Chrome and Arcadia stood at the entrance to The Ethereal Ruins, an area on the fifteenth floor of Aincrad. It was an empty area with no enemies, no NPCs and no quests relating to it. Until now that was. The ruins were the location of the rumoured December event quest set to start in just under an hour. Chrome's hand fell to the white-wrapped handle of his sword and he ran his hand along the cool leather.
"It's been quite a while since it's been just the two of us hasn't it?" Arcadia asked, leaning against a collapsed stone pillar.
"Yeah, ever since we met up with Vakross and Muko things have been pretty hectic. It's been ages since we started playing ALO, then Tatsuya joined us not long after," Chrome said, looking up at the sky.
"Look at us, reminiscing like two old people," Arcadia said with a small laugh.
"I better be careful, I might throw my back out in the fight," Chrome said with a wide grin. The two laughed and continued to chat idly until Kotetsu arrived.
"Yo! You two ready for this?" he said, stretching and cracking his neck.
"I didn't get any sleep last night, I was too excited, we've been getting ready for this for so long!" Arcadia said, Chrome thought she'd start bouncing if she got any more excited. "Heck I checked all my equipment at least four times before coming here."
"Aw crap, I didn't check mine at all!" Kotetsu said, quickly bringing up his menu. Arcadia shook her head, ashamed at her student's disorganisation. "Ha, I'm all good to go!"
The three waited until Muko and Vakross finally arrived and everyone decided to do one final check on their equipment. Once everyone was ready to go they all gathered at the archway that led into The Ethereal Ruins.
"We're all clear on the plan for the boss fight right?" Chrome asked, his hand on his sword.
"It's not exactly a complex plan, hit, switch, repeat," Vakross said, rubbing his neck. Chrome nodded and took the first step into the area.
As soon as the party made their way over the threshold, the scenery completely changed. They were suddenly being battered by heavy rain and an ice-cold wind coiled around them. There was a loud clap of thunder and Chrome shuddered a little. He glanced around at the cracked and broken cobblestone paths, long grass growing up through it. The collapsed, moss-covered buildings were sleek with water and the pitch black sky made it somewhat difficult to see.
The group of five slowly made their way through the area, scanning every crossroads and pathway for any sign of an enemy. They figured that the boss would probably make some dramatic entrance but the scenery made everyone nervous. Chrome especially.
It wasn't long before they reached the centre of the ruins. The scene that greeted them was not what they expected though. The rundown courtyard was filled to the brim with players. Chrome could see the DGamer tattoo on quite a number of them. What were so many of them doing in one place?
What really drew his attention though was the blue-cloaked figure standing before them all. The figure that he had seen far too many times. He had an extremely bad feeling about all this. "Hide!" he hissed, leading everyone behind a fallen stone wall where they could observe what was happening. Chrome watched anxiously as the cloaked figure began to speak.
"Death Gamers. You are all gathered here because you live in this world how it was intended, where every battle could end in permanent death. This world once induced fear in all of its residents but now it is merely a source of amusement where humanity can get away from its problems for a few hours. I however, want this world to return to how it used to be. I want to feel once more the fear of the pathetic humans who tried to beat it as they walk with the reaper at their back. Except this time, you all shall be the reaper," the sapphire-cloaked figure said. There were murmurs throughout the group of gathered DGamers but that didn't stop him from continuing.
"In fifteen minutes, a program will activate that will seal every person logged into the Aincrad server of ALfheim Online within the game. However unlike Akihiko Kayaba, I will not release anyone until their real body perishes. For those within the game, it shall become their reality. Without the ability to log out, if a player's AmuSphere is removed, they shall not awaken. Instead their mind shall remain within the game and will forever be separated from their real body."
"W-what if someone dies in the game?" one of the DGamers called out.
"If that happens, they will lose everything they have and will be reduced to level one. No matter what, everyone will be trapped inside this game until the day that their mortality spells the end of them."
Chrome listened in horror as the figure from his dream spoke. Now he understood why the death in his dream felt more terrifying than any death he had suffered in ALO already. Now he was faced with two choices, either log out and escape the trap that would soon ensnare Aincrad or he could get up and try to stop this psychopath and his plan. Before his mind could decide which option to choose, his body was already rising.
"Chrome," Kotetsu hissed, his eyes wide. It was too late. Several DGamers turned and saw the swordsman rising. There was a yell of alarm and all eyes were now on Chrome. The rest of the party quickly rose, standing with him.
"All of you, stop them. Make sure they do not leave this area!" the cloaked figure called, waving an arm towards the eavesdroppers. The seven closest Death Gamers to the party drew their weapons and began advancing.
"So uh… we got a plan here?" Kotetsu asked, drawing his dagger. Chrome remained silent as he drew his own weapon.
"I think it's clear, take out the guy up there giving the speech," Vakross said as he watched the approaching DGamers. There was a roar as the first leapt at Chrome. As his attacker's sword came down, Chrome blocked with his shield, delivered a lightning fast blow that removed the DGamer's weapon arm before Chrome's shield slammed into his head.
"We need to get through them!" Arcadia called out, brandishing her axe and charging into the group, swinging wildly. Several DGamers were thrown through the air when Arcadia's wild attacks slammed into them.
Kotetsu charged into the large group of DGamers, slashing, punching and throwing darts at anyone he could reached. Vakross moved at his side, cutting through anyone who stood ahead of his katana. Nobody was worried about killing their targets, they just wanted to get past them. Muko moved behind Chrome, blocking any attacks that came close before retaliating with her mace. Her heart thundered in her chest as the enemies began to surround them.
"Chrome, what do we do?" she asked, the fear in her voice obvious.
"I'll stop him," Chrome said. He batted away another attacker with his shield before moving forward. Muko remained close behind him, her eyes flitting from side to side. As a spear came towards her, Muko let out a squeal and raised her shield, blocking the attack.
"M-Muko?" a voice asked as the spear was lowered. Muko hesitantly lowered her shield and gasped when she saw her attacker.
"Odayuki," Muko whispered, stepping towards Chrome who was now at her side.
"Why are you here? What the hell are you doing with these guys?" Odayuki asked, looking over at Chrome.
"Muko, we don't have time…," Chrome began.
"Shut up! She should be here with us, not with you loser!" Odayuki roared.
"What?" Chrome asked, looking at Muko.
"Leave me alone Odayuki, I can't deal with this right now," Muko said, starting to turn. Odayuki struck out with his spear and tore open Muko's tunic at her hip. As the fabric split, Chrome's eyes went wide. There on her skin was a tattoo he had seen so many times. The Death Gamer mark.
"Muko… you're…," Chrome whispered, unsure of what to say. The girl looked up at Chrome, tears in her eyes. As her tears began to fall, Muko ran from the battlefield until she was out of sight. Chrome's arms fell, leaving him defenceless as he watched her leave.
"You bastard, you're the one who made her want to leave us!" Odayuki screamed. He leapt forward with his spear and Chrome hurried to block with his shield. He could see the pure rage in his opponent's face.
"I don't have time for you!" Chrome yelled, driving his sword into Odayuki's stomach and wrenching it to the side before charging for the cloaked man once more. He ran through the group of yelling DGamers, pushing them aside with his sword and shield as the rain pelted down on him. Thoughts about Muko ran through his mind as he fought his way out of the group. He could see that Arcadia had also made it out. They both ran for the cloaked figure.
"So you made it through them. Not bad for mortals," he said, drawing the plain steel sword Chrome had seen in his dreams. He felt his body tense as he took up a defensive stance. Chrome's eyes lingered to the right as Vakross moved up beside him. This only made Chrome more nervous.
"Who are you?" Arcadia asked, pointing her axe at the man.
"Hmm, you want my name? I guess I never bothered to take one," the cloaked man said, rubbing his chin. "How about we go with Nobunaga? From what I've read he seemed to be an interesting character," the blonde swordsman said with a slight smile that sent shivers up Chrome's spine.
"Why… why are you doing this? Why gather all the Death Gamers and why trap people in virtual reality again. What the hell is the point?!" Chrome roared, pointing Amethyst Edge at Nobunaga.
"My reasons are none of your concern. The only thing you should worry about right now is staying alive. Soon, fear shall once again bathe this world and everything shall be as it should be. You have no hope of stopping me and you cannot escape this world now, my system has activated." Nobunaga rose his hands to the sky as he spoke and for a brief moment everything seemed to shudder.
"So… once again I'm trapped in Aincrad…" Vakross murmured, opening his menu and finding the log out button gone.
"You won't get away with this!" Arcadia called out, leaping into the air and aiming her axe at Nobunaga. The swordsman deflected the attack with his sword before the blade of said sword quickly ran across Arcadia's body. Chrome watched as his teacher fell backwards, her HP dropping straight to the red.
"Arcadia!" he called out, running towards her. He knelt down beside the woman and began using healing items on her. As he did so, Vakross slowly approached Nobunaga with his weapon raised. The two exchanged a few fast blows before Nobunaga's sword flicked out, entering Vakross' chest. He fell backwards and dropped his katana as he slumped down against a building. Chrome looked between his two friends and his whole body began to shake.
"Would you like to try as well? I won't kill any of you yet, it wouldn't be sporting of me to start having too much fun before the game officially begins," Nobunaga said with a smile, spreading his arms.
Chrome slowly rose to his feet, his sword and shield lowered. He could hear Kotetsu yelling something from behind him but he had no idea what it was. His shallow breaths shuddered as a combination of fear and anger ran through him. He couldn't let this guy get away with what he was doing, but at the same time he was too afraid to challenge him. After a few moments of hesitation, he slowly sheathed his sword and turned to Kotetsu.
"Take Vakross… we're leaving," he said in an emotionless tone as he leant down and picked up Arcadia. Kotetsu ran up to Vakross and picked up both him and his sword, following Chrome. The DGamers watched with content sneers as the two left The Ethereal Ruins.
"Chrome… what the heck just happened?" Kotetsu asked once the two returned to Chrome's house in Lindas. By now Arcadia and Vakross had also regained consciousness and looked at Chrome.
"I really don't know… If what that guy said is true, we're stuck here in Aincrad now. Look for yourself, the log out button is gone," Chrome replied, sitting in his armchair and staring up at the roof.
"It's just like before. Just like SAO," Vakross said.
"You mentioned something like that when we were facing Nobunaga. Where you…?" Arcadia asked, looking at the swordsman.
"Yes. I was one of the players trapped within Sword Art Online for two years. It wasn't something I expected to be repeating anytime soon," Vakross replied. "This time though… it sounds a lot worse."
"Hey Chrome, what happened to Muko. She didn't die did she?" Kotetsu asked, looking over at Chrome.
"I don't know where she is. She left during the fight," he replied, getting to his feet. "I need some time to myself," he said. Chrome left the others and headed into his room, locking the door behind him. As he sat down on his bed, he put his face in palms. "Why didn't I log out? Because I chose to stay… now they're all trapped in here because of me," he whispered. He laid down on his bed and covered his eyes with his arm.
"Muko… where did you go?" Chrome whispered as his eyes began to close. He knew this was only the beginning. Things would only get worse from here. Much worse.