A Paladin's Oath

by StoryMakerr014

"You know, Onii-chan, I had another dream last night. In my dream, there was a floating castle in the sky..." In which Akihiko Kayaba's dream was not his own, and the Death Game was instigated by a monster born out of that dream.

11. Chapter 11: Ruins and Treasures

ACT I

ELF WAR

---

Chapter 11: Ruins and Treasures

Asuna shrieked, and Kayaba blocked the Mournful Wraith's strike that would have taken a sizable chunk of her HP. "Kirito, switch!" he said, blocking yet another swipe.

Kirito dashed forward, his Anneal Blade already glowing with the activation of a sword skill, Sonic Leap. Kayaba moved aside as Kirito sliced through the nearly incorporeal monster. The blow left a quarter of its HP, but a follow-up attack from both Nautilus and Yuna assured its death. With a dying wail, the Mournful Wraith shattered into blue polygons and the victory window popped up.

Kayaba took a brief glance at the EXP and Cor he received before closing the notification window and turning to Asuna. The girl was trembling, but she immediately steadied herself and flashed them an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry," she said, sheathing her rapier. "It's just… It caught me off-guard."

Nautilus shrugged. "Admitting that you're afraid of ghosts is not something to be ashamed of. I mean, I'm scared of frogs and—"

"I'm not afraid of ghosts!" she said indignantly. They chuckled, and even Kayaba managed a smile.

Fifth Floor, December 26, 2022. Unlike the previous floors, which were either dominated by flatlands, forests, and rivers, the fifth floor was predominantly ruined towns and castles. He couldn't remember who decided to choose the theme—this was one of the few floors which he didn't fully supervised the creation of—but he was certain that the floor designers spent quite some time arguing about its layout.

"Hey, it's fine," Kirito said, his lips twitching in amusement. Asuna glared at him, and he raised his hands in defense. "I'm serious! It's really fine! You could just, uh, focus on looking for potential relics."

"Right. Relics." Asuna glanced around the area, as did the rest of the party.

Not much had changed from the beta for this floor, something which Kayaba was thankful for. Even the main questline to help the Arcanology Guild to hunt for treasures remained intact.

"I don't think there's anything worth taking here." Nautilus eyed the skeleton leaning on a broken wall. "Maybe we should check another spot?"

Kayaba opened the map. They were in a relatively undisturbed area southwest of the main town, Karluin. Technically still a part of it, there were lots of ruins that could potentially hide the relics they were looking for. But almost twenty minutes of searching had only gave them several trinkets worth 20 points total—barely a percent of the points they needed to complete the quest and get information about the Floor Boss.

The other sectors didn't look promising, either, especially with the major player guilds hunting in those spots. Besides, Kayaba knew that most relic spots around Karluin wouldn't yield treasures with the highest points. They would need to go into high-level areas if they want to finish the questline quickly.

"May I suggest the Catacombs?" They all glanced at him, curious. But Asuna was far from curious.

"The Catacombs?" she asked in a small voice.

Kayaba nodded. "It's a three-level dungeon beneath Karluin. We could find more valuable relics there."

"And more dangerous mobs too." Kirito crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Most of them are around level 18 and above. We'll need another tank if we're going to hunt there."

Kayaba swept his gaze around the party. They have been traveling as an entire group because he was the only tank in their party, limiting the area they could cover. But if they could split into two groups, it would save them time and widen their search.

As for a tank, he had several candidates in his mind already. But there was one specific person he wanted.

"I'll head back to Karluin later and find our second tank," he said, sheathing his sword. "In the meantime, we should hunt here as much as we could."

As they set out for the next spot, Kayaba opened his menu and sent Argo a message.

###

It wasn't difficult finding him thanks to the information Kayaba had received, and that only increased the respect he had for Argo.

The tavern was in a secluded sector of the Town of Beginnings, identical to many of the drinking spots in the town. But it served its purpose well, a hiding place for players who were too terrified or ashamed of venturing into the frontlines.

The floorboards creaked as Kayaba approached the lone figure sitting by the table in the corner, nursing what looked like his third bottle of beer. Kayaba hadn't design an intoxication mechanic in the game, so players wouldn't get drunk even if they have had a dozen tankards of ale. The man's action was probably born out of habit.

Or perhaps guilt. Depression. Even shame.

Kayaba took a seat opposite him. The man's head was bowed, but he must have surely heard the chair scraping across the floor. And yet his gaze remained lock on his bottle, his face obscured by a curtain of blue hair.

A minute passed, and another. Kayaba waited patiently. He could have gone and approached a more reliable player; they were still plenty of newbies just waiting for a party to recruit them. But none possessed the experiences that this man had.

Finally, the player spoke, his tone soft yet filled with bitterness. "What do you want, Mister Heathcliff?"

Kayaba smiled. "Avatars don't get drunk in this world, Diavel. You should have known that from the beta."

"No, they don't. But this better than locking myself up inside a room." Diavel lifted his head for a moment and took a long draught from the bottle. He set it down with a thud. "You still haven't answered my question."

Kayaba studied the former raid leader in silence. The last few weeks hadn't done him any good. Gone was the resolve he had seen during the First Floor strategy meeting. Diavel's shoulders sagged, and there was a dead light in his once-proud eyes.

Broken, a man without purpose. It was actually a miracle that he still remained, though that was an opportunity that Kayaba wouldn't waste.

"I need a tank," he said firmly. "An experienced one."

Diavel waved a hand dismissively. "Then go find someone else. I'm just a support tank. My focus has always been a DPS."

"A support tank will be sufficient enough. It's not going to be a boss fight."

Diavel regarded him silently, so Kayaba continued. "We'll be hunting in the Catacombs, but I'm the only tank the party has."

"You're taking the Arcanology quest chain."

"Yes." Kayaba paused. "You must have done it during the beta, I presume?"

The only response he got was a small nod. Diavel took another swig from his bottle, emptying it in one draught. When he finished, he set the empty bottle down. "You won't find me useful, I'm afraid. I stopped grinding after the First Floor boss raid."

"So I've thought. And yet here you are spending your funds on alcoholic beverages." Kayaba indicated the bottles, both empty and still full, with a small gesture. "They don't come cheap."

"I still have funds," Diavel said defensively.

Kayaba smiled. "Which would soon run out if you continue this lifestyle. What's your level?"

Diavel hesitated, then he shook his head. "Level 12. The Catacombs have monsters in the 16-18 range. I'll just be a burden to your party."

"Not if you're partying with five level 18's. You'll be protected, provided that you perform your duty well. Loot will not be an issue; you can have the drops you'd receive."

"And if I refuse?" There was a challenge in Diavel's tone, and also weariness.

Kayaba pressed a palm on the table. "You can refuse, Diavel, and I can find another player. But I don't think you have it in you to do so."

The self-proclaimed knight narrowed his eyes. "And why would you think that?"

"Because you still haven't joined the 2,000 players who have already left this world." Kayaba rose from his seat and sent him a friend request. Diavel stared at the window with unblinking eyes then shifted his gaze toward him. "We'll be waiting at the Blink and Brink. If you don't arrive by 2pm, we'll assume you're not joining us, and we'll find another tank."

With a respectful dip of his head, Kayaba strode away.

###

It was ten minutes before 2pm when he arrived.

Kayaba watched as the former raid leader approached, Diavel's surprised expression mirrored by the rest of the party.

"You've recruited Diavel?" Nautilus glanced at Kayaba incredulously.

He nodded. "We need someone with experience. He fits the criteria."

Diavel's equipment looked different than earlier. A sturdier shield, thicker breastplate, longer greaves and bracers, and a sword that Kayaba recognized as a drop from the second floor. He must have spent what remained of his funds to buy a new equipment.

The knight stopped in front of the table and bowed at the waist. "I want to apologize for what happened during the First Floor boss raid. I hope you will forgive me."

He maintained the position amid the heavy silence enveloping the table. Kayaba swept his gaze around. The tavern wasn't crowded, but some of the players were starting to gawk at the scene, pointing in Diavel's direction. Hushed conversations sprouted here and there.

Finally, Kirito spoke. "You don't have to apologize, Diavel. And you don't have to blame yourself, either. Without your help, all of us might have been still stuck on the First Floor."

Diavel's shoulders trembled, and he bowed lower. "Thank you, Kirito," he said thickly. When he straightened up, he was smiling faintly, and a great weight seem to have been taken off his shoulders.

As he sat down, Kayaba nodded in his direction and began. "Now that our party is complete, we should plan out how we would hunt in the Catacombs."

"Right. I've thought of a setup for us." Kirito opened his map and enlarged it for everyone to see. It was a layout of the Catacombs, though incomplete. At Kayaba's questioning glance, the boy shrugged. "I bought it from Argo. Anyway, here's the setup…"

Their strategy meeting was brief, and when they finished, they stocked up on potions and remedies before heading to the central district where the Catacombs's entrance was located.

It wasn't hard to find. Kayaba and Kirito's knowledge, combined with the groups of players heading into or arriving from the same direction, made things easier.

The stone steps leading to the dungeon below was steep and narrow, forcing them to descend in a single file. Kayaba took the lead as he was their dedicated tank, while Diavel brought the rear. Blazing torches lined the walls at regular intervals, illuminating the path before them.

Soon the stairs leveled into even ground, and they emerged into a chamber. This was the start of the dungeon, a safe zone where players could rest after grinding for the monsters here. Two corridors branched out to the left and right, dark and foreboding.

"Thirty minutes, right?" Nautilus drew his weapon.

Kirito nodded. "The first level isn't that big, but we still need to be careful. If you guys run into trouble, send a message quickly."

They split into two groups after that. As always, Kayaba led Nautilus and Yuna, taking the right corridor. The monsters were stronger here, and his knowledge of them, as well as his stats, would ensure that they had the best chance of defeating them.

"Do you think they'll be fine?" Yuna asked, fingering the hilt of her dagger.

"Kirito and Diavel are both experienced beta testers," Kayaba said as they rounded a corner. "And Asuna is the best DPS our party has. There's nothing to worry about."

Nautilus snorted. "Except for ghost-type monsters. I just hope that she doesn't scream too loudly or else it could attract more of them."

Yuna smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "That's not nice, Nau-kun. Besides, I'm sure that Asuna will get over her fear quickly."

And then they heard it; a high-pitched scream somewhere behind them, unmistakably feminine.

###

The Catacombs, true to its name, was filled with death. Bones littered the place, remnants of those who were laid here to rest, only to return as shambling mummies and the occasional wraiths and spirits.

The crypts only added to the eeriness, towers and stacks of stone caskets containing the dead, blanketed by spiderwebs and mold. It wasn't a pleasant place to stay in, especially with the scent of decay and rot, but the treasures hidden within the tombs were worth all the discomfort.

Kayaba dispatched a Rot Mummy and surveyed the chamber they had entered. The gray walls were crumbling in places, revealing portions of the corridors and adjacent rooms. A shaft of light pierced through a hole in the ceiling, illuminating the skeleton whose hands embraced a rusty chest like a lover.

After making sure that the monsters weren't respawning anytime soon, they crowded around the chest. Nautilus opened it with a single tap, and a soft chime echoed in room.

He whistled as the notification window popped up. "100 points! And we've only been here for about 15 minutes."

"We didn't spend a single potion yet, either," Yuna added and turned to Kayaba. "Think we can finish the quest in two days?"

"If our luck holds, yes, we can." The chests were randomly generated, and the contents were tied to the strength of the monsters guarding them. If they keep finding treasures worth a hundred points or more, they could very well be finished by tomorrow evening even if they just stayed on the first level.

But that would mean limiting their leveling. As much as Kayaba was wary of going deeper, increasing their levels was also part of the objective. And the Catacombs was a viable source of EXP, not to mention rare drop items.

"We should head down to the second level once we've scoured this area," he said as they exited the chamber. "It's dangerous, I know, but we'll be more efficient if we look for treasures with higher points."

"What about Diavel?" Nautilus sidestepped a fallen masonry. "His level isn't high enough."

"He would be able to catch up with us with higher EXP. Right now, we need to—"

The words died in Kayaba's throat as soon as he heard the clink of metal. He spun around, raising his shield to defend. But there was no monster in sight. He watched the corridor for a moment and waited for the familiar animation of a respawn. When none appeared, he glanced at Nautilus and Yuna.

"You two heard it?"

They nodded. "Sounds like it came from over there." Yuna pointed to the next room.

It could be just a monster; Orcs also spawn in the Catacombs, offering a sizable amount of EXP and some rare drops on occasion. But something about the sound didn't seem right. Troubled, Kayaba glanced at Nautilus. The boy nodded.

Without a word, Kayaba crept toward the room, his shield in front. Nautilus and Yuna followed close. It could be another party—they were not the only ones grinding here, after all—in which case they had to settle which of them was here first.

As they cautiously entered the room, Kayaba already knew that it was neither a monster or another party. Save for the tombs lying silently in the cold shadows, the chamber was barren and quiet. An opening gaped from the left, dark and uninviting.

Nautilus and Yuna relaxed, lowering their weapons. But Kayaba maintained his grip on his shield, scanning every corner. His instincts were warning him of danger, though he could see none.

"Maybe it's another party that we just missed?" Nautilus suggested.

"Maybe," Kayaba said. A minute passed. When nothing of note happened, he lowered his shield.

A stone crunched, as if being stepped on.

They whirled around as one, Kayaba immediately stepping in front of Nautilus and Yuna. Beyond the door they had entered stood a man, his mail coif recognizable even in the semi-darkness. In his right hand was an axe, while a buckler adorned the other.

"Oho! Fancy meeting you guys here!" the man cheerily said, grinning.

Kayaba narrowed his eyes. "Morte." His presence was too much of a coincidence, and the way he leaned on the dilapidated door frame bespoke of a familiarity. "Are you following us?"

The PKer gasped in a mock tone. "Me? Follow you? Why would I? I'm just here doing this long ass quest I've had the awful luck to get." He wagged a finger. "I mean, come on. Do you really think I would be stalking you?"

He sounded sincere enough. But after the events on the Third Floor, Kayaba didn't trust the man on any word that escape his lips. "We don't want any trouble," he said slowly.

Morte nodded. "Of course, of course. I don't want any trouble too, you know. By the way, how's the Elf War campaign going? I heard that you managed to recruit a couple of high-level NPC dark elves."

"And why do you care?" Nautilus raised his sword a little higher.

"Woah! Chill, man! I didn't do anything against you." Morte shook his head, his mail coif clinking. "I just want to help, you know. I mean, we're all in this together."

"After what you did on the Third Floor?"

"Oh yeah, there's that." He hummed in thought, making wide circles in the air with his axe. "Well, I won't say sorry, but can't we just let bygones be bygones?"

"Why should we?" Yuna said.

A smirked slowly formed on Morte's lips. "Well, for one, I know what has been changed for the Fifth Floor boss."

That part Kayaba expected as much. "I will presume you want to trade information."

"Information about the boss… and about how each faction's ending might affect the game?"

Morte laughed, but the sound seemed to come from far away. Kayaba froze, at a loss for words. It didn't make sense, what Morte said. "What does that mean?" he asked in a calm tone.

"What indeed?" He chuckled. There was a glint in his eyes. "How about we play a game? If you win, I'll tell you everything I know. If you lose, I won't."

"He's bluffing," Nautilus muttered.

"I agree," Yuna said.

What they said was possible, and Kayaba had the inclination to dismiss Morte's offer regardless of its benefits. The man was cunning; Kayaba wouldn't be surprised if this was all an elaborate ruse for another sinister plot.

And yet a lot had already changed from the world that he had created. Things that he knew, information which could get them closer to clearing the game, were no longer viable.

No, he needed to know more. They had to know more.

"We will play your game," Kayaba said. He ignored the looks of shock Nautilus and Yuna sent him.

Morte's smirk turned into a grin. "I knew you'd say that. Well, the game is really easy, and the mechanics are simple." As he spoke, he stepped away from the doorway. "You'll have to get to your other party members before their HP gauge reaches zero."

Nautilus charged, but Kayaba was already moving even before Morte finished his sentence. His eyes drifted to the HUD; sure enough, Kirito, Asuna, and Diavel's HP gauges were almost to the yellow zone, and dwindling slowly. A small yellow lightning icon flashed below the green bars, and next to it was a purple skull icon.

Poison.

Cursing his own foolishness, Kayaba barreled through the corridor. Morte had long vanished, his laughter echoing somewhere in the distance.

A Mournful Wraith blocked the way, but Kayaba dashed past it, evading its swipe. Left, right, straight ahead. The twisting maze of the Catacombs's first level would have confused an ordinary player, but Kayaba had long since memorized it.

He checked the map. They were close. His gaze slid to the status bar. The HP gauges were halfway depleted.

Another minute, he found a chamber. Without waiting for Nautilus and Yuna, he charged inside, shield raised in defense. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Kayaba glanced at the floor.

Kirito stared at him, his eyes wide. His body lay prone. "Watch out! He's b—"

There was a whoosh of air, and Kayaba instinctively ducked. A blade passed where his head had once been. He retreated toward Kirito. Asuna and Diavel were both scattered in different parts of the room, immobile and helpless.

Kayaba watched his assailant. The man wore a cloak, his features hidden by a hood; a poncho. In his right hand was an Anneal Blade, bright and lustrous. +10? No. It had to be higher. But that was rare. Kayaba doubted if twenty players had achieved that feat of successful upgrades at this point in the game.

Which meant that either this man was extremely fortunate or he took it from someone else.

Kayaba wanted to believe that it was a bought item, but after what had happened, he doubted if that was the case. "Who are you?" he asked.

The man in the black poncho tilted his head. He looked around, as if searching for something. "I was told that you have two other party members."

His voice was deep, charming. "What do you want from us?" Kayaba pressed on.

The man chuckled. "Oh, just a little game. I was hunting here together with my party when I found out that another party from an enemy faction is nearby. I couldn't resist the temptation."

Enemy faction? Then it clicked. "You're doing the Elf War campaign."

His poncho shifted as the man nodded. "Aren't we all? It's funny. We're supposed to work together to clear this game, but here we are in a quest that pits us against each other."

"We don't have to conform to the rules."

"And risk breaking the story?" The man shook his head, chuckling. "I'd rather not. Besides, this is human nature, isn't it? Squabbling, fighting, killing. Even in a game, where no laws apply, this is the norm."

"But not in a game where everyone can die."

"How is that different from reality, though? And why should it be different?"

This man is insane, Kayaba realized. His words, his thoughts, they were not those of a sane individual. This was the kind of person that Kayaba had created MHCP-001 and MHCP-002 for, and if this was still an ordinary game, he would have already summoned them.

But this was no longer a game. And a man like this, here of all places, was dangerous.

Kayaba glanced at his HUD quickly. The others' HP gauges were still in the yellow zone, but unless he could administer antidote crystals, the gauges would deplete in ten more minutes. He had to act fast.

He returned his attention to the man with the poncho again. He was blocking the only exit, one hand lazily twirling his sword. He seemed to be alone, but that was unlikely considering how he immobilized three players. Not to mention, he said he had been with his party.

Unless he was referring to Morte, Kayaba doubted if he was alone. The only way to save the others was to attack, and hope that Nautilus and Yuna would arrive soon.

The man must have sensed his intent. His sword stopped twirling, and he straightened where he stood. Kayaba still couldn't see his face, but he thought he caught a glimpse of a smile.

"Morte is right. You are an interesting one." He lowered his sword, and with a flourish, he sheathed it on his hip. "The campaign has three possible endings, and one leads to ruin for all of us. As for the boss, you can immobilize it for a few seconds if you pull the correct sequence of levers on the wall."

Then he stepped backward, blending with the darkness in the corridor.

Kayaba watched the door for half a minute. When he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and he consulted the map to confirm that those indeed belonged to Nautilus and Yuna, he spun around and materialized the antidote and anti-paralysis crystals in his hands.

"You guys okay?" Nautilus said breathlessly as he charged in just as Kayaba was starting to help Kirito on his feet.

"Yes," Kirito said as he rushed to Asuna. The girl immediately flew into his arms as the paralysis wore off.

Kayaba remained silent while Diavel recounted the ambush. The man with the black poncho wasn't alone, it seemed. Aside from Morte, two others had been with him. They had disappeared after Kirito had collapsed, and their apparent leader stayed behind to wait for Kayaba and the others.

"They caught us by surprise," Diavel said. "We were dealing with a monster when I was hit by paralysis. There was nothing more I can do after that." He bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry. I failed again."

"No, it's not your fault. They knew who to target first." Kayaba noticed Kirito's serious expression and the look of familiarity on his face. "Kirito, do you know who that man is?"

The boy glanced at Asuna uncertainly, who nodded. "Well, we haven't met him until earlier," he spoke slowly, "but he fits the description of that guy who perpetrated that scam on the second floor."

Diavel frowned. "Nezha? You're talking about Nezha of the Legend Braves?"

Kirito turned to him. "You got scammed by him too."

Diavel grimaced. "Yes. It was already too late before I realized what had happened."

"Can you tell me about the scam?" Kayaba asked Kirito.

So the boy told him, with the occasional input from Asuna. He finished the story with, "And Nezha said it was a guy in a black poncho."

The room was filled with silence. Kayaba stared at the doorway enshrouded in darkness where the same man stood only a few minutes earlier. A man who set up the ambush, almost killing half of their party.

A man willingly becoming a player-killer.

It would explain Morte's actions thus far, but he was not the only one. At least two more were part of their group. Worse yet, they were participating in the Elf War campaign. And if they could convince other people to join them, to become player-killers as well…

"Should we tell the clearing groups about this?" Yuna asked.

"Even if we did, they might not believe us. And it might cause further conflict. Remember, Morte is a beta tester." Kayaba glanced at Kirito.

The boy's expression darkened. "They would distrust beta testers even more."

"Yes. That's why we can't reveal this. Not yet, at least, until we know more."

He heard the sound of a monster respawning. "Let's return to the inn. This is no place to discuss this." The man in the black poncho might have already left, but Kayaba didn't want to take anymore chances. Not after everything that happened earlier.

"We won't continue with the quest anymore?" Nautilus didn't sound too disappointed.

"Not with our current state." Kayaba's gaze slid to Kirito. "But it's the party leader's decision."

Kirito glanced at Asuna, who had remained silent throughout the discussion. She turned away from his gaze, her expression hidden by a curtain of hair.

"Yeah. Let's go back," Kirito said at last.

###

They made the trip back to the Blink and Brink in silence. Kayaba remained alert as they traversed the Catacombs, but they had encountered no sign of Morte or the man in the black poncho. If they had been watching when they emerged from the entrance, Kayaba wasn't sure. But he doubted if it would be the last time they would see them.

At the inn, they settled around the table, but didn't order anything. They just ate an hour ago, and no one seemed to have the appetite. Instead, they discussed the encounter below the city.

"If they are doing the Elf War campaign, it's either only the forest elves or the fallen elves they've sided with," Nautilus was saying. "We just need to know which one."

Kirito shook his head. "We know it's not the forest elves. That really just leaves the Fallens. Three factions, three endings."

"But why change the campaign to this degree?" Diavel crossed his arms. "For what purpose?"

Kirito snorted. "It's Kayaba. We all know his purpose."

Nautilus and Yuna both grimaced at that, but Kayaba merely took the harsh comment in stride, having grown accustomed to it. "Even so, you can't deny that it is an odd change."

"Why is that?" Diavel asked.

"Because it doesn't make sense." Kayaba leaned forward and placed his hands flat on the table. "Ca—Kayaba has given us a clear objective: clear the game. Why would he try to hinder us?"

It went against what Cardinal had told him. I'll be waiting for you, my creator. If she really wanted to kill all of them, she would have already done so during the first day.

Unbidden, bitts of conversation echoed inside Kayaba's head. His challenge to Cardinal, that he would come for her. Kizmel's tale about the Creator and his daughter. The encounter with the man in the poncho.

He mentioned something about breaking the story. Could it be…?

"Whatever the case," Nautilus interrupted his thoughts, "we can't just let this remain a secret. What if that guy starts ambushing other players like he did to us?"

"Assuming he hasn't already." The more Kayaba thought about it, the more he was growing certain that this was not the first time they had attacked a group of players. He didn't want to think how many of the 2,000 who had died during the first month was caused by the man in the black poncho and his group.

"We should tell this to the clearing guilds," Yuna suggested. "I know it might give beta testers a worse reputation, but if we don't tell them…"

Kirito shook his head. "We don't have to tell them that Morte is part of the group. We just have to warn them to be careful of player-killers. It's better than nothing."

"All right. But don't tell Kibaou and Lind directly." Kayaba lifted his hands off the table.

"I know. I'll send Argo a message. She'll think of something."

"What if she asked for more information?"

Kirito smiled as he opened his menu. "I'll charge higher. Even if she does pay, at least I can get Cor."

Nautilus sighed. "She's rubbing off on you."

Kirito looked offended. "Hey, I almost died. The least I can do is—"

He was interrupted by the loud scrapings of a chair beside them. They all turned to Asuna.

"Sorry. Um, I want to return to my room, if that's fine with everyone." Her hands were trembling.

The others exchanged worried looks, but Kayaba nodded. "Of course, Asuna. It's been a long day."

"Thank you. I'll join your guys for dinner."

They watched her ascend the stairs leading to the second floor, taking two steps at a time. Once she was out of sight, Kirito immediately stood up, intending to follow her.

Nautilus's hand shot out at once and grabbed his coat. "No, let her be for now."

The younger swordsman looked uncertain, but at a nod from Yuna, he sighed and returned to his seat.

They continued their discussion after that, and it was decided that completing the Arcanology quest line was still their focus. They may have gotten two crucial pieces of information, but if the previous boss fights were anything to judge by, those wouldn't be enough.

"If they have that information, they must have already completed their side of the quest," Diavel noted.

It possessed a certain implication, one that Kayaba wasn't hesitant to voiced out. "Which meant that they had no reason to stay in the Catacombs." His fingers curled. "They weren't hunting for treasures but for players like us."

There was an uncomfortable silence, which was thankfully broken when the door to the inn swung inward.

The Watchers' gears may have changed on account of the clearing groups' progression, but their presence was all too familiar not to recognize them or their dark green tunics. They possessed a certain aura that regular players didn't have, and the way they strode briskly toward a table in a precise manner, almost like an actual military organization, made them stand out in a crowd.

"They look ridiculous," Nautilus muttered. Yuna slapped him in the arm even as she covered her mouth to conceal her giggles.

"Do you think they are actual soldiers in real life?" Diavel asked in a low voice.

Kayaba shook his head. "If they are, they wouldn't spend their time and Cor policing the floors, and would have joined the clearing groups already. Still…" he trailed off as an idea occurred to him. It might help them get more information about Morte's group.

"Wait here," Kayaba said before rising from his seat and approaching the table where the Watchers sat. There were only four of them, heavy tanks garbed in breastplates and wielding axes and halberds—an imbalanced party not meant for hunting monsters but for PVP.

That alone solidified Kayaba's idea, and he smiled politely as he stood in front of them. "Excuse me. Can I ask something?"

The party was already eating, but at his presence, they stopped and stared in confusion. The tallest one, presumably the leader, addressed Kayaba. "Yes. What can we do for you?"

"Have you received any strange reports for the past two weeks?"

The man furrowed his brows under his dark bangs. "Strange reports? Well, I'm not sure if my group has had any." He glanced at his companions for confirmation, but they all shook their heads. The leader shrugged. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Who's the one overseeing this floor?"

"May I know why you're asking?" The leader's eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

With a smile, Kayaba leaned forward and said in a low voice, "Because we've been attacked by player-killers only an hour ago."

The leader's eyes widened while the rest of his group recoiled in utter shock. "Player-ki—" One of them began to shout, but was stopped with a jab to the ribs by his leader.

"Keep your voice down," the leader hissed, glancing around furtively. As his subordinate nodded, he regarded Kayaba with a serious look. Lowering his voice as well, he said, "Tell me what happened exactly as it happened."

"May I sit?" When the leader nodded his permission, Kayaba lowered himself into the remaining chair and recounted the events in the Catacombs.

When he finished, the leader pursed his lips. He took off his helmet, revealing a mane of black hair and a rough yet handsome face. He looked to be in his early thirties—a sight not too uncommon in Sword Art Online.

"I'm Ursus, watch captain of this town," the man introduced himself briskly. "You said this is the first time you've encountered this man with the black poncho?"

"Yes, that is correct."

He looked troubled by that. "And you couldn't see his face?"

Kayaba shook his head. "I'm afraid not. It was too dark, and the hood concealed everything but his mouth."

"I thought so," Ursus sighed. "The reason I asked is because we keep tabs on players who may be violating the most common moral code: respecting the life of a fellow human."

Kayaba did not miss the specific term that Ursus used—human—and not "player". There was an unspoken agreement between everyone that player-killing was a taboo, even the act of just attacking another player, and that whoever would commit such a sin was considered a criminal.

"Did someone violate it?" he asked.

Ursus shook his head. "Not that we know so far. We've never seen an orange player yet. But that doesn't mean they aren't out there."

"No, it doesn't." Kayaba furrowed his brows in brief contemplation. He had been preoccupied with his conversation with the man in the black poncho that he hadn't gotten a proper look at him, but he was certain that his cursor was green.

He told it to Ursus and added, "That doesn't mean the rest of his companions are also green players, or that he hadn't been an orange player before. It takes five days for the cursor to turn from orange to green, after all."

"That is true. Unfortunately, this won't get us anywhere. Nevertheless, I appreciate that you informed us about this. I'll relay this information to my superiors. We'll make sure to keep on the watch for this man."

"Will you keep it a secret to the public?"

Ursus nodded. "I'm sure that Commander Corvatz will, at least for now, until we know more. Spreading panic and suspicion is the last thing we want." He glared at his party. "That goes for the rest of you."

"Yes, sir," they mumbled.

Kayaba smiled and rose to his feet. "Thank you for the time, Captain Ursus. If it's not a bother, I'd like to send you a friend request."

The man waved a hand. "Of course not. I'd ask the same thing too."

After Ursus accepted his friend request, Kayaba returned to his party. "How did it go?" Kirito asked as soon as Kayaba sat down.

"They'll keep watch, but they won't reveal it to the public. What did Argo say?"

"Almost the same thing. But she'll tell Kibaou and Lind."

"Lind is smart," Diavel said as he sliced into a slab of ham the group had ordered while Kayaba conversed with the Watchers. "He won't cause unnecessary alarm. Kibaou, though..." He chewed with a doubtful look.

"He might react negatively," Nautilus concluded. "We've seen it before. He would suspect anyone."

They fell silent. Suspicion was unavoidable, Kayaba knew, and all the more worrying because of that. If the clearing guilds started accusing each other, progress in the game would be halted, and it would take more time to free everyone else.

Was this what that man wanted? And what of Cardinal? If she truly wanted to give everyone a chance, why did she change the quest line for the Elf War campaign?

"What do we do now?" Yuna asked at last.

"We'll finish the quest." Kayaba glanced around. When no one objected, he continued. "We've already done everything we can. Our top priority is still clearing the game even if there are people who wants to stop us."

"What if that guy and Morte appear again?" Nautilus asked.

Kayaba's eyes glinted. "Then we'll deal with them accordingly."

###

The next few days passed like a breeze, and so did the Arcanology quest. True to her word, Asuna returned a few hours after the incident in the Catacombs and joined them in scouring the second level. The girl was back to her usual self, but Kayaba noticed a change in her behavior.

She used to wait for Kirito to attack first, following up after the boy had drawn the monster's attention. But as they forged deeper through the second level, Asuna would charge in first, sometimes alongside Kirito, but never last.

The boy didn't seem to notice it, though Kayaba noted how he kept glancing at Asuna with a frown every time an encounter ended.

On the third day, they had earned enough points to complete the quest. The rewards were excellent, but it was the information about the floor boss that was valuable than the best equipment they could get.

"It could separate into different monsters?" Nautilus wondered later in the Blink and Brink after they received their rewards. "How's that supposed to work? An HP gauge for each monster?"

"Maybe it's not necessarily like that," Yuna said. "It could be that the floor boss only has the usual HP gauges, but you could attack the other parts to deplete it easier rather than hitting the whole body."

They both turned to Kayaba and Kirito, as did Asuna. Kayaba lowered the cup of tea from his lips and said, "Fuscus The Vacant Colossus was originally just a single monster in the beta. And I don't believe that was changed."

Kirito nodded. "I agree. Which means that a new mechanic was implemented. Didn't that guy say that we could immobilize the boss?"

"By pulling the correct levers, yes." That one Kayaba knew; it was the same method he had designed as Fuscus's weakness. But he was certain that Fuscus didn't have the ability to replicate itself, even separate into different monsters.

"Maybe Kibaou and Lind have a clue," Asuna suggested. "They should be done with the quest by now."

Kirito shifted in his chair. "They have. Argo sent me a message just this morning. She said the ALS will try to clear the Labyrinth by tomorrow and defeat the boss the next day… alone."

The outburst that followed was expected, and Kayaba calmly sipped his tea while he waited for emotions to simmer down.

"That's suicide!" Nautilus exclaimed. "The ALS has more members, but their levels aren't as high as the DKB. And why would Kibaou even do that?"

"He seems eager," Yuna noted.

"He is," Kayaba said, exchanging a brief glance with Kirito and Diavel. They had discussed this yesterday, after finishing one of the few side quests for the Elf War campaign on this floor. "They want to acquire this particular boss's special drop before the DKB does."

"Special drop?"

"A Guild Flag," Diavel answered.

The three non-beta testers in their party blinked in confusion. "What's a Guild Flag?" Asuna wondered.

"A guild-exclusive item that provides bonuses for the carrier's guild," Kayaba said. "It's a powerful item, and a guild who possessed it will have an advantage over the rest."

"But that's the issue," Kirito said. "It's so valuable that during the beta, there was a brief guild war over the Flag of Valor."

Diavel grimaced. "It was chaotic, if nothing else. In the end, the conflict ended abruptly because it's not just worth it."

"And yet we are on the verge of one again," Kayaba concluded. It was an unpleasant thought fighting over an item that could help them clear the game, but that was humanity's nature, especially in this reality. "Kibaou will fight anyone to get it first."

"Can't they just share it between their guilds?" Yuna asked.

Kayaba shook his head. "If a member of a guild acquires the item, he can only share it among his guild, not with another. It's permanent until the guild disbands or a member of another guild kills the player holding it."

"But if a player without a guild gets it first…" Kirito began.

They turned to him. "You have a plan," Kayaba noted.

The boy nodded. "We defeat the Floor Boss ourselves before the ALS does."

Silence descended into the table. A frown marred Asuna's face while the others looked doubtful. "With just six of us?" Nautilus gestured to the party.

"Of course not!" Kirito said indignantly. "We'll have to recruit other people and—"

"Why?" Kayaba interrupted.

"Well, it's a Floor Boss and we're not strong enough to—"

"No, that's not what I mean, Kirito. I want to know why we should get the flag first. We're not a guild." Kayaba already had an idea why Kirito decided on this, but he wanted to hear it from the boy directly.

He shifted on his chair as five pairs of eyes fixed him with curious gazes. And yet there was no hesitation in Kirito's voice when he said, "I don't want them fighting over this. Not when the consequences of that will only lower our chances of clearing the game. We'll keep the flag, and if another copy drops, we'll give one to each guild."

It was a sound plan, but it was Kirito's conviction that Kayaba was waiting for. He dipped his head, saying, "Very well. We'll do as you say."

###

Deciding on what they would do was the easiest part, and the most difficult aspect was forming the raid group.

Unlike the ALS and DKB, many of the players on the lower floors didn't fit the criteria they were looking for. Most were just beginning to start their grinding journey, and some didn't seem dedicated enough, only hunting and doing quests to fund their daily needs.

Diavel wasn't of much help, either, as most, if not all, of his colleagues had already joined the Dragon Knights Brigade. That only left a few players to choose from, and many of them were below the recommended levels.

"We wouldn't need a full raid group," Kayaba said during a late lunch in a restaurant on the Third Floor. They had been searching for almost a day now with no luck. "With the right setup, even an 18-player raid group could defeat the boss."

Kirito nodded. "I was thinking of at least six tanks, six pure DPS, and the rest as supports to rotate with the other groups if needed."

"That would be sufficient, but our problem still remains: where do we find the twelve members we need?"

Kirito was silent for a moment while they waited. It was indeed a conundrum, and an obstacle they needed to overcome if they wanted to be successful with their plan.

Finally, he said, "I could probably recruit Agil and his friends to help us. And Argo too. She wouldn't want to miss this. That makes five. As for the rest…"

"Kizmel," Asuna interrupted him with a bright gleam in her eyes. "She won't refuse, right?"

Kirito grinned. "No, she won't. Alright, that should make a full party. We still need six more. Any ideas?"

They fell silent once more. Six players in the level 14-15 range would be sufficient, but there still weren't a lot of players who weren't part of either the ALS or DKB with those levels. Even if they could find a few, Kayaba wasn't sure if they would be willing to risk their lives for this raid.

"Oi, Kirito!"

The loud voice broke their silence. From the aisle leading to the entrance of the inn, a party of six clustered. At their head was a rough-looking man with a red bandana on his head, matching the color of his armor. At his hip hung a katana.

Kayaba glanced at Kirito, whose eyes were wide in shock. "Klein?"

Grinning broadly, Klein strode toward their table with his party in tow until he stood over the boy. Without preamble, Klein pulled him into a hug, eliciting a startled yelp from Kirito.

"I miss you, man," Klein sniffed.

Kirito patted him on the back awkwardly. "Ah, y-yes. I miss you too."

They drew apart. "I heard you were on the frontlines. Never thought I'd see you here." Klein paused for a moment, noting Kirito's equipment. "You look different."

"Well, I did get new items."

"Oh, right. Damn. Beta testers sure get the good stuffs." Behind Klein, his party murmured. "Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Kirito, these are my friends I told you about before. Guys, this is Kirito. He was the one who helped me back then."

They exchanged polite nods and greetings. Kayaba was curious at the level of familiarity Klein displayed. He didn't think Kirito knew a lot of people considering his status as a persecuted beta tester.

"Kirito, who's this?" Asuna asked.

Klein turned to her in wonder and awe, as did the rest of his guild, as if noticing Asuna for the first time. He swept his gaze around the table, his eyes widening at Diavel, then looked back at Kirito. "You joined a guild?"

"No, of course not. We're just partying."

Klein frowned at that, his eyes flicking toward Asuna. Then his expression brightened, and he smirked. "Ah, I see. It makes sense now."

Kirito narrowed his eyes. "What does?"

"It's all right, Kirito," Klein said, patting him on the shoulder. "If you need advice, good ol' Klein will be here to give you tips on the affairs of lo—"

Kirito cleared his throat loudly. "Anyway, what brings you here?"

Even as Kirito asked the question, Kayaba noted the emblem on the group's equipment: an insignia of an ancient Japanese clan.

"Oh, that. We just finished the guild creation quest." Klein snapped his fingers. "Which reminds me. If you are looking for a guild, the Fuurinkazan will be more than happy to have you."

Kirito hesitated, then shook his head. "No, sorry. I'm not too keen on joining any guild just yet." His eyebrows knotted, and Kayaba knew that Kirito was beginning to have the same idea as well. "Klein, what's your guild's average level?"

The question seemed to confuse Klein. "Well, I'm level 15. Dale here is about 14 but only a few hundred EXP before he levels up. The rest are level 13. Why do you ask?"

"That's it!" Kirito grabbed his shoulders and held his gaze. "Klein, you're the one I'm looking for."

Klein blinked. "Huh?"

###

They told Klein the plan inside the room they had rented. With a dozen people filling the space of a two-bed room, some had to stand while the rest sat on the beds, but no one seemed to be complaining.

"So let me get this straight," Klein said slowly after Kirito finished talking. "You want us joining you in a boss raid so that we could get this Flag of Valor before Mr. Porcupine and his guys do?"

Kirito nodded. "Because if they do, it would create an imbalance in power. And we don't want that."

"Right. Of course." Klein grinned. "So when do we begin?"

"So you and the Fuurinkazan are in?"

"Come on, Kirito. You saved my ass before. Without you, who knows what would have happen to me and my friends." Klein's guildmates nodded. "And now we can return the favor."

"It would be dangerous, Mr. Klein," Kayaba said from where he sat next to Asuna. "We are not a full raid group, in case you noticed."

Klein shrugged. "It is what it is. Besides, you guys said that you've had no luck trying to find players. And we've always wanted to join the frontlines. We definitely would not miss this opportunity."

Kayaba smiled at the man's, and his friends for that matter, eagerness to help. If only more of the players were like them, clearing the game would have been easier.

The rest of the afternoon was spent contacting the rest of the members that would complete the small raid group. Fuurinkazan, unfortunately, only had one fully dedicated tank and a supporting one, but they all agreed that with four tanks as well as Agil's strength and endurance-oriented party, they were sufficient enough to absorb the boss's attacks as long as they played it safe.

"Argo hasn't replied yet," Kirito muttered, frowning at his inbox. He glanced at Asuna. "Maybe we should ask Kizmel for help while we wait for her answer."

She nodded and rose from the chair. "That's a good idea."

The two soon left, though not before Klein shot Kirito a smirk. As the pair closed the door, the guild leader turned to Kayaba and said, "So you're that guy I've heard about before."

Kayaba arched an eyebrow at that. He, Nautilus, and Yuna had become popular briefly on the first floor, but he made sure to lie low as they went higher. It wouldn't be good for the other two if the players discovered who he really was. "If you're asking for us to join your guild, Mister Klein, then I'm afraid we'll have to decline. My friends and I have no intention of joining one as of this moment or forming our own guild, for that matter."

Klein waved a hand. "Nah, it's fine. I understand. It's just, you know," he scratched his stubble of beard, embarrassed. "You guys were my inspiration for getting this far. You and Kirito, I mean. Especially with what you two did during the first floor boss raid."

"It's nothing special. We simply did what we needed to do to ensure the raid group's survival."

"Just call me Klein. And yeah, I know you two did what needed to be done. But the fact that you two took the initiative when no one else did was the thing I really admired about you guys."

Kayaba didn't know what to respond to that. He knew a lot of people, especially gamers, idolized him for pioneering the first VRMMORPG, at least before SAO had turned into a death game. But now that it had killed thousands of players and he had made sure to put the blame on him, that admiration was terribly misplaced.

He was saved from forming an uninspired response when Nautilus cleared his throat. Glad for the interruption, Kayaba turned to see the boy glowering at the rest of Fuurinkazan crowding around a nervous-looking Yuna, who was doing her best to smile politely despite their excitement.

"Ah, man. I knew this would happen." Klein sighed. "Hey, give the girl some space, you guys. You're going to suffocate her."

A few grumbled, but they all did as their leader asked and drew away. Yuna looked relieved, as did Nautilus. Despite the fact that their avatars didn't necessarily breath, Kayaba sent Klein a smile of gratitude. "They seem to follow you."

Klein chuckled. "We've been friends for as long as I can remember. All of us met in an old MMO that was no longer in service, and we made a guild. I was the leader too." He shrugged. "We jumped from game to game after that, and now here we are."

Kayaba nodded. During the beta test, he had encountered several guilds just like the Fuurinkazan; friends and colleagues who already knew each other in real life and bonded through other games until diving into the world of SAO.

"Sorry about them, though," Klein continued. "They might seem weird, but they are all goods guys. And you can rely on them when it counts."

The wait for Kirito and Asuna's return wasn't long. When they entered the room, the Fuurinkazan gawked at the dark elf knight who trailed behind him.

"That was fast," Yuna said as she hopped off the bed and greeted Kizmel warmly.

"She was already on this floor," Kirito explained. "We found her on the camp."

Kizmel nodded. "It was fortunate that I had just finished my tasks. I was really surprised that you'd ask for my help. But I'm glad. It was getting dull on the castle." She dipped her head toward Kayaba. "We meet again, Master Heathcliff."

Kayaba returned the gesture with a faint smile. "It's nice to see you again, Kizmel."

"So do I." She glanced at Diavel and the Fuurinkazan with a frown, who gaped at her in awe. "But who are these warriors? Kirito and Asuna you're planning to defeat this floor's guardian beast."

"We do. They are—"

Before Kayaba could even finish his sentence, Klein had already rushed in past Yuna, his cheeks red, one hand extended as he bowed at the waist. "I-I-I'm Klein, 24 years old. S-S-Single. Nice t-t-to meet you. Maybe we can go out and—"

Two legs arched in the air, one from Kirito and one from Asuna, clipping Klein in the chin and sending him stumbling backward with a yelp.

"LEADER!" the Fuurinkazan said in unison.

As they crowded around their fallen leader, Kizmel frowned. "Your friend is an odd one."

"Odd one would be an understatement," Kirito said with a grunt. "Anyway, there's been a change of plans. We'll need to be at the boss room in two hours."

They all turned to him with surprise. "What happened?" Kayaba asked, rising from his seat.

Kirito grimaced. "Argo just sent me a message while we were on our way here. She said Kibaou moved up his schedule. He's going to raid the boss room tonight."

Nautilus swore, as did Klein. "Well, what are we still waiting for?" Klein said.

"Agil and his guild will join us outside the Labyrinth," Kirito said as they filed out of the room in a hurry.

"Can we really reach the boss room in two hours?" asked Asuna in concern. "Even with 18 players, we'd need to get through those monsters."

"Let's leave it to Argo. I'm sure she already has a plan."

The travel time to the Fifth Floor and directly to the entrance of the Tower Labyrinth took only less than fifteen minutes, but it was still far too long. The monsters inside had an average level of 14, a level or two higher than most members of the raid group.

Argo, Agil and his friends were already waiting by the doors when they arrived. The tall axe wielder gave Kirito a hearty fist bump, then frowned at Klein. "Huh, so they recruited you and your guild."

Klein grinned. "What can I say? Kirito and I go way back."

"You make it sound like we've known each other since childhood," Kirito muttered. "Anyway, you know Agil?"

Agil nodded. "He and his guild bought most of my stocks when I was still starting out. And judging by this one's idiot smile, I'd say they made pretty good use of those equipment."

"Yeah. We already replaced those, but I guess we have to thank you for giving us a discount," Klein said.

Agil snorted. "It's not a discount. You still have to pay me for the full price. You can do it when we defeat the boss."

"Oh, come on!"

As the two started bickering, Argo cleared her throat, gathering their attention. "Sorry to interrupt, boys, but in case you've forgotten, we're on a short timetable here. Now, then, Kii-bou, if you please."

"H-Huh?" Kirito pointed to himself, looking bewildered. "Me?"

"Yes, you." Argo smiled sweetly. "You're the raid leader, aren't you? Now stop hiding behind A-chan and get over here."

"Right. I'm supposed to be the raid leader." Despite the look of unease, he took Argo's spot and drew a deep breath, sweeping his gaze across the gathered players. "First, thank you all for coming on such short notice. Now here's what we'll do…"

The strategy for the boss was simple, and Kayaba couldn't see any issues that would endanger them—not unless the boss itself had other secrets they didn't know about. Kirito's plan outline remained mostly unchanged from its conception, though Diavel and even Klein offered some suggestions to further enhance it.

He could be an excellent leader, Kayaba thought.

"Now we have three clues on how to defeat the boss easier," Kirito continued. "First, by pulling the correct set of levers to immobilize it. Second, it's split into five parts, which means that we can either go for the same part or attack them individually."

"Doing that with just 18 players would be inefficient," Agil said.

Kirito nodded. "Exactly. That's why we'll choose the first option. As for the third clue…" He glanced at Argo.

"The boss's weakness is shaped like an eye." She shrugged. "Or so my informant in Kibaou's guild says."

"Which means that we'll have to hit the head," Kirito said. "Any questions?"

When they all shook their heads, Kirito smiled. "All right. Then let's head out!"

Argo proved invaluable in reaching the boss room in as little time as possible. Kayaba had almost forgotten it, but he was surprised that the information broker could find the hidden corridor that bypassed fifteen levels and led directly to the boss chamber.

"How did you discover this?" Klein wondered.

Argo held a hand toward him with a knowing smile. "The answer will cost you."

"Don't. Just don't," Kirito warned.

"Huh, how bad could it be?" Klein opened the trade window. "How much?"

"500 Cor," Argo responded with a grin.

Hesitation flashed across Klein's face. Then he shrugged. "All right. Sent. So, how did you find this?" Next to him, Kirito sighed and shook his head.

Grinning wickedly, Argo said, "Technically, I didn't. I just heard rumors about it during the beta, but I couldn't find it before the beta ended. When we got trapped here, I heard someone had found it and I bought the information from him for 200 Cor."

"That's it!" Klein sputtered. "All that for 500 Cor?"

"I told you," Kirito said dryly.

"Well, you said you wanted to know. Now you do. Nyahahaha!" Cackling, Argo deftly avoided Klein's hand and sprinted toward the vanguard.

"You really do have odd friends, Kirito," Kizmel noted.

"I'm not odd, am I?" Asuna said with a little pout.

It took them five minutes to reach the entrance to the boss room, a massive block of iron engraved with the image of a towering giant. Excitement and anticipation grew, and last-minute checks and reviews of their equipment, supplies, and strategy were done before Kirito stood at the doorway.

"Ready?" he called to the entire raid group. They all nodded, weapons drawn, and he pushed the doors.

They swung inward without a sound, admitting them into a spacious chamber that was vastly different than what Kayaba knew in his memory. He certainly didn't recognize the blue lines crisscrossing the floor, but a part of him had a feeling that those would be essential in dealing with the boss.

"Those must be the levers." Nautilus pointed to the far left side.

Kayaba followed his gaze and saw a set of levers on the wall. They had no markings, and all of them were of the same length and distance. "We'll need someone to work on those while dealing with the boss."

"I know. But where is the boss anyway?"

Knitting his eyebrows, Kayaba scanned the room, but it was as empty as it had been when they entered it. He searched the walls, but all he could find were the same blue lines on the floor.

"Maybe there's something we should do first to trigger the boss battle?" Klein suggested. "How about we try those levers?"

Kayaba glanced at Kirito. The boy seemed to hesitate at first, but he nodded in agreement.

"Harry, Dale, can you check those out?" Klein called to two of his guildmates.

As they strode toward the wall, Kayaba's gaze drifted upward. The ceiling was concealed by shadows, but he could barely discern a large bump in the center—a feature that wasn't in the beta at all. Something about it nagged his mind. He glanced back toward Harry One and Dale just in time for Dale's foot to touch the edge of a blue line.

The room briefly glowed red.

"Watch out!" Argo yelled.

The floor rippled, and out of it emerged a gigantic hand that rose toward Harry One and Dale. Argo's warning came too late, however; though Dale managed to avoid it, Harry One was one second slow and he was imprisoned in a death grip.

"Harry!" roared Klein and the rest of his guild as they rushed to free their friend. In a moment of frantic confusion, Klein's foot landed on yet another blue line.

And thus Kayaba finally understood even as another hand burst out of the floor to cage the entire Fuurinkazan in thick earthen fingers. The blue lines were the triggers for the boss's limbs to appear.

"Nobody move!" he shouted over the din of the captured guild's screams and yells.

"We can't just let them die!" Kirito was already moving, but Argo swiftly blocked his path.

"No, he's right. Look at those blue lines." She pointed to the floor. "When you step on them, the boss's body parts will appear."

"We have to avoid them," Kayaba said. "Otherwise, we'll become trapped like the Fuurinkazan." Although it seemed that it was also the only way to make the boss appear, but that was a problem they could solve later.

"But how are we supposed to free them?" Asuna demanded, her grip tight on her rapier.

It took only a second for Kirito to answer. "By attacking the parts. We have to deal enough damage for the boss to relax its grip. Come on!"

They rushed to Fuscus's hands, careful not to step onto the blue lines. Unsurprisingly, it was Kizmel who reached them first. She unleashed a powerful two-hit sword skill, cutting a red angry gash into the right hand.

There were no HP gauges, but they converged on it nonetheless, and the room was filled with the hum of sword skills. A full minute passed before the hand opened with a crack and Klein's guild spilled to the floor in a dazed heap.

"Help Harry!" he shouted. "He won't last long!"

Kayaba glanced at the remaining hand. He didn't have any privileges to see the entire raid group window at a glance, but he could still see Harry One's HP gauge. It was halfway through the yellow zone and draining fast.

Utilizing the same strategy from before, they freed him in less than the previous time. As he coughed and groaned, the hands retreated back to the floor.

"What now?" Yuna asked when the Fuurinkazan had fully recovered their strength.

"We have to make the boss's limbs appear again," Argo answered. "It's the only way we can damage it. But we'll need volunteers. It can't get so many of us or we won't have enough damage dealers."

"Can't we just avoid getting caught?" Kizmel asked. "If one of us is fast enough, we can make the hands appear without being trapped."

Kirito shook his head. "Too risky. Besides, we don't know if it will go back to the floor if it doesn't grab any of us."

"We will have to take the risk," Kayaba said, glancing at him before looking at Argo. "I'll do it." He was the only tank with the highest HP. At worst, he would only lose ten percent of his total life.

"I'll do it too," Agil said. He raised a hand as his friends started to protest. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. It's not like we have better options."

"Get ready to run," Argo said as they readied themselves.

Kayaba strode toward a blue line and raised a foot, as did Agil twenty feet away. "On the count of three," Kayaba said. "One… Two…"

"Three!" Agil stomped on the ground.

Once more the floor rippled. Kayaba raised his shield just in time to block the hand, but its strength was immense and he was fully held in a tight grip, grunting from the sheer effort of keeping his body from being crushed. His hands were bound, and all he could see was a dome of rock.

He glanced at his status bar. His HP was dwindling at fifty points per second; he had about 15,000 hit points. At this rate, he could last five minutes—long enough for the others to free him.

The wall trembled and shook, but held. A minute passed. Then two. Shouts reached Kayaba's ears, but he couldn't make out the words. They sounded frantic. At last another full minute elapsed before there was a shudder and the hand unclenched, retreating back to the ground. Kayaba grunted and looked around. The raid group looked frustrated, but was otherwise unharmed.

"There's a crest," Kirito said when Kayaba glanced at him. "It's shaped like an eye as Argo had said. I think it's the boss's weakness. The hands opened when we attacked it."

He nodded. "Then let's do it again."

Kayaba was already opening his menu to drink a potion when Klein shouted and pointed at the floor. "Watch out!"

Out of sheer instinct, Kayaba leapt above a blue line, and he saw their more nimble members doing the same. The rest weren't fast enough, however; two of Klein's guildmates stumbled in their haste, and Asuna jumped a second too slow.

"Asuna!" Kirito bellowed as Fuscus's hand clamped around her. He dashed forward, joining Kizmel who was already moving by then. But the blue lines on the floor, to Kayaba's dismay, were still shifting. Agil's left foot grazed one, and Argo landed on yet another.

A rumble shook the chamber as the blue lines froze and flared red. Above them, Kayaba saw the legs, larger than tree trunks, falling at a great speed. He shouted a warning, and those who weren't trapped rushed to avoid the limbs.

The legs slammed to the floor in a bone-jarring impact that forced Kayaba to stay on the spot as the shockwave passed. But soon he was moving again, rushing to their trapped comrades. He joined Kirito and they hacked away at the hand.

There was a boom. "The legs are moving!" Argo shouted.

Kayaba glanced behind him. The raid group scattered as the boss's feet rose and fell, stomping on anyone within reach. Agil's party tried to draw aggro, and the legs soon changed targets.

"Resume the attack while they are distracted!" Diavel said.

In less than a minute, they freed the rest of their raid group once more. The limbs vanished to the ceiling and walls, but the blue lines started shifting again, flowing into different patterns.

A dangerous dance soon played. Avoiding the lines gave them time to recover lost health, but it was a tedious task that left no room for respite. If they stop, they would just keep repeating a never-ending cycle of the same pattern.

"We have to immobilize them and hit the crest," Kayaba said. They had all seen it glowing on one of the legs before it retreated into the ceiling.

"I'll handle the levers." Argo dashed off to the wall, nimbly leaping over the lines.

Kayaba watched her go for a moment before turning to Kirito and Asuna. "Once she gets into position, we have strike fast."

They nodded even as they avoided another line. The plan was spread to the other parties, and they readied their weapons.

"I'm in position!" Argo shouted at last.

The limbs didn't come from the floor and ceiling this time. They erupted from the walls, bursting forward and slamming onto the ground. Agil was caught, and Diavel rolled out of the way of the other hand. The legs landed in front of the Fuurinkazan, who all scattered in different directions.

It didn't take long for Kayaba to locate the crest, glowing in the center of the left palm that Diavel had avoided earlier. "There!"

Asuna was the first to respond, followed closely by Kirito and Kizmel. Dashing past the stomping legs, they were nearly within striking range when the hand curled into a fist, hiding the crest from view.

"Argo!" Kirito shouted, leaping back to avoid the right foot from crushing him.

Kayaba was amazed by how fast the information broker solved the lever puzzle. In under a minute, Fuscus's limbs were writhed in lightning. The hands cracked open, spilling Agil and revealing the crest once more.

Kirito charged, delivering a well-placed Sonic Leap that struck true. Above them, Fuscus roared. The chamber rumbled, and they all glanced up to see the boss's visage staring down at them with hatred even as its HP gauges appeared.

All five of them.

"Five?" Klein cried incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Fuscus's head remained relatively unchanged from the beta, though maybe a little larger than the original. Kayaba hoped that the attack patterns had been carried over as well, and he was relieved when the boss opened his maw and a glowing crimson sphere expanded from its mouth.

"Incoming!" he shouted.

The raid group was smart enough to heed his warning. A red beam lanced from Fuscus's mouth, tracing a scorching line across the floor. Kayaba shielded his eyes from the momentary glare, but he had to move to avoid the left leg.

"How are we supposed to deal with that?" Nautilus said in disbelief.

"We have to make it come down." Kayaba searched the room until he found Kirito, attacking the left hand with Asuna and the Fuurinkazan.

"Help the others distract the legs," Kayaba told Nautilus before sprinting toward the hand. The limbs had stopped returning to the walls, but now they had the head to deal with.

He glanced up. The first HP gauge had only lost five percent worth of hit points, barely a tenth of Fuscus's total life. At this rate, they would run out of potions before they could eliminate three of the HP bars.

Then the head retreated into the ceiling. His instincts told Kayaba that this wasn't normal. He stopped in his tracks, ignoring the battle raging around him, and scanned the walls.

There was a ripple on the right, and Kayaba shouted a warning just in time for the head to emerge and unleash another beam of crimson energy.

The raid group avoided in time, dispersing like leaves. Klein swore as the energy nearly grazed him. Fortunately, he managed to leap out of the way. "We're going to get killed at this rate!" he said.

"The crest. We have to keep attacking the crest," Kirito said. "Argo!"

"On it!"

Once more the information broker pulled the levers, and the limbs trembled from the lightning engulfing them. They rushed toward the left hand, then momentarily froze as it opened, revealing an empty palm.

Asuna was the first one to understand. "It's switching places! Find it!"

Kayaba located it a heartbeat later, glowing in the right leg's knee. "There! Hurry!"

While Diavel and Agil's party intercepted the hands, the rest charged. It was so high up that only the most agile of them could reach it, a task that fell on Kirito and Asuna. They dodged the feet, then leapt overhead to unleash a double sword skill, their weapons shining blue and red.

Their attacks connected, and Fuscus roared. A quarter of its first HP bar dropped. As Kirito and Asuna landed back onto the floor, the head vanished once more. It reappeared in the middle of the ceiling, and on its forehead was the crest.

"Oh, come on!" Nautilus said.

The attacks resumed. This time Fuscus started shooting beams from his eyes as well, and it was a chaotic battle after that point. Dodging and evasion were often employed. It was so far above that none of them could hope to attack it.

Argo was experimenting with the levers. After two minutes, she shouted, "I got it. Get ready!"

Another roar echoed in the chamber. Fuscus's head dropped from the ceiling as the paralyzing lightning took effect, and they fled from its point of impact. There was a resounding crash, and Kayaba's eyebrows rose as the first HP bar shattered.

"Think we can repeat that?" Kirito muttered next to him.

"If the attack patterns don't change after this, perhaps we can." But Kayaba doubted it. Even as he spoke, the paralysis were already wearing off and Fuscus was starting to recover.

It roared again. A huge block of earth rose from the floor and began to float. The legs soon joined it, followed by the arms. Finally, the head flew into place, and the floor boss let out an even louder roar.

"It's a Megazord," Klein said in a dry tone. "Of course it has to be."

"More like Titan," Nautilus muttered.

"Less talking and more attacking," Agil admonished. "Here it comes!"

With Fuscus's form completed, the battle had become relatively easier. Its attacks were the same ones Kayaba and Kirito remembered from the beta, and they barked warnings whenever a powerful attack was about to hit.

"Incoming sweeping attack! All units scatter!"

"Tank group, prepare to switch in on my mark!"

The second bar melted before they even knew it, and they withdrew as Fuscus staggered back, as if struck by a mighty blow. At forty feet high, they could only reach its legs, though a few well-timed sword skills at its weak point granted them the boon of reducing its life to 60%. The paralysis effect from the levers was also invaluable.

They watched as the eyes glowed eerie red. A growl escaped from Fuscus's maw, and the glowing blue lines crisscrossing its body seemed brighter than before. The moment it crouched low, Kayaba shouted, "It's an AOE slam attack! Fall back!"

Fuscus leapt, and they scattered, including Argo. As it crashed back to the floor, a wave of force blasted from its point of impact. Kayaba and the other tanks moved to the front, and their shields rattled in protest.

Kayaba kept his grip firm, anchoring his feet to the floor. Even with his high defense and endurance, he was still pushed back by several inches.

When the shockwave passed, Kayaba charged with the rest of the tanks. The AOE attack had already reset the aggro counter, and they had to keep the boss's attention to them.

It was a monotonous battle for the next two minutes. Fuscus's swings were faster, and the duration of the paralysis effect had considerably lessened. But the worst change was how rapidly the crest changed locations this time. It never stayed in one spot for too long, and they often had to chase it around the massive boss.

The third HP bar shattered, and the raid group withdrew once more. Only a few had suffered moderate damages, and just like before, the tanks formed a wall to protect them while they drank potions to recover their health.

Fuscus stood motionless for half a minute. Then its eyes glowed. The head rose halfway to the ceiling, not high enough to be unreachable, but not low enough for an easy assault, either. The body and limbs twisted in a mesmerizing pattern, until at last the limbs were inverted; the arms had become the legs while the legs slammed together fiercely.

"The levers are broken," Argo shouted. Kayaba glanced at her. True enough, one of the handles had shattered.

"The old-fashioned way, then." Agil raised his axe as Argo joined them.

Fuscus roared and unleashed a blast of energy from both its mouth and eyes while his body charged.

They scattered. Kayaba and Diavel rushed to defend Klein from a swipe. As they raised their shields and received the impact, Kayaba's gaze landed on the floor.

The blue lines were moving again.

He saw Nautilus stepping on one, and Fuscus's head swiveled in his direction. Pure instincts saved the boy and he rolled away just as a cluster of crimson beams raked across his initial spot. He got up, cursing, then resumed his charge toward the left arm.

Asuna made the same mistake and found herself dashing past the blast, her cloak billowing. Fuscus's head spun erratically, unleashing a barrage each time a player stepped foot on a blue line.

It's homing on us, Kayaba realized. "Watch out for the blue lines! The boss is using it to track our movements."

He didn't know if they heard his warning, and there was no time to make sure they did. He and Diavel drove the hand backward, and soon half of the Fuurinkazan were converging on it, hacking and slashing.

"The crest! Aim for the crest!" Kayaba heard Argo shouting as she dashed past to join the fray.

"It's missing!" Yuna said, nimbly dodging the left foot just as Nautilus switched in and deliver a three-hit sword skill.

"It's shifting positions," Kayaba called after a few seconds of quick scanning. The emblem was once on the right knee, but now it was crawling upwards, toward the torso.

And then Kizmel was a violet blur, bursting past Fuscus's beam barrages, leaping over its swings, and finally running up along one leg, leaping over to the torso and unleashing a vicious sword skill that connected with her target.

Fuscus roared once more. As Kizmel dropped to the ground, the left arm swung too fast. There was a crack, and Kizmel sailed like a rock thrown into the air.

"Kizmel!" Asuna screamed, running after the dark elf. She had landed somewhere to the left, out of Kayaba's vision.

He couldn't check Kizmel's status, but from the groan coming from her, she had at least survived. Kayaba turned his attention ahead. The crest was sliding once more, climbing even higher.

"Kirito, hit it before it reaches the head," he shouted. He had no doubt that it would switch to another location after a set time had passed, but it was better to deal as much damage to it as possible while it was still within range.

Thankfully, Kirito heard him. He may not be as graceful as Kizmel, but he covered the same distance in a matter of seconds. Sonic Leap glowed from his sword, and Kirito released a fearsome yell as his Anneal Blade traced a vicious arc.

It must have been a critical hit. A groan came from Fuscus's body, and the fourth HP gauge shattered. The head fell from the ceiling, rejoining its torso. The blue lines crisscrossing its entire form glowed a malevolent red.

The tanks had formed a line by then. But Kayaba hung back, sensing a change in the boss's movements, far too quick than before. He noted the red lines on its body, the way they pulsed in time with the ones on the floor.

And the eyes that were fixed on him, much as Illfang once did back on the First Floor. Eyes that shone with intelligence.

"Fall back! The attack patterns have changed!" he shouted even as Fuscus raised both arms to the side, a motion he didn't remember being in the beta but recognized from the early development stages; he had the team remove it because it added unnecessary variety.

Kirito glanced at him, then at Fuscus whose body was glowing brighter. He nodded, and the rest of them rushed to the entrance.

Too late. As their backs were turned, energy gathered in Fuscus's gaping maw and a powerful beam shot forward. Without hesitation, Kayaba charged, his shield already raised.

When the beam struck, Kayaba gritted his teeth as his boots carved the floor. It only lasted for two seconds, his eyes squeezed shut the entire time, his body trembling from the sensation of what he would consider as a truck slamming onto him at full speed.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the white line on the floor, nearly ten feet long starting from where he once stood. His eyes quickly drifted next to his status window, and he stared with a neutral expression.

The HP gauge was in the red zone.

"It's recovering!" Asuna shouted from behind him. "Hurry!"

With fierce roars the Fuurinkazan and Agil's party charged toward Fuscus. Nautilus and Yuna rushed to Kayaba in concern, but he was already emptying a potion bottle, which soon shattered in his fingers. Adjusting his grip on his sword and shield, he nodded at them and they joined the fray.

The battle was long and grueling, and Kayaba found himself burning through his stock of potions before the boss's fifth HP gauge finally depleted to the red zone.

The raid group spread out, the tanks forming a wide circle while the assault team hung further back. Fuscus was going to unleash a linear attack this time, Kayaba knew, and their setup would reduce the probability of causing damage to more players.

Hunched over, Fuscus looked like an elderly man bent over from rheumatism. The red lines covering the length of its body had long since stopped pulsing, but the ones on the floor and walls still glowed.

Then its head snapped straight, as did its body. The limbs returned to their original positions. Fuscus trembled, and cracks snaked along its rock-hard armor, tracing the dull red lines.

With a roar, spikes erupted from the cracks, blackish red like hardened lava. A mane of fire circled the boss's broad shoulders, and its eyes smoldered with fury. The transformation complete, Fuscus roared again.

A stream of fire blasted from its mouth, but Kayaba and the other tanks were already prepared. They formed a line to withstand the assault, even as the damage dealers split into two flanking teams.

The flames burned hot, but it was only a minor discomfort for Kayaba. He was more concerned with the gradual depletion of his HP gauge, though the damage over time wasn't alarming; the boss would be dead long before Kayaba's hit points run out.

When Fuscus's fire finally gave out, Kirito was the first one to charge followed by Asuna and Kizmel. Fuscus swung his arms, but they were too nimble, too fast. Kirito and Asuna dodged one while Kizmel vaulted over the other like a track-and-field runner.

And the entire raid group rallied to them.

Swords rang against hard earthen armor, and sword skills hummed within the boss chamber, overlapping Fuscus's screams. Kayaba blocked strike after strike along with the other tanks.

It was almost anti-climactic when it finished. Kirito pierced the boss's chest with a well-timed Sonic Leap, and Fuscus's anguished howls filled the boss room. As it suffered from its death throes, Kayaba could have sworn it looked at him with a fierce glare, but it happened in a flash that he dismissed it as a trick of the light.

In a flash of blue, the fifth floor boss shattered into polygons, and the raid group erupted into cheers.

###

"So this is it, huh?" Klein said, inspecting the white flag that Kirito held aloft.

The guild flag had dropped for him, as he had dealt the Last Attack. Kayaba thought it looked fitting; the boy was the raid leader, after all, and the drop item completed the image.

"Yeah. The Flag of Valor," Kirito said. "It will increase the guild's members' base damage and hitpoints by five percent."

"A fitting reward after fighting such a powerful guardian," Kizmel noted. Then she started as Asuna tackled her to a hug, much to the dark elf's embarrassment.

Klein smirked. "Man, it's probably so difficult to be surrounded by two pretty ladies."

"Three," Argo chimed it, grinning.

"I don't know what you two are talking about." Kirito's voice was flat, though Kayaba didn't miss the slight redness in his cheeks.

"Right." Klein's smirk remained briefly before his expression turned curious. "So, that's it? You are going to keep this until the next time it drops?"

Kirito nodded. "Or another item like it. If he—"

The sound of the boss chamber's doors opening echoed. Kirito fell silent, and all of them toward the entrance.

Kibaou's expression was neutral, though the forty ALS players behind him gaped in surprise and wonder. After several seconds of silence, Kibaou slowly entered, his footsteps loud in the silence. Finally, he stood in front of Kirito and regarded him.

"That's the guild flag?" Kibaou asked, his arms crossed over his plated chest.

"Yes," Kirito answered.

"I thought you're not forming a guild."

"I'm not. I simply want to be fair to everyone."

Kibaou grunted, but said nothing. His eyes traced Kirito's raid group, then back to him. "What now?"

It went smoothly after that. Kayaba was surprise at the way Kibaou accepted it without complaint. He may be n unsavory individual, but he wouldn't deny that Kibaou was a fair guild leader and a cool-headed one.

His members didn't seem satisfied, though none truly voiced out their opinion on the matter. Kibaou's hold on them must be strong, or perhaps they respected him that much. Not surprising considering the hope he represented.

When the conversation finished, Kibaou merely nodded before passing Kirito. As he did, his lips moved briefly as he spoke in a low voice. But Kayaba didn't need to hear the words; the gratitude emanating from Kibaou's eyes told him enough.

And so the ALS raid group walked away to the next floor without another word.

###

Kayaba sipped the ale in utter silence, his gaze wandering across the town while laughter sounded behind him.

The party had gone full swing as soon as they had returned. News of their victory had spread quickly like wildfire, and now instead of a New Year's party, it had turned into a victory celebration.

He didn't join the revelry, preferring the comforting silence of Karluin's castle's balcony, but he was relieved that so many players were mingling together as they waited for the arrival of a new year.

And not just players. Kizmel was a guest of honor on Asuna's insistence; after all, the dark elf had helped them when they needed her, and she was already part of the raid group. It was only right that they included her.

It was amusing how the men treated her like a real human, and some even tried to invite her for private drinks only to be viciously shot down by both Asuna and Kirito. It seemed as if no one really saw her as a mere NPC, but as a companion and a comrade-in-arms, no matter her faction.

He wondered if this was all part of Cardinal's schemes, for players to grow accustomed to the NPCs. It was a strange thought, but perhaps that was why Kizmel was so different from the rest.

"Why are you alone here?"

Kayaba looked up. Yuna had switched her usual cloth armor for casual wear, a simple blue dress. Her cape was still clasped around her shoulders, and her ever-present dagger hung at her hip.

He smiled wryly. "I'm not much of a social person, Yuna."

The girl frowned. "You sound like Nau-kun."

Raising an eyebrow, Kayaba glanced at the boy. He was arm wrestling with Agil, a small group of players ringing them and cheering. Nautilus seemed under severe strain, and Agil had a massive smirk.

"Well, he seems to be enjoying himself," Kayaba noted with a chuckle.

"After I dragged him," Yuna sighed. She sat down next to him. Silence descended upon them for a moment, but it was soon broken when she spoke again. "It feels strange celebrating New Year's Eve inside a game."

"Is it?" Kayaba mused.

Yuna hesitated. "In a way, I guess. After being trapped here for two months, it's… I don't know. It feels both natural and also unnatural. Like—"

"Like you've always lived here," Kayaba said softly.

Yuna nodded. "Have you ever felt that way?"

It wasn't difficult for Kayaba to answer, "Often. And I think you know why." He took another sip of his ale.

"I know." Her eyes gleamed softly. "It's beautiful, this world. Well, without the dying part. But I guess that's the same for the… the other world too." She paused. "But I still want to return to that world."

That answer didn't surprise Kayaba. He didn't create SAO to be a prison, but a world that anyone could visit and admire. A world that would inspire joy to the hearts of its visitors, not inject terror and despair.

"We will return," he said. "I promise."

"Hey, it's almost here!" someone yelled over the ongoing revelry. Yuna started, and Kayaba glanced at the HUD's clock. It was two minutes to midnight.

Yuna was smiling as she stood. "Shall we?"

And thus, Kayaba joined her into the crowd, waiting the arrival of another new beginning.

---

Yeah, three months. It took me that long to finish this chapter, and I'm really sorry for the delay. I'm working full-time as an editor, on top of writing two original novels and another one of my fanfics. I can barely keep up with my schedule.

Nevertheless, thank you so much for your support! This chapter is obviously based on Scherzo of Deep Night, though as always, I changed a lot of things. I wanted to bring Kizmel and Klein into the fight because of their roles in the future. And to be fair, Klein and the Fuurinkazan deserve more screen time.

Anyway, considering my tight schedule, I can no longer promise a chapter every month. At most, new updates will be released every 2 months, perhaps 10 weeks. But no promises, of course. However, we are already at the halfway point of this arc, so it won't be long before we reach the end of the Elf War storyline.

Please Read & Review! Until next time!