself." The Kraken stated out loud to the blonde.

"Naive? Maybe. But I usually count on myself. For your second question, I can't say it's true," Izayoi stops and raises his right hand to his chest. A bright light started to appear from his palm as the kraken looks surprised at the scene.

"Huh? What..."

"But challenging strong bosses like you makes me lose control sometimes." Izayoi looks up as a small pillar of light levitate above his right palm. He then puts his right hand to his right side, causing everyone to look at the light in surprise.

"That light..." Leafa mutters recalling the time where the blonde used the light and destroyed countless numbers of Guardians in the dome a while back.

"What..." Asuna mutters as she looked up at the title or name above Izayoi's name. "Canditate of Origin...? What's that mean?"

"Origin..." Leticia thought noticing the name that appeared above her master's name.

A smirk spread across Izayoi's lips as he looks at the kraken. "And it isn't for the better. For you." After he finishes his sentence, he dashes towards the kraken.

"That light will not save you regardless of your sacrifice. The fact remains that you and the other fairies will perish in the abyss!" Instantly, the kraken sends all of his tentacles at the blonde in an attempt to eradicate the blonde completely.

"The one that will be sent to the abyss is you. You're not going to escape from this without letting us, fairies, win." Izayoi said before he jumps above the kraken, nearly avoiding the tentacles from hitting him. As he appears above the kraken, he looks down at the heart of the kraken where he knew it would be.

"Don't think you can do what you want, fairy." The kraken said as Izayoi looks at the tentacles that immediately heads his way.

"Are you getting scared, old man? Ha! You are! But sadly, it was fun while it lasted." Izayoi pulled back his palm before thrusting his hand forward as the small pillar of light changes to a giant pillar of light that instantly pierces through the tentacles, slicing them apart, before it pierces straight to the kraken's heart till it stabs into the ground at the back of it.

Everyone looks at the HP bar of the kraken and their eyes widen in shock, seeing the HP bar instantly reduced to the last HP bar where it was in the red zone.

But just as they started to wait for the HP bar to be zero, light instantly engulfed the whole area as everyone shielded their eyes.

"W-What is this? I can't b-believe this...There's no way I could be defeated-!"

"There is a way. I am the way." Izayoi smirks as he and the kraken were engulfed in light.

After a while, the light dissipated and everyone open their eyes again to look at the kraken where it stood but to their shock, the aquatic being wasn't there nor even a remain of it. They then look at the blonde that stood in front of a pop up window.

Congratulations! You're defeated the Kraken The Abyss Lord!

"He defeated that octopus with that light?" Klein asked in confusion.

"I can't believe it..." Silica stated in disbelief.

"What's there to not believe? He did it in front of our eyes." Lizbeth stated to everyone.

"Yeah, he did." Kirito continued. "You used that again like last time..."

"Was I too late?" A booming voice states as everyone looks up at where the voice came from. They watches as a huge being came down from the upper water level and landed outside of the entrance of the temple. Everyone looks at the being's name.

Leviathan the Sea Lord

They then looked beside his name and watches on as eight HP bars appears one after one.

A smile appeared on Izayoi's face as he pointed his thumb at the pop up window behind him. "Yeah, you're too late to see the finale."

Upon seeing the pop up window, a smile slips past the sea lord's face as he looks at the blonde. "It seems I am. Even though we may be old acquaintances but this is the first time that anyone had even defeated him. I must comment on your strength to defeat that creature. He was always up to his old tricks of persuading people to get the egg to get his revenge on the gods."

"Don't worry, that old octopus is long gone." Izayoi smiled as the sea lord's smiled back.

"Yes." He nodded.

Upon realizing the word egg, Asuna looks down at the pearl on her lap.

"Mama?" Yui asked looking at her mother who was standing up before she hold the pearl up to the lights that glowed green around the temple. Her eyes widen as she and her daughter look at the alive small being in the pearl.

"It's not a pearl, it's an egg." Asuna stated as Izayoi looks at the small being in the supposed egg.

"It'a a good thing i didn't hit that egg at the old man back then." Izayoi said as everyone looks at him in surprise.

"You were going to hit that?" Kirito asked with a raised eyebrow.

The blonde in question shrugs his shoulder, "It is a pearl at that moment, so I thought it would withstand the force. Anyway, that old kraken in his human form said he wanted it and I intend to give it to him that way."

"Give it or break him?"

"The latter." Izayoi answered with a small smirk.

"Oh, Izayoi-kun." Asuna chuckled at her husband before she looks at the sea lord and walks up towards him.

The sea lord saw the fairy moved towards him and he kneels down in front of her just as she arrived. "That egg belongs to the one that will someday rule all the sea and air. I must find it a new home, so I shall take it back."

"Here." Asuna hold the egg up high before the sea lord raise his hand. Both Asuna and Yui saw that his hand glowed in green before they saw the egg disappear in particles of green energy.

Just as the egg disappear, Izayoi looks at the pop up window in front of him.

Quest Complete!

"Then that's the end? I'm not sure what just happened." Klein said upon seeing the Quest Completion box in front of Izayoi.

"I couldn't follow what the old guy and the octopus were discussing at all." Lizbeth exclaimed with a small frown.

"For now, that's fine." The sea lord replied to Lizbeth as everyone looks at him. "Come, I shall return you to your own country, fairies."

"R-Return us? How?" Silica asked as a huge shadow appears behind the sea lord and everyone stares at it in surprise.

A smile slips past Izayoi's lips as he looks at the huge shadow before he looks at his daughter. "Looks like you'll be getting what you wanted, Yui."

At the surface of the sea, a white humpback whale appears from the water as Izayoi and his group stood on top of the whale as a rainbow appears behind the background.

"Whale-san is really, really big!" Yui exclaimed with a smile as she stood on top of Pina with her arms spread out.

Meanwhile, both Izayoi and Asuna look at their daughter with smiles on their faces.

"Thank you, Izayoi-kun." Asuna mutters as she rested her head on Izayoi's right shoulder while she wrapped her arm around his right arm.

"What for?" Izayoi looks at her.

"For protecting us and saving us."

At her statement, Izayoi smiled amusingly.

""I don't think I did all the protecting. Leticia did have her part. It's a shame that she had to leave. I still think she should have come along than just arrived in this game just to save us."

"Well, she did say she had to leave because it was important. But Izayoi-kun, you did the protecting while Leticia did the saving. And you saved us from that kraken, so thank you."

"Don't mention it, it's my job since we met." Izayoi smiled softly.

At his reply, Asuna smiled before she snuggled her head comfortably on his shoulder.

Looking up, Izayoi stare up at New Aincrad followed by Asuna as his group could be seen standing in one line with Kazuto, Klein and Egil beside Izayoi while Lizbeth, Leafa and Silica besides Asuna.

To Be Continued…

That's the end of the Alfheim Online: Extra Edition. I hope you folks love the chapter because I love it along with all my other chapters that I've created so far. But my favorite one would be chapter 15.

Anyway, don't forget to review, favorite and follow this chapter, alright? Sorry if this chapter was long but this story is an extra edition so I have to do it. If there any errors, PM'd me, alright? About the flashback, I hate Sugou! I despised him! You all agree with me, right? Yeah, you agree. Anyway, I'll be going. I'll catch all of you later.

Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!