SAO: Avenger

by JCK824TO

It's been two months since SAO was cleared. But the 300 players remain comatose, including Asuna Yuuki. But when he learns about the arranged marriage & the possibility of Asuna in ALfheim Online, Kazuto, & his friends, dive into ALO in search of her. However, they're not the only ones. Steve Rogers, Thomas Anderson, & the Howler Platoon dives in to investigate.

7. Chapter 7

Legrue city, The Legrue Corridor:

Kirito yelled as he and Revere clashed with Eugene. The sounds of metal clashing against metal is heard all around them. However, for Kirito and Revere. They focus their attention on the Salamander leader. Kirito blocked Eugene's heavy sword from coming down on him, but could feel the strain from Eugene's strength.

"Hey ugly!" Revere threw his shield at Eugene's face, knocking him on the forehead.

"ACK!" Eugene shouted as the shield knocked him off his feet.

Revere rushed back to Kirito's side. "You're holding back, Kirito."

"I'm waiting for the right moment." Kirito brought his sword up.

Eugene roared as he got back up. "Insolent insects!"

"We have no time for this, Eugene," Revere shot back, "there are people's lives at stake!"

Eugene's sword lit up in flames as he charged at Revere again. Revere jumped aside and hit Eugene's side with his shield. "You're being deceived!"

"Says the Sylph who betrayed his kind!" Eugene shouted back. "It's no wonder why the bounty was placed on you two!"

Lexar and Leafa are engaging Sigurd in a vicious sword fight.

"You two will add nicely as bonuses to the bounty," Sigurd raged.

"Still viewing people as items, I see." Lexar retorted. "You had it coming back in Swilvane."

"I'll admit," Leafa bantered, "it was satisfying to see Revere break your face and neck!"

This enraged Sigurd even further. "It's a shame, Leafa! I was taking a liking to you in my group! But now I guess it's over!"

"You're not my type!" Leafa deflected Sigurd's slash, "and I find rogue Spriggans like Lexar more charming than domineering jerks like you!"

"Why you little...!" Sigurd roared. "You're gonna regret saying that, you renegade!" He brings his sword down a hard slash. It wasn't strong enough to break any sword. But it was enough to knock a sword out of anyone's hands. Despite the strong force, Leafa managed to deflect Sigurd's attacks.

"Get off of her!" Lexar shouted as he brings his broadsword against Sigurd. However, the Sylph leader managed to deflect his attack.

Sigurd grit his teeth as he leveled his sword. "You made a mistake coming to Swilvane, Spriggan... You stole Leafa!"

"Again, she's not an item!" Lexar slammed his sword against Sigurd's. "And she joined us on her own accord!"

"You idiots!" Agil yelled as he disarmed some Salamanders and Sylphs with an axe swing, "can't you people see you are being used!?"

"There's no talking to them," Jackhammer said as he punched a spearman in the face, "keep fighting!"

"Agreed!' Klein laughs. "And besides, I'm having way too much fun!" The Salamander Samurai made several quick slashes with his Katana. Disarming several Sylph and Salamander players.

Mace and Lisbeth then swung in hard, smashing the bounty hunters.

"Isn't this fun!?" Lisbeth laughed as she swung her mace, the Golden Star, at several of the Sylph bounty hunters.

"The most fun in a while, honey!" Mace hooted as he spun in a circle and mowed down some Salamanders like a tornado. "These players got nothing on us!" He laughed.

Strea was squealing as she ran about. Swinging her two-handed sword, the Invaria, at the players. Sending Salamander and Sylph bounty hunters flying in all directions. Codex smiled at his AI girlfriend's happiness before slashing his sword, the blue steel sword, at one of the Salamander bounty hunters.

Eugene grunted as he was forced back by Kirito and Revere. He was beyond irritated that these renegades and newcomers were giving him so much trouble. However, one of the Salamander players, begins using magic spells to assist Eugene. He chanted a fire barrage with several other mages. Then, streams of fire begins shooting out towards Kirito and Revere.

"Take cover!" Revere tackled Kirito, knocking the air from him as fire rained down.

"OOF!" Kirito grunted as he hit the ground hard. He didn't realize just how physically strong Revere was.

Lexar and Leafa turned to see fire rain around Kirito and Revere.

"Those two are taking fire!"

"We gotta help them!" Lexar turned and was about to run towards Kirito when he was tripped. He hit the ground hard and lost grip of his sword.

"Mages, heal us!" Sigurd commanded. Lexar realized that Sigurd tripped him and he reached out for his sword. Only for it to get kicked away by Sigurd.

Sigurd grinned evilly as he and the whole bounty hunter group flashed with healing magic. Then Leafa swung her sword at Sigurd. Only for him to block it quickly.

"Getting tired?" Sigurd mocked as he punched Leafa hard. Knocking her out of balance and she hit the ground hard.

Leafa groaned from having the wind knocked out of her. Sigurd laughs as he walks over to her, grabs her by the hair and picked her up. The rest of the team also began to struggle as most of Kirito's team had not mastered the magic of the game, let alone healing. Jackhammer was forced to have Sleek and Silica close as they were surrounded.

Rex felt Kureha stumble back into him as Philia, Haze, and Rain huddled together around them.

"Rex... I'm tired..." Kureha groaned.

"We gotta stay strong, Kureha.." Rex held her close.

Haze told Rain, "we should have spent more time mastering the magic in this game..."

"Don't give up, Haze." Rain replied. "We'll get through this yet."

"This brings back some bad memories..." Philia shuddered.

"You said it, Philia." Sleek shivered as he held Silica. Revere felt himself being slightly singed. If not for the shield being on his back and his own super soldier strength...

"Whoa!" Klein exclaimed as he was dodging fire all around him. "Take cover, guys!" Several of his samurai friends ran and blocked desperately, while Agil was pelted and losing health. Codex and Strea were knocked to the ground, while Jackhammer was taking damage shielding Sleek and Silica with his body.

Revere grunted as he looked around; he and Kirito were surrounded by flames.

Eugene glanced over to the lead mage who led the bombardment. "I had it under control."

"I'm sure you did." The lead mage observed. Crimson honestly had little patience for the arrogant General Eugene, but he was inserted into the Salamander ranks for the purpose of taking down the rogue Sylphs, and eliminating Kirito and his nuisance band. "Let's just get it over with."

As the fire begins to die around them, they see several players scattered about. Crimson spots both Kirito and Revere. "There they are.."

Kirito sees one of the Salamander players approached him. However, upon close inspection on his facial features. It's not Eugene. Crimson had short, slicked-back red hair that contrasted with the coldness in his eyes. Kirito gets up on his feet and drew out his sword. He's ready to fight this Salamander player.

"Hello, Kirito." Crimson smirked deviously. Kirito had a sense of deja vu as he and Revere retrained their weapons. "Who are you?"

"One of the players sent to hunt you down." The Salamander player replied coldly.

"Careful," Revere warned, "there's something not right at all about this one."

"Don't worry... I've seen these players before..." Kirito replied as he stood his ground against Crimson. Eugene came alongside Crimson.

"You're surrounded now. Your team of Renegades have been scattered and defeated." He remarked.

"I've seen formidable odds before," Revere retorted, "we're not beaten yet."

"Don't bet on it." Eugene laughed. He leveled his sword at Revere. "It's best that you surrender now and avoid all this further fight."

"I've been holding back because I don't want to waste time having to hurt you," Revere shot back, "you don't want to see what I actually do."

"If that's suppose to buy you sand for your hourglass, it has failed." Eugene scoffed.

"En garde!" Eugene rushed as Revere shot forth with his shield and saber. As the two viciously struck, Crimson lashed out at Kirito. The Spriggan player deflected Crimson's attacks. Crimson then thrust his sword, narrowly missing Kirito's head and shoulder by millimeters.

"You're quite troublesome, Kirito!" Crimson remarked.

"I can be," Kirito shot back as he produced needles and tossed them at the Salamander. Who managed to dodge and block them with ease. Crimson shot a heatwave from his sword. Kirito sees this and jumps out of the way.

"Now!" Crimson suddenly yelled as several archers shot their arrows, which expanded into nets. Kirito dodged a few of them. But, there were too many as they continued to fly towards him. The black swordsman was entangled in the rest and was weighed down. He struggled to free himself, only to get himself entangled even further.

"Kirito!" Revere yelled as he then knocked Eugene down and rushed over to free his fallen compatriot.

"You're dead!" Eugene jumped up and brought his sword down for a stab. Revere's eyes shot up in anger, and he quickly pressed something on his status window...

Time seemed to slow down for the rest, especially for Lexar and Leafa in Sigurd's grasp.

Lexar felt the rage surging through his body as he witnessed Sigurd held Leafa by her hair. Unknown to him, Lexar's hands being to glow orange. Suddenly something flashed in Revere's hands...

BLAM!

A sharp and caustic crack echoed throughout the cave. Kirito felt his ears actually ring. Everyone from both sides turned their attention towards Revere. Eugene fell right in front of him, crumpled on the ground. Kirito glanced up with a groan as he saw Revere crouching... and no longer appearing as a Sylph.

Kirito was speechless... Revere was now in the fatigues, camo, and tactical armor... with an assault rifle in his hands.

Revere, now in his US Army uniform and wielding a digital representation of his M4v1 carbine, stood up and shot Eugene four more times, two into his chest, two to the head.

"I warned you..." Revere said chillingly as Eugene disintegrated into a red flame. He then spun around to the archers scrambling for their arrows, and opened up with automatic rifle bursts, killing several of them instantly.

"I guess I won't be needing the disguise either." Jackhammer commented before reaching for his status window and pressed the button.

"Whoa!" Agil and Klein backed up. Sleek and Silica glanced back to see that Jackhammer was no longer a Sylph either, as he donned a Ranger uniform like his captain and produced a rather large rifle. The two clutched their ears as he opened up. Two of the armored Salamander vanguards fell dead with their spears clattering, not even realizing how they had been riddled with 7.62mm from Jackhammer's SCAR 25.

"We're going loud.." Jackhammer said in his chilled and calm tone.

"Light 'em up," Revere ordered as he reloaded and fired more 5.56mm at several mages. Jack aims his SCAR 25 rifle at more of the Sylph and Salamander mages. Dropping them as the rounds hit square in the chests and heads.

Sigurd stared slack-jawed with Lexar and Leafa at what was happening. This gave Leafa the chance she's been waiting for. As Sigurd's loosen his grip, Leafa grabbed his arm, spun around and slams her feet against his chest. Knocking the Sylph leader onto the ground. Lexar yelled as he raised a fist and thrust it into Sigurd's face. Penetrating right through his head. Sigurd actually exploded as Lexar's fist was on fire.

Leafa was stunned by Lexar's newfound ability. She knew for a fact that only Salamander players have the ability to generate fire magic. She's been playing ALO for a while and she never seen any of her friends with these kind of abilities that Lexar's now displaying. He then lashed out with his flaming fists of fury at the next Sylph hunter. Sending the player flying through the air in flames. Several of the Sylph bounty hunters charged at Lexar with spears raised. Only to be taken down single-handily by the American Spriggan.

The cave devolved into pandemonium as the bounty hunters suddenly found themselves taking fire, literally from Lexar and automatic rifle fire from the two Army Rangers.

"Bring them down! Bring them down now!" One of the Salamander bounty hunters shouted.

"Rifles!? I thought this was fantasy, not Frontier Horizon!?" Another cowered away.

"We're not equipped with these guys!" Another shouted in hysteria.

"Jack, cover me!" Revere yelled as he produced a K-BAR Mk.2 bayonet knife to cut the netting on Kirito.

"On it!" Jack reloads and fires more of the 7.62mm rounds into the scattered Sylph/Salamander players.

"Hold still," Revere told Kirito as the razor edge sliced through the netting. Kirito calmed down and remained still as he felt himself being untangled from the netting.

"You're clear," Revere said as he cut the last of the net and drew his M4v1 back up and continued firing.

"Thanks." Kirito got up and brushed the dust off his coat before picking up his sword. However, he could see how just two trained Rangers with their automatic rifles were just mowing down the hunting team and sending the rest scattering for the caves. That is... except for one. Crimson. Who was making a speedy and silent tactical retreat. Kirito, however, wanted answers from this guy. There's no coincidence that he'd knew his avatar name. And starts to give chase.

"Kirito!" Leafa called out. But her voice was miles away as Kirito ran towards the fleeing Crimson. Lexar gives chase as well. The question of his newfound ability will have to wait for the moment. Kirito tried to keep pace with the mysterious Crimson, but the guy seemed to know the caves very well, and the black swordsman lost track of him.

Kirito clenched his fist in defeat. "He got away..."

"Kirito!" He hears his name being called out. He turned to see Lexar running towards him.

"Lexar..."

"Kirito!" Leafa came barreling in behind Lexar.

"Leafa.."

She breathlessly ran up to him. "Don't go off on your own!"

"I'm... I'm sorry.." Kirito said. His gaze moved towards the ground. "I just wanna catch this guy."

"Yeah, but what if he ambushes you, and you're on your own!?" Leafa argued back, "I'm not about to lose you again after having you back!"

Kirito remained silent. She had a point. He's been doing solo mission during his days of SAO.

Leafa then threw herself into his arms. "Don't you go and leave me without a chance to apologize to you, dummy!"

Kirito did a double-take. "A-Apologize?"

Lexar was also taken by surprise. First Leafa was simmering and angry at Kirito, and now she was changing her mind? He remains silent as Leafa speaks to his friend.

"I talked to Revere just before we were attacked... He told me about what happened to his twin brother and best friend while in SAO."

"We know all that," Kirito said, "but-"

"After he told me how the guilt of not being there to free him. It made me realize that I was being selfish this whole time." Leafa continued. "His brother and his best friend are dead... and here I was acting like a spoiled child for attention..."

"And so, I'm sorry if I've been a selfish, heartless jerk to you." She added. "I had no idea what you were going through, and I only cared about what I wanted from you..."

Lexar observed her last statement. It had him confused for a moment.

"Sugu... I..."

"No Kazuto..." She interrupted him. "...I was being a selfish brat. So for that, I'm sorry."

Kazuto then began to hug Suguha. "I'm sorry too..." He said. "I'm sorry I left you and Mom out of my life when I couldn't handle the truth of my parentage... And I'm sorry for neglecting you and submersed myself in video games and computers to hide the pain." At this point, tears started to leak from his eyes.

"And I've never been able to confide anything in anyone else... until Asuna came along..." He looked Sugu in the eyes. "I know that I've casted you aside, even after SAO was cleared. And I don't blame you for slapping some sense into me earlier..."

"I've let the pain of not having Asuna blind me to everything and everyone else that I could trust to help me..." He hugs Sugu tighter. "And now Hydra threatens the two girls I care for most in my life... And my friends. Who stood by me during and after SAO..." Kazuto looked his sister/cousin in the eyes. "I've been selfish and not deserving of this... but can I ask you a favor?"

"Anything for you, Oni-chan.." Sugu said.

"Can you help me... save Asuna and Alfheim Online?" Kazuto asked, "that way... all three of us can enjoy this world and many others together... free from Hydra, free from people wanting to kill us."

It was then Suguha smiled for Kazuto. "Yes... Yes I'll help you save Asuna and Alfheim Online."

"And me too," Lexar beamed. "After all, I've started this mission to help him rescue Asuna, the 299 players. And we'll help save Alfheim Online as well."

"And we'll experience this world together, without the threat of Hydra hanging over us," Leafa looked at Lexar with a blush.

"You mean..." Lexar's voice trailed off.

Leafa smiles before she breaks off the hug and approaches Lexar. "I wanna learn more about you. I wanna spend time with you in both ALO and the real world. And..." Her faces blushes even more.

Kirito had to keep himself from snickering at Leafa blushing and losing her words.

"... I wanna go out on a date with you... That is, if you don't mind.." Leafa finishes. Lexar was surprised by Leafa's confession and forwardness towards him. After a few moments, Lexar smiled. Before he could answer however, Lexar, Leafa, and Kirito's chat windows rang.

'Talk about killing the moment.' Lexar thought bitterly as he opens up his status window. Kirito and Leafa did the same.

"This is Jackhammer," the Ranger out-of-disguise was calling, "Kirito, Lexar, Leafa, where are you three!?"

"We lost them." Kirito answers. "We're on our way back now."

"Um..." Leafa wondered, "so... did you really kill everyone just now?"

Jackhammer just shook his head. "The rest scattered like rabbits to the hills... or burrows. Took one prisoner."

"You did?" Kirito asked.

"Yep... we're gonna interrogate him in town, so better haul your behinds back over now."

"We're on our way.." Lexar replied. As the three walked back, Leafa sighed in disappointment. It was then Lexar walked next to Leafa.

"Yes... Yes, I wanna spend time with you too. As well as go on a date with you.." He whispered. Leafa's smile returned. Then Lexar wrapped his arm around Leafa and gently pulled her into a hug. "We're gonna be alright," Lexar grinned.

"Thanks, Lexar.." Leafa sighed happily. Kirito smiled for his sister.

As the three returned, they found the others surrounding Revere and Jackhammer, both of whom were training their rifles on one of the young Salamander mages left behind, confused and frightened at the sight of the two Rangers pointing their guns at him.

"Alright. Start spilling the beans." Jackhammer demanded. "How did you know where we were?"

"And better answer carefully," Revere warned, "or this will get very ugly for you very fast."

"Okay! Okay!" The Salamander mage exclaimed. His knees were knocking in terror. Kirito went up to Agil and Klein. The latter shook his head.

"Unbelievable.." He muttered.

"What?" Kirito murmured back.

"That both Eugene and Sigurd would pull a stunt like this." He explains. "And now this kid's on the receiving end of some military-style interrogation," Agil added.

Kirito looked up, and thought that Revere and Jackhammer really did look more intimidating with their helmets, visors, modern gear, and black rifles at the ready. However, he's more interested of what the young Salamander player has to say.

"Who told your leaders where we were, and how?" Revere knelt down, making sure that the mage saw his M4v1 ready in his grip.

"T-That one guy w-who launched the f-fire rain attack.." The player stammered. "C-Crimson.."

"Who is Crimson?" Revere pressed, "what can you tell us about him?"

The player gulped before he continued. "H-He's the one who t-told use about th-the bounty on y-you two..."

"And you just believed the guy?"

"Y-Yes... I mean.. Would anyone turn down a bounty that much? Plus with other items that would help us with the Grand Quest.."

"And how would he have known exactly where to look for us?" Revere gave the young man a good glare, "did you even bother to wonder how with the way this blasted cave interferes with outside communications and mapping?"

"It was E-Eugene who s-sent out the tr-tracking bat." The player shrunk back. "Th-That's how we m-managed to find a-all of you.."

"Did he?" Revere looked to Jackhammer, who scanned the area. Jackhammer just shook his head. He then looked to Leafa quizzically. "Does he have those?"

Leafa seemed confused, before shaking her head. "That's a Spriggan high-level exclusive."

Revere glared at the Salamander. "You're lying."

"W-why?" The young Salamander looked like he could wet himself if there was such a function in game.

"Cause then you can change your mind before we execute you!" Revere raised his voice.

"Mister I'm just..."

"Jackhammer, show this gentleman here what a Pulsar-enhanced SCAR 25 does to this here sword," Revere dropped one of the discarded Salamander swords on the ground. Jackhammer fires the SCAR-25 rifle at it. The blades exploded on impact.

"Whoa!" Sleek was startled. There was a distinct blue/purple colored hue when the rifle was fired. The Salamander player was now shivering and whining.

"The next one goes right between the eyeballs, buddy," Revere said with a headshake.

"Alright! ALRIGHT! It was Crimson! He managed to obtain one of those devices!" The Salamander player cried. "He said something about having contact with somebody with high clearance! I didn't know who he was referring to! I just did what he and Eugene told me! I swear! That's all I know!"

The Salamander player slumped on his knees. "You might as well kill me... because as soon as Eugene hears about this, I'm as good as a dead rogue."

"Then what difference would it make if you were to..." Revere shrugged with a wondering look, "say tell us about possible Salamander ambushes ahead?"

It was then the Salamander player tells them about everything. Including how to disable the stone wall that blocks the bridge's entrance.

"Just the Sylphs and the Salamanders. The Cait Siths and Undines are neutral as they're forming an alliance of their own.."

"I see..." Revere stood up, "well then, I won't take up anymore of your time." Everyone, including the prisoner were surprised by the sudden cordialness in Revere's tone.

"Look, it's now clear to me that you're just an innocent and mistakenly foolish player who got mixed up in a whole mess of clan politics and stupid decisions by the game's moderators well above your pay scale. So... we can have a deal."

It was then the player broke down. "T-Thank you!" He practically fell to his knees.

"We can just say that you got wounded in action, happened to fall behind the group, but managed to escape nonetheless." Some of the others, especially Klein, were surprised at the officer's change to a diplomatic tone. "That way, you keep your stats, your standing with the rest of the player base, and no one knows any better since this cave limits communications with the rest of the outside world."

"O-Okay then.." The player got back up on his feet. Kirito suddenly barged forward and came with an open inventory window. He showed the items to the former prisoner.

"Okay... As part of us sparing you, in spite of the whole skirmish." He said to the Salamander player.

"W-what is that?"

"I've managed to loot some of the other Salamander players. I'm giving it to you as a token of our good faith."

"You can say that you managed to retrieve some of their equipment in the chaos, and give it back to them as a form of compensation for this mess," Kirito said earnestly, impressing everyone, especially Lexar and Leafa.

"I-I don't know wha-what to say.." The Salamander player was flabbergast by the Spriggan's honesty.

"Like these soldiers said," Kirito expressed, "you were caught up in something that was far beyond what you bargained for, and they're letting you go because you surrendered and were willing to give information." He transfers the loot to the Salamander player. He checks in inventory and it shows it has been received.

"Thanks," the Salamander thanked Kirito. He then looked to the two Rangers... "Are... you guys actually military?"

"Yes, we are.." Jack answered.

"W-what is going on?"

"Trust me," Revere shook his head, "you don't want to be accountable for too much... but I can tell you that whatever Moderation is telling you about us and these good citizens helping us..." He gestured to the whole SAO guild around them, "it is not true. Do not trust what they say."

"That Crimson guy likely works for them," Jack added, "and let's just say that there are skeletons in their closet that they are keeping us from breaking open."

The Salamander player took a moment to process what he had heard. "Okay then..."

He was about to turn away when Revere cleared his throat. "Sorry, but I did say you would have to return wounded... Eugene and the people leading him on might get suspicious if you returned entirely unscathed."

Gasps were heard as he drew his digital M17 handgun. "I'm really sorry, but it's for your own good..."

"Oh no..." the Salamander player paled a bit.

"Revere, is that really necessary?" Kirito hissed.

Revere looked to him. "Hydra controls this game," he whispered, "you and your guild are shielded by us now, but everyone else logged in is in potential danger if Hydra thinks they know too much."

Kirito looked at the pale Salamander player, then back at Revere and sighed. "I understand.."

"I'll make it quick." Revere suddenly pulled the trigger and shot the Salamander in the upper chest, making sure it was a non-fatal shot.

"Go!"

The Salamander boy grunted as he turned to run. Revere seemed to turn away, only to fire a second time, hitting the guy in the shoulder. With a hiss of pain, the Salamander mage continued to limp off.

"You shot him twice!" Klein complained.

"You wanted him pretty or convincing?" Revere pointed out, "I'm trying to make sure they don't suspect anything from him."

"Okay then." Klein groaned.

"And at least I can do this in a game," Revere sighed.

"Man, you are scary," Spade remarked.

Revere fires another shot, this one hits the player in the back. Causing him to fall onto the floor. He crawled onto his belly as he disappeared into the tunnels.

"You shot him again!" Lexar was slack-jawed.

"I was just finished," Revere deadpanned as he holstered his gun, "he'll be alright in the end." Lexar and Leafa were stunned silent as they looked to Jackhammer to see it Revere was for real. Who nodded, confirming that he meant it.

"I don't know if he's cunning, daring, or what..." Lexar was still in disbelief.

"I think my ears might ring for a while..." Rex groaned, "can ears actually ring in VR?"

"I believe so.." Mace rubbed his ears. "Although, I do hope it wouldn't affect us when we log out."

"Actually.. The AmuSpheres are suppose to be safer than the NerveGear.." Kirito answers. "Also, it says something about the Pain Absorber.."

"Aren't all of us using the NerveGear helmets?" Sleek questions.

"Wait..." Revere did a double-take, "you all logged in with those!?"

"I mean, neither of us could afford the AmuSpheres.." Sleek confessed. "But then, we were told that the ALO game's compatible with the NerveGear. So yes.. We're all using NerveGears."

"Not everyone..." Leafa referred to herself.

The others looked rather sheepish. Revere just stared at them. "You're all either incredibly brave or crazy..." He then started off towards the bridge when his vision began to glitch. His eyes widened as he saw several hooded players seemingly appearing out of nowhere with red diamonds above their heads and the scenery suddenly change to a dark place full of rising platforms.

"Ugh!" Revere fell on his back and aimed his M4v1, only for his vision to go back to normal, sans cloaked marauders. He got on bended knee, suddenly feeling a headache and a strange deja vu.

"Where am I?" He questioned.

Revere blinked his eyes and found himself back in the Legrue Corridor, breathing heavily and surrounded by Jackhammer, Kirito, Lexar, Leafa, and everyone else.

"You alright?" Lexar asked.

"Ugh..." The blonde Ranger captain steadied himself with his rifle as he felt a few more glitches in his senses, "I... I was seeing cloaked assassins... in a dark place..." He looked around at the other confused players. "It... it was like... I was living through something else..."

"Easy sir," Jackhammer coaxed as he helped the captain back to his feet. "Sounds like you're having a flashback."

"But... what was that flashback?" Revere questioned. Strea and Yui suddenly went up to him and scanned him. Everyone waited for the AIs to finish scanning and to see the results. Yui and Strea suddenly moved back as they regarded Revere with curiosity.

"You were experiencing the flashbacks of your late brother, the previous Revere." Yui surmised.

"W-what?" Revere questioned.

"His twin brother?" Kirito asked.

"I've scanned his avatar coding," Strea told Kirito with a serious look, "for whatever reason, it has elements of the core avatar the last Revere used."

"Meaning?" Kirito raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Fury told me that he had retrieved parts of my brother's avatar's code to create this one," Revere revealed.

"Really?" Lexar turned to Revere.

"He... he told me that using Taylor's stats would boost my own to aid in the mission."

"Well... That would make sense. Since ALO is made from the cardinal system used to make SAO." Kirito surmised.

"Certainly never said anything about flashbacks like that, though," Revere shook the cobwebs from his head.

"That's freaky," Mace gave a weirded out look.

"Agreed..." Spade added. It was then, Spade's eyes went wide. "You said something about cloaked assassins?"

"Yeah... why?" Revere looked down at Spade.

"I think you managed to get a glance at members from Laughing Coffin."

"Laughing Coffin... what's that? Some cult?"

Before Spade could answer, Kirito spoke up. "They're worse than a cult. They're a guild of players who went out and killing players for fun." He uttered in a dark tone.

"Serial killers..." Jackhammer growled.

"But what... wait, you don't mean..." Revere almost did not want to say it.

"He went face-to-face with them during SAO." Kirito surmised. "And when he and Kyle fought them to save us."

"And he died for it..." Klein added somberly...

---

World Tree, Yggdrasil, Hydra Base:

Asuna sat on the edge of her king-size bed in the birdcage. She was seeing a live feed of her father and two men in US Navy camo in a dark room. Sugou was on live on a line with her as well.

"I'm sorry that you had to see this," Sugou said, "but we could not let your father run off with some strangers."

"It's understandable.." Asuna replied. Deep down, she's praying for her father's safety. As well as the safety of the two US Navy soldiers. "Have you found anything about the two strangers?" She asks.

Sugou scoffed. "They refuse to talk. Nosy Americans..."

"You said it.." Asuna agreed. However, she had a thought. Were the two Navy soldiers aware of the situation? And were they trying to tell her father about it too?

"So what are we to do with them?" Asuna asked, "he's still my father, and someone will get suspicious that he's gone. This also includes the two navy soldiers. Wouldn't their absence be noticed as well?"

Sugou gave a smile that would have been warm if he was not so sickening. "Hydra's already made arrangements with their superiors with the Navy. This also included their families... Or should I say, family."

Asuna had to restrain herself from gasping. "Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, "do tell me, dear."

"Judging by their uniforms, they both bear the same surname... Mitchell.." He explains.

"Family then..." Asuna realized, "and... your arrangements?"

"Their family will be notified that they're busy with their duties at the base and won't be back for a while." He says. "That way, they'll won't be looking for them... You see, we still have connections in America... if you know where to look."

"I see what you mean..." Asuna surmised. "And my father?"

"No harm will come to him," the Hydra Supreme Commander bowed, "after all, it would send the wrong message to your family, whom I hope would see the greatness of our endeavor as you have."

"Very good then." She smiled. At least Hydra did not intend to kill her father outright, for now...

"I do have some questions about our plans, if you can answer them..."

"Ask away, dear." Sugou smiled.

"I've been going over details of Hydra in Japan," Asuna said, "but aside from your sleeper program, I realize that there are very scant details on how exactly to supply and equip such agents, let alone the chain of communications and command to organize such efforts. If I were to assist you as the new Mistress of Hydra, would it not make sense to go over important economic and military operations?"

"Excellent question, Asuna. However, as you recall, Hydra's managed to get the Templar to side with us. We also in the process of forging an alliance with another organization... The Ten Rings..."

"A Middle Eastern cult?" Asuna sounded dismissive, hoping that would egg him on for more details.

"The Ten Rings managed to branch to the Middle East." Sugou chuckles. "However, the Ten Rings originated in China since the middle ages. And has spread throughout the world... Well, the third-word nations to be correct."

"And what do they offer us?"

"Weapons, ammunition, medical supplies. Etc. However... They've managed to obtain one of the Fabricators."

"What is that?" Asuna was now curious.

"It's some kind of advanced 3D printer made at Anderson Tech Industries." Sugou explains. "Hydra has reverse-engineered technologies used by the old Hydra, as well as other companies such as Hammer Industries, and A.I.M. But the technology in the fabricator has both intrigued and eluded us. But thanks to our... colleagues and our American connections, it is now ours to command."

"Doesn't all tech from Anderson Industries have some sort of fail-safe built in?" She asks. Recalling how Anderson Tech placed self-destruct programs in the military drones in the past.

"Well... thank our American connections for that," Sugou laughed, "and with this..." He holds up a small device in his hand. It was no bigger than a smart phone. "We could supply an entire army by the time we finish our current program... with soldiers all equipped to the brim that even the US and Chinese Armies would be jealous."

"I can't wait to see this fabricator in action." Asuna smiled. Showing excitement for Sugou.

"Menial weapons in my opinion," Sugou laughed back.

"Meaning?" Asuna giggled, pretending to be amused by how silly it sounded.

"Far grander pieces of art that I intend to wow you with when it is finally time to rise... what fun would it be to spill it all?"

"You never cease to amaze me with all the secrets you have all over Japan," Asuna had to admit.

"Indeed." Sugou smiled. "Now, I still got some business to attend here. But don't worry dear, I'll be back before you know it."

"Don't take too long, dear." Asuna blew kisses at him.

"I won't, see you later." The screen vanishes. Asuna collapsed for the umpteenth time after the call ended.

'Not only they got my father and two Navy soldiers, but now they got their hands on Anderson Tech!' She thought. 'And they've spread so far throughout Japan...'

She hoped that not only Kirito and his friends arrive soon. But, she hoped and prayed, that the Avengers would catch on and get involved. Despite what she learned about the Avengers splitting up, at least some of them are still active. It was clear that Hydra was into every face of Japanese society and life, and there was a serious need for intervention.

'This is gonna be one serious cleanup.' She lamented the thought. She knew that America's still cleaning up the mess from the second civil war. And they're still dealing with Pacifican Remnants, and Hydra in secret. She had survived the horrors of SAO with Kirito... Ranging from fighting against floor bosses and creatures that roam throughout Aincrad to stopping Laughing Coffin. But this was different. They were about to jump into a battle that could decide the freedom of an entire nation and the entire world. But with the way Japanese society function with its stringent boundaries of honor and shame, this would be a hard truth for many to swallow.

However, she isn't gonna give up. And neither will Kirito and his friends, as well as her newfound friend, Naomi. Even if she faced disapproval from her parents and RECT was shamed, she would set them free with the truth.

The beeping on her communicator snapped out of her thoughts. She saw that it was Naomi. She taps on the bracelet. "What is it, Naomi?"

"I have the operational briefing that you requested, Mistress."

"Okay, let's hear it."

"Um... in briefing room three, Mistress," Naomi advised, "sensitive information."

"Right... Of course..." Asuna winked. "See you there..."

"Myself and three others will await to present our report then..." Naomi smiled.

"Okay, be there soon." Asuna switches off her communicator. 'Others?' She thought as she leaves the birdcage.

---

Tokyo University...

It was already the end of the workday, and Kyouko tried to raise her husband by any other avenue, despite herself suspecting what had happened and the news confirming her husband being missing.

'There's got to be a way to contact him.' She thought as she left the university campus. She then phoned her maid, Sada, who was waiting in a compact limo outside.

"Anything from Shouzou?" Kyouko asked while approaching the limo.

"No ma'am... and the office is also just repeating what they are saying on the news. It just doesn't make sense." She uttered.

"How so, Sada?" Kyouko asked.

"I mean, Shouzou should've sensed something was gonna happen." Sada explained.

"Sada," Kyouko reminded, "this is not a secure line."

"I understand." Sada realized. "I'll wait until you arrive..." There was a sudden yelp on Sada's end before something muffled her.

"Sada?" Kyouko asked, startled. The call ended abruptly. "Sada? Hello?"

The phone then rang again; it was Sada's number. Kyouko answered. "Sada? You alright?"

"Sorry, Yuuki-sensei," a chilly male voice sounded, "but Sada-san cannot answer the phone now."

"Who is this? What have you done with Sada!?" Kyouko demanded.

"One who will make your servant suffer a very bad accident if you do not comply." A cold chill ran down Kyouko's spine.

"W-What do you want?" She asks again.

"Come down to the car... we have orders to bring you in," the hostage taker demanded.

"O-Okay... Just don't hurt Sada.." Kyouko makes her way to the limo. But not too fast, as not to attract any attention.

"How nice... we expected you to be more... stubborn. But just in case you get any funny ideas, just know that we are watching you from some high places. Run... and pop you go."

Kyouko darted her eyes around the rooftops of the campus. Suspecting that the hostage taker meant there's snipers hidden. However, she didn't see any. That was... until she spotted a red dot on her chest..

"Your point is made," Kyouko tried to sound unaffected.

"Good... Now, get yourself to the car..." The line went dead once more. The January chilly air had gotten much chillier for Kyouko as she now realized how she and Sada were in danger. At last, she reached the limo. The back door opens up for her. With no other choice, she climbs in. She found herself being greeted by four men in black helmets, armor, and masks. One trained a suppressed pistol on her, another was in front, with a knife to the nervous driver, and two were sitting next to a very scared Sada, with what seemed to be automatic weapons in their hands.

"Alright, I'm here." Kyouko said, trying to remain calm. "What do you want from me?"

"Our leader has asked us to bring you in for safekeeping so as to keep you out of trouble," the apparent team leader told her, "and we need your family's financial cooperation for the final steps."

"F-Final steps?" Kyouko was confused. "For what?" The car began to move.

"The marriage of your daughter..." the trooper with the pistol said, "she will need full control as the heiress to serve our organization in bringing about a new order for Japan... and the world at large."

"Organization? Don't you mean my husband's company RECT Inc?" She ask. Unsure what to think of the leader's statements. Does Nobuyuki have a hand in this? None of this make sense to her.

"Your husband's?" The leader snorted. "He's hardly had any real control over it for some time... it's served our Supreme Leader's purposes as one of many fronts very well."

Kyouko felt a pit in her stomach beginning to grow. Her husband no longer have control of RECT? "You mean..."

"RECT is ours, Kyouko Yuuki, and you will watch as your daughter rises up to take leadership of the company for our purpose of bringing about the New World Order people have sought for millennia."

"You would be wise to join us," one of the men holding his submachinegun on Sada added, "because your daughter was wise to do so. Your husband was a naughty boy to talk with strangers... so we had to ground him."

"T-This doesn't make sense.." Kyouko was starting to panic. But manages to mask it. "What do you mean by New World Order?" The two men surrounding Sada looked to their leader. He seemed to be rather smug behind the mask.

"Hmmm... I guess since our leader will be ruling the world alongside with your daughter." The leader mused. "All will hail Hydra, Yuuki-sensei."

Kyouko felt her blood freeze and her heart stop. Hydra? That's impossible.

"And your daughter serves our Supreme Commander, and will continue your family's service to our New World Order," the leader laughed evilly.

Sada herself could not believe what she was hearing. "Y-you're lying! S-she's in a c-coma... and she would never serve the likes of Hydra!"

"Oh, I beg the differ." The leader sneered. He pulled out a phone and played a recording. Kyouko and Sada listens to the audio that is played.

"Hail Hydra," Asuna's confession rang aloud in the car. Kyouko felt her whole world fall around her again. The first when Asuna was trapped in SAO. And now, this? Kyouko couldn't breathe or utter a word in shame. Sada was crying herself sick as she tried to deny it. "That was a fake! You can't possibly expect us to fall for that!"

"Oh, it's real as it can get." The leader laughed. "And it's all thanks to Yuuki-sensei.." He turned to Kyouko.

"M-me!?" Kyouko began to lose composure.

"Don't be so modest, Yuuki-sensei... After all, you did hand-pick him to marry your daughter. Did you not?"

"Nobuyuki would not... no... he couldn't..."

The leader just laughs. "You're even more naïve than we thought!"

"Naïve and desperate." One of the men added, followed by his laugh as well.

"But don't worry," the leader said, "the Supreme Commander will make your daughter a fine mistress of Hydra yet... Until then, it's best that you cooperate with us."

Kyouko stiffened up.

"And, if you get any ideas of defying us..." He added. He then showed her a live feed... of her husband tied up. "You don't want to be responsible of his... untimely demise. Would you?"

Kyouko had no response as she stared at her husband. She had never been this afraid... not since... She suddenly found herself holding back tears she realized were threatening to pour.

"As long as you cooperate.." He continued. "..Your husband will be fine..."

---

Inside ALO, Legrue City...

Kirito had to admit, in a fantasy setting, it was strange to see two US Army Rangers in uniform strolling with a steely pace with rifles slung on their shoulders. It was impressive that they stood their ground and defeated Eugene and Sigurd.

"Sigurd.." Kirito muttered. He turned to Lexar, who is walking beside Leafa. The female sylph seemed rather apprehensive as the other players were stealing glances at them and the two soldiers. However, there was something that was tugging her. The way Lexar saved her from Sigurd.

"Lexar..." She said.

"Yes, Leafa?" The American spriggan smiled.

"Where did you learn that ability?" She asks.

"What ability?"

"When your hands and fists were on fire." She describes. "Only salamander players have that ability."

"Oh... That.." Lexar looks at his hands, which looked normal. "To be honest. I don't really know...

"A glitch or hidden ability, maybe..." He shrugged. "I don't remember using it before. Not even in SAO."

Leafa then suddenly leaned into Lexar. "Thank you for saving me.." She said.

Lexar blushed a deep red, and he thought he could really feel himself heating up.

"Y-You're welcome, Leafa.." He stammered before managing to regain his composer. "I just didn't want you getting hurt and all.."

Leafa giggled. Lexar slowly placed his arm around Leafa's shoulder and gently pulls her closer.

Meanwhile, Kirito and some of the other guys and girls were around and behind the two Rangers. Marveling over the modern rifles they were carrying. Especially since Jackhammer showed a new feature that was never seen before.

"I thought ALO's a fantasy game.." Lisbeth whispered to Mace.

"I thought so too." Mace observed. "But these two are full of surprises..."

"Look at their rifles," Rex whispered to Kureha.

"I recognize them as an M4 and a SCAR," Kureha noted, "but what are those muzzle attachments?" Even Revere's M4v1 had the same glowing muzzle device.

"Pulsar Resonators, Miss Kureha," Revere suddenly answered, having overheard with his enhanced hearing.

"Pulsar Resonators?" Sleek questioned.

"They're ballistic particle resonance accelerator devices," Revere answered, "increases muzzle velocity, effective range, and penetrating power of the rounds we fire."

"I'm sorry, but what?" Agil scratched his head.

Sleek then chimed in, "so like ray guns?"

"Something like that." Jackhammer smirked.

"Are those made by Anderson Tech?" Spade asked. He knew about the technological advancement of Anderson Tech Industries. Especially when it comes with Vibranium.

"That's..." Revere was about to tell how classified it was, but then realized that was pointless. "Newly issued, kid," he answered, "but I'd rather not talk too much about the specifics."

"We can say though that these things pack an even bigger punch," Jack gestured with his SCAR, "even Chitauri would be jealous of how it penetrates even their armor."

"Nice.." Spade smiled. Meanwhile, Codex and Strea observed the two soldiers.

"How did they even get their stuff into this game..." Codex wondered.

"It appears that their superiors managed to duplicate the codes from ALO and have modified them with their own technology." Strea observed. "I figured that when I've read their avatar statuses and the codings don't match the same as yours or the others..."

"So they're military spec avatars?" Codex raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Strea answers. She then said. "do they need all that firepower?"

"I guess. Since they're taking on Nobuyuki and his goons." Codex replied. "..Especially now that they know."

Lisbeth then got up next to Revere and Jackhammer. "People are staring at us."

"It's no doubt that they've heard the gunshots." Jackhammer observed.

"What about the disguises?" Philia looked nervously around. "Can't you both use them?"

"We could try." Jackhammer opens his status window.

"Don't bother," Revere suddenly said, "that disguise was a one-use item."

"I guess that the secret it out." Lisbeth remarked. "Pretty soon, everyone's gonna ask questions about what's going on."

"And our cover has been pretty much blown ever since that mess back in the Sylph town." Revere shook his head. "Jack and I still have the bounties on us, and with that firefight back there, General Eugene and his men are bound to have game screenshots of us."

"So why did you do all that?" Kureha asked, "I thought stealth is a mission priority?"

"Yeah," Rex wondered, "now everyone will know who you guys are."

"Our mission priority is to reach the World Tree quickly, lay siege to it, and breach its defenses," Revere answered, "that has not changed, and with hostages at stake, we will accelerate our time table to attack Hydra itself. As soon as we get out of this cave, I will contact Helios."

"Alright then." Kirito sighs. "I'm pretty sure that Nobuyuki would see the firefight... Heck, Crimson would give him the full report..."

---

Basement: Underneath RECT Progress Inc headquarters ~ Tokyo, Japan:

Nobuyuki cursed when he saw the player known as Revere transform from a Sylph into a modern soldier blasting the whole bounty hunter party with bullets.

"How is this possible?!" Sugou demanded.

"It appears that our new friends have managed to program their VR sets to carry modern weapons with them." Crimson reported. "We have underestimated them, sir."

Nobuyuki snarled and growled. He then turned to one of his armed bodyguards. "Bring Hideki in here!"

"Yes sir." The guards answered before they left. A few minutes later, they brought Hideki with them.

"Hello, Mr. Hideki," Nobuyuki put on a friendly face.

"M-Mr. Nobuyuki..." Hideki bowed nervously.

"Tell me then," he replayed the video of Revere and Jackhammer shooting up the bounty hunters, "what is this?" Hideki watches the video of the two players in US army gear gunning down the players.

"A-Are those the Sylph P-Players?" Hideki asked nervously.

"You should know," Nobuyuki remarked. "You are my chief of in-game security."

"I've been t-trying to find out about those p-players..." Hideki said. "H-However, the codings in their VR systems must h-have strong firewalls. B-Because we couldn't h-hack into them.."

"I see..." Nobuyuki then turned to the bodyguard next to him, "my case, please."

"Yes sir.."

Nobuyuki shook his head. "Hideki, I think you leave me no choice."

Hideki's knees start shaking with fear. He felt his heart jump into his throat.

"You clearly fail to do your job right, which is to protect the integrity of Alfheim Online and Hydra." The case was handed to Nobuyuki.

"P-Please sir. I-I tried my best." Hideki begged. He fell onto his knees, his entire body shaking with fear for what was about to happen.

"You know I cannot have you continuing to screw up under this company." Nobuyuki slowly opened the small case. "Which is why I have to let you go." A metallic click and slap was heard from behind the lid.

"Please sir!" Hideki cried.

"You're fired." Sugou raised a bronze P226 pistol and a shot rang out. Hideki's body went limp, but remained propped up. A moment later, he fell onto the floor. Blood pooled around Hideki's head on the concrete floor. Blowing smoke from the barrel, Sugou callously unloaded the pistol calmly and rubbed the barrel with a cloth. "Get the body out of here," he ordered, "and tell Employment Services that he has been terminated."

"Yes sir." The bodyguards removed the corpse of Hideki off the floor and carried him out.

"Enough games..." Nobuyuki then turned to Crimson on the screen.

"A lot of players are starting to question the sudden appearance of modern weapons." Crimson observed. "What should we tell them?"

"Tell them that it's part of a demo for ALO's new update." Sugou suggested. "We'll call it, the Industrial Revolution update."

"Excellency?"

"See if our technicians have something in store for the new update." He ordered. "Make sure they get it updated regardless. I don't care if they have to pull an all-nighter."

"And I am now making you in charge of our security, Crimson. I give you full authority to deal with this pestilence with maximum force, and whoever tries to aid these two, kill them all!"

"It'll be done, sir.." Crimson replied slyly. With that, the connection ended.

---

Legrue City:

"Let's stock up, people!" Jackhammer urged as the SAO guild as they raided the shops for potions and high level weapons. "Spend those Alf Coins like no tomorrow!"

"On it." Lexar commented. "At least, these will give us the edge to push our way through the corridor."

Sleek and Silica were also stuffing themselves full of potions, and even acquired bows and arrows.

"I'm going to be broke!" Sleek exclaimed.

"Why are we doing this again!?" Silica asked over the frenzy.

"We need to push our way through the corridor!" Sleek explained. "That is, if we don't go broke!"

"Not to worry!" Leafa pointed out. "This place is known for its loot and rewards!"

"And besides," Agil grunted as he equipped a high level two-handed sword, "if we are to take on both the bounty hunters and Hydra coming after us, we need to keep our health up as much as possible!"

"And to reach to Alne. That way, we'll save our progress there." Spade pointed out.

Meanwhile, just outside the shop, Revere stood guard with Kirito. On habit, and just to reassure himself, he did a function check of his M4v1 rifle and its Pulsar Resonator, counted his magazines in his pouch, and checked his grenades.

"Got enough to last us through the corridor... And hopefully, when we reach Alne." Revere observed. Kirito checked the game news on his status window.

Revere muttered, "Hey Kirito, why aren't you joining the shopping spree?"

"I just hope that we find more items while we're traveling through the corridor." Kirito replied. Kirito then frowned as he saw the latest game announcements. The screenshots and footage of Eugene and Sigurd being wiped out with their guilds was rapidly spreading.

"Looks like everyone knows what has happened." Kirito lamented.

"Are they showing faces?" Revere asked as he watched the crowds warily, M4v1 at the ready.

"Don't think so.." Kirito said. Then he sees that the game announcing that the shootout was part of a promotion for ALfheim Online's new update.

"Unbelievable..."

"Nobuyuki's trying to cover it up." Kirito surmised.

"He's desperate," Revere remarked, "and desperate people are dangerous."

Kirito then looked at the tall American Army Ranger next to him. Now that he had lost his Sylph disguise, Kirito could now see even more of a resemblance to the original Revere. Yet it was strange to see such seriousness on that face. The hardened tactical helmet, vest, and camo uniform gave this new Revere a contrast from the late friendlier one he encountered as a member of Blood Oath.

After a few minutes, everyone came out of shop.

"We've got what we needed." Lexar said. "Now, let's get going before more bounty hunters find us."

Yui then came flying next to Kirito's head. "Agreed. We should get moving, daddy."

"Yeah, Yui," Kirito nodded as he glanced again at Revere.

"What?" Revere noticed Kirito with his sharp senses.

"Nothing..." Kirito said before turning to Leafa. "Is there another way out of Legrue?"

Leafa nodded, "there are, but they lead to other territories." She closed her eyes, "only one leads directly to Alne..."

"Lead the way, Leafa." Lexar encouraged her. Leafa smiled to Lexar.

"However, once we leave this city," Revere indicated, "we will have to assume any other player from this point on may be hostile. If they attack, we shoot to kill. Nothing, and I mean nothing stands between us and our objective."

"Acknowledged." Lexar noted.

"But... not everyone is a bounty hunter or hostile," Silica meekly objected.

"True..." Spade agreed. "But we need to be careful.."

"We have to assume that Hydra is on high alert now," Agil noted, "who knows what they can throw at us to keep us out."

"Once we get topside and to Alne, we'll set up a staging area and we'll fight our way up the World Tree together." Jackhammer concluded.

"We'll also set up a spawn point for additional reinforcements for a massive siege of the Tree," Revere added, "I would sooner trust our own Rangers than the current race guild leaders at the moment."

"Agreed." Mace said. "Should we get going? I don't want to hang out here before the bounty hunters finds us."

"Well, they find us," Lexar pumped his fists together, "we'll mow them down..."

"Right on Lexar." Leafa smiled. "Now, let's get going." Everyone made their way through the streets. After several minutes. They've reached one of the exits that lead out of Legrue.

"Alright, lock and load," Revere prompted, "we're oscar mike."

"Oscar mike?" Silica wondered.

"Dude, Japanese," Klein groaned.

"It means, on the move." Sleek explains to Silica.

"And when Rangers are on the move," Spade added, "they really get on the move."

"Hooah, young trooper," Revere replied, "Rangers lead the way."

Mace and Rex grinned to Spade. "He called you a trooper!" Mace laughed. Spade smiled sheepishly.

They continued through the dark corridor. The torches that hung on the wall lit the way. If not, by a little.

"Man, this takes us back whenever we clear dungeons in SAO." Philia said.

"You said it, Philia." Kirito agreed. Revere shook his head as his vision glitched somewhat. He then saw visions of himself, or rather his brother walking alongside others with white and red battle uniforms.

Kirito noticed Revere rubbing his eyes and forehead. "Is it the glitches again?" He asks.

"Ugh..." Revere slapped himself a bit on the side of his helmet. "Is deja vu in virtual reality supposed to be this... visceral?"

"I'm gonna have a chat with Anderson to see if he could fix it." He added.

Jackhammer looked to his captain with concern. He then asked the others, "do you SAO survivors get that kind of thing?"

"No, neither of us are experience what Revere's describing." Codex answered.

"Not me," Mace said.

"Me neither," Lisbeth shook her head.

"I've had some rough days then," Klein rubbed his head, "but not like that."

"Nope, don't have any of that." Spade shrugged.

"Me neither.." Silica replied.

"Same..." Sleek agreed.

"I'm aware of certain flashbacks..." Lexar observed. "But nothing like what you're stating."

Kirito lowered his gaze. "I get it a few times," he admitted, "some bad, and others good and happy..." At that moment, all gazes turned to the black swordsman.

"Kirito?" Leafa was surprised and a bit concerned.

"What do you mean?" Lexar added. It was then Kirito began to speak.

"During the first four months of SAO, I joined the Moonlight Black Cats on the lower floor. At that time, I've reached Level 40. However, to hide my solo status, I told them I was at Level 20. But I agreed to help them level up after I joined them."

Revere glanced towards Kirito, whose expression became downtrodden.

"However," He continued. "On June 12th, 2023, while Keita went to the Town of Beginnings to buy a small house to act as the Black Cats' headquarters. The others wanted to surprise him by getting items from labyrinths near the front lines. I tried to talk them out of them, but they insisted that they're strong enough to take on whatever threats that await them."

"As we teleported to the 27th Floor Labyrinth and after collecting items. They found a hidden door and Ducker picked the lock to hope it and found a chest sitting in the middle of the room. I tried to warn them that it was a trap..." Kirito paused for a moment... "If only I realized it sooner... They'd still be alive..."

Many of the others were stunned silent... Kirito had never told this to any of them. Even Klein and his posse were stunned. They remembered that Christmas in 2023 when Kirito was trying to take on Nicholas, the Renegade.

"I lost my whole group that day... along with my first love..."

"First love?" Lexar asked.

"Sachi..."

Lisbeth did a double-take. "Hold on! You're saying that Asuna wasn't your first love?!"

"Lisbeth!" Mace tried to stop her.

"Does she know about Sachi?" She continued.

Kirito nodded. "Ever since that day, I blamed myself for Sachi's death, as well as the death of the others.. Including Keita's..."

The death of Sachi, Kirito's first love, seemed to hit something with Revere.

"For six months, whenever I cleared dungeons, or when I sleep. Those memories flashed in my mind and I see their faces."

"After I told Asuna, she comforted me, and I've had less of that."

The whole group went silent after Kirito finished. It was Leafa, who spoke up. "Kirito... you don't have to face that alone."

"We're all here for you..." Lexar added.

"Yeah," Klein said encouragingly, "your solo beater days are over, and you have Asuna, remember?"

"And this is why you and your friends mounted your rescue mission for Asuna." Jackhammer surmised.

"She and Kirito are our stars and heroes," Silica stated.

"And we're gonna rescue her and the others." Sleek finished. Revere looked at the comradery among these civilian survivors... They're willing to stand beside Kirito all the way, to the ends of the earth if they must.

"We'll get your girl back," Revere showed his support, "and we'll make Hydra pay for all the things they've done." Kirito gazed back up. He glanced at Revere, then Lexar, Leafa, and all his friends.

"T-Thanks.." Kirito smiled.

A screech then was heard as a swarm of bat-like creatures swooped down towards them. Revere raised his rifle. "But first, let's get past these freaks!" He fired short controlled bursts, killing two of the monsters at once.

"Right." Lexar drew out his sword. Sleek, Silica, Haze, and Kureha drew their bows and arrows. Jackhammer stood in the center to help form a firing line.

"No telling how many of these bat-creatures are there." Jack observed. "But, we're ready to take them."

"Here they come!" Spade shouted. The whole swarm of bat-like creatures are flying towards them.

"Let's see what these bows and arrows can do!" Sleek yelled.

He drew the bowstring back with the arrow in place. As the bat-creatures are in range, he releases the bow. The arrow flew out towards the swarm, striking one of them in the head. Silica felt panicky inside at first, but when she aimed and released her arrow, she hit with her first shot. "I did it!"

"Awesome!" Sleek cheered for her before drawing another arrow and taking another shot. Another direct hit. As Jackhammer and the archers shot down several creatures with Revere, the others took their swords, axes, and hammers to the rest.

"Alright, let's thin these bats out!" Lisbeth drew out her Mace. Kirito, Leafa, and Lexar surrounded Revere. The bat creatures that managed to pass through the arrow defense. They charged towards the group. Kirito and Lexar charged up their sword skills. Together, they slashed their swords at the bat creatures, slaying them.

"Kirito!" Lexar grinned.

"Let's do it!" Kirito beamed back.

"Push through troops!" Revere ordered. Together, they charged towards the bat creatures, slaying them left and right.

---

World Tree, Hydra Base:

Asuna entered the briefing room with her dark cape fluttering behind her. She sees Naomi Hunter sitting in one of the chairs along with three other avatars.

The three arose to Asuna's presence. "Mistress Asuna!"

"As you were.." Asuna replied before taking a seat. She took in the appearance of the other two avatars who looked a bit apprehensive.

"May I ask who you three are?" Asuna asked.

"The names Fuji Yamane, and this is Yuki Tsutano." The young Hydra officer spoke.

"And I," the third Hydra officer introduced himself... "... I am Officer George Connelly."

Asuna was a bit surprised. "American?"

"Been living in Japan since 2020." Connelly replied.

"He's ex-military," Naomi indicated. "And former Pacifican soldier.."

"You... you survived the civil war in America?" Asuna was curious.

"Yes... Yes I did.." the ex-pacifican soldier said. "And I'm afraid I'm one of those still on the US military's wanted list for arrest and court-martial."

For Asuna, it's no surprise that after the Second Civil War, many soldiers of Pacifica either fled the nation, went into hiding to form the remnants or were killed. Those who did not surrender or defect during the civil war had either been imprisoned or executed, with the restructured American military tribunals holding historical records for the speed and number of convictions handed down. It was no doubt that this George Connelly fled the country to escape punishment.

"May I ask for what charges?"

"You know. Siding with the Accords, taking part of the occupation of the west coast as well as collaborating with the Mexican cartels in Texas. You know." Connelly said.

"Is that true?" Asuna wondered.

George shrugged. "It was actually more of being in the wrong place, wrong time, and with the wrong commanders..."

"I see..." Asuna surmised.

"Not that it matters though," George sighed, "I'll be arrested if I ever went back to California."

"So, you've been in hiding ever since. Correct?"

"Well, tried to make a life in security... and now I'm here, serving the same masters again." Asuna could tell how his voice trailed off. He was obviously shanghaied into Hydra's service.

"And you two?" She asked Fuji and Yuki.

The older looking officer smiled. "Served in the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, retired a few years ago." He turned to the younger officer. "He's new..."

"Served for a bit, until he was laid off," Yuki said.

"Now that introduction's over..." Asuna began. "Anything to report?"

Naomi tapped onto her holoscreen. A video footage shows two groups of players clashing against each other.

"This was taken inside the Legrue Corridor." Naomi explains. The five watched the footage. Suddenly, lights shone around the two tall Sylph players. A loud crack sounded, and Asuna looked at the player she saw kneeling next to Kirito. The two Sylph players are now wearing fatigues, camo, and tactical armor. Holding modern assault rifles in their hands. The players didn't even look like Sylphs anymore as they opened up on the stunned Sylphs and Salamanders.

Asuna observed the flag patches on their shoulders." They're... Americans?"

"It seems that way.." Naomi said. As the two began blasting away, Asuna noticed that the soldier next to Kirito cut him loose from the net. She then caught a glimpse of his face under his helmet.

'Revere?' Asuna was shocked. She and Kirito watched him die back in SAO. But Revere seemed different... She recollected her time with him in the Blood Oath guild. Revere however, seemed different here. For one, he showed no hesitation in shooting the bounty hunters, and there was an intensity to him. She also remembered Revere mentioned his family while on missions and quests with Kirito. One of them was an older twin in the Army.

It was then something clicked in Asuna's mind. 'Could this be his twin?'

Naomi's eyes were also glued to the screen, while Fuji and Yuki were also in similar looks of confusion. George on the other hand, seemed a bit apprehensive at the sight of his apparent countrymen. The video feed shows the remaining Salamander and Sylph players retreating at the sight of new players with modern weapons and after taking heavy losses.

She then saw another player, this was a Spriggan whose hands were on fire. She watches as this player single-handedly took down player after player. She reads the avatar name of this player..

'Lexar...' Asuna was surprised that Lexar's using this newfound ability. The player feed suddenly cut out as the soldier who looked like Revere shot the player recording the fight.

"Wow... That's interesting.." Naomi commented.

"So... what happened to the whole bounty hunter party?" Yuki wondered.

"From what I've heard." Fuji surmised. "The rest have fled out of the corridor."

"However.." He adds. "Word started to spread about these players with modern weapons..."

"And the Supreme Commander has put this out to Moderation." Fuji taps onto his holoscreen, and the image enlarges. Showing the new update for Alfheim Online. The Industrial Revolution update. It detailed new weapons, gear, and even changes to the stats of all the races in Alfheim Online. Asuna reads that the update will begin soon. But, it'll be announced to everyone.

"Nobuyuki is getting desperate..." Asuna realized aloud.

"Yes, he is..." Connelly stated. Asuna then sighed and turned to the three men in the room with her. She glanced at Naomi, who gave a knowing nod.

"I assume that the three of you are against Hydra and their plans for world domination." She deduced. The three seemed a bit nervous at being outed like that.

It was then Asuna smiled. "Not to worry, I too am against Nobuyuki's plans."

"That black Spriggan with the big sword out there is my real boyfriend," Asuna added.

"Really?" Yuki asked. "You two met in SAO?"

"And married," Asuna giggled.

"Oooohhh... You two did horizon tango with each other?" Yuki teased.

"Wait, what?" Asuna was confused.

"You and Kirito... Back in SAO.." The older officer grinned a cheeky grin.

"Birds and bees..." George snickered.

"How does the British describe it?" Fuji smirked. "Oh yeah, wink wink, nudge nudge..."

"Eep!" Asuna lost composure as she blushed a deep red and cupped her mouth in her hands. Naomi giggles as she witnessed her mistress and friend blushing madly. Asuna sputtered as she fought to regain control.

"It's okay, mistress." Naomi reassures her. "These three are just teasing.."

"She's right.." Yuki agrees. "I don't blame you for having sweet, and steamy moments with your true love.."

Asuna was silent for a bit, before laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

"Yeah... you're right..." She finished.

"If we're honest," Yuki said, "even before some of us realized what we got ourselves into, many of us had a bad feeling about your parents getting you engaged to Nobuyuki."

Asuna did a double-take.. "R-Really?"

"There was just something... just totally off about him," Yuki said.

George grimaced, "by the time we realized who we were working with though, it was already too late... Hydra had us on leashes."

"And, if we break our allegiances, Hydra would have us flat on our butts before we know it." Fuji finishes.

"More like six feet under and our untimely departures ruled as 'suicides'," George put it bluntly.

Silence filled the room before Naomi spoke up. "So... Since those two players are American soldiers. You think they have an army behind them?"

"They'd have to," George inputted, "this would be an incredibly daring thing for them to do, given the American government's official non-interventionist stance."

"But don't forget that Hydra itself has an entire army of sleepers hidden across Japan," Fuji warned, "and many of them heavily indoctrinated, armed, and willing to intimidate and kill to get their way."

"You know," Yuki said, "I wonder how exactly Hydra and Nobuyuki keep such secrets in a country of millions."

Fuji then grimaced. "You all heard what happened to that cyber security chief, Hideki?" He got a lot of headshakes.

"Let's put it this way," Fuji began, "Nobuyuki and Hydra got wind of the whole shootout that we just saw unfold from the footage, and an agent known as Crimson..."

"And Nobuyuki's promoting the Industrial Revolution update to keep the shootout a secret.."

"Right," Fuji said to Yuki before continuing, "and this is me overhearing it from those goons who used to be part of STRIKE. Nobuyuki gets furious about the intruders being American military and penetrating this far into the game with the SAO survivors. He has his goons drag Hideki into his observation room, fires him on the spot, and shoots him in the head at point blank range."

Asuna felt a cold chill through her spine. Nobuyuki executing Hideki for his failures.

"No," Yuki was in disbelief at what his senior told.

"No... not Hideki!" Naomi was crying, "he was rather cowardly and arrogant, but he was a friend!"

"He is a very bad man..." George growled.

Asuna knew Nobuyuki was bad and power hungry, but the thought of being engaged to a man who could kill another man in cold blood like that made her even more sick. However, despite the growing pit in her stomach, she had to say something to keep the others from losing hope.

"Kirito, my real love and husband, and Revere are coming to help free us with the rest of their friends," Asuna reminded, "and it would be incumbent on our part to find out whoever else in RECT is not Hydra and expose them to the world for their plans... and the murders they have committed under my father's roof!"

"So, we mustn't lose hope, no matter how bad things are." She adds.

Naomi sniffled for a bit, before her eyes were alit with righteous anger over one of her friends being murdered.

"Asuna's right.." Naomi wiped the tears away. "We mustn't lose hope. Together, we can bring all of this to the light. And we'll make that animal pay for killing Hideki!"

Asuna smiles at the determination that was displayed.

"I've been on the run the past five years from the people who ruined my life..." George slammed his fist, "I'm tired of Pacifica and Hydra ruining my life, and I want to bring them all down if I have to die with them!"

"Ever since the Second Civil War, I had to live with the shame of what I've done in the name of Pacifica." He continued. "All the atrocities I've committed towards the innocent. All because they told me it's for the Sokovia Accords." The last statement left bitterness in his voice. "The Sokovia Accords was the real reason the civil war happened... If only I've realized the warnings sooner.."

"You do realize that you could still pay with your life," Fuji noted, "and if the US Army is indeed getting involved, they could still court-martial and execute you, if Hydra does not murder you first."

"I'm aware of that, Fuji.." Connelly lamented. "But even I'd help expose Hydra, and that's my reward... So be it.. At least I'll atone for the sins I've committed during the war..."

"I swore an oath of honor when I was in the US Army before it all went downhill for me, and it's time I honored that oath even if my own country brings me to justice."

Silence filled the room once more after Connelly finishes his speech. It was then that an alert was heard on everyone's bracelets. They tapped their bracelets and the holoscreen shows up before them. Asuna's eyes widened as she saw the faces of Revere and his companion... it then occurred to her that she was reading personal US Army profiles! Revere was United States Army Captain Christopher Samuel Burke from Corpus Christi, Texas, graduate of the Texas Military Leadership Academy in 2016, a veteran of the Second American Civil War under the US Army loyal to the victorious Free States coalition and a commanding officer of the 75th Ranger Regiment's 3rd Battalion, 7th Platoon.

Jackhammer was United States Army Lieutenant Jack Thomas Preston from New York City, New York; graduate of the US Marine Corp Force Recon in 2011, a veteran of the Second American Civil War under the Anderson Tech Private Military branch, the Free States Rangers, second-in-command of the 75th Ranger Regiment's 3rd Battalion, 7th Platoon.

"These... are the two mystery players?" Naomi was shocked.

"I've heard of these two..." Connelly observed. "Especially Preston... He was a freedom fighter in the Northeast when an oligarchical separatist group took control of that region. Went by the codename Minuteman..."

"And Burke?" Asuna asked.

"Loyal military officer who fought against Pacifica and their Mexican allies behind enemy lines, particularly in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico," George added, "and took on the codename Liberty when his unit was reinforced by Free State forces from the east."

"Interesting..." Asuna pondered in amazement of these two soldiers.

"They say that he has a personal friendship with Steve Rogers... Captain America himself."

"For real!?" Yuki's jaw dropped.

"Yep.." Connelly smirked. Asuna couldn't help but feel a swell of happiness, that her beloved Kirito was getting the help of some of the top soldiers in the American military.

However...

"Wait..." Naomi pointed out, "if that's who those players are... who leaked their personal information here?"

"That's an excellent question..." Fuji pondered. It was then his eyes widen. "... You don't think there could be a mole within the American government?"

Asuna then remembered something Sugou said... "I think there is a mole..."

Everyone turned to Asuna.

"Sugou says something about having people inside the government... Probably when the US government was rebuilding itself after the war.."

"But... they said that they purged the government during and after the 2nd Civil War," Naomi said, "and as far as many of us here in Japan were concerned, we hardly had any connections in America in high positions of government anymore."

"I thought that too.." Asuna replied. "However, from what Nobuyuki told me. They've been getting support while Hydra rebuilt itself. He even boasted about how Hydra's allies have gotten their hands on something called the Fabricator. An advanced 3D printer made by Anderson Tech Industries.."

"He called the mole his American connection."

"Do the document files indicate which source they came from?" George asked Naomi.

Naomi checked for a source stamp. Her breath hitched as it was decrypted. "The White House..."

"Either someone employed through the White House or..." Fuji hesitated... "The President? But Bruce Wilson is one of the heroes during the Second Civil War. He became president of the Free States after the old US government was purged."

Asuna's hands trembled... even her and Kirito's American allies were in danger from someone in their own White House betraying them. "Is there anything else about Nobuyuki's American connection?" She asks, managing to compose herself.

"No." Naomi shook.

"If only we knew who's the mole..."

"Nobuyuki has a way of keeping some of his more sensitive connections close to his chest," Fuji groaned.

"Perhaps he keeps it at his residence?" Yuki suggested. "I mean, if I were the leader of the new Hydra. I'd have it somewhere that is safe and secure.. And what better than his own home?"

"You could be onto something..." Connelly observed.

"However, I'm pretty sure that his home is closely guarded.." Fuji pointed out. "And who is to say that he would keep such secrets in some place as obvious as his house?"

"Perhaps his office at RECT?" Yuki then suggested.

"Even more obvious," Fuji shot that one down. Yuki sighs.

"Well, I don't know what else to think..." He said in defeat.

"No," Naomi objected, "what if it really is that simple? In his office, and disguised as business calls?"

"Well... It's a longshot.." Asuna said. "But that could be our only clue..." She turned to Naomi. "Think you can record any calls through RECT from here?"

"I could, but it might be tough as the Supreme Commander's encryption codes are the most complicated and well-layered of Hydra's security," the girl explained, "I'll see what I can do, but if I'm not careful, the system can self-destruct the records."

"Okay then. See what you can do.." Asuna ordered. "And report it to me if, by any chance, the call between the Supreme Commander and his American connection is made."

"I'll do my best," Naomi resolved.

"What do the three of us do?" George asked for himself, Fuji, and Yuki.

"You three can see if we can make contact with Kirito and his guild.." Asuna suggested. "Until then, we'll watch out for each other.."

"Any other questions?" She adds.

"What about... your father and mother?" George suddenly posed the question.

"My father's held captive at RECT." Asuna gazed down... "As for my mother... She did hand-pick Nobuyuki for the arranged marriage... But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Well..." George sighed, "since I'm part of security, I thought you should know... Nobuyuki ordered that your mother be brought to a secure location. He had an armed ex-STRIKE team over at Tokyo University... and captured both her and the maid."

Asuna did a double-take. "For what?"

"He was afraid that she would get suspicious after your father's disappearance, and as a bonus, he wants to force her to surrender important financial control of your family's assets to you and Hydra..."

Asuna paused for a moment, processing what she had heard. "He's got both Mom and Dad..." She'll have to save both of them now. And, hopefully, her mother will see that selecting Nobuyuki was a mistake.

"I'm sorry, Asuna," Naomi said in a sad voice, wondering how Asuna could endure so much.

After a long pause, Asuna looked back up. "I'll manage for now... Right now, we got work to do."