Chapter Ten: First Light

As the three dragons departed, Renly turned his attention back to the battlefield.

The bulk of the Dark Army had finally joined in. This time, it was the Death Army's turn to be outflanked. The sudden flood of Pugilists was just in time to prevent the collapse of their long-hated nemesis.

Ha, talk about ironic!

Iskahn thought to himself as he oversaw the attack.

The new participants gave the Human Empire Army time to regroup and Asuna used that chance to heal her severed limb as she witnessed the renewed battle.

"Amazing."

Apparently, the Pugilists' reputation was not at all erroneous. Despite still being outnumbered, the sturdy warriors began to push back, at least temporarily.

"Being impressed isn't going to cut it." Iskahn remarked, drawing the attention of Sheyta and Asuna. "If we do make it south, what are we going to do then? Defeating that many enemies is going to be difficult, even for us."

"When you break through the enemy lines and make it south," Asuna replied while her hand was being restored by a Sacred Art. "keep going and distance yourselves from the enemy. I'll create another fissure and isolate the enemy."

"Report! Report!"

A Human Empire Army messenger broke their conversation.

"Integrity Knight, Lady Alice has been carried away by the enemy commander on his dragon! It was spotted flying to the south."

"What?"

"The Emperor…flew away?" Iskahn repeated. "So he wasn't just spectating earlier?

"Oi, woman!" he turned towards the two and asked. "That Alice is the Priestess of Light, isn't she? Why does the Emperor want her so badly? What's going to happen if the Emperor captures the Priestess of Light?"

Asuna remained silent for a while, contemplating how she was going to explain it.

"This world will be destroyed…" she confessed at last. Not attending to Iskahn's shock, she continued. "When the Dark God Vecta seizes Alice, the Priestess of Light, and reaches the World's End Altar, this world – both the Human Empire and the Dark Territory – will be returned to nothingness."

Before Asuna could add anything else, Sheyta spoke up:

"Dragons can't fly forever. The most they can fly without a break is half a day."

"Ha!" Iskahn bumped his fists together reinvigorated, "Then it looks like you'll have to chase him down with some good ol' fighting spirit, eh?"

"Chase him down…? But you…" Asuna asked disbelievingly. "Aren't you part of his army as well? Why would you say that?"

"Emperor Vecta told us, the Council of Ten, in no uncertain terms that all he wanted was the Priestess of Light." Iskahn answered coolly. "The moment he flew away with the Priestess, his goal was achieved. In other words, whatever we do now, even if it's helping the Human Empire to steal her back from the Emperor…is our own choice!"

"I…we can't defy the Emperor directly." He clenched his hand into a fist. "If he gives us another order to fight you, we'll have to obey. So we, the Pugilists Guild will stop those undead soldiers here. I want you and the Human Empire Army to go after the Emperor. And then tell the Emperor…tell the bastard…Let that bastard know we are not his goddamn puppets!"

Asuna nodded, accepting his plan. Before they could discuss any further, a rare triumph came. The shock troops of the Pugilists had finally broken through the Death Army's line and a corridor was open to pursue the Dark Emperor.

Seeing that, Iskahn roared, "Everyone! Hold that damn breach!"

"And you two get out of here." He turned towards the women. "We can only hold out for so long."

"Thank you" Asuna acknowledged.

"I shall remain here." Sheyta declared.

Asuna looked shocked for a moment, but opted not to argue. "Understood. Please take care of the rearguard then."

With that out of the way, Asuna climbed back on her horse, and with the rest of the Human Empire Army – infantry, cavalry and even the carriages. She blitzed through the strip opened up by their erstwhile enemy and went south.

"Are you sure about this, girl?" Iskahn asked the remaining Integrity Knight as they prepared for a new assault.

"I already told you my name."

"Are you sure about this, Sheyta?" The man then shrugged with a grin. "There's no guarantee you'll live through this."

"I'll be the one who cut you." Sheyta shrugged as well. "They can't have you."

"Ha! Whatever you say."

After the two then shared a reciprocated smile, Iskahn roared once more:

"All right! Come on, you jerks, show me some fire!"

A tsunami of war cries echoed and he continued. "Circular formation! All-round defense! Any morons that come near us; give them hell!"

After passing through the gap provided by Iskahn's forces, Asuna and the imperial army was joined by Renly, who scouted ahead as he rode on his dragon.

Looking up from her position, Asuna could see one single crimson spot and three azure ones giving chase in the skies.

That's Commander Bercouli…as long as we stay on his tail; we can catch up!

Some minutes later, the army came upon a small valley. If they go through it, they might be ambushed by enemies. But if they do not and try to bypass the terrain, they would definitely lose time they did not have.

Grinding her teeth, Asuna made the decision to continue forth.

With a leap, her well-trained horse reached the inside of the rocky, claustrophobic valley and the rest of the army followed. Within minutes, the entire force had entered. Asuna pushed them as hard as she could. Not only did they need to catch up soon, but if they do not leave this indented landscape quickly, they could be in real danger.

The ground shook again. But it most definitely was not Asuna's terraforming art.

This means…

As disfigured shapes started breaking out of the earth, Asuna cursed mentally, knowing her greatest fear had just been realized. With a sudden pull of the reins, she stopped right before charging into the enemies.

What now?

More legions of undead had risen, doubtless the deeds of someone from the Real World targeting them as they marched. The growling of those monsters began to surround her forces. Facing a foe at least ten times the size of her own, perhaps not even a goddess can salvage the situation. Not to mention the ground was still shaking, meaning more of those undead soldiers were still being summoned. Even if she were to unleash another Sacred Art, it might not be enough to stop all of them. And if that happens, the rest of the imperial army will be slaughtered without fail.

What now…?

Renly circled around the scene on the dragon's back, no doubt simulating all sorts of possible outcomes in his mind.

After breathing in deeply, the young man looked towards one of the carriages. "I'll leave the rest in your hands."

With a soft patting, he signaled his dragon to go forth.

Its great roar then drew the corpses' attention to itself and dived sharply towards the enemy.

"Oh no." Liena exclaimed as she witnessed. "Sir Renly is sacrificing himself to break through."

However, before Renly's attack could be initiated, a blinding light appeared suddenly near him.

The glow was soft, but surely powerful. As it expanded, the spot grew into a gigantic cross, at which point all that was present paused and stared at it with wide eyes. The might of that living star drew long shadows everywhere and gradually, a silhouette emerged from the vast incandescence. Before any could react, a clean metallic clamor was heard and from that shadowy figure a single blistering arrow burst out. The projectile soon reached above the center of the valley, and then it exploded. Flames brushed the skies and countless crimson fragments rained down on the undead soldiers, creating blast after blast, setting the entire field alight and fashioning noises so powerful even Asuna had to cover her ears. It was not even like the hellfire the Integrity Knights produced; given where they were coming from, those were literally the fire of the sun – of the Goddess Solus herself.

In mere seconds, shock waves engulfed the field and the trap that the imperial army was caught in had been eradicated.

"How…?"

Asuna watched with amazement, and steadily, that silhouette descended and landed just in front of her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Asuna!"

Covering her mouth in a surprise, Asuna finally saw clearly the savior that was Sinon.

"Shino-non!"

Across the wasteland, only a lone figure could be seen digging near the erstwhile Eastern Gate.

"Len…" Lilpilin, the leader of the Orcs muttered as he dug up an earring left over from the Dark Mages' Art, the only remains of his late wife. Now, neither his shock troops nor the Dark Mages were left.

"What were we fighting for? Why did you have to die for them?" Lilpilin cried out in despair as his hands tremble in grief and anger. He had dedicated almost his entire life to raising an army that could rival that of the humans, he had killed to achieve that goal, cheered on as everyone else did when he heard of the Dark Emperor's return, let himself indulge in an imagined victory when the decree came that they were to be given free rein to do whatever they wanted so long as they brought their monarch the Priestess of Light. It did not matter a bit to him. Sacrificing someone else for their benefit was not a foreign concept. In fact, he welcomed it. "The strong should feed on the weak" It was the principle that ruled the Land of Darkness, so too did Lilpilin consider it like divine revelation. That was, until the true revelation dawned on him.

"Orc Chief Lilpilin, you have been given the order to offer three thousand sacrifices to fuel the Dark Mages' attack."

The strong should feed on the weak – therefore the Dark Emperor could order his men's deaths on a whim, and the Dark Mages could use the Orcs as fuel for whatever they wanted. The strong should feed on the weak – therefore him and his family were fed on by the stronger tribes.

And there was not a damned thing he could do about it.

How foolish he had been, to worship power so blindly, to worship the concept of power, without ever really having understood what power was. There was nothing he could do then, and there certainly was nothing he could do now. Frustration growing, resentment towards himself, if no one else, he cried out once more.

Suddenly, he heard his cry being echoed, and just before he could realize what was happening, something crashed behind him heavily and sent him flying away.

"What the…" Lilpilin spat out in surprised as he turned back.

"Ouch!" A feminine and obviously irritated voice called out. "That's why I can't stand brand-new tech!"

Whoever that was, was clad mostly in a shade of green none in the Dark Territory had ever seen or perhaps even imagined, more peculiarly, she had an unbelievably long lock of blonde hair.

To top it off, it was a human.

Within a few seconds, that woman noticed him and the two stared at each other uneasily. Lilpilin's face went from surprised, to doubt, to a mixture of those two combined with fear.

He rose, drew his sword quickly and attempted, as well as he could, to cover his face. "Don't look! Don't look at me!"

That blonde woman jumped up agilely, dusting her verdurous dress as she looked around, before greeting him with an inexplicable zeal. "Um, good afternoon."

"Or should it be good morning?"

"Why aren't you running away? Why aren't you screaming?" Lilpilin lowered his sword just a bit in part due to surprise, and in part due to his need to see whoever that was clearly. But he had no intention whatsoever in uncovering his face. "You're human, so why not?"

"Why?" She titled her head curiously. "Because you're a human, right?"

"Human? Me? How ridiculous!" Lilpilin moved his hand away. "Can't you tell by looking? I'm an Orc! An Orc you Iums revile as pig-people!"

"But you're still a human, right?" She asked, genuinely confused. Taking a moment to ponder, she then declared as if proud of her insight. "After all, you and I are standing here talking. What else would you need?"

Taking a step forward, all she achieved was intimidating Lilpilin into taking two backwards, who had yet to drop his sword an inch.

"What…else?"

"In any case, can you tell me where we are now?" As no answer was returned, that woman tried another strategy. "Um, what's your name?"

Perhaps sensing her lack of ill-intention, the Orc chief finally lowered his weapon. "I'm Lilpilin." Nothing more followed.

"Lilpilin? That's a good name! I am Leafa, nice to meet you!"

Leafa extended her hand for a shake, but Lilpilin only stared at her even more surprised than before, his eyes going back and forth between her hand and eager expressions. So long was he dumbfounded did it finally become awkward and that Leafa retreated her offer.

Anger then occupied Lilpilin's face as he once more raised his weapon. "You're a knight of the Human Empire, aren't you? I'm taking you as prisoner. I'm taking you to the Emperor!"

"By 'Emperor' you meant Vecta, the God of Darkness, correct?" Leafa inquired after a moment.

"Th-that's right!" He stammered with more fright than his supposed prisoner.

"All right!" Leafa again offered her hands, now as if more than ready to be tied. "Then take me to him!"

Lilpilin's eyes widened even more than before, if that was even possible. But at length, guessing perhaps he did have something to gain by presenting a knight to his Emperor, he went against his better judgement and sheathed his sword. After all, even though the Orcs had achieved nothing in this war, they were by all accounts already disgraced, it was not a bad idea to try to regain the Dark Emperor's favor somehow.

This has to be a trap somehow…

But Leafa did not retreat her offer, so he hesitantly pulled out a set of rope and started to bind her.

What the hell is wrong with this girl? Because I can talk I'm human? The Goblins, Ogres, Giants can all speak too. And just because we look different, the humans treat us with scorn. And yet, this girl…

Leafa did not look even slightly fazed as Lilpilin finished up the knot.

While he was in a sense glad to have captured a seemingly high valued target, the ease of which made Lilpilin extremely uneasy. "Come on." Was all he said as he started to return to his camp, not even daring to take a peek of her.

At that exact moment, dark clouds permeated from the ground. Even if Lilpilin had next to no knowledge in the Dark Arts he knew it was something that should not be. The clouds were not just pitch-black, somehow, sparks of purple flickered here or there in the screen. Worse still, no matter how he tried to fan them away, the clouds persisted. At some point, the darkness had surrounded them, nearing them inch by inch until Lilpilin finally realized – it was alive.

"What's this?"

The rope he was leading moved, and so quickly and forcefully Lilpilin suspected for a moment maybe that girl he had taken captive finally decided to fight back.

But no.

The force went upwards, and the force applied was so great it pulled free from Lilpilin. Turning around, he saw an almost amorphous hand, having materializing from the smoke, snatching Leafa away.

The girl screamed, but that monstrosity of a limb refused to let go. Instead, it kept taking the girl higher and higher off the ground. It was at first just a hand. A hand connected to a lump of dark, squalid clouds, changing its form between liquid and gas. Until finally, a silhouette emerged, hair, another hand, a rough figure of a female body then a face – the twisted, grinning, torn and blood-pouring face of the purported dead Dark Chancellor.

And of course her fucking laughter.

So grotesque a body that put even the Death Army to shame now stood before Lilpilin, and the sick, yet signature unhinged laughter echoing from it made it unmistakable.

"Y-you're Dee Eye Ell!"

"The smell…oh the smell!" Her voice still distorted, but the clouds had gathered to materialize for her a body. The mere act of grabbing Leafa had already the effect of transferring a seemingly unlimited pool of Sacred Power into her, a power which Dee Eye Ell greedily used to restore herself. "So sweet, the fragrance of life!"

Gaseous colors shinning and then transforming into flesh, the blood that spilled from the many wounds Dee Eye Ell had suffered all the way back when Knight Alice had crushed her forces now closed one by one. "What a splendid prey you've captured." She grinned but spoke with contempt. "Well done, pig."

"As a reward, I'll give you the most spectacular show you will ever see. I shall devour this woman's life completely in front of you."

Dee Eye Ell once more disfigured herself as dozens of razor-like tentacles poked through her back and punctured Leafa's skin. Literally sucking the life out of her, lights began coursing through Dee Eye Ell's tentacles into her repulsive mass of a body. With Leafa's vast Life fueling her, Dee Eye Ell's body slowly healed, its erstwhile human shape returning.

"Incredible! Simply incredible!" Dee Eye Ell screamed in ecstasy as her victim struggled in pain.

"What are you doing?!" Lilpilin could not stand watching. Even while Dee Eye Ell continued to absorb life from Leafa, he protested. "That girl is my prisoner! I am taking her to the Emperor!"

"Silence you damned pig!" Dee Eye Ell looked down at the Orc with scorn, having regenerated already half of her body. "Have your dimwitted brain forgotten that the Emperor gave me full command? My will is the Emperor's will!"

"My orders are the Emperor's orders."

The wounds on Leafa's body now took effect. Blood dripped on the ground, and yet, the moment they did, they shone. Her blood had no nauseating odor, instead, it was life itself, the blood disappeared, and in its place, living plants grew.

"I don't believe it!" Dee Eye Ell screeched in pleasure as the myriad light produced by Leafa's blood occupied her vision. "It's surging. It's overflowing again!"

Having recreated her body, Dee Eye Ell now turned all her slender fingers into tentacles, completely addicted to Leafa's Life.

Even more wounds were inflicted on the girl. She squirmed and screamed in pain, but still, she did not resist. She knew if she really wanted, she could easily free herself, but she did not.

I have to endure. I can't kill anyone in this world without knowing for sure what's going on.

Lilpilin lowered his head, seemingly having submitted to Dee Eye Ell's will. His whole body shook. He contemplated Leafa's words – "But you're still a human right? After all, you and I are standing here talking. What else would you need?" – no one had ever said them to him, nor any Orcs, certainly not the Dark Mages, who were the summit of human pride. He then looked up, the woman who, without caring a bit or asking for anything, willing accepted him as a human, accepted him as something more than a barbaric creature.

And then there was Dee Eye Ell. The one who murdered all his men, the one who now was inflicting pain unimaginable on Leafa, the one who called him "pig"

"Stop." Lilpilin whispered. Having no effect, he then yelled. "Stop!"

Dee Eye Ell looked away from her prey and directed her attention to Lilpilin with mock sincerity. "What's that? Are you giving me an order?"

Her face twisted with disgust and ire. She stepped forward with the same kind of perverse power and authority she had when she ordered his men's death that Lilpilin dropped to the ground in fear. "Didn't I tell you, pig?! This prisoner is mine now. No matter how much Life I suck out of her – even if I choke the life out of her right now – it has nothing to do with you!"

"Well, it was you who found her, so I suppose some concession is in order." The unpredictable emotion of that mage switched from unchecked anger to amusement in just a second. "You – a pig looking almost human. If you strip naked on the spot, crawl around on all fours, and squeal, then I might let you have this girl back."

Clearly the memories of herself begging and crawling on the ground before Vecta had left her determined to do the same to others. In any case, the fact that it was a pig now standing before her made her all the more intent on making herself appear superior.

Lilpilin looked forward again. He saw the sadistic grin, that anticipating gaze on Dee Eye Ell. Then he turned to look at Leafa, and saw how she, who had meant to deliver him from suffering the animal status, suffered as the chancellor continued to use her as fodder. Lilpilin's vision turned red. A pain he had never encountered struck him. But even though his body trembled, and he gritted his teeth in humiliation, he started to do as ordered. His knees buckled and he tore the ornaments that marked him as chief from his body.

"Don't."

Surprised, Lilpilin's looked up again.

Still suffering at Dee Eye Ell's hands, Leafa sounded oddly calm. "No human deserves to be treated like this. Please don't do as she said."

"Silence girl!" Dee Eye Ell screamed and she intensified her absorption.

Leafa herself screamed in pain, but all Lilpilin could hear was "You are a human."

Blood trekked down his face as his hand now moved towards his sword.

"I'm…" His sword unsheathed, he lunged forward as the pain now exploded – literally, his right eye turned into a lump of flesh and blood, but he managed to swing his sword straight at Dee Eye Ell. "I'm a human!"

The mage had only to step backwards slightly and evaded his attack. Lilpilin, on the other hand, fell on the ground soundly. The pain, the lack of vision and the obvious disparity in skill sent him lying on the grassy plain.

It was so surprising an event that Dee Eye Ell actually failed to give a response for a few seconds, staring unbelievingly at the straining Lilpilin. But when she finally came to it, her face distorted in absolute anger.

"You stinking pig!" Dee Eye Ell detached herself from Leafa as she threw the injured girl some couple of Mels away. All ten of her fingers shortened, now gaining the forms of cutlasses, she then marched towards Lilpilin. "You dare wound me?!"

Her heels trampled heavily on his head, having every intention to crush his skull and flatten any opposition to her authority. A pig resisting a human? Resisting the authority her power over him should grant her? It was simply disgusting, even for his kind. Worse still, she herself never resisted when ordered, how dared he to resist her now? Did he think himself superior to her? To the rule all bent down to?

"I'm going to chop you up, mix you with hay," She continued with crazed anger, stomping on his head and paying no attention to his pained moans. "I am going to feed you to the boars!" She raised her hands, ready to end it all for the Orc Chief. But bright light shone from behind her and at once an explosion took her hands away.

Her pointed fingers impaled the ground and warm blood she had worked so hard to regain again rushed out of her amputated body. Dee Eye Ell shivered in fear as she turned around, the light spawned from Leafa's blood only grew stronger, and now she stood strong and proud, not at all like how she suffered just moments ago. With her sword raised above her head, there was no question who had deprived Dee Eye Ell of her hands.

"I've seen enough."

"A human slashing another human to save a pig?" Dee Eye Ell demanded incredulously.

"No." Leafa stated firmly, turning her blade again. The emerald light overflew as the verdurous layer underneath her bloomed. "I'm slashing evil to save a human."

The steel in her hands swung, and despite the distance a blade of light was hurled and the moment it made contact, the Chancellor of the Dark Mages was split instantly into halves before exploding into tiny pieces of flesh. Blood rained down, and Lilpilin could barely comprehend what had happened.

Leafa sheathed her sword. Reaching Lilpilin, she gave him a smile and offered again her hands, only this time to help him stand straight. "Come, Lilpilin, let's go see this emperor of yours."

Yet, Lilpilin remained on the ground and stared at her.

I see. The blonde hair, the green on her, and that endless life…She is the goddess of the Human Empire.

Even if contacts between the two lands had been scarce, a chief knew at least the basic of what his enemies believed. He had always despised the Human Empire for worshipping deities that preached love instead of rapacity, but…

"I…I renounce my fealty to the Dark God."

"Eh?"

"I had thought…that all power amounted to, was the strength to take whatever you wanted. You showed me more, you showed me it meant also to give, to protect no matter the cost to yourself." Lilpilin then knelt and placed his sword in front of himself. "From now on, I and my legions will serve you."

Leafa did not speak. After a while, her hands landed on Lilpilin's shoulders and helped him rise. "Come then, show me how we will protect your people and mine."

Having emerged from the small ravine, Asuna ordered the army a brief respite – allowing the soldiers to rest and her the opportunity to understand the new development where Sinon had arrived in. Sinon, understandably, obliged; she gave Asuna an amazed expression recalling how Yui managed to contact both her and Leafa in the Real World, then the operation to lock Alice's Fluctlight with Kirito's STL and their getting here, though she confessed also that she had no idea where Leafa was at the moment. Asuna first paid attention intently, but the moment Sinon mentioned Yui, she nodded with pride and excitement as she listened to her daughter's brilliant exploits.

Oh Kirito, you are so going to listen to me for hours talking about this…

Eventually, the topic shifted to their current circumstances. The first thing Sinon inquired was, of course, about Kirito. As if having a needle in her heart, Asuna explained briefly, but with the necessary details about how Kirito traveled to Underworld, and more importantly, how he was injured. The particulars of the story, and the retold tale from Alice were no small shock for Sinon. Her heart wrenching, she could only pray that whatever damage inflicted on Kirito's soul could subside.

If I could take it for you, Kirito, I would. Just like how you did so for me back then...

Sinon did want to indulge in the conversation, and there were definitely more she wanted to know, but she knew also there were more pressing business. And if Kirito was there, he would definitely take action instead of wasting time.

"Asuna, about five kilometers south of here, you'll see what look like abandoned ruins." Sinon explained as she pointed south. "If we occupy them, we should be able to counterattack the enemy without being surrounded."

"All right, Sinon." Asuna acknowledged as a serious expression took over. "No matter now huge the undead army they could muster, I doubt such a summoning is something they can do freely. If we can beat what's left of their army right now, we should be safe from their attacks for a while."

"All right, leave it to me." Sinon gave her friend a quick smirk before shyly looking away just a bit and asked with a much more feminine voice. "So by the way… is Kirito in this unit?"

"There's no need for you to ask like you're a stranger." Asuna responded with a smile, then carefully brushing the carriage next to her. "Kirito's in here."

"He is?" Sinon asked with a tone way more excited than she had intended. "Then I guess I'll go say hi."

Kirito… Finally…it has been way too long, Kirito.

The only Swordsman in GGO who had not only survived but excelled – that was the image of Kirito that had occupied her mind. No, not just that. Kirito had saved her many times. He was the one that brought her back from hell when Death Gun nearly took her young life, he was there when she shook like a frightened animal caught in a trap, encouraged her and shared her pains. Even though Kirito had always been a little mysterious, a little distant, he was still the hero, the hope in Sinon's mind.

Kirito…

Sinon cleared her throat as Asuna brought her to the entrance of Kirito's carriage. Mentally preparing herself, Sinon then opened the doors.

Light poured into the dark carriage's space, the protruding blades mounted on Sinon's back armor then reflected in a visage no less celestial than the meteoric star proclaiming her advent earlier. The darker blue on her attire made her silky, azure hair almost radiant, surpassed in glory only by her eyes – quite literally Sapphire. Though her body was more than modesty covered, the hint of flesh around her shoulder and waist turned her figure positively attractive. Any person with even a bit of sanity would recognize her for what she was – a goddess.

"Lady Solus!"

Tiese and Ronye, Kirito's students rose immediately as they saw so glorious a figure gracing them with her presence. There was no mistake – that divine, bluish appearance and that marble-like longbow – she was exactly like the sculpture of the Sun Goddess Solus in the depictions of the gods, if not even more beautiful.

Sinon took half a step back, surprised by the all-too-reverent tone she was being addressed with. "Hmm, hello, nice to meet you!"

If there's one thing I share with Kirito, it's definitely the lack of social skills.

She went on. "I may look like Solus, but I'm not. My name is Sinon."

The two apprentices turned to look at each other, only to find an equally confused face looking back. Only then did they again turn their questioning gaze to Asuna, who had just entered the carriage also.

A smug look once more took over Sinon's face as she declared. "That's right, I'm from the Real World, just like Asuna.

"And I'm Kirito's…friend."

"I see." Tiese said with just a hint of exasperation and doubt.

"They are all women…" The disappointment in Ronye's voice though, was undisguised.

"You haven't even seen the half of it." Sinon answered quickly. Ronye really hoped it was just a clever satire, but by Sinon's amused expression, and the same that of Asuna, Ronye could only shudder.

Stepping forward, Sinon finally saw clearly what she was there for, or more accurately, who.

It was Kirito, but also not the Kirito. So withered, tired and listless did the man before her seemed, it was almost like a cruel prank. The determined glow in his eyes that made her realize she ought to fight on in GGO was absent, as was any of his heroic attributes. The only thing left of the Winner was perhaps his grip on the swords. Though the way he seemed to strain from just that simple action did nothing to help his image.

Oh, what happened to you, Kirito…?

Her azure eyes now resembled the ocean more than the infinite skies as tears filled them.

Oh Kirito you bastard…why is it every time I cry it's because of you.

Sinon threw her precious bow on the ground, not caring even a bit as she knelt down and embraced Kirito. "There are other people watching…" this would normally be the kind of thoughts a person had before acting so rashly, but if asked, Sinon would simply answer – "I don't care."

Whatever ugly, embarrassing thing I have to do, I've done it with you. Just let me hug you properly you selfish bastard.

Perhaps reacting to her affections, Kirito's lips trembled just a bit, as did his eyes. Sinon smiled and pulled him even deeper into the embrace, carefully patting him on his back as she knew he no doubt needed it.

Even if your soul's been deeply damaged, there are so many people who know it so well. Here, can't you feel it? Can't you feel the you that's inside me? The sarcastic, mischievous, stubborn and naïve one… Stronger and kinder than any other.

Releasing the man, Sinon then tiptoed to plant a quick kiss on Kirito's face. When she rose to her feet, the somber mood had occupied the whole room. Asuna, and even the young girl next to her were clearly holding back their own weeping, and clearly also failing to do so.

After a deep breath, Sinon mustered a smile and said. "Don't worry. Kirito will be better in no time. At the moment when we really need him, right?"

Asuna did not look particularly convinced with eyes still red, but gave her friend a nod and a grateful smile.

After a long pause, Sinon spoke up again. "All right, I'm going to go on ahead and fly off to the ruins to get the lay of the land. You guys look after Kirito, okay?"

Just when she was about to leave the carriage, a hand landed on her shoulders and almost dragged her back inside. Asuna stared at her with wide eyes and asked. "H-hey, Sinon, did you just say 'fly off'? Meaning… you can fly?!"

Muted temporarily by her friend's forcefulness, Sinon blinked a few times before nodding. "Y-yeah." She examined her own fingers curiously and continued. "Apparently it's a power specific to the Solus account. I was told that there's no time limit or anything, either."

"Then we are not the ones you need to help! Go get Alice! She's been captured by the Dark Emperor!"

Author's notes

Finally, all three goddesses have descended into Underworld. I must say, I really considered cutting Leafa's part out of this story. Not because I don't like her, on the contrary, Leafa/Suguha is probably one of my favorite SAO female characters of all time. But I just hated every second of, well, that scene. The fact that I had to rewatch it a couple of times to write this is actually one of the reasons I kept putting off writing (hence the much delayed chapter) Still, I added a little bit of extra information here and there according to my interpretation of how the Dark Territory as a society worked in general.

Also, in a certain way, I try to "acknowledge" the unofficial harem Kirito had, but in no way trying to make this a harem story. Only it felt necessary to include how the others felt. Asuna, Sinon and Leafa are all great characters, and I want to make sure their feelings are properly reflected also. Well, that's it for now, I'll hopefully get the next chapter out in two weeks or so.

Playlist:

"Iskahn"
"peace. again"
"we have to save her"
"together we are awesome"
"now you're going too far"
"Dee Eye Ell"
"got to win"
"looking back on those days"