Tokyo Station, Chidoya, Tokyo, October 30, 2020

Amongst the world's cities, Tokyo was a raging hurricane of activity and life.

Each day in the heart of the city passed without a second of calm, men and women all rushing to and fro, racing for a meal or to get to work. Waves upon waves of people all moved in unison like a rising tide, all flowing like water in a fluid stream.

Nowhere was this more clear than the train station in the heart of Tokyo, the centerpoint of the sweeping railways that webbed throughout the city and outside, where the air itself came alive in the heart of the machine of society.

"The next stop is Tokyo Station! Please mind the gap!"

As the next train on the line pulled into the stop, the doors opened to release the bundled crowds within the overstuffed cars, the first passengers stepping outside like a bursting dam.

Amongst them were two men.

The first stepped with frustration in his stride, his shoes slamming against the floor one after the other, his movements rough with vigor. His sharp, yet furrowed eyes hid behind clouded glasses, staring at the ground.

Following behind him, his friend chased after. Bearing a white lab coat over his shoulders, the garment billowing in the draft as he pursued his friend.

"Sugou! Hey!"

The man in question continued on, as if he had heard nothing at all. He shoved past the others in his way, his back hunched and his shoulders colliding with more and more annoyed bystanders.

Akihiko again chased after, following Sugou up the stairs and up into the terminal outside, along the paths, facing the wide open space where the streams of people connected and churned. Sugou pressed forward, finding himself amongst the others and walking.

He didn't look up, nor did he change his gaze. He knew these roads and lines, he knew which way to turn home.

His head spun with a messy storm of thoughts, his aura inked dark as he refused to turn to face his friend.

He shut it out, his cries for his name as the noise mashed and blended with the hustle and chaos of the subway metro, a boiling soup that grinded into his ears and rattled his brain.

He cursed it all, the annoying chatter filling his senses.

The course of events that led here.

The deranged and psychotic plot about to come into play, all at the whim of the fool currently hot on his trail.

All the fools who would stand by and let it play out, so many close to him not understanding like he did, that this was all folly.

He cursed himself, for not seeing this sooner, for allowing things to come to this so quickly.

Most of all… he cursed him.

The man who would become the herald and center of the new world.

"Just stop and talk to me for a second!"

A hand slapped onto his shoulder, spinning Sugou around to face behind him, to look his friend directly in the eyes.

Akihiko Kayaba.

Head of the VR project in Argus. Developer of Sword Art Online, soon to hit the shelves and unveil an entirely new world to humanity.

His best friend, and brother in all but blood.

God's perfect dreaming fool.

"What's there to talk about, Akihiko? Everything's going smoothly. Your game'll go off without a hitch. It's all about set and done until the release date. Why? Having doubts all of a sudden? Not the Kayaba I remember. He wasn't that stupid." He spat, his eyes ice cold and boring holes into Kayaba's skull.

Akihiko gritted his teeth, his fingers curling into fists. "I have no doubts. Everything will proceed as we discussed. The world will finally see its hidden side, and we'll be to thank. So I have to ask…"

"...why?"

His voice was stone, firm. He had no intention of budging or changing his stance, and Sugou could see it in his eyes.

"Why… what?" Sugou spat out the last word, as a growl escaped Kayaba's frown.

"Why leave us all behind? Why go forth with this plan of yours? You know I can't stand for it."

Sugou's eyes narrowed, as his own frown intensified on his face.

"Says the maniac about to hold ten thousand people hostage in a sick pet project. Don't you see it? I'm about to save lives from your stupidity." Sugou replied flatly, his feet planted and staring Kayaba down.

"Will you? If you go through with this, only more lives will be lost! Everything we worked on together, what would it mean at that end? I didn't come all this way alone, remember? I wouldn't have come here without you! The NerveGear! SAO! I wouldn't be here with my dream if we'd never met! So why burn it all down now? After all we created together?" Akihiko asked, his voice hitching as he planted his feet in turn, the stream of the Tokyo masses parting to make space for the two of them.

A pregnant pause filled the air between them, as the two men stood apart from each other, interrupted only by the ambience of the city hustle.

Then, Sugou let out a long, drawn, tired sigh. Then he tilted his head up, directing his cold eyes to meet Kayaba's.

"Talk, talk, talk all you want about your ambition. Your grand master plan to upend the world as we all know it. Your ultimate gambit to make your dream a reality. You idiot, please."

"Fuck legacy. What's it worth if you're never going to see it?"

Kayaba fell silent as Sugou continued on.

"After it all, then what? You die? Sacrifice yourself? Play the villain? The scapegoat? A holy martyr for the sake of a new world? Are you seriously that fucking full of yourself?"

No reply.

Good.

"Think of Rinko. She not worth it? She means that little to you? You'd leave her all alone to grieve?"

Nothing.

"The god of the modern world, holding the entire system in the palm of his hand, and he has tunnel vision and a death wish. What a fucking joke."

"..."

"Your ambition doesn't mean shit. Your dream is just that. An empty, hollow illusion. A shell you hide in day in and day out. All to run from the consequences of reality."

Kayaba's face remains stoic, but his eyes quiver, betraying hurt. Genuine hurt.

Sugou feels like he wants to throw up in his mouth.

"I'm done with this. With you. Go die with your poor fellow gamers for all I care. Go and unleash your perfect world."

Sugou finally spins on his heel and walks.

"When you're done, it'll be mine to play with."

Sugou Nobuyuki doesn't turn back. Doesn't slow in his stride. His voice betrays no hurt, no sadness or grief. He knows what he must do now.

Akihiko Kayaba is left to stare blankly at his back as he vanishes into the crowd, his arms shaking and his eyes clouding over.

Two friends go their separate ways, and never see each other again.

"I will be heir to the world of Stands."

Player Profile:

The Living Legend, Heathcliff – The Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath, Heathcliff stood tall and unwavering against any foe no matter how fearsome. It was through his ambition and will that SAO was born, and that humanity would from then on awaken to a new plane of existence.

Real Name: Akihiko Kayaba

Born: January 1st, 1995

Stand Name: Wonderful World

Favored Armament: Greatsword/Tower Shield

Favorite Song: September by Earth, Wind, and Fire

Yuuki Residence, Setagaya, Tokyo, June 14, 2024

Asuna shut the front door of her house with a head full of clashing emotions and thoughts.

As she kicked off her shoes, she was left to contemplate in silence on all she had been through this past day alone.

She finally found Josuke, a former shell of what he once was, but it was all but certainly him. Then she found Klein and Griselda, trapped in exactly the same she found Josuke. Even if she wanted to doubt it with every ounce of her heart, to deny it could be true, she knew she had to be prepared to find Kirito the same way.

Just the thought alone made her feel nauseous, the idea that he was quite likely going to be standing in her way, a slave to whoever was behind this, and she wouldn't be able to muster the will to fight back. The very last thing she wanted in this life, she had little doubt about it.

If he was standing in her way, if he was brainwashed like Josuke, like Klein, and Griselda… then there would be no way out without one of them getting hurt.

A possibility she could not allow, not in the slightest.

However despite it all, she felt comfort.

A sliver of hope, shining brighter now than ever before, all thanks to a special girl she had only properly met a few moments ago at the hospital.

Suguha had been with her every step of the way since she had arrived in Alfheim, barely able to find her footing. With her help and Recon's, she had found a way and forged a path through an unfamiliar world.

With them by her side, she had full confidence that the end of her long journey was about to arrive, and she could hardly wait.

"Kazuto…"

She muttered to herself, ready to finally settle this.

"It's late."

Suddenly Asuna stopped, all thoughts in her brain screeching to a grinding, abrupt halt as a voice pierced through the veil.

Turning to the dining table in the next room, she saw the lights were still on, the sound of cutlery chiming from within. Walking in with a hammering heart, she gasped to see the lone person sitting at the head of the table.

A young man, chewing on dinner as he stared at her, eyes so much like her own filled with concern and warmth.

"Koichi, I… I-I-"

Asuna began to stutter, her brain scrambling for some kind of explanation as panic snowballed in her gut. However, Koichirou raised a hand to cut her short.

"Hey, calm down. You hungry?"

Asuna was about to reply, but was cut off by a sudden rumbling noise from her stomach, causing her to blush as she nodded without a word, Koichirou laughing softly in return as he rose up from his seat and waved a hand over to her.

"Thought so. You were in your room since breakfast, didn't even leave until I after came back from work, looks like. C'mon. I'll whip something up for you real quick." He laughed, Asuna wordlessly following behind.

The pair entered the kitchen, Koichirou flicking the lights on and digging through the fridge, Asuna curiously watching from behind, raising her hands in protest.

"K-Koichi… please, you don't have to. Let me-"

However, she was yet again cut off as her elder brother shook his head in reply.

"Hey, none of that. I get it, you were always more of the chef than me, but let me do this for once. For you." Koichirou turned back her way with a smile as he retrieved a batch of assorted vegetables piece by piece, placing them on the countertop as he flicked the rice cooker on, steam rising from the device.

Asuna stood with wide eyes as her brother cracked a pair of eggs atop a bowl and whisked, smiling at his gestures as he cooked for her. Sitting down, she let him work.

"So… what happened back there? At the hospital?" He asked as he minced scallions on the cutting board, Asuna's eyes going wide.

"H-how…"

"You usually don't leave anywhere else, not this late especially. Plus… your eyes look brighter. Brighter than I've ever seen since you got out of SAO. Something good happen?" He asked further, his eyes flicking back to her as he retrieved bottles of oil and soy sauce from the cupboards.

Asuna was at a loss for words, unsure of what to say. He was right on the money, and she didn't know how. She immediately began to worry, worry that he couldn't be trusted, that she had to be wary. If her enemy was part of RECT, just like he was, then she couldn't risk it, not when she was so close.

"Whoa, you're sweating buckets. Guess I was right on, huh? Don't fret. I won't tell Mom or Dad. I'm asking as your brother. Tell me anything." He smiled, his tone of voice carefree and reassuring. Asuna let out a sigh and opened her mouth.

"Koichi… I'm sorry."

"What for? If this is about the NerveGear I lent you, I already told you-" Koichirou began, as he lit the stove and began frying the rice, mixing ingredients and stirring, filling the air with a rich, spicy aroma.

"N-no… It's not that. I've finally found a way to save them. Kazuto… Josuke… all of them. In the game… I can free them." Asuna breathed out, as her brother stopped working the pan and turned back to stare at her.

"In ALO? You're sure?" He asked, Asuna staring back at him with eyes filled with determination.

"I'm sure. For so long… I felt so weak and powerless. I couldn't do a thing, I couldn't find a way to turn… I was so scared… so afraid. But now I know what I have to do. I'll save them, no matter what it takes." She raised her voice with resolution, her stance tall and proud as Koichi went silent for a moment.

"Tell me about him."

"Huh?"

Koichirou continued to cook as he chuckled under his breath. "Kirigaya. That boy in the hospital you visit all the time. Your mind's been stuck on him ever since you came back, and I'm really interested to hear just what kind of boy managed to win the heart of my darling sister."

Asuna paused, taking in her brother's words amidst the sizzling noises from the pan he was shaking. Taking a breath, she opened her heart.

She told Koichirou of her despairing moments on the first floor, crushed by the overwhelming weight of her new reality. Throwing herself into the jaws of death, tossing aside any notion of self-preservation in pure, distilled spite at the world itself for daring to break her spirit.

She told him of the boy who saved her, who taught her the true value of hope, sparking a rebellious flame in her soul, one that yearned for freedom, for victory. The light in the darkness that urged her to see tomorrow. The two boys who rose up and showed all of Aincrad that nothing was impossible.

Koichirou listened silently as Asuna recalled stories of fighting in the frontlines, waging a brutal and relentless war against the world that held her prisoner. Leading hundreds of men and women in the race for freedom. She told of how she found a family in the iron castle, a ragtag group of players bonded by trial, fire, and laughter.

He listened as Asuna's voice softened, her aura glowing as she shared about the boy she loved, the player who was broken by the weight of the world, by the losses he suffered. How they had learned to lean on each other, to rely on one another, to finally grow past their regrets and move forward together.

Koichirou set down his ladle and turned, seeing his sister's face flush, a gentle, radiant smile gracing her face.

She shared the story of a little girl who wanted to complete their love, the day they finally prevailed over the final boss, and of the wild and thrilling odyssey through Alfheim to free him at long last.

He stood silent, listening to her words and studying her face, shining with all the love in the world. A face that filled him with warmth.

Then he let a smile grace his features.

"There it is."

Scooping the contents of the pan onto a plate, he turned and presented her a dish of piping hot fried rice, all with a loving smile on his face.

"There's my sister's smile. The one I haven't seen in so long." Koichirou laughed, taking the seat next to her as she faced her enticing food.

"To tell you the truth, I had a feeling you found something. A way forward. You had this… look about you a couple days ago, when you came back from that bar. Like a woman on a mission. It had to do with your friends, I knew it. Once I saw you get that Amusphere with that look in your eye, I was certain, ALO was where you would find whatever you were looking for." Koichirou began to explain as Asuna turned to face him.

"In RECT, an intern like me doesn't get much insight into whatever they're cooking up, but I could tell something was up in some parts. Did a little digging, and I'm sure of it. One division in particular was really off-the-book. Like they didn't want anyone in on it, not even Father." Koichirou muttered as Asuna listened intently with a dangerous aura burning in her eyes.

"What was it?" She asked, her voice low.

Koichirou took a breath, and spoke.

"RECT Progress. The VR division. Sugou's team specifically." Koichirou said, as Asuna gasped, almost dropping her spoon.

"Him? Why? What are they doing?" Asuna asked, her head swirling with questions and turbulent emotions, but Koichirou shook his head.

"I don't know. All I know is that they don't want anyone to find out. You say you found a way in through ALO?" Koichirou asked, staring Asuna in the eye as he did so.

Asuna's earlier mistrust dispelled like water as she opened herself up to her brother, nodding silently in response, all the resolve she could muster burning in her eyes.

With that, Koichirou offered a smile and patted her on her head, ruffling her hair slightly, causing her to wince with a smile of her own.

"If finding that answer, if you reach whatever you're finding in there, if that'll bring that smile back around, then that's more than enough for me. I'll help you, I'll get Dad to do something… I'll-" Koichirou smiled, his words touching Asuna's heart.

However, she cut him off as she placed a hand on his shoulder, remembering the words from a certain Pooka who shared his name.

"How about… you join me? Fight at the World Tree with us? Together?"

Koichirou went silent as his eyes bulged, shock written all over his face as Asuna giggled at his reaction.

For so long, she had been afraid to open up her wounds to her family, to expose her trauma to those who could never understand exactly what she had been through in Aincrad. She feared they wouldn't understand, she feared they would rebuff her scars, push her away.

However, returning to the virtual world for the first time brought to her a new understanding. It was true that her time in SAO had changed her drastically, but that didn't change the love her family felt for her.

All this time, she should have realized that someone was here willing to lend an ear and a shoulder to cry on.

"Asuna… I-I… Hell yeah! Let's do it! I'll do everything I can, just you watch!" Koichirou laughed as he then wrapped his arms around her, Asuna laughing as well as she returned the gesture, hugging her brother tightly.

The pair continued to laugh, locked in a tight embrace before separating, any barrier between them truly broken down.

With all that settled, she picked up her spoon and chewed into the first scoop of rice, her taste buds lightening up with delight as she closed her eyes to drink in the flavor.

Moaning with a full mouth, Asuna offered a smile to her brother. "It's so good… Thank you so much, Koichi!"

"Don't mention it. Only the best for my sister." Koichi smiled back warmly as Asuna smirked in return.

"Still… bet I could make it a lot better. Toss in some salted fish or shrimp, plus some chili oil, this rice would sing." Asuna laughed as she spooned in another bite, Koichi sighing in reply.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it, you're the better cook between us. Still, eat. Get your strength up. If we're gonna raid tomorrow, you better be at your full strength, Lightning Flash." Koichirou chuckled as Asuna nearly choked on her rice.

"H-hey! How'd you- Agh! Koichi! Hey, don't just walk away! Get back here! KOICHI!"

Asuna screamed in a flustered mess as she ran up to her already retreating brother, snickering all the way as the siblings bickered, all the weight in their hearts gone as joy permeated the air.

For a moment, Asuna was well and truly beyond her heavy burdens.

ALO Magic:

NIFL: Mystics of the Fog. Remnants of Niflheim's icy mists, Nifl magic was conceived to navigate the cold veil and uncover its hidden secrets. Those who command the mists control the field, so long as they can stay on their toes.

Element: Smoke, Ice

Specialization: Evasion, Treasure-hunting, Stealth

Affinity: Spriggans

Bifrost Gate (Alne), ALfheim Online (Domain: Neutral) June 15th, 2024

The night turned to day and Asuna returned to the land of the fairies once more.

Venturing back to the city of Alne, her eyes widened at the sight before her.

The day before, she visited the center of Alfheim for the first time and bore witness to a spectacular world, a thriving hub of camaraderie amidst a cesspool of faction wars and heated rivalry, where fairies of all colors and races could come and play together.

Now, the view put the one before to shame as she saw the fruit of her hard-earned victory.

A vast swarm of fairies, a massive army thousands strong. All of them bearing colors and flags of green, yellow, and red. All soldiers were geared up, brandishing the best weapons they had on hand and ready for the fight of their lives.

Players who would have been at each other's throats before were now chatting with each other under the canopy of the World Tree, crowds gathered at the blacksmith shops to max out their gear's stats. The combined might of three fairy armies were present and all were preparing for war against a common enemy.

"Incredible…" Asuna gasped in awe, soaring over the massive gathering of fairies en route to the base of the World Tree where the gates to the Grand Quest awaited.

"Mommy, they're all here! Sylphs, Cait Siths, Salamanders! These are the armies of all three races combined!" Yui cheered from her pocket, eyes glistening in wonder as she counted the scores of players present at Alne ready for battle.

"We did it, Yui! We're gonna make it this time!" Asuna smiled, newfound determination and hope rising in her chest.

Asuna had seen what the Grand Quest had waiting for her, and she knew the challenge ahead. With Leafa and Recon's help, she had nearly gotten to the top, had she not been stopped by the gatekeepers.

Now, she had numbers on her side and with the playing field more evenly matched, she was confident now, the end was almost within reach.

"Erika! Over here!"

Asuna's ears perked up as she turned her eyes to the Bifrost Gate by the two statues where several familiar faces stood waving at her.

Descending into a light jog as she folded her wings behind her back, Asuna smile grew as she saw Leafa and Recon rushing to greet her.

"Guys!" Asuna laughed, smacking and locking hands with Leafa, who embraced her in a hug.

"This is incredible! I can't believe what I'm seeing! Now this is what I'm talking about here! Fairies of all kinds fighting as a team!" Leafa cheered as she gazed over the sea of players all united to fight as one.

"Never thought I'd see the day. The lizards actually agreed to join us, huh?" Annie muttered, smirking as she scanned the crowd to spot the Salamanders amongst them, still baffled at the sight of the same players, formerly bitter rivals now in friendly conversation with other fairies in green and yellow.

"And it wouldn't have been possible without you."

All four players then turned to see four more arrive on the scene.

Sakuya descended and folded her wings, a decorated katana sheathed at her hip as she snuck a laugh behind her fan. Her eyes fell upon Asuna, who bowed in greeting to the Lady of the Sylphs.

"Your strength made them listen, and now we finally have a shot at making this happen. Erika, you've reached where no other Sylph or fairy has ever before." Sakuya smiled, just as a loud screech echoed above them accompanied by the beat of moving wings.

"She's right, you know!" A massive dragon rested its wings and descended on all fours, allowing Alicia Rue to hop off its back and join the circle, grinning with beaming sunlight.

"Who would've thought all it took to make this possible was one Sylph crazy enough to challenge General Eugene and come out on top? It's like something out of a shonen manga! And look at us now! All ready to gear up and with dragon mounts to boot! It's the stuff of dreams, I'm telling you!" Alicia Rue laughed, crossing her arms as her dragon roared, spewing a stream of flames as if cheering in agreement.

"Just don't forget who poured in the bulk of funds for this whole operation, much less made it happen."

All present turned to face the two newcomers. First a large Salamander clad in scarlet and gold armor, demonic sword strapped to his back with a battle-hungry fire in his eyes.

"It wasn't easy, but here you have my end of the deal, Asuna. The Salamander army is ready for the fight of our lives. More than that, thank Agni over here." General Eugene gestured to the crowd, his warriors dispersed all across the crowds of fairies, then nodded to the man at his side.

The Salamander beside him grinned, lifting a crimson hood to reveal young and sleek features, a pair of glasses resting over his silver eyes. Asuna met his eyes and as he spoke, she recognized him immediately.

"Upgraded gear, draconic mounts for the beastmasters, and a special vouch to Lord Mortimer alongside General Eugene from his top adviser. Will this suffice for the legendary Commander Lightning Flash?" Agni grinned, opening his arms for Asuna to embrace him in a hug.

"Big brother, you're the best! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Asuna cried, her laughter shared by her brother as they shared in their joy, a feeling they were ecstatic to experience once more.

"Anything for my sister. Anything." Agni smiled warmly, before all stared up at the gates before them, the tall, imposing statues beside them standing ever vigilant, as if daring them to take another step and test their mettle.

Asuna glared at them, then turned her eyes to the canopy above, where Kirito and the rest of her comrades from SAO were undoubtedly waiting for her.

"So we're all here now… think we got a good shot at this?" Recon asked, his voice wary, but heavy.

"Between the aerial masters amongst the Sylphs, the dragons of the Cait Siths, the might of the Salamanders, on top of powerful Stand users, this is the best shot we'll ever have. However…" Agni began, gears turning in his head before turning to his sister with a proud smile.

"...the most important piece of this operation will be a powerful leader, a flaring banner for everyone to rally behind. And who better for the job than the Commander of the SAO clearing parties?" Agni laughed, as Asuna's eyes widened.

"M-me?" Asuna asked, bewildered at the sheer weight of it.

"Yeah, you! You got the chops for it, I can see it in your eyes! You've got more gravity in that stare than all of us Lords combined!" Alicia Rue cheered, Sakuya humming in agreement beside her.

"Couldn't agree more. You brought us all together, and if you asked me, nobody's better fit to helm this raid. I'll be right beside you, Erika." The Lady of the Sylphs smiled, as Eugene nodded in turn.

"I'm no Lord, but you can bet I respect your strength. I'd be honored to fight alongside you. Let's see that sword in action once again, yeah? If you could beat me, then hell, this should barely be a challenge!" The Salamander grinned, Asuna watching the rest of her friends looking to her in agreement, Leafa stepping forward and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, we've come this far, haven't we? I know what you can do, I've seen it with my own eyes. Now come on! Let's go save my brother! Together!"

Leafa raised a hand before Asuna, who turned up to look her in the eye. She saw it once more, that burning ember of sheer will and determination to see things through, the unquenchable thirst to attain what she had lost and fill the hole in her heart. The flame of ambition that fueled her heart and surged in her soul.

The very same swelling warmth that surged through her own veins, burning hotter than it had ever done before.

"You and me, sister!" Asuna laughed, clasping hands with Leafa as they then turned to face the crowd at the gates.

Asuna stepped forward until her feet reached the top of the stairs, providing her an expansive view of the crowd at Alne. Those at the gate then watched as she drew a deep breath, closing her eyes as her fists clenched into balls.

Her eyes then shot open, her face shifting into a completely different expression, a hardened and weighted face that only a master and veteran of war could assume. Eyes that had roused the spirits of countless soldiers, bared teeth that struck fear into any who dared defy her.

The Commander of the Knights of Blood Oath gripped her sheathed weapon and slammed its tip against the floor, echoing a loud chime into the air.

"EVERYONE!"

Her voice boomed through the air, resounding through the air and sweeping over the street through the crowd, silencing all present in mere seconds. Everyone watched in shock as Asuna's time as Commander revealed itself, a far cry from the girl they had known before.

As she spoke, she did so with confidence, with an air of absolute authority that demanded all heed her words to the letter, and listen they did.

"I thank you all for being here today! My name is Asuna! I commanded the clearing parties at Sword Art Online and I stand here today to request your aid! Although many survivors have escaped the game, three hundred of my comrades remain captive! After fighting my way here, I have discovered the Einherjar are among those very survivors! The only place they could be is behind the most heavily-guarded door in this world!" Asuna began to speak, her voice raised and her stance firm like a mountain.

Whispers began to circulate amongst the crowd, both of shock, and some of disbelief. Many heard the insane story Asuna was regaling to them all, and while many had reason to doubt, the sheer gravity in her voice and the steely edge in her eyes shut down and stomped out many a player's assumptions of levity.

"Which is why I ask you now! Will you offer me your swords?! Your skills! Set aside your petty rivalries and fight alongside me and your Lords! I stand with Sakuya, Lady of the Sylphs! Alicia Rue, leader of the Cait Siths! I have bested General Eugene of the Salamanders in single combat!"

All three fairies of each race stepped forward one by one, revealing themselves, all in the crowd gasping in shock to see General Eugene, mightiest of the fairies stepping out on cue, proving she had indeed defeated him and earned his trust. Soon, sounds of cheering could be heard as the armies rallied behind her.

"The World Tree will not yield as easily, which is why we can only do this together! Fight as one! Dedicate your swords! WE WILL CONQUER THE IMPOSSIBLE! ARE YOU WITH ME?!" Asuna screamed into the sky, raising her blade above her head to shine in the sun's light.

In unison, thousands of players in the crowd all raised their weapons in turn, releasing a deafening cheer into the air as their spirits burned with the determination Asuna radiated from her very soul. It was as if her soul was burning with sheer will, raging and roaring to engulf the entire town as every soldier echoed her war cry, hearts beating in tune with one another, one and all.

Asuna's lips curved into a wide grin as she saw the soldiers all rallied under her, her words reaching their hearts and their swords ready for war.

"Today, we take on the World Tree! Right now, we end this!" Asuna declared as she then strode to the gate, once more confronting the Guardian statues as they once more posed her the challenge ahead, a small prompt appearing on her menu.

With a nod to her comrades and to the soldiers behind her, she pressed the button as the gates opened yet again to the Grand Quest.

"WITH ME! LET'S GO!"

Asuna shouted out, raising her sword and rushing in as everyone ready and waiting followed suit. A tidal wave of fairies all advanced on the gates, battle cries echoing into the skies as the dungeon's entrance flooded with hundreds of fairies all spilling through.

Once more, Asuna spread her wings and raced for the end of the dungeon, rising up the massive cylinder as the lights illuminated their surroundings.

Leafa and her friends rose beside Asuna, each with their weapons and Stands ready for action.

As they all began to rise in altitude, the dungeon responded in kind, the crystals lining the walls all glowing brightly one by one as horde upon horde of armored Valkyries spawned en masse to wipe them all out.

Ten became a hundred, became ten thousand strong as the entire space grew into a hornet's nest within mere seconds.

Asuna gritted her teeth at the sight of the new threat and raised her voice.

"Salamanders! Advance the frontline! Push through that horde! Cait Siths! Cover fire! Keep us in the fight! Sylphs! Hold the defensive! Get those things off of us! Let's do this!" She shouted orders to the armies, her voice echoing off the walls as everyone moved in formation.

The Salamanders were taking the lead, swords and eruptions of fire lighting up the spearhead of the effort as they carved a path through the avalanche of Valkyries.

At the very front was Eugene, his sword cleaving apart one foe after the other, an unstoppable force that no Valkyrie stood a chance against.

"Let's go, soldiers! Not much further now!"

Fanning out behind the group was Alicia Rue and her Cait Sith troops, archers and spellcasters at the ready alongside their dragon mounts, maws open wide and glowing with building fire.

"FIRE AWAY!"

Torrents of arrows and spells shot upwards, shaving away waves of fairies ahead of the Salamanders as the dragons rose up, spewing columns of flame to incinerate what was left of the stragglers. With the Cait Siths' enhanced senses and ranged bonuses, Valkyries fell by the thousands as they pushed on, nearing their destination by the second.

However, the Valkyries were far from defeated. As the group ascended further, more crystals below them would continue to spawn reinforcements, as more white fairies approached the Cait Siths from behind, not unnoticed by a nervous Alicia.

"Sakuya! You're up!" She screamed out to her friend.

Before one Valkyrie could spear Alicia's dragon, within a blink of an eye Sakuya moved. She emerged from a burst of wind and sheathed her blade at her hip with a click, just as the Valkyrie and the seven others behind it all fell apart in multiple pieces.

"I got you covered! SYLPHS! PROTECT OUR BACKLINE!"

Sakuya relayed orders of her own to her troops, many of them moving to deal with the threat, using their advanced aerobics to pick off any Valkyries that got too close.

The formation, much to Asuna's delight, was holding wonderfully. They all continued to rise and approach the gate atop the dungeon, as no Valkyrie could manage to penetrate their defenses or stop their movement.

If all went according to plan, there was no question, the end was just within sight.

"Asuna!"

Asuna turned around as her brother appeared before her, blowing a group of enemies away with a fire spell as he approached.

"Looks like we're gonna make it!" Agni smiled, as Asuna nodded before placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah! We got this, I can feel it!"

Agni grinned in turn, then changed his expression. "Yui, you know the plan, right?"

The tiny pixie peeked out from Asuna's pocket, saluting firmly with a smile. "Yes, sir! You can count on me! We have everything crystal clear! Sugou Nobuyuki will be caught with his pants down!"

The siblings laughed at Yui's spirited response, as more players arrived by their side.

"Erika! We're almost there! C'mon!" Leafa called out, as Asuna turned once more to her brother.

"Top us up! One last push!"

Agni nodded and raised his arms, preparing a spell.

«Pyre Prayer» – "Þeír fylla skína eldr, hogg margr illt!"

Golden flames snaked out from Agni's arms and danced around Asuna, Leafa, Recon, and Annie, filling them with vigor and boosting their stats.

Asuna watched her parameters rise and gave a final nod to her brother.

"I'll leave this to you!"

Agni nodded and rejoined the cavalry, assisting the fairies and relaying orders to the rest of the Salamanders. With that, Leafa lightly smacked Asuna on the back, earning her attention.

"Let's do this!"

The group of four all rose up, fighting off the mass of Valkyries flooding into the chamber. As it was before, for every Valkyrie that fell, countless more would be born in their place, swarming together to form a living barrier to block off the path to the top.

The swarm continued to expand in size, the light from the ceiling fading as more enemies rushed in for the kill.

However, Asuna could now see that their numbers were making a difference. As huge as their numbers were, the Valkyries individually were nothing special as enemies, hardly comparable to the heavily geared-up soldiers that made up the majority of their raid parties.

Now, things were far more evenly matched, and Asuna seized the opportunity with gusto.

"COME AT ME!"

Leafa, Annie, and Asuna dashed forward, diving into the swarm.

Leafa's sword danced in the air, trails of wind slicing behind her as foe after foe fell to pieces in her wake. The champion swordswoman cut down one Valkyrie after another, fueled by the overflowing determination to save her brother.

Now, she fought with all her heart, all her being as she cut open her path to the end of the road. A Valkyrie rushed at her, swinging a greatsword, leading her to jut to the side and slash its torso open, spinning to swing her arm in an arc, sending a wind spell flying to nail another in the head.

"ECHOES! BLAST IT!"

Recon's Act 1 once again made its appearance, weaving from enemy to enemy, striking them with its fists one by one, once more inscribing its signature writing. As his Stand worked, the Pooka fished rune after rune from his inventory, lighting up the air with magic as he poured as much support as he possibly could onto his friends.

As more enemies were marked by Echoes, Recon began chanting a spell, only to look up and see a swarm of Valkyries encircling him, poised to run him through from all sides.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU RATS!"

All of a sudden, all his attackers were blown apart.

Annie gripped each Valkyrie with her hair, coiling dark strands in a death grip around their bodies before squeezing, tearing them apart like wet paper. As more Valkyries appeared, she then shot out thousands of strands of her hair to latch onto each of them, wrapping around them and constricting their movements.

Those she could bring under her control she directed to fight off the others, forcing their weapons against their allies as they fought back and were torn apart by their brethren one by one.

However, Annie could only save enough concentration to exert her control over so many puppets, and their movements became more defiant, struggling against her whims as some broke free and rejoined the rest of their fellow Valkyries.

Gritting her teeth, she watched as they continued to come at her and Recon, drawn in by their Stands.

*SCHING*

"I got you!" Asuna screamed out as she zipped through the crowd and spread into several Valkyries each passing second, her movements a complete blur as she moved from one enemy to the next, Valkyries falling in droves as she streaked like a torpedo through an ocean of fairies.

«Sunspot» – "Muspilli sól kalla brenda bani!"

*KABOOM*

Recon's spell triggered and his voice resounded from all of Echoes' writing in unison, triggering a deafening explosion of flames that consumed huge chunks of the swarm, wiping them out by the thousands.

As an opening appeared in the wall of Valkyries, they took no time to seize their chance.

"NOW!"

All of them charged upwards, cleaving a path through the rapidly reforming mass of Valkyries at breakneck speed, bursting out the other side into a clear, untouched area of the dungeon with the gate only a few hundred meters away from their position.

It was so close, yet again she was so near to the end.

However, this time she was ready.

"EYES OPEN!"

Asuna called out just as the two Einherjar dove down from above, hidden faces betraying no emotion as the Sword Saint and the Valkyrie Queen drew their weapons back for the kill.

"Roger!" All of them engaged the gatekeepers, splitting off to deal with them both.

Asuna and Leafa moved in on Klein, clashing their swords against his. The samurai's stance was strong and unwavering, both weapons in his hands pulsing with power and killing intent. Leafa traded strikes with him, using her skills to quickly adapt and face him down, her prowess of the blade shining through.

Asuna moved in from all angles, relying on her memory of his fighting style in Aincrad to search for openings. For each flinch and pause in his movements, she would dive in and gash at his armor. However, as divided his attention was, Klein remained nimble and snappy in his reactions, able to evade and redirect attacks that would have dealt him a serious blow.

Meanwhile, Recon and Annie fended off Griselda, who sped away on her wings whenever they would approach, using her bow to keep them at arm's length. Recon threw spell after spell at her, trying to evade her enchanted arrows, while Annie directed her Stand to try and restrain her.

However, it did little as Griselda's Stand appeared to fend off anything that got too close, keeping her free to maintain the pressure as she rained down arrows upon her attackers.

As she had suspected, Klein and Griselda were proving to raise them a significant challenge, their combined strength enough to fend them all off, preventing them from going any further.

To top it off, Griselda once more had Appleseed Cast coat the walls in seeds, massive trees all jutting out to seal the way through to the gate above. Asuna gnashed her teeth and tried to think of a way forward, when she noticed something strange.

"Klein's armor… it's still broken?"

Asuna's eyes widened as she saw Klein's appearance. Nearly unchanged from how he turned out the day before after being blown away by Echoes. His armor was in tatters, cracked and burned to a crisp as was his helmet, providing a look at his deadened eyes and fierce snarl.

Even if it had only been the previous day since it happened, Asuna was confused.

"Why is the damage still there?"

However, this moment of confusion left her open as Klein's eyes snapped to her, his blades drawn back for a devastating slash.

"ERIKA!"

Before Asuna could react, Klein was suddenly stopped in his tracks as a sword dug its way into his chest, ramming him from below.

Asuna's eyes widened to see none other than General Eugene now relentlessly attacking Klein, his demonic sword allowing him to sneak in powerful hits. However, Klein quickly adapted, using his second blade to deflect his strikes, but he was slowing down, not quite the dual-blade specialist Kirito had been, much less against one of Alfheim's mightiest swordsmen.

"GET THOSE TREES OUTTA THE WAY! OPEN FIRE!"

Following closely behind him were the Salamander frontline soldiers led by Alicia Rue riding on her dragon, them and the mounts all raining fire upon the wall of trees with spells and breath attacks, burning them away and clearing a path.

Griselda cocked her head upwards, seeming to take notice as she then focused her Stand on upholding the barrier, planting and summoning more trees at blinding speed, but there was only so much she could do as the bombardment of fire continued, incinerating all her efforts as her Stand's energy drained away with each attempt to regrow her lost trees.

"If she overuses her Stand's power, then she-"

Surely enough, Griselda gasped as her body went limp, completely exhausted for but a brief second, Klein looking away from his exchange with Eugene to lock wide eyes with the Valkyrie Queen.

"G-G-"

Asuna's ears perked up, but was cut off as the raid party caught up with them, rising to fill the air, as both Einherjar glared at the new threats. Griselda shook her head to recover, clearly dazed but just aware enough for her to react to a sudden blur of movement. Drawing her shield in a blink of an eye, she faced down a newly arrived Sakuya, her katana grinding against the shield.

"Go on! We'll hold them back!"

Alicia Rue called out to Asuna, Agni riding behind her. The army continued to hold off the horde from below, while the Lords and the General held Klein and Griselda at bay. With this, they finally had a clear shot.

"Let's go! This is our chance!" Leafa cheered, she, Recon, and Annie all rising up to the gate, Asuna following suit with a nod of gratitude.

Finally, they had made it.

Asuna placed a hand upon the gate on the ceiling, only to raise an eyebrow as nothing happened. She tried tapping on the stone, fiddling with her menu, even taking a slice at it with her sword, but nothing happened as the stone gate refused to budge.

"Yui! What's going on? The gate won't open!" Asuna asked, her pixie daughter emerging and placing a hand on the gate, trying to get a read on it.

As she opened her eyes, she gasped and turned to her mother. "Mommy! Something's wrong! This gate isn't locked by any quest flags in the game! It's sealed by an administrator code! These doors can't be opened by regular players!"

The group collectively gasped upon hearing this.

"T-that's impossible! Why would this quest exist in the first place if the final gates can't open?" Leafa asked frantically, Annie growling in response.

"Those bastards… they didn't want anyone getting up here in the first place. No wonder the dungeon itself was so fucking challenging."

"Yui, do any of Koichi's access codes work?!" Asuna asked, as Yui tried to input them.

[ACCESS DENIED]

Asuna grit her teeth as Yui was pushed out by the system. "Mommy, his clearance isn't high enough! Whoever is able to open this door must only be limited to RECT's inner circle!"

"Then what's the plan now?!" Recon screamed, just as more Valkyries appeared, prompting them all to prepare for battle.

"I don't know just- WATCH OUT!"

Asuna's eyes snapped to above them, just as another figure slammed into the gate above them as they all scattered in different directions to evade the incoming attacker, a massive shockwave blasting from their point of impact.

«Ragnar, The Berserker»

A new Einherjar had made his entrance.

As the dust cleared, Asuna's eyes widened as she took in the intruder's appearance. Dressed in intimidating spiked armor with a bull-horned helmet that covered his eyes, he hefted a massive battleaxe over his shoulder as he turned his head to face Asuna, a toothy snarl revealing itself.

Asuna's heart skipped a beat and her face paled because she knew who this was.

Because just under his helmet, on both cheeks, she could spot two lines creeping into his helmet. With his stocky build and heavy-set playstyle, this could only be one person.

Before he even summoned his Stand, she had guessed it.

"Okuyasu…"

"HRAAAAAAAGHHH!"

The Hand revealed itself, power surging as its user charged, making a beeline straight for Asuna. Its arm pulsed with deadly energy, Asuna's hair standing on end as she remembered just how powerful The Hand was.

"Scatter! If he hits you with that hand, it's all over!" Asuna screamed in pure panic, everybody blanching at the sheer urgency in her voice.

Asuna's brain fired on all cylinders, her body reacting on pure flight instinct as The Hand made several swipes at her, not nearly as lightning quick as Josuke's Crazy Diamond, thank all that was good for that.

Despite that, every strike was a potential death sentence, and she knew that fact better than everyone present. To make matters worse, each swing of his arm would warp her right back within striking range, leading Asuna to rely on her blitzing speed to get away.

"Erika! Who is this guy?! What is that Stand?!" Leafa yelled out as Asuna dodged once again, leading a poor Valkyrie to be cut in half by the Hand's ability.

"His Stand has the ability to completely erase anything with that attack! Don't let it hit you!" Asuna screamed.

When she was met with silence, Asuna turned to see Leafa's eyes widen with a spark of epiphany.

"Anything?"

Asuna's eyebrow rose, at first confused, but she slowly began to click the pieces together, realising what Leafa had.

"Annie! Can you control him with your Stand?!" Asuna called out to the girl, who then faced Recon.

"I can! But I need you guys to hold him down!"

"Leave it to me!" The Pooka replied, summoning Act 3 by his side.

"Scatter! Grab his attention!" Asuna called out, as everyone moved to gain an angle.

Leafa moved up front alongside Asuna, both Sylphs rushing at Okuyasu with their blades. In and out, alternating between strikes, they forced the Dark Knight back as he was forced to hold his axe up to deflect the swings.

Not an inch was allowed, but their eyes watched carefully, watching for his Stand's movements, now preoccupied with another matter.

Annie attempted to reach in with Love Deluxe, her hair stretching out to grab at him, but it appeared Okuyasu had caught onto their plan, using the Hand to swipe away any attempt for them to reach him. Strand after strand was wiped away from the world, Annie growling as she mustered the energy to regrow her hair again and again.

Recon wasn't faring much better, his Stand unable to get close with Okuyasu's defense, The Hand waving its arm about to ward him off, while also destroying any runes he tried to use to bind him down.

Okuyasu stood his ground, unflinching and unwavering. His voice snarled from beneath his helmet, his Stand erratically lashing out to keep anyone at bay. However, something had to give against four foes at once, and Asuna knew this well.

So she kept the pressure on, diving at him over and over, trying to keep his eyes on her alone. While The Hand was a deadly Stand, it was still notably slower compared to other close-range Stands such as Act 3. If she could distract him for just a few seconds…

"THREE FREEZE! S-H-I-T!"

*thummm

"Urk-"

Just as Okuyasu moved to swing at Asuna, Recon seized the chance and struck The Hand in the shoulder causing the arm to fall, the considerable weight of the limb threatening to drag him all the way to the bottom of the dungeon.

Grunting in frustration and confusion, Okuyasu appeared to summon his strength, sweat building in his pores and muscles straining to lift the arm with extreme difficulty.

"Annie! Now!" Recon yelled out, leading his fellow Stand user to move in.

"You're mine!"

Annie's hair shot from her scalp, dark, pulsing strands writhing like serpents and closing in on the Dark Knight. The tendrils slammed into The Hand and began to coil, wrapping around the Stand's body and tightening, restraining Okuyasu's movements as he mirrored his Stand's immobility.

The hair then extended, reaching up to grip his arm, eventually covering it entirely except his palm, still pulsing with The Hand's spiritual energy.

Annie's expression was one of great strain and tension as her eye twitched, her mind working to the limits to rein in the Stand user's strength. After everything they threw at him, Okuyasu continued to struggle, fighting against Annie's Stand as his body twitched, battling for control.

Annie watched Okuyasu's face lock onto hers, his Stand's energy boiling over, The Hand dead set for the kill. She felt her strength wrenched ever looser, but unlike her opponent, she had her wits about her, and she knew better than to rely on her brute strength alone.

Koichi had shown her that.

"C'mon! I'm right here! You got the guts, huh?! SHOW ME!" Annie yelled out, releasing her hold ever so slightly as she rose to the gate.

Unbound, Okuyasu moved, winding up a swing with his Stand.

"WRAAAAAAGGHH!"

Annie then moved.

She let her wings fade and she fell, just as Okuyasu's attack began. Okuyasu's eyes followed her, just as her Stand's energy resurfaced in droves, her eyes flaring with the light of her soul as her hair once again tightened its grip on Okuyasu's body.

In one final effort, Annie focused all her strength to redirect the Stand's attack onto a new target, right above them.

In a wide swipe of its hand, an opening was carved into the stone gate. A wide hole just large enough to fly through, revealing a bright light just beyond.

Perfect!

Asuna's mind set off fireworks as she inwardly jumped for joy.

"Mommy, it worked! This can take us to the top!" Yui cheered, only for her face to twist in fear as she saw Okuyasu rise up further, Annie's hair falling off his body in clumps as her power waned with attrition.

"Come back here!" Recon yelled, punching Okuyasu once again with Echoes, sending him down further.

Okuyasu gritted his teeth, grunting as Leafa slammed her katana against his guard, pushing him down and away from the gate. She then looked over her shoulder, eyes locking with Asuna's.

"We'll hold down the fort! Go save my brother! GO!"

Leafa gnashed her teeth, diving down to trade blows with more Valkyries as Recon and Annie took Okuyasu on. Far below her, she could see the armies holding the Valkyries back, Sakuya, Alicia, and Eugene all battling the other Einherjar.

If there was a time to move, it was now.

"Yui!"

"Go, mommy!"

Asuna then summoned a final burst of wind, wings spread as she zipped through the gate and into the light, disappearing.

Watching the girl fade away, Leafa looked up and smiled, her heart's fire cooling with a serene calm. Her part in this was played, and all she had to do now was pray.

With fortune, with the blazing desire for a better tomorrow, Kazuto would join her in the sun once again.

"Fly high, sister. It's all up to you now!"

ALO Races:

Imps: The Cave Runners. Dwellers of the dark and surveyors of the underground, the Imps are masters of Seidr Magic and are the only race capable of flying underground and indoors along with superior vision in the dark. An ideal class for stealth/assassin builds and dungeon-clearing.

Magic Affinity: Seidr

Perks:

- Night Vision

- Underground Flight

- High Stealth

- Increased Critical Damage

Weaknesses:

- No advantages in overworld or daytime

- Below average health

Attack: B

Magic: C

Mana: C

Speed: C

Vitality: D

Stealth: S

Luck: B

Flight: C

Canopy (Yggdrasil), ALfheim Online (Domain: Oberon) June 15th, 2024

Asuna groaned as the light faded from her eyes, allowing her to take in her new surroundings.

"Yui…"

She called out to the pixie, rubbing her head as the world around her came into view. The chaos and frenzy of the dungeon below was a complete contrast to the complete and utter silence that now filled the air.

"Mommy! We made it!" She heard Yui's voice, turning with wide eyes to see the girl changed from her tiny pixie form, now back to her original childlike body from Aincrad. The girl was kneeling at her side, both of them now on the floor in the center of a circular chamber.

"This is… the top?" Asuna asked, eyes scanning the room.

Yui nodded, her gaze analyzing the environment and prodding for data. "Yes, we're in the right place, of that I'm absolutely sure! If it's true then-"

"!"

Yui's eyes closed for a second before suddenly shooting wide open, her head snapping in a different direction, rising up to her feet and sprinting full tilt towards the door.

"Yui, find them!"

Yui continued to run as Asuna followed behind, the pair arriving in a long hallway with curved walls that seemed to light up. Their frantic footsteps echoed through the area, repeating until they reached a doorway at the end.

Yui placed her hands on the door and pushed it open, revealing a bright light as the outside air rushed in.

Asuna stepped through, squinting with a groan as she felt the howling winds brush against her face, kicking her hair up behind her. Opening her eyes, she let out a gasp at the sight.

She and Yui now stood on a massive tree branch, on a paved walkway connected to countless other paths along the canvas of emerald leaves, all joining together to meet at the enormous trunk some distance away from them, separated by a sea of wispy clouds.

Above them, a cerulean sky hid behind a winding mass of branches that made up Yggdrasil's trunk, golden light shimmering through the canopy.

All around them, Asuna could see small cell-shaped buildings, industrial and modern in appearance, unlike anything she had seen thus far in this fantasy-based game. Turning her eyes to the trunk, she saw a larger gate, leading to what she could only assume was the interior.

Now that she saw closer, she could see the faint glimmer of fluorescent light inside. Wherever this place was, it was completely removed from whatever world Alfheim could create.

"Yui… what is this place?" Asuna asked, her breath short as she gazed over the alien scenery.

Yui groaned as she tapped a finger to her forehead. "I'm not sure, Mommy. This place doesn't exist in the ALO files and it's completely off-book. I don't even have access to any map data here! That shouldn't be possible!"

Asuna stared at the husk of the World Tree and narrowed her eyes, putting the pieces together. "I was right after all. The quest was too hard for any one race to beat alone, and its conditions ensured that teamwork was out of the question. Even if someone were to come up here, there's no Floating City to be found. The Grand Quest was nothing but a farce…"

Asuna sighed, recalling all the tension and conflict she had encountered in the game, all in a race to reach her current position. It sent a spike of irritation down her spine, to think that it was all for nothing, a ploy to protect whatever secret was hiding amongst the branches.

Secrets she was now about to bring to light.

"Yui, you still got their signal?" Asuna asked, to which Yui nodded firmly.

"Yes! Daddy and Uncle's signals are coming from inside the trunk! Follow me!" The AI girl took off in a run, leaving Asuna to follow behind.

The two of them ran along the branch, eventually passing through the gate and making it inside. Asuna looked around at the walls and the hallways, all clean and smooth like plastic. Multiple rooms she passed all bringing to mind industrial and corporate office rooms, with meeting rooms and cubicles. It gave her the feeling that whoever created this place had every intention of using the virtual world but with absolutely no mind to what it held as a concept.

Not a touch of medieval elements or fantasy to be found in here, it made the message especially clear, that she had stepped into a completely different realm, a cold, clinical median between the real world and the virtual.

Eventually, Yui turned a corner before slamming her own back against it, as if to hide from whatever was on the other side. Asuna followed suit, looking to Yui who placed a finger over her lips, demanding silence as she shifted form back into her tiny pixie body.

Asuna nodded and cracked a set of runes in her fist, enshrouding her in a foggy mist and concealing her visage. Silently rounding the corner to catch a glimpse, she listened as Yui flew up to her ear.

"Mommy, I'm detecting a huge amount of people inside that room! I can sneak in and report back! I have a feeling that whatever's in there is important somehow!" Yui whispered, Asuna nodding in turn.

"Okay. Tell me what you see! Be careful in there!" Asuna whispered back, sending Yui off as she fluttered along the ceiling, away from view. Floating past the door, she looked inside and gasped to herself.

Yui faced a dark room, one wall completely covered in screen displays. The screens each displayed footage that appeared to be live, broadcast from locations all across the game. Yui's eyes shifted from screen to screen, on one General Eugene battled Klein while Valkyries tried to distract him, Sakuya fending them off as they held fast in the World Tree dungeon surrounded by battle.

In another, several players of all races all fought against a single Imp, the solo player summoning a spirit that beat them all senseless, proceeding to then have his torso split in half by a glaive-wielding Einherjar.

She spotted Einherjar in their signature armor, damaged in multiple places, all tied down and bound by their hands and legs in a room not unlike those she had seen around the facility, unable to escape but just enough to writhe in pain and agony as the armor seemed to glow and creep along their bodies, hissing like it was burning their flesh.

Countless more screens surveyed scenes from all over the game, all monitored by a crew of men and women in lab coats manning monitors across the floor. They viewed each of the scenes with indifference, even as sounds of suffering and battle echoed across the floor.

"Subject 126 has subdued the target. Pulling them back for repair."

"Valkyrie units are holding strong, but the Einherjar aren't going to last. Should we send them back for repair?"

"Keep it up. Send in Subjects 23 and 66. Withdraw them only on my word. We can't afford to waste time on reprogramming, not with that on our doormat."

"Understood."

Yui watched it all, mortified.

"They're controlling them… torturing them…" Yui held her hands to her mouth, flashbacks springing in her memory of her isolation by the Cardinal System.

Forced to sit in the void and watch helplessly as so many suffered and succumbed to their trauma. A hellish eternity of observing nothing but futility and the nihilistic shadow of death. A nauseating and soul-crushing experience that left her nothing but a hollow shell.

However, Yui knew one thing was different.

This time, she could move. She had the power to turn things around. A single thought filled her entire being, shining bright with determination.

"I can save them!"

Yui steeled her resolve and rushed down to one of the vacant consoles, trying to avoid any eyes on her, watching as the scientists were glued to their screens or walking in and out. Hiding behind the monitor, she placed a hand on the device and siphoned some of the data from within.

After a few seconds, Yui's eyes opened and she took to the skies once more, flying out the door unnoticed, rounding the corner to rejoin her mother.

"You're back! What did you find?" Asuna asked, as Yui motioned for Asuna to follow her.

Around an empty hallway, Yui landed on Asuna's shoulder and cupped a hand to her mouth, whispering in her ear.

"I found the facility's surveillance room. They have eyes all over Alfheim, watching countless battles across the game." Yui reported, Asuna's eyebrow rising.

"Battles?"

Yui nodded. "Yes. It also appears they are directing the Einherjar to serve that objective. For what purpose, I'm unsure yet and I need to find out more. Mommy…"

Asuna's confusion rose as Yui's expression changed and tensed, looking up with shining eyes.

"...I need to stick around longer. Please go on without me."

"W-what? Yui-" Asuna began to stammer before Yui placed a hand up to ease her worry.

"The data we're looking for is in that room, I'm sure of it, and if we're going to stop this for good, we need that evidence like Jotaro asked! I'm going to collect it all, and join you later! You go on ahead and save Daddy!" Yui smiled, before closing her eyes.

"I've uploaded the laboratory's map data to your menu and set a waypoint. Follow it and you should be able to find Daddy! I'm positive this is it!" Yui cheered as Asuna opened her menu to find her map updated, complete with a straight pathway to a destination several floors above them.

"Yui… thank you!" Asuna laughed, tears welling up in her eyes as Yui returned to her human form for a brief moment to embrace her foster mother, the pair linked for several seconds with their love for one another.

After that moment of respite, Yui resumed her pixie form and gave a salute, returning to the room and leaving Asuna to sprint in the direction her map was leading her.

She rounded corner after corner in a blind and desperate race, so agonizingly close to her objective and getting closer with each passing pound against the floor. Nothing would get in her way, nothing would stop her.

She had been waiting for two long months, and now it was finally happening!

She rounded another corner, rose up a flight of stairs and at last found herself in a large room.

The chamber was spacious and dark, reminding her of that ominous air at the foot of the World Tree, a choking feeling on the back of her mind that sent chills up her spine, triggering her every instinct that nothing good could come if she stepped forward.

However, her waypoint had led her to the dead center of this room. The end of the road was here, and she was going to settle this for good. Not just for them, but for herself.

Drawing her sword, she stepped in.

"Enjoying your tour?"

Asuna gasped in recognition as she looked up to face the origin of the voice, her sword held in a death grip and her eyes narrowing into arrowheads.

A spotlight from above shot to life, allowing Asuna to make out a figure standing atop a platform in the center of the room. He was a gaudy man, dressed in long, flowing green robes and sporting long golden hair decorated by a shimmering crown.

Crossing his arms, he gave a confident smirk as he stared down at Asuna from above.

Even with a completely different body, his voice was immediately familiar to Asuna.

"Sugou…" She growled the name with venom, her eyes flaring with anger.

At this display, Sugou let out a simple laugh.

"First of all, that's not the proper name you use in my presence here. I'd much prefer OBERON! God King of the Fairies!" Sugou declared, his butterfly wings behind him shining to match his voice as his eyes bulged open, Asuna's own doing the same in shock.

"Oberon…? That's you?"

"I appreciate all the effort you took to get here, it's genuinely quite fascinating. I can bet your father would be quite impressed, strongarming three races' worth of armies under your flag so that you could make it to the top, past every single obstacle I put in your way. Frustrating, sure, but quite the show, huh? Imagine the look on his face, his darling flower, a feral wolf in sheep's clothing!" Sugou continued to laugh, as Asuna gripped her sword tighter in annoyance.

"Enough with the bullshit Sugou. I know you've got my friends in here. You're done keeping them prisoner!" Asuna took several steps forward, her eyes bearing a death glare.

"Now, WHERE. ARE. THEY?"

Her voice was low and filled with malice and a thirst for blood, all directed at the man above her. The man in question cocked his head and furrowed his brows in response.

"So you do know. I'm impressed. You're right, all three hundred SAO players are right here in this experiment under my care. They've been doing me great service, furthering my research and giving the other Stand users out there one hell of a fight. Strides of progress every day, and with all their help I will be remembered and herald a new age! The next evolution of mankind!" Sugou bragged, throwing his hands up as Asuna continued to advance, her anger peaking.

"Kayaba's world is over. His game is finished. Like it or not, you're nothing but a footnote in this once I'm done with you!" Asuna snarled, Sugou's head then snapping to face her, a look of pure incredulity in his eyes.

"Kayaba is- was… a stubborn, shortsighted fool. He had the tools, the drive to create a change in this world, to direct all eyes on him and rule over the entire world. However, he chose to use his dream game to reveal the world of Stands. A hellhole where limits were tested and the true depths of human will could surface. However… he decided he had no place in the world he would create." Sugou growled, before anger seeped into his voice.

"He saw no future ahead for himself and thought nothing of it! He was content to lay down and die when the best part was only getting started! To think I called such a spineless sloth my friend! I'm nothing like him! I'm going to lead humanity through this new age of Stands with my research, to teach the world what I've learned here in ALO!" Sugou ranted, Asuna's voice rising to meet his.

"At the cost of innocent lives?! You're a monster!" Asuna screamed.

"Progress requires sacrifice! The world will be thanking me for what I'm doing! Pitting Stand users against Stand users, against normal players, against monsters. Observing how they fight, their brain patterns and strategies! Learning who is qualified and who falls short! How players have learned to overcome Stand users! You realize it too, don't you?" Sugou asked, Asuna's face widening in epiphany, remembering the room Yui had found.

"It's not just the Einherjar and the Valkyries. This entire game is your experiment…"

"You're deliberately encouraging conflict amongst the players to compare the data from their combat, and forcing Stand users to keep fighting harder… Who would want this data except-" Asuna realized, her breath hitching as she came to one last moment of revelation, Sugou smirking in turn.

"Yes. I'm going to sell this data to militaries all over the world, to truly make the unknown another frontier to conquer! Once humanity becomes accustomed to the existence of Stands, this new science will truly make Stands a part of this world!" Sugou laughed maniacally, drunk off of his envisioned triumph.

"What you're doing… it's not right."

"What?"

Asuna made her eyes meet Sugou's, her blade shining in the light. "If you go through with this, there won't be any hope left, only fear! It can't be worth the risk or the lives of my friends! You put them through hell to make this happen, and for that I can't let this slide! If you won't stop this… I'll stop you myself… and report this to my father!"

Sugou paused, going completely silent at Asuna's words. This silence filled the air, and the tension mounted as the air remained stagnant, only the faint beeping of machinery breaking the stillness.

"Heh."

A laugh.

"Hehehehe…"

More.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!"

Sugou's raucous laughter brayed through the air as he held a hand over his face, leaving Asuna to stare in confusion.

"Ahh… No. You won't. I'll make sure of that." Sugou sneered, eyes drilling into Asuna's.

The girl however was unwilling to back down from his display. "You think I won't? However this goes, I'll be back in the real world and tell everyone what's going on here! You think my father won't believe me?!"

Sugou's stance however refused to budge as his toothy grin grew wider. "Ah, Asuna. You always were so clever. However, do consider this: If I was the game master, and you are but a mere player, why haven't I banned your account yet? You think I haven't accounted for this?"

Asuna's eyes narrowed. "I'd be pretty suspicious if my account was banned, but now that I have evidence and testimony of your crimes, those suspicions are all but confirmed! What say you now, Sugou?"

Sugou let out another chuckle as he stepped forward on his platform above. "Obviously… your place in your father's heart, your determination, wits, and strength all make you a damning threat to my entire campaign… but you haven't considered one thing, have you?"

The room then lit up as hazes of light shot from the floor, encircling Asuna and trapping her within, forming some sort of arena. Asuna moved to escape, but was unable to reach the perimeter in time, finding herself crashing against a solid surface.

"The same barrier outside the World Tree… I can't make it past this…"

Without options, Asuna could only brace and stand her ground, refusing to show her fear, assuming a confident smirk.

"So what, you're going to keep me prisoner here? Like the others?" Asuna asked, not reassured by Sugou's next reaction.

"Hehehehe… No, that would take too long. Your father would ask questions, without a doubt. No, no, no, you see… Every way you have it, I have no way out of this…" Sugou lamented with a palm over his eyes, but despite the futility in his words, he betrayed no panic or worry, as if everything was under his control from the beginning.

"...unless you had nothing to say." Sugou noted with a grin between his fingers, an exposed eye focusing on Asuna, whose confusion only mounted with each word.

"What are you talking about?"

Sugou's smirk grew darker as his eyes glowed with green arrogance. "I won't keep you here. You'll forget everything that happened here, and I'll send you home, none the wiser. You keep quiet, and I'll continue on with my experiment. How else was I able to bend the Einherjar to my beck and call?"

Suddenly the air shifted, and Asuna could feel it in her bones. Her instincts kicked in as her blade rose in her hand, immediately forming a battle-ready stance as she watched Sugou's aura flare with a familiar energy.

A dark, hungry energy she recognized all too well.

"No way… Y-you have-"

"My Stand. BEHOLD, THE NEW NATURAL ORDER!" Sugou declared loudly, his grin reaching ear to ear as a menu appeared before his eyes, displays changing as Asuna felt the room around her change.

The lights around the room lit up, revealing multiple displays of screens all around the barrier. Scenes Asuna could only balk at the sight of in sheer horror.

Many screens, each showcasing footage of a different person. Many of them bound to holding cells and writhing in agony. Covering their chests and spreading up their bodies was a strange dark substance, amorphous in its shape as it slowly inched to cover more of their bodies, each advance over the skin seeming to inflict the pain that caused them to release those gut-wrenching screams.

Even worse, Asuna's face paled as she realized she recognized each person on the screens.

"All the SAO survivors… T-they're…"

Those who were unbound were shown fighting out in Alfheim, dressed head to toe in the same substance, taking the appearance of decorated and sinister armor.

The Einherjar.

She saw a man with blue hair, eyes dull as he breathed hoarsely, his face halfway covered by whatever evil entity was all over the others.

"Diabel…"

She gasped at the sight of her one of her lieutenants in the KoB, his usually jovial and rousing voice now screeching in absolute agony as his body was slowly coated in black.

"Godfree?!"

She could see more live footage of Klein, Griselda, and Okuyasu still battling the forces at the World Tree dungeon, their exhaustion and fatigue clearly showing even as they swatted away entire legions of fairies.

Griselda and Klein were now back-to-back, Klein's armor ready to give as his breaths grew haggard and strained. Griselda wasn't much better, her body gravely wounded as her torso bore countless battle scars through her armor.

Okuyasu was fending off whole armies, his Stand plowing through and warding away anyone who approached him, as more and more Valkyries arrived alongside another figure, bearing a lightning-wreathed mace in hand and heavy armor. Under her helmet, Asuna's heart dropped to see traces of pink hair underneath.

"N-no…"

All of them were here.

All of them were captive, turned into mindless slaves.

"NO!"

One more screen showed a familiar boy, long indigo hair unkempt and hiding angry eyes under their locks. The substance was a mere blob on his chest, but his reddened, tense skin and growling breaths showed he was livid and in agony.

"SUGOU! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!" Asuna screamed, eyes white with fury as she pointed her sword at the man above, who did nothing but offer a slow clap of his hands.

"I'm sure you'd love to… but are you sure you're willing to go through with this?" He asked, his voice smug and brimming with sadistic glee, Asuna's temper boiling hotter as she rushed up with her blade out, moving at supersonic speeds, all her rage directed right at the man cackling above her.

*CLANG*

However, her strike was deflected by something diving from above her, swatting her directly out of the sky and sending her skidding across the floor.

Her head spun and her ears rang as she gripped her skull to force her senses back together, squinting as the muffled tapping of footsteps inched ever closer.

Looking up, she could already feel the immense dread pooling to fill her soul, a twisted and horrible bile in her instincts that screamed for her to deny the reality laid bare before her, to somehow reject what she was seeing to give her some semblance of hope.

"Please… P-please no!"

Her brain wrestled with her heart's sinking weight, as horror swept over her entire being at the figure that now faced her down.

Dark, jet black armor coated his body, scaled plating coating his lithe limbs just enough to protect his body and leave his movement unhindered. Sharp, clawed gauntlets both grasped a dark, double-edged blade, long enough to grind sparks against the ground, flaring with a dark, magical aura.

Over his back flowed a billowing cape, framing his neck with dark fur. Shedding the mantle, he revealed a second blade identical to his current weapon strapped to his back. In his free hand, he held a draconic knight's helm, decorated with menacing horns and fangs along its mouthpiece.

His face uncovered, Asuna's heart stopped to see a familiar face staring back at her, his eyes hollow and dull and his face a dead and vacant scowl.

Without a doubt, no matter how much she wished to deny it, this was the boy she loved.

"Kirito…"

In response to her voice, Kirito's scowl deepened to bare his teeth, as he placed the helm over his head, causing his eyes to glow from under its slits. From behind his shoulder, a clawed wing reached for his second blade and lowered it into his open hand, assuming a familiar stance as he drew back both swords to attack.

Multiple health bars then appeared by his head, followed by his Einherjar title.

«Mordred, The Kingslayer»

"W-what did you do to him?! Is this your ability?!" Asuna asked angrily, outrage and terror spilling from her voice as she drew her blade, facing down her beloved.

Up above, Sugou stared down with morbid intrigue, snickering between his fingers.

"You're right! My Stand is Megalovania! It has the power to sap away the memories and personality of whoever I choose, turning them into my obedient and capable puppets! I knew that when you'd eventually find me out, my Stand would be the only way to keep things under wraps! However, such a delicate and arduous process can't be done by force, so I figured… I'd have to soften you up first." Sugou boasted, before maddened eyes flicked to the Sylph girl.

"AND WHO BETTER THAN THE ONE PERSON YOU'D WANT TO HURT THE LEAST?! THE GREAT HERO WHO SLAYED A GOD?! HAHAHAHAHAHA-!" Sugou cackled maniacally, Asuna's eyes quivering at his crazed state.

"System Command! Set pain absorber from ten to eight!" Sugou then shouted, as a meter appeared beside him, shifting position.

"W-what did you do?!" Asuna screamed, panicking.

"I'll turn it down in case you're too uncooperative, but I'd rather not go past five, lest your father notice the scars~! Feel free to plow past good sir Mordred here if you want to get me so badly. However… do you have the stones to go through with it? I'd love to see you try!" Sugou sneered, a crooked and smug grin creeping onto his face.

"NOW! DEFEAT HER! BRING HER TO ME, ALIVE!"

Sugou's words appeared to flip some sort of switch in Kirito's brain, Asuna watching as his eyes glowed in immediate response to his words, his body springing to life as he dashed in a sprint towards her, screaming wildly all the way.

"GRAAAAAGHH!"

Her mind moving on autopilot, Asuna stepped to evade the attack, her sword blurring through the air to deflect Kirito's swings.

Asuna was always faster than Kirito was, even with the boy's near superhuman reflexes and dexterity, but Asuna could say with confidence that her speed alone placed her on an equal or superior footing to the Black Swordsman.

However, this was before he had acquired the power of This Is War, a Stand that could very easily fill in that gap and breach it tenfold.

As Asuna deflected strike after battering strike from Kirito, she could easily tell his attacks were accelerating with every swing, Asuna's arms moving faster and faster to deflect and dodge each hit.

With Kirito's dual blades, he could keep relentless pressure on her, Asuna's guard failing and weakening with each smash against her rapier, and he was also able to easily deflect whatever counterattack she threw at him, lining up a blade to redirect her thrusts and swinging down another blade.

She dashed backwards, trying to keep distance, but his Stand allowed him to close distance before she could even blink.

She could barely keep this going, Kirito's sword eventually breaking past a poor attempt to parry, grazing away at her shoulder.

"GHKH!"

Although it was barely a killing blow, Asuna's eyes bulged as she felt searing pain shoot up from her arm, as if her real limb had been cut, her own flesh ruptured.

With little time or room to breathe, Asuna bit her lip, cursing under her breath as that too sent a stinging sensation in her mouth, swallowing her pain and steeling herself.

She couldn't afford to fall here, lest all her hard work, all the help offered to her from everyone be for absolutely nothing. However, the problem Sugou had laid before her was cripplingly effective.

After eating a hit without the grace of painlessness, she could barely stomach the thought of inflicting that on Kirito, even if his mind was gone. Try as she might, even if he was anything but holding back, she refused to harm the boy she loved.

So what now?

Hold out, survive for as long as she could? Was that even possible?

She fought and fought, defending herself against Kirito's relentless assault, unable to strike back as he battered away at her guard.

It was a hopeless situation, and all she could do was pray.

"Yui, whatever you're planning, I could use it now!"

Stand Showcase:

Lv. ? Stand: Twisted Union, Megalovania - The throne over all can only be claimed by one who pulls every string, bending every will under their own. To be a king is to be above all, but a supreme ruler has their soldier's wills and minds as well as their blades. If one is denied, one must simply take it by force.

Special: Symbiotic Puppeteer: Bonds to targets as an exoskeleton that slowly saps away their memories and personality to fuel its strength and durability. Leaves a mindless but powerful puppet acting on simple orders and base instincts.

Enhancement: N/A

Damage: N/A (E)

Speed: 150 (D)

Durability: 500 (A)

Range: ∞ (S)

Precision: 20% (D)

Rank: Unique (S)

Selling Price: N/A

Owner: Oberon

Surveillance Hub (Yggdrasil), ALfheim Online (Domain: Oberon) June 15, 2024

Yui took care to remain hidden, out of sight from any of the scientists in the room.

With good reason, too. Because her work trying to steal the data within the system had not gone unnoticed.

"What's going on? The system's detecting a foreign program in our network!" One scientist stammered, as other white coats scrambled to monitors to deal with the problem.

"A virus? Impossible! Think we got hacked?"

"Someone's found us out?! Someone call Mr. Nobuyuki! Should we force maintenance on the server?"

"No! He ordered us to not disturb him! If the Yuuki girl logs out, she rats on us and this is over! Deal with this issue or Sugou will have our heads!"

As more and more monitors grew occupied, Yui gritted her teeth and dove into the system, her body breaking down and dissolving into the network itself.

As an AI, her consciousness flowed with the stream of data as she combed the servers for anything and everything they would need to gain an edge over Sugou.

She cringed as she evaded sweeps from the counter-programs run by the scientists outside, trying to flush her out.

Yui felt herself tense up and fade away as the network tried to purge itself of her presence, but Yui had no intention of stopping, not with her mother and father's lives on the line.

"Not yet! Come on!"

Yui continued to search through the system, downloading mountains of files as her heart stopped with each morbid discovery she made.

The pain he had inflicted upon the Stand users.

The sheer length of information he had gathered in a mere three months of experimentation.

"Megalovania… he needed to break their minds and wills before he could control them…" Yui gasped, eyes wide at the implications.

It was nauseating to bear witness to the countless atrocities these people had committed all for the sake of Sugou's twisted ambitions, each file she found unearthing another horrid truth.

Despite this, Yui continued on. After all, if she was able to bring all of this evidence to light, this could all finally end, and her mother would at last know peace.

She had to press on, for her sake and for everyone trapped under Sugou's thumb.

Within the system, Yui continued to move, her mind latching onto anything she could find, anything she could use against Sugou's entire operation.

Seconds ticked by on the clock, her time running short. Yui was far from ignorant of what was happening outside, as anything and everything happening within the virtual world of ALO flowed through the system.

With every passing moment, the battle at the World Tree continued to rage on, as the Einherjar trickled in to join the battle one by one, pushing back against the overwhelming united force of the Sylph, Cait Sith, and Salamander armies.

The other survivors, undergoing grueling and agonizing tests within the labs. All of them, suffering beyond anything they had endured in Kayaba's death game.

Most alarming to Yui was the main event of the evening, her parents dueling to the death before the Fairy King, her distraught mother frantically trying to fend off her brainwashed father, relentlessly hacking away at her vanishing defense.

Yui was highly perceptive by design, she possessed a level of empathy no human could match, and from her treasured time spent with her mother and father, she knew one thing to be true above all. Nothing she knew could compare to a fraction of the bond between Kirito and Asuna.

She understood on a fundamental level just how deeply Asuna loved Kirito, which is why the situation she now faced was one of the worst possible scenarios.

Asuna by herself made a generous match for Kirito even with his Stand in play to even the difference in their speed. However, on top of the sheer shock and emotional disarray of witnessing his current state, Sugou had thrown a wrench in the works by removing the pain absorber.

Asuna would be thrown off with every hit she took, and she would be trying at all costs to hold back on her power to avoid bringing harm to her beloved, who had absolutely no intention of returning the charity.

The battle would end any minute now if Yui didn't act quickly enough, and that was what she was going to do.

So she diverted her attention away from evidence and narrowed the search for one man.

One man she knew for a fact was within these walls, and had the power to take both of them on and break off the most heated battle between them with his bare hands.

"C'mon… Uncle, where are you?!"

"Run it again! Flush it out, whatever it is!"

She heard the scientists outside yelling again, as everything flashed red. This was it, now or never!

She laid out all the preparations, downloading everything she could to complete her mission as the system drew nearer and nearer to purging her completely.

Her eyes darted back and forth, her mind racing as time ticked down faster and faster.

"NOW!"

In a flash, Yui moved.

Just as the system went dark, she let her wings spread and took flight, bursting from the confines of the network and skimming through the open air, just as multiple scientists took notice, eyes tracking her through the air as she moved in a beeline for her next destination.

"There! I see it!"

"Stop it!"

She heard them yell behind her, but the voices slowly began to dim down in volume as she turned corner after corner, expanding the distance between them.

Yui scoffed under her breath.

Even with the massive sandbox of a virtual world, these scientists didn't opt to bear the same wings as all the players. Left to scramble behind her in the dust, she laughed inwardly.

"Why toy with this world if you aren't going to play with it?"

With this victory claimed, Yui moved on, venturing deeper and deeper into the laboratory. She passed room after room, eventually arriving at the spot the system had directed her to.

The room she had entered was a large lab, boxed with clinical white walls much like the rest of the facility. In the center, a team of scientists were tending to a gurney, running tests on its occupant.

Bound to the table was Yui's target. His bonds strained and groaned as he writhed in place, his defined muscles flexing and tensing as he screamed in pain. The source of his pain was scattered all over his body, as the dark armor of the Einherjar, cracked and fractured, continued to inch over his body like a festering fungus.

Immediately, Yui made her move, slamming into the nearest computer she could find and inputting as many valid commands and access codes she had downloaded from the mainframe earlier.

Unsurprisingly, the staff monitoring Josuke had caught wind.

"What the-"

"Hey! Stop that!"

They screamed out, trying to reach for her. However, a second too late as the system obeyed her, leading her to watch in victory as Josuke broke free of his bonds.

"HRAAAAGH!"

"S-shit!"

The scientists all turned in horror as the imposing Stand user roared and shot up from his prone position, his body arched and his eyes red with rage, directing waves of killing intent at his captors, now helpless in the face of his presence.

"CRAZY DIAMOND!"

The armored Stand flourished into existence beside Josuke, arms wound back as the scientists all bolted frantically for the door.

Not that it helped.

"DORA! DORA! DORARARARARARAAA!"

Josuke was a blur in the crowd, rampaging from one scientist to the next, each of them crumpling in a heap with single blows from Crazy Diamond.

One punch. Another. Yet another as Josuke felled them all, standing tall with his breath heavy.

Yui stared in awe at his power, amazed by his speed. Without a doubt, this was the Diamond Fist she remembered from Aincrad, the great hero who had plowed a path through the death game.

Then he directed his gaze to Yui.

For a moment, Yui's breath hung in her throat. She knew Josuke as a fun-loving, laidback boy, but his wrath was to be feared by any foolish enough to provoke it. A burning anger that flared blindly, indiscriminate as it seared everyone nearby.

If he had Yui in his crimson-veiled sights, then she could only pray he would at least spare the worst of it-

"Hngh!"

Josuke clenched a fist to his chest, grasping at the black mass covering his body with an iron grip and tugged.

Josuke grunted with strain oozing from his throat, his teeth clenched as he pulled harder and harder until-

"DORA!"

With Crazy Diamond's hand overlapping his own, the entire dark Stand covering him came undone and was torn away from his skin, as Josuke ripped it away with a great roar, before driving his Stand's fist into the mass, sending it splattering over the walls and evaporating away.

With that, Yui watched as Josuke heaved over and dropped to his knees, his chest rising and falling with each hoarse and drained breath he heaved, finally free of the agony Sugou's Megalovania had wreaked upon him.

"Uncle!"

Yui finally rushed over to his side, placing a hand on his cheek as he slowly turned his head up to look her in the eye, his gaze now bearing the tender kindness she remembered from SAO as a smile slowly but surely inched its way onto his face.

"Yui… Man, am I glad to see you again…" Josuke's voice was quiet and rough, as if he'd been screaming for a lifetime, which sent a pang through Yui's heart.

However, while she was overjoyed to reunite with her uncle, time was running short, and they had to act quickly before everything went wrong.

"Uncle! Mommy and Daddy are fighting! We have to save them now!"

Stand Showcase:

Lv. ? Stand: Rampaging Repair, Crazy Diamond – Heal or destroy? Forgive or punish? You have the power to decide, the strength to pass on judgment. You are a diamond in the rough.

Special: Restoration: Ability to heal or restore any object to a previous state of being.

Enhancement: N/A

Damage: 550 (S)

Speed: 900 (S)

Durability: 500 (A)

Range: 2m (B)

Precision: 85% (A)

Rank: Unique (S)

Selling Price: N/A

Owner: JoJo

Oberon's Throne Room (Yggdrasil), ALfheim Online (Domain: Oberon) June 15, 2024

Things were very, very bad.

Asuna deflected more strikes appearing out of thin air as the blurs of blades barreled down upon her. Each hit was a devastating bomb that threatened to blow her limbs clean off, delivered without a shred of hesitation.

Her eyes were wide open and her teeth were bared in sheer panic as her beloved Kirito pressed his overwhelming offense, bashing his blades against her own without stopping or slowing for even a second.

"HRAAAAGGHH!"

She had long since given up on trying to fight back and go on the offensive, not with Kirito's oppressive pressure. Asuna knew she was fast, and while Kirito wasn't quite on her level on his own, he was damn close and could definitely keep pace.

On top of it all, that didn't take his Stand into account.

This Is War was a power that tipped the scales entirely in his favor, and Asuna was made well aware of this new development.

So here she was, holding a feeble attempt at defense, her stance cracking and faltering with each agonizing cut she suffered.

Each wound Kirito landed hurt like hell, a searing sensation that lingered and piled on with each ensuing slash he drew on her.

She had spent two full years in the throes of the battlefield, clashing blades with foes she could only dream of, but even with the wild card of Stand users during the raid to finish Laughing Coffin, none of them could make her feel the true scars of battle until now.

Another strike crashed into her guard, causing Asuna to cringe as her knees rattled, immediately followed by a devastating barrage of overlapping rapid swings of Kirito's swords.

"I can't hold on for much longer! Shit!"

"You ready to give up yet? Just drop the act already, it'll make this more painless for the both of you, Asuna." Sugou gloated, a crooked smile creeping onto his face, Asuna's own face twisting in anger.

It was a losing game every way she could think, and Sugou knew this well. Asuna cursed as her defense continued to crack with each strike.

Crack.

Crack.

"Wait…"

Asuna's eyes widened as that thought passed through her process for a brief moment.

"The Stand controlling them… It's the armor!"

Asuna recalled fighting Josuke in Legrue, how Leafa had shattered his helmet, breaking a hole into it to expose part of his face. It was barely a dent in his stride, but it opened the way for Yui to be able to get through to him, on top of her pressing his berserk button.

Then she remembered Klein's appearance at the World Tree dungeon, how Recon's carpet bomb attack had left him ragged and disheveled, his armor in tatters, enough so that he wasn't able to restore its state the next day when they all arrived to rise up the Tree. He hadn't broken out of his brainwashed state, he didn't seem to recognize her in her ALO avatar, but she didn't miss how he had reacted to Griselda when she had faltered in their raid, drained from overusing her Stand.

Exactly like it had happened back in Aincrad.

If the armor was the key, then the answer was clear.

"KIRITO!"

Asuna pushed off, Kirito's assault abruptly stopping as he flew back, skidding his boots across the floor before cracking his neck up to lock eyes with Asuna.

Asuna wasted no time, her arms winding up into a battle-ready stance as muscle memory took the helm, her rapier lined up beside her head pointing straight at Kirito's chest.

Likewise, Kirito ground his boots into the ground, ready for a running start.

Both warriors, both lost souls finally united in tragic battle, their eyes drawing a clear link between them, swords at the ready as the air stilled to a complete halt.

Then the second passed.

"RRAAAAAAGHHH!"

Screaming as one, both of them rushed each other, moving so fast the air took a brief moment to part in their wake.

The air filled with the chimes of metal striking metal, as two warriors blurred in and out of the visible eye, moving so fast that Sugou could only laugh in bewildered amusement.

Asuna's brain worked in overdrive as her arms went through the motions, her muscles remembering the movements of battle from her harrowing experiences.

Each attack aimed at Asuna was blindingly quick, almost invisible to the naked eye as actions started and connected in nanoseconds, and yet she was able to keep up. After all, she was the legendary Lightning Flash.

With each strike she parried away, Asuna landed her counterattacks, tilting her rapier so the flat of her blade would smash into Kirito's armor, bludgeoning at its surface like a hammer in hopes to get past the thick exterior, to reach her beloved inside.

Another parry, another dodge.

Another smack, another bash upside his head.

She couldn't afford to slow down, not when she had to stay absolutely on top of him to chip away at his armor.

Something had to give, it had to end before her body gave out on her. She couldn't keep up forever, and someone had to fall under the pressure eventually!

*CRACK

With a brilliant chime, Asuna's rapier struck true, hitting a weak fracture along Kirito's helmet causing cracks to spiderweb over the helm as it then fell apart into hundreds of faint shards, revealing the boyish visage of Kirito's face.

The face she had fought so hard to see once again.

Asuna smiled.

It was done.

"KIRITO!"

The sound of her voice had an immediate effect. It was subtle, but she could see it. Kirito's Stand vanished from sight, and his movements flinched for a brief moment as his face was seized in an expression of shock.

Josuke and Klein couldn't recognize her from appearance, as her ALO avatar looked considerably different from how she appeared in SAO. Of course, the same would have to be the case for Kirito.

However, he had spent more time with her than any of the others in Purple Rain. They shared an intimate bond, fostered over months of time spent with each other and each other alone in the game. So it was no wonder that Kirito would respond after hearing her voice once.

He had heard it plenty enough to remember deeply after all they had shared together.

"A-A-"

His voice came through as his eyes bulged at the sight of her, his fractured mind returning to lucidity as he collapsed on his knees, reaching a hand out to her.

"Kirito! Kirito, it's me! You have to fight back! Resist it!" Asuna screamed, tears welling up in her eyes as his body struggled to regain control of itself.

"Oh, you found me out? Cheeky! But USELESS! DON'T STOP! KEEP FIGHTING!"

Sugou's voice rang out, his commands also taking hold as soon as Kirito heard them, the black armor suddenly responding as Kirito released a scream of absolute agony.

"GYAAAAAGHH!"

The broken edges of the helmet she had destroyed now started to spark to life, clinging at Kirito's skin and inching slowly over to cover it once more, each effort by the Stand seeming to induce searing pain onto the Black Swordsman.

On top of that, his eyes once again clouded over, and his screams turned to cries of rage as blind fury took hold of him, his sights set firmly on Asuna.

The attacks continued.

Asuna once again found herself hiding behind her guard, trying frantically to keep a maddened Kirito at bay. However, Asuna could immediately notice something had changed.

Kirito's movements were nowhere near as fluid as before. Now, his swings were erratic, sloppy. Nowhere near the clean, efficient style she had known for so long. Additionally, he was moving slower. On top of that, each swing seemed to lag, as if he were actively fighting against the armor that puppeteered his movements.

"He's fighting back!"

"KIRITO! YOU CAN DO IT! FOCUS ON MY VOICE! COME ON!" Asuna screamed desperately, trying with all her heart to get through to the boy she loved.

"Asu-A-A-AAAAAAAGHHHH!"

Kirito's eyes twitched as she screamed at her, his teeth gritting as he fought with his own body to stop fighting.

Asuna continued to fight back herself, continuing to scream, trying to bring Kirito back to his senses, to restore his memories.

"I've come so far just to see you again! Yui's alive, Kirito! We saved her! We can be together again! Josuke's here too! So are Klein, Okuyasu, Griselda, and all the others! Argo and Agil are waiting for us back home! Please, come back to me! KIRITO!"

Asuna never let her voice die down, all while her blade continued to speed up, keeping up the exchange to buy every last second she could muster.

She was so close! Kirito continued to struggle, the mental struggle he was wrestling with screaming from the creases on his tense face.

"DON'T GIVE IN! YOU'RE MY TEST SUBJECT! OBEY ME!" Sugou continued to shout, his words clashing with Asuna's as Kirito was stuck in between two colliding forces upon his mind.

One force urged him to break free.

Another to submit to the pretender.

Stop.

Stop.

STOP.

#%$t0 P._!

"DORA!"

Suddenly, everything stopped.

Sugou's body flew from a sharp impact across his jaw, the sound of it echoing out around the room like a gong.

Asuna stared up as Kirito dropped to his knees, at the newcomer made his appearance with his signature battle cry.

Sugou was sprawled over the floor, rising weakly from the ground as he stroked his chin, stunned silly from the devastating blow he received.

"W-what the…"

"Oi, oi, asshat. You owe me big time for the shitfest you put me and all my friends through!"

Asuna gasped to see none other than Josuke Higashikata striding up to Sugou with an expression of pure malice and killing intent twisting his face, furious eyes staring down the whimpering Fairy King.

"Y-you-! How dare-" Sugou murmured, his words slurred as his jaw clicked with each one.

Josuke didn't let him continue.

"DORA! DORA! DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!"

Crazy Diamond phased into existence beside Josuke and wasted no time, rushing in with its fists flailing, its face contorted in pure rage.

Sugou knew exactly what he was inflicting upon Kirito and Asuna by lowering the pain absorber. He was aware of the sheer jump in sensory input and the pain it would inflict. However, he vastly underestimated how greatly Stands nulled that inhibitor.

Blow after blow after blow peppered into Sugou's body, obliterating his avatar with a relentless, savage assault. Every strike, every roar that echoed from Crazy Diamond's maw, all of it pulsed with the pure, unbridled fury of Josuke Higashikata's wrath.

And he felt the pain of all of it.

"DORAAAA!"

With one final devastating punch, Crazy Diamond punched a hole directly through Sugou's stomach, his entire fist sunken into his body and punching straight out his backside, as the Fairy King could only cough weakly in response.

"Rot in hell, dickweed."

"GKHH!"

Josuke yanked his fist back, leaving a gaping hole through Sugou's body as his knees buckled, losing his balance as he slowly and weakly slumped backward.

As soon as his back hit the floor, Sugou's avatar burst into a cloud of bright pixels, dissolving into the air.

Sugou Nobuyuki was now no longer a part of ALO's world.

With his absence, his Stand followed immediately after, as all traces of the Fairy King's soul were wiped off the face of Alfheim. On cue, Kirito's dark armor evaporated away in an instant, like a snowflake hitting the water's surface.

Kirito's body immediately fell loose, suddenly free of the constricting hold of Megalovania. His breathing slowly steadied and he collapsed to the floor, his energy completely drained.

"Kirito!"

Asuna wasted no time to rush to his side, getting on her knees and holding her beloved in her arms. Holding him tight to her chest, Asuna felt a massive burden on her shoulders slowly rise up and away.

A generous silence filled the room as Asuna slowly ran her fingers through her lover's hair, stroking him gently with all the care and love in the world, watching with hope as his eyes slowly inched open to take in his surroundings.

Without a second's notice, his gaze locked onto hers.

"K-Kirito?"

Upon hearing her voice, fat tears welled up in his eyes, trickling down his cheeks as his smile emerged with them.

"Asuna… It's really you…!"

Asuna's own eyes found themselves watering up in turn, as the warmth in her heart flushed into the entirety of her body, the whole of her being as she hugged Kirito tight, finally able to embrace him once again after so long.

"It's me! I'm here! It's gonna be okay! I'm right here!" She sobbed, as the both of them continued to stay locked and intertwined, unwilling to let go for fear of being separated once again by cruel fate.

"We all are. Thanks to you."

Asuna and Kirito then turned to see Josuke walking up to them, his own cheeks moist with tears as he joined the pair in a group hug, embracing them both as he choked out a sob of his own.

"We're all finally going home! It's real, at long last!" He laughed between his tears, holding them all tighter, sharing in their warmth and enjoying this moment of peace, savoring every last second of it.

From his pocket, Yui emerged, fluttering her wings and directing her attention to the screens Oberon had erected, depicting the feeds from all across Alfheim. With a smile spreading on her face, Yui cheerfully pointed at them.

"Mommy! All the Einherjar are breaking free of their captivity! We did it!"

Asuna turned, and sure enough, every last one of the Dark Knights was stripped of their menacing armor, now all groggily coming back to their senses.

Some were overjoyed to finally feel the joy of freedom from the pain they had suffered for so long, others awoke to see treasured friends at their side.

In the dungeon, Klein was now in a tight embrace with Griselda, the pair of them seeming to laugh and weep much like how she and Kirito now were. Okuyasu nearby was confused, eyes darting to and fro at the new surroundings he found himself in, but was nonetheless overjoyed, cheering his heart out.

It seemed the fairies in the World Tree had caught on, lending a hand to any of the former Knights and pulling out of the dungeon en masse, fending off any and all Valkyries that pursued them.

"So it's finally over…" Kirito muttered weakly, Josuke and Asuna nodding in agreement.

"Indeed."

A fourth voice made itself heard.

All three players stood on alert, before they realized the exact same thought.

"This sounds familiar…"

Turning to the source of the voice, they watched in shock as the shape of a human figure began to construct itself out of thin air, pixels assembling to form the appearance of a man in a white lab coat, who released a pained sigh from his lips.

"Sugou… I'm sorry things had turned out this way, old friend…"

"Kayaba…?! B-but I-" Asuna asked, bewildered.

This man died! He had seen them off himself at the end of SAO after Kirito and Josuke had defeated him!

So how…?

"Hello again, you three. It fills my heart with joy to know you all are once again reunited. I understand… I'm not supposed to be here. Allow me to explain."

Asuna said nothing in response, and neither did Josuke or Kirito, allowing him to continue.

"My Stand, Wonderful World allows me to control any and all digital data connected to it. And ultimately, the Stand is a part of the user's soul, am I correct. Therefore, I suppose that would explain how my consciousness is able to speak to you in this manner. As a "ghost in the machine" of sorts." Kayaba mused, as the others continued to listen.

"First of all, I would like to thank you for dismantling my old friend's experiments here. It was never my intention to cause you suffering beyond your control, nor was it to subject any of you to anything near what Sugou has made you suffer. I fulfilled my end of the bargain, to create this new world, but Sugou saw my sacrifice as a meaningless waste of my ambition. I've proved him wrong, and I'd like your help to make it real." Kayaba then said, as he then raised an open palm, causing light to pool at his hand.

Coalescing into a bright star, the light then took shape, forming the visage of a glowing egg. Kayaba then leveled his hand out, causing Josuke to catch it as it slowly levitated into his grasp.

"W-what is this?" the Stand user asked, eyes wide in awe.

"It's my life's work. The hope that the world created by my Stand's power can live on after I'm gone. I call it… The Seed."

All three of them stared in awe at the construct, bewildered and confused. Kayaba smiled in amusement and continued.

"I knew that anything I had left to offer after Sword Art Online would be viewed with skepticism and wariness. I was, after all, the orchestrator of the dreaded death game. However, even with my dream of revealing the world of Stands, I still held hope and love for the virtual world I had created. This Seed is the culmination of that hope, that even after everything is over, people will have the means to forge the castles of their own dreams." Kayaba smiled, turning to face them directly.

"I leave this Seed's fate in your hands, and with it, a choice. You can do whatever you wish, I will not judge or object. You can discard it, leave the nightmare of Sword Art Online to the dust behind you for good. However, if you held even a tiny bit of fondness for the virtual world, I'd implore you to let it blossom."

With those words, Kayaba's apparition sighed and gave a final smile.

"I'll be on my way. I hope our paths cross again someday, somewhere in the digital sea."

With that, his body vanished into the void, leaving no trace and leaving the three players alone once again.

"Yui?" Asuna called out, as her daughter appeared to greet them, shifting from her pixie form to that of the little girl they had all met in SAO.

"Mommy, I'm right here!" She chirped, saluting in greeting.

"Is everything in order?" Asuna asked, Yui nodding.

"Yep! All the SAO players are being logged out as we speak, and I've patched Jotaro and the Speedwagon Foundation into the system along with all the files I downloaded! Mission accomplished with flying colors!" Yui grinned widely, as Josuke chuckled in response, tousling Yui's hair in his hand.

"You sure are a miracle worker, sport! So… guess we're finally going home." Josuke sighed happily, Kirito nodding before turning to Asuna.

"Yeah. Asuna…?"

"Yeah?"

Kirito nodded determinedly, just as Yui began inputting the command to send them all back, filling their vision with blinding white light.

"I'll see you on the other side."

ALO Magic:

SEIDR: Curses of the Hel-Walkers. The witchcraft of Helheim's druids, Seidr magic is employed by those who dwell in the darkness and among the dead. A craft of assassins, Seidr specializes in weakening foes to gain an edge.

Element: Dark, Poison

Specialization: Debuffs, Status Effects

Affinity: Imps

Yuuki Residence, Setagaya, Tokyo, June 15, 2024

"!"

Asuna opened her eyes with a gasp, awakening to face the ceiling of her room as she took a brief moment to reacclimate to the real world once again.

Her senses took in everything all at once, the cool breeze of the air conditioner against her thin and sweat-soaked pajamas, the flowery scent of the freshener, the faint drone of Tokyo's bustling heartbeat in the far distance.

Hugging her shoulders, Asuna let out a long sigh as she absorbed the world around her once again.

Her mind drifted, still hazy after emerging from such a heated battle in ALO. Then she remembered.

"Kirito… Josuke…"

And smiled, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

It was done, finally done.

She'd saved them. Brought them back to the real world. And they were waiting for her at the hospital.

"I have to go!"

Asuna's thoughts burst out of her mouth at the sudden epiphany, as she rushed to her closet to slap on whatever she felt looked presentable enough in her eyes, a simple skirt and t-shirt.

Within a minute, she shoved her door open and into the hallway, but not before turning to her side to see another resident doing the same.

"Whoa, aren't you in a hurry!" He laughed, as Asuna ran up to him for a tight hug.

"Koichi! Thank you for everything!"

"Now, now, like I said, anything for you. Now from that smile, I'm guessing everything went off without a hitch?" Koichirou asked, Asuna nodding in turn.

"Kirito and JoJo should be awake in the hospital right now! I have to go see them!" Asuna hurriedly said, about to rush down the stairs until her brother slapped a hand on her shoulder, catching her attention.

Koichirou flashed a smile as he retrieved a car key from his pocket, dangling it between his fingers.

"I'll drive you there. C'mon!"

Player Profile:

The Lightning Flash, Asuna – Unlike her introverted lover, Kirito, Asuna's impeccable swiftness is outmatched only by her ability to inspire and lead others on the path to victory. Despite her firm stance as a leader, she hides a kind and gentle soul treasured by those close to her.

Real Name: Asuna Yuuki

Born: September 30th, 2007

Stand Name: N/A

Favored Armament: Rapier

Biggest Fear: Ghosts

Tokorozawa General Hospital, Saitama (SAO Wing) June 15th, 2024

Once again, she ran like her life depended on it.

Her breath ran short and her legs ached, but none of it compared to the sheer lightness of her heart.

Where she once felt the heavy, hollow grief of loss and regret, now none of it remained, as her heart leapt and sang in the wake of everything that had happened in ALO.

With each corner she rounded in a mad dash, she could only see the light at the end of the path growing nearer and nearer with each grand step and bound she made in her race to that room.

That sacred and hallowed place in her heart, where she would go to let out her grief and regrets, let all the ugliness building up from her trauma spill out as she prayed by her dear friends' prone bodies, praying in vain for some way to reach them once more.

No more.

As she rounded the final corner and swung the door open, she peered inside once more and everything changed.

Where they once slept silently, prisoners in a world beyond their own, now the two boys sat upright, exchanging hoarse and weak words with one another, their heads free of the metal contraptions that once held them hostage.

As she entered, they both turned their eyes to face Asuna, and she finally got a clear look at their faces as her breath caught in her throat.

The larger boy lacked much of the bulk he was known for in the virtual world, his arms now slack and lean as he ran a bony hand through a tangled mop of long, messy purple hair, draping over his dulled and baggy sapphire eyes in chaotic tendrils, making him almost unrecognizable without the signature hairstyle that was by now synonymous with his name. Regardless, the warmth that radiated from his kind gaze was unmistakable, just like she had known it in Aincrad. He mustered as much of a toothy grin as he could, raising his hand in a peace sign, before nodding his head to his fellow patient, silently prompting Asuna to focus on him.

Then her eyes turned to the other boy. His arms were freakishly bony and frail after years of neglect and idleness, his hospital gown hanging off his body like a poncho. His head turned up to face her, twiggy fingers parting his overgrown ebony bangs to reveal chrome eyes that shimmered silver in the moonlight as they filled with the wetness of tears.

"...Hey."

The greeting escaped his lips with the coarseness of sandpaper and so softly she could barely catch it, but she could also hear with it the depths of his heart, the immense love he felt and joy that filled his soul at the sight of her once more.

"Hi… W-welcome back… Kirito…!" Asuna greeted back, glee seeping into her voice as the tears returned in full force, only intensifying as she walked in closer to embrace the boy she loved in her arms.

Her arms wrapped around his body, his warmth sharing with hers, only surged by their hearts beating in sync as they savored every lasting second in each other's embrace.

He felt so frail, so fragile. Like his bones would snap if she squeezed even a little too tightly. And oh, was she tempted. Asuna wanted to hold him tight, keep him in her arms and never let go, so they would never be apart ever again.

She adored this feeling, to finally feel their bodies aligned in the real world, a sensation the virtual one could never replicate despite Kayaba's best efforts. Their heartbeats, their warmth, the softness of his hair, the saltiness of her tears in the back of her throat.

All of it at once was a sensation that drove Asuna to such blissed tears.

"You saved us… both of us… How could I ever…" Kirito rasped, only for Asuna to hush him, placing a finger over his lips.

"You're home-! Finally home with me! H-how could I ever ask for anything else?" Asuna sobbed with a smile that reached ear to ear, cupping both Kirito's cheeks with her hands.

Kirito laughed in turn, but opened his eyes as they both stared in joyful silence, faces inches apart from one another.

The second passed, nothing else had to be said. Asuna made the first move, moving her face closer and closing her eyes shut, Kirito following her lead and leaning into the warmth of her touch.

Their lips connected.

Time stood still, a whole world just for the two of them to share. A universe of love flowed between their bodies as they cherished this precious moment for as long as they were able.

At long last, they had awoken from the dream.

Up Next: Back Together!

Well now, this is quite embarrassing. First off, I'm actually really sorry it took this long. Almost the whole year went by, and I really took my time to get this out. Most of that is my own fault, but yeah I really didn't expect this chapter to be this long. Is that gonna be a running trend for finales? Who knows? Hope you liked it! So many battles! So many characters and scenes! I made Sugou's Stand the funny Undertale reference! Also that beginning flashback? Might have been a tad inspired by that scene in JJK S2 of Gojo and Geto breaking up in front of the KFC. Just nowhere as good. What do you think?

Also unsure if time'll be on my side. I got one quarter left of college, then I'm off to find a job, hot damn time flies.

Anyways, got one last leg left in Fairy Dance before Season 2, and I'll get started on that pretty soon so you guys won't have to wait as long. So until then, please don't hesitate to leave a review, I'd love to hear anything about what you guys have to say for my story! Until next time, deuces.

Aurum79: HELL YEAH! I'm really glad to know you enjoyed the stuff I added onto the story, I put a lot of thought into it all. I really tried to stress that while Asuna was a better swordswoman, Eugene was a far better ALO player, and she couldn't beat him conventionally. I really hope you like what I cooked here and what I'm planning for the future!

ZEDNEMwashere: Oh dang that does kinda spoil it huh lmao