Due to a lack of a leveling system, CNO can sometimes feel stale once you max out your favorite NBS and reach the current endpoint of the game's main story. To circumvent this, CNO holds frequent events to keep things fresh and exciting. On average, there is usually one event held each month. Most of these are small simple events. Others however are major tournaments drawing in all kinds of players. Placing well in some of these events is a great way to earn a reputation for yourself in CNO. The most notable example would be Kaiser, the winner of the Cyber Clash event. His accomplishment currently has many considering him to be CNO's top player.

-Lepus Guide to CNO: Events

"When Gale came back to the guild one week after going up to the front lines, he was 4 levels higher than when he left." Elisse told me. "And take my word for it; in SAO that many level ups in such a short time is practically unheard of once your level hits the 30s."

I silently listened as Elisse reached the end of her story. It was true that I didn't have much to base leveling rates off of for VRMMOs. CNO didn't have a leveling system, and it was the only VRMMO I had ever played. But considering the players of SAO were literally playing the game 24/7, I doubted Elisse was lying about level rates being significantly slower in SAO compared to your standard MMO. Which means whatever Gale had been doing for that week, it certainly wasn't relaxing.

"After he came back from the front lines, Gale was… different." Elisse continued. "He didn't smile anymore, didn't joke anymore. All he cared about was leveling everyone up. Making the guild stronger. We didn't end up in anything too dangerous while grinding, but Sparrow Wing wasn't the same anymore after Nero died."

It was a lot to take in frankly. Violet being a SAO Survivor. Sparrow Wing's whole past. I couldn't say I didn't still resent Gale for what he had done recently, but there was a small bit of empathy in there too now. If nothing else, Violet's unbelievable skill with a sword made perfect sense to me now.

"After SAO was cleared, I thought things might go back to normal. That we could all just laugh with each other like we used to." Elisse said. "But there's still a small wedge of that darkness in Gale's heart. He got us all to start playing CNO. But now it's like he's obsessed with making Sparrow Wing the top guild in CNO. We started hunting other players to quickly gather resources and improve our gear. Some of us were against it after what happened in SAO, but Gale insisted that it wasn't the same since players don't actually die here. And technically speaking, he was right. So the rest of the guild got with the program."

"Well you've certainly been doing a hell of a job." I commented. "Players all over CNO are fed up with your ganking. You guys may be raking in the cash to upgrade your NBSs, but your reputation is rock bottom."

"I know. Trust me, I've voiced complaints to Gale. But he just doesn't care anymore. All he cares about now is us being the top players in CNO. He says that nobody will be able to tell us what to do once that happens."

The mention of being the top players in CNO meant Gale would need some means of proving their superiority on a grand stage. And I quickly realized just what that stage would be.

CNO did events rather frequently. Usually once a month at least. But there were 2 recurring events that were by far the most noteworthy. Back in November of last year, CNO had hosted a massive tournament to find the top player of each server known as the Cyber Clash. The very same tournament that Zeno - the player that had taken both me and Violet to defeat down in the Ultra Core event - had come runner up in, losing in the final match to a player named Kaiser. Deciding to capitalize on the influx of new players that had joined CNO after the Cyber Clash, the company in charge of CNO had decided to hold a similar tournament just one month later. Rather than a single player event, this was one made up of teams no larger than that of a single party. And just like the Cyber Clash, it had been a massive success.

"The Nexus Royale." I said aloud. "Your leader's planning to take the top spot in it."

Elisse nodded her head in confirmation. "That's right. Gale's been doing everything he can to get us ready for it. That's another reason why he's so insistent on hunting down players. To give us that PvP experience."

If Sparrow Wing really did win the Nexus Royale, it wasn't too far-fetched to think that Gale's goal would be realized. Kaiser was practically a celebrity after winning the first Cyber Clash, and he was definitely a favorite to win the upcoming one happening later this month. Since Kaiser wasn't part of a guild, Xeno's guild Asterisk had little difficulty winning the first Nexus Royale, which had done plenty for their popularity. Even if players didn't like Sparrow Wings actions, them winning the next Nexus Royale would earn them a lot of respect.

"Alright, so you've told me your leader's goal and why he's doing it." I said. "But you still haven't told me what Gale's blackmailing Violet with."

Elisse was silent for a few moments, contemplating whether or not to tell me. "I told you Violet killed one of the players that ambushed us, didn't I?"

"Yeah, so?" A couple seconds later, my eyes widened in disbelief. "He isn't…"

"Gale apparently threatened to leak the fact that Violet killed someone in SAO to the public if she didn't rejoin the guild." she confirmed.

"But that guild was trying to kill you guys in the first place."

"You think people will care?" Elisse asked. "You don't understand what it's like being a SAO Survivor. The trauma and nightmares are bad enough. But on top of that, people already look at us like we're killers. Imagine what they'll say if they know she actually did kill someone."

The scary part was that I could imagine it. Probably not on the same level as people like Elisse and Violet, but I could still imagine the outcome all the same. Humans were a very emotional species. There would likely be some sensible enough to ponder the circumstances. But the vast majority of people would no doubt make Violet's life a living hell.

My empathy towards Gale was quickly fading. Right now I would love nothing more than bashing his face in. As if sensing my disdain towards Gale, Elisse brought up our promise. "Remember you already told me you'd help Gale as well as Violet. I expect you to keep that promise."

Elisse was a crafty one. I hated Gale right now. My only prerogative was getting Violet away from him. Gale could drop dead for all I cared. But loathe as I was to admit it, I had already given Elisse my word. And I kept my promises.

"I take it you have a plan?" I asked.

Elisse nodded. "Right now, Gale's power hungry. He's willing to do anything and everything because he wants to be the strongest. And right now, nobody's been able to stop him. But I think if Gale were to suffer a big defeat, it might help snap him out of the ego trip he's been on."

"So you want me to ambush him in the fields like he's been doing?"

"No." Elisse said with a shake of her head. "He needs to lose in a way that can't be excused as simple bad luck or the element of surprise. He wants to enter the guild into the Nexus Royale next month. And I want you to beat him in it."

The Nexus Royale. One of the biggest PvP events in CNO, second only to the Cyber Clash. I was more or less a solo player, so I hadn't even bothered entering the first one. And now I was expected to take down a guild of SAO Survivors in it. "That's a big ask."

"I know. But it's the only plan I could come up with." Elisse said. "If it helps at all, I know how to get in contact with the player Gale sent to PK you before. He should be willing to join your team for the right price."

I mulled it over. Outside of Violet, my only close friend in CNO was probably Shingo. Between me, him, and Dante, that gave us three players. Nexus Royale's max team size was that of a full party, which was seven. We'd need more players. "Anyone else you can give me?"

Elisse answered with a shake of her head. "Sorry. We've only been playing CNO for a little over a month. And as you've said, we don't really have a lot of friends right now."

In any other scenario, I'd simply wave this whole ordeal off as impossible and move on. But this wasn't a game to me anymore. This was about saving Violet from Gale's grip over her. This wasn't a fight I could run from.

"We only have to beat your guild, right? Not win the whole thing?"

"It'd be ideal if your team won, but if nothing else you'll need to beat Gale at the bare minimum." Elisse said. "I'm sorry, but it's the best I've got."

I let out a sigh. "Alright. I still don't like your guild leader, but if it means saving Violet then I'll do it."

Elisse showed a soft smile. "Thank you. Really. This means more to me than you know."

I parted ways with Elisse and began making my way back to Serulis, walking through the cold harsh winds of Frostpeak once again. The second Nexus Royale was set to be held on April 19th, a little over a month from now. That only gave me a few weeks to find a team for the event.

I was going to be busy.

After returning to Serulis, I messaged Shingo and asked him to team up for the Nexus Royale. Of course, I left out the details of why I was entering in the first place. He responded quickly, ecstatic about the opportunity to show off his latest NBS customization. Shingo wasn't a top player or anything, but his firepower would be good to have. Elisse had also friended me and said she would message me about setting up a meeting with Dante soon. Negotiations would be on me, but if what I had heard about him through Lepus was true he would be a good asset to have. The issue I was facing now was getting the numbers to fill up our remaining slots on my team's roster.

It had been a long day and dinner would be ready soon, so I logged off and decided to ponder my troubles in the real world. Mom was meeting with an old friend and dad had gotten held up at work, so it was just me and Akari at the table. I ate my curry spoonful by spoonful, but my mind was occupied solely with figuring out who I could get for my team. Ideally I could get a full party of seven, but I'd need a team of five at bare minimum to have any hope of achieving my goal.

As my mind wandered about, a shout from Akari snapped me out of my thoughts. "Hey! Earth to Takeshi!"

"Huh? Oh, sorry Akari. Did you say something?"

Akari let out a sigh. "You've been lost in your own little world ever since sitting down." she said. "Does this have anything to do with that girl you told me about?"

"Sort of." I admitted. "Things have gotten… complicated."

"Want to talk about it?"

Frankly, after everything I had learned today, talking to someone about it sounded good. And if nothing else, Akari was a good listener. So I gave her a brief overview of it all. About Gale blackmailing Violet. About Elisse's plan to try saving both Violet and Gale. And finally, about my current struggle finding members for the Nexus Royale.

Akari was silent as she listened to it all. It wasn't until I finished that she finally spoke. "So you need members for this tournament thing. But you don't have a whole lot of friends in this game. That certainly is a pickle."

"You're telling me." I said. "And I can't just ask anybody for this."

"You said you've got potentially three people so far, including yourself. And the maximum amount you can have is seven, right?"

"That pretty much sums it up." I confirmed.

"Well then, I guess there's only one option."

I blinked in confusion. "What's that?"

Akari looked at me with a smirk. "I'll just have to try out this game thing you're so crazy about." she told me. "You're looking at your newest teammate."

A/N: Hope you all liked the chapter everybody. I'm sure some of you are curious to see just how Akari will react to CNO, and VR in general, but you'll just have to wait until next chapter. It might be a bit of a wait as I want to update some of my other fics that have been on the backburner, most notably my My Hero fic. But I will do what I can to have the next chapter of this story out as soon as possible for all of you that have been enjoying this story.