Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Unknown Location) June 6th, 2023

It was a dark night in the world of Sword Art Online, the dark iron castle now cast in the shadows of moonlight, much like it was outside in the real world. The night was silent, as the world around fell still. In the dark recesses of a city on one of the many floors already cleared by the players, those trapped and forced to fight their way back to achieve freedom, shadows stirred in the darkness.

A man walked the streets, passing by the few still going about the nightly scene. His face obscured by a hood as passersby merely spared him a few nervous stares. He paid them no mind, his steps loud and aggressive as he stomped down the street. His toothy grin grew in size as fearful looks were turned his way.

Eventually, the man walked into a certain part of the city, completely abandoned as the dark of shadows filled the streets, the lights that would illuminate the alleyways now broken down and dead. The buildings around him decrepit and worn down, skeletons in comparison to the streets he had passed not too long ago.

Entering a certain building, he faced his colleague, a man dressed similarly to him seated in the corner as he inspected his hand closely, picking away at his nails, his face partially covered by a skull mask to expose his eyes. Eyes, while unassuming at first glance, harbored a frightening aura to them. An inky black, devoid of light that sent chills down even his spine.

Despite his relaxed posture, the feeling of fingers at his throat, clenching with adequate force that it just enabled him to breathe indicated the man in the room was well aware of his arrival. He had seen his Stand in action before, and it was a power he would very much rather not be on the receiving end of. He was very much less anxious about his lack of breathing in comparison to having his head blown to bloody chunks.

"What's this, Mercury? No hello for your buddy PoH?" He asked in a taunting voice, a smug grin on his face as Killer Queen gripped his neck at the beck and call of the man sitting before him.

"Don't you know? It's rude not to knock before entering." The man replied in a deadpan voice as if it were the most obvious thing.

"I don't knock. I walk in wherever and whenever I want. Thought you understood me better than that, Merc." PoH laughed, as the man sighed, standing up on his feet.

"Considering your understanding of subtlety and decency barely passes that of a drunken ape, I still have a huge ways to go before I feel I can go through the monumental labor of "understanding" you. How you managed to take charge of Laughing Coffin for this long escapes my understanding." Mercury stated in a cold tone as his eyes stared a hole into the Laughing Coffin leader, his Stand's grip not loosening.

"Then don't try. Just enjoy the show as it goes. No need to think hard about who I am, where I come from, what I want. What I can tell you now, I'll need you to let go for me to say." The dirty-looking man grinned, watching Mercury's cold gaze dip into a frown.

A few seconds passed, before he sighed, his eyes dropping into exasperation. Killer Queen disappeared from sight, allowing his throat freedom as he dropped to the floor, gasping for air.

"Speak. Hope you have something that's worth my time tonight." Mercury spoke as PoH stood up on his feet, glaring at him for threatening him with his Stand.

"Oh come on, Merc! You have me start Laughing Coffin to cover for your own killing sprees, and this is how you repay me? I thought that you'd show me a bit more appreciation for all the neck I stick out for you! That kinda stuff don't come cheap, you know?" PoH snarled with a sadistic grin as Mercury turned his head behind him, his eyes as cold as ever.

"Keeping you alive is my charity to you and everyone at Laughing Coffin, PoH. You knowing who I am and what I've done is agonizing enough, but you are a necessary evil nonetheless. However, we digress. What's new?" Mercury sighed, leading PoH to smirk under his breath.

"Sparky got the Arrow from that idiot, Shooter. How'd you know that it gives people Stands?" PoH asked, leading Mercury to smile under his mask.

"I received Killer Queen from an arrow just like it. It was surely a surprise to find a similar weapon in the game. Where is it now?" Mercury asked as PoH laughed.

"Sparky's gotten the entire gang all fired up, and they're already putting the Arrow in each other! Soon Laughing Coffin's ranks'll be filled to the brim with boda fine Stand Users of our own!" PoH laughed, pulling up a chair and kicking his feet up on the table, while Mercury watched with an exasperated glare.

"How many survived the piercing?" The masked man asked, his eyes bored as he asked this.

"Funny you say that, by the time I went off to meet you here, I reckon… eh, about half the guys dropped already," PoH replied, a chipper grin on his scarred face.

"Hmm… still a substantial amount. Good. Then everything's proceeding as planned." Mercury smiled under his mask, hidden from the man's sight.

"Hold on, now. Don't act like you're calling all the shots in this. We're friends, aren't we?" PoH asked, a sarcastic grin written on his lips as Mercury turned to face him, his eyes staring into his soul.

"We are not. It's a partnership we share. You cover for me with the men, and I let you have all the fun you could ever want. I have my interests, and you have yours. Both aligned with one another. It's simple business, you see." The masked man said, before summoning his Stand behind him, a menacing aura surrounding him.

"And like all partnerships, once it becomes a liability… I do not hesitate to sever it." Mercury spoke in a chilling voice, a dark aura radiating from his presence, sending chills up PoH's spine.

If PoH himself was a demon's namesake, he wouldn't be hard-pressed to call the man before him a true demon in the flesh more so than himself. With these thoughts in mind, he simply let out another laugh.

"You see? This is why I like having you around! What's life without a little danger?" PoH cackled as he leaned back into his chair. As he said this, the man before him dipped his head and pressed his fingers to his nose, shaking his head.

"And this is why I barely understand you. You do you, I suppose." Mercury sighed, rising to his feet and walking out the door.

"Oi, you gonna leave me all alone here? Why not hit the joint? Nab a drink or something?" PoH asked, laughing as usual.

Mercury looked behind him, and let out a small chuckle of his own. "Yes, I am. You do your job, and I won't have to bother you. Pleasure doing business with you, PoH."

With that, the masked man pulled a hood over his head and walked off into the night, leaving the Laughing Coffin leader alone in the dark building, seated at the table. The man let out another grim laugh under his breath as his spiritual energy spiked with an inky black aura surrounding his soul, a vague silhouette phasing into existence next to him.

"Always a pleasure. Showtime's just getting started!"

Stand Showcase:

Lv. ? Stand: Touch of Death, Killer Queen - Elegant and deadly. You are above the rest, and you can prove it. Get out there and blow their minds.

Special: Bomb: Anything that has been touched can be turned into a bomb, and can be remotely detonated.

Enhancement: N/A

Damage: 800 (S)

Speed: 400 (B)

Durability: 400 (B)

Range: 2m (D)

Precision: 70% (B)

Rank: Unique (S)

Selling Price: N/A

Owner: Mercury

Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 50, Agil's Shop, Algade) September 21st, 2023

"N-no way…"

The day's sun was high as the energy of the town of Algade was pumping, crowds of people walking up and down the narrow streets. The rich atmosphere was thickened by the ambiance of conversation, as people went about their daily business in the town.

In a certain shop in the corner of the town run by Agil, a group had assembled, completely silent as Kirito laughed nervously, watching their faces contort into that of surprise and complete, unadulterated shock.

Agil, Klein, Lisbeth, Argo, and Okuyasu all looked over Josuke's shoulder as his eyes were fixed on a single item in his inventory, everyone bearing faces of bafflement as they shook where they stood. Kirito, Griselda, and Silica simply watched, completely awkward and not knowing how to respond.

"R-Ragout Rabbit Meat?!" Agil stammered out, his eyes shaking so hard it almost seemed they would roll out of his head.

Argo pushed Klein and Okuyasu aside, her eyes bursting out of their sockets with a very familiar avaricious aura surrounding her being, vastly more overwhelming than Josuke had ever seen as she heaved out heavy breaths, salivating at the mouth, yen signs practically shimmering in her eyes.

"T-THAT THERE'S A PRIME S-RANK INGREDIENT! RARER THAN ANYTHIN' I'D EVER SEEN! THAT'S WORTH MORE BANK THAN ANY ITEM IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW!" She screamed, leading a drop of sweat to roll down Kirito's forehead.

"Damn… to think you'd find something like this… Lady luck's really got it out for you, huh?" Klein muttered as Okuyasu spoke up.

"How'd you even find it? Heard these things only come once in a blue moon!"

Josuke turned to his fellow Stand User, smiling as he did so. "That's another thing! I heard they're actually the fastest mobs in the game! Even if you found one, catching them's a whole other challenge! How'd you do it?"

With that, Griselda laughed as her Stand materialized next to her. "Well… it's not so much about trying to catch it as it is bringing it into your arms."

"Griselda used her Stand to grow some trees with a special fruit on them! The same kind of fruit that the Rabbits love to eat! Like ants to honey!" Silica giggled, leading Josuke and the rest of the group to gape in awe as Griselda scratched her chin, clearly embarrassed.

"And with that, the Rabbit came right to us! Elementary, eh?" Kirito boasted, only for Josuke to laugh at him.

"It sounds less cool when you say it, dude." Josuke snarked.

"Well, I'd like to see you try better, jackass!" Kirito huffed an annoyed breath as he pouted.

"So… what're you gonna do with it? Sell it?" Josuke asked, leading Argo to shoot her open hand up to the ceiling.

"SELL IT TO ME! COME ON, KI-BOY! I'M BEGGIN' YA!" The girl screeched, leading Josuke to chop her on the head with his hand, causing her to yelp out from the impact's force, as she massaged her head, whimpering in her seat.

"Well, not like I'm in need of more money now… but I don't think we'll come across this meat ever again, so why waste this? It'd be a shame, right?" Kirito muttered, pinching his nose as he dipped his head.

"Okay, then why not have it for dinner? Let's all have a taste! As a team!" Lisbeth suggested, only for Agil to raise a hand to interject.

"Whoa, slow down there. Don't think any of us can handle this meat right. We'd need high specs into the Cooking skill to even attempt it, and anything lower would just burn the meat no matter what we do!" Agil noted, leading Lisbeth to hum with a smug grin on her face.

"Hoho… is that all? If that's the case, I think I just might know someone in my back pocket who can fix this meat up real good!" She laughed, leading everyone in the room to jerk their heads in her direction, shocked.

"Y-you're serious?!" Josuke screamed as Lisbeth laughed again.

"Trust me, Elvis! She's the perfect gal for the job!" Lisbeth replied, just as the bell of the shop's door rang out once again, indicating the arrival of a new customer.

"W-whoa… looks like the gang's all here, huh? H-hey, guys! Sorry I'm late!"

The gang turned to the door to see Asuna had walked in, waving a hand and dressed in a brand-new set of red and white armor. Closely behind her was a soldier of similarly colored attire, dressed in the similarly red and white armor of the Knights of the Blood Oath. His unamused face certainly did not help his body image.

"Well, speak of the devil. Looks like our chef has arrived!" Lisbeth smirked, leading the eyes of the entire group to widen as they connected the dots.

"W-what's going on, guys?" Asuna asked, confused as a nervous sweatdrop appeared on her forehead, her hands waving in front of her.

With that, Kirito grabbed both her hands as he stared into her eyes, her nervousness only growing when she saw the extremely serious expression on his face. "Asuna, how high is your cooking stat?"

"I-I maxed it out last week?" Asuna stammered, leading Kirito's and everyone else's eyes to bulge out as they gaped in shocked silence.

"S-she's the one…" Josuke murmured, as the others looked to one another with smiles on their faces.

"I-I think I'm a bit out of the loop here…" Asuna laughed awkwardly, leading Kirito to turn back her way, fiddling with his menu to bring up his inventory.

"Here. Wanna give it a shot?" Kirito asked as Asuna caught sight of the meat, her eyes widening as she let out a surprised gasp, not unlike the others just before.

"R-Ragout Rabbit?! Do you have any idea what this is?!" Asuna exclaimed, leading Kirito to nod.

"We do. That's why you're our only hope, Asuna!" Kirito pleaded, clapping his hands together and bowing a perfect 90 degrees in front of her, leading her to raise an eyebrow before giggling.

"Of course I'll do it! Just give me a share!" Asuna smiled.

"Naturally! Can you make enough for all of us?" Josuke asked, causing a confident grin to appear on Asuna's face.

"Is that a challenge I hear?" Asuna smirked, before laughing.

"All of you meet up at my place tonight! I'll make the best meal you've ever had!" Asuna boasted, before turning behind her to the KoB soldier that followed her.

"Thank you for escorting me, Kuradeel. Head back and report back to the Commander that I'll be taking the night off." She told him, leading the man to raise his voice in protest.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, I wouldn't advise leaving you alone with a group I don't trust. Additionally, you have your duties as Vice-Commander to handle back at headquarters." Kuradeel insisted before Asuna cut him off.

"It's only for the night. Don't worry about me, I can handle myself just fine. Besides, this "untrustworthy" group has some of the strongest players in the game! Are you implying I'd be incapable of defending myself?" Asuna rebutted, leading the man to flinch at her remarks.

"N-not at all…" Kuradeel muttered as Asuna smirked in victory.

"Go home, Kuradeel. Take the night off. That's an order from your Vice-Commander." Asuna smiled before walking out the door and waving behind her, the man following her outside as he sighed under his breath, tired.

Outfit Showcase:

Lv. 60 Coat: Midnight Veil, Blackwyrm Coat – Darker than the shadows of night and denser than the depths of the abyss, the mantle of the black dragon shields from all, from the strikes of a blade to the piercing gazes of searching eyes.

Special: The Hidden One: Wearer's presence from all sensory detection by mobs except «Bosses» is impaired by 80%, detection by other Players decreased by 50% outside «Safe Zones».

Enhancement: +10

Damage: 400 (B)

Speed: 500 (A)

Durability: 350 (B)

Rank: Legendary, Crafted (A)

Selling Price: 75,000 Col

Owner: Kirito

Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 61, Asuna's Quarters, Selmburg) September 21st, 2023

"Some place…" Okuyasu muttered as he stepped into Asuna's living space.

Josuke had to admit, in comparison to Kirito's own residence down in Algade, this was several hundred steps above it in terms of quality and luxury. The entire two-story estate was Asuna's own property and was essentially a large house, a big upgrade from Kirito's dingy apartment block.

As for the quality, the area was just slightly above some of the nicest inns Josuke had visited throughout his time in SAO, with a spacious living room area on the second floor where the group had familiarized themselves, Okuyasu, Kirito, and Josuke seated themselves in the living room, looking all around them in wonder at the spacious living space.

"You said it… wonder if I could afford a place on this floor…" Josuke muttered to himself, just as Argo walked through the door.

"Yeah… keep dreamin', Jo-boy. Digs up here in Selmburg cost no less than three Mega. Three million Col. Suppose Aa-chan's funds from KoB could cover that just fine." Argo laughed, leading Josuke to gape in surprise.

Walking to the balcony, Kirito looked out to the backyard to see Griselda working on the patch of green, her Stand out as new trees sprang from the ground, growing to maturity and rising to the skies. Silica and Pina helped tend to the treetops, plucking fruit from the branches and throwing them down to the ground. Klein and Agil held baskets in their arms, each filled with fruits of different kinds, Asuna standing by, speaking to Griselda who nodded at intervals, her Stand moving accordingly. Klein said a few things that he couldn't hear, but it led Griselda to laugh.

After moments of watching, he couldn't help but feel his gaze linger on Asuna, dressed casually in home clothes and shorts, completely different than the elegant battle armor she wore whenever he'd see her. After a few moments that seemed to pass over his head, he saw Asuna look up to him on the balcony and wave with a giggle, her smile leading him to blush.

"You alright there, Kirito?"

Kirito nearly jumped in his boots as he felt someone tapping his shoulder, turning to his side to see Josuke with a mischievous grin on his face. The pompadoured Stand user smirked at him, staring down at the others downstairs before turning to his friend.

"Damn, you really have moved on, haven't you?" Josuke asked as he stole a glance at Asuna before she went back inside, leading Kirito to pause for a second, turning his head to the sky as his hand moved to his neck.

"You think I did?" Kirito asked, muttering as his eyes glazed over, wistful as he stared up to the night sky above them, his fingers brushing against the familiar charm around his neck. Josuke didn't reply at this, as memories returned to him, the both of them reminiscing of the days before.

"It'd be insensitive of me, wouldn't it? Still… I don't think I could leave those days behind, even if I wanted to." Josuke muttered, his eyes also turning to the sky above, his smile remaining on his face nonetheless.

"That makes both of us…" Kirito whispered as Josuke turned to him.

"But you know what? Having this again isn't so bad either. Friends to laugh with, hang around with, why don't we give it another shot?" Josuke asked, his expression hopeful as he leaned on the balcony with his friend.

Before Kirito could answer, the door swung open as Lisbeth walked into the living room, carrying a large number of kitchen tools and utensils in her arms, followed by the others as they moved to the kitchen, placing their ingredients and other assorted items onto the kitchen counter.

"Alright, bring out the meat! Give me a minute and dinner'll be ready!" Asuna announced as the entire group got excited, watching as Kirito retrieved the Ragout Rabbit Meat from his inventory, plopping a massive cut of meat on a bone down onto the kitchen tray.

"Now there's an S-Rank ingredient! What's on the menu tonight, girl?" Lisbeth chirped, Asuna's smile shining in reply.

"Thought I'd whip up a nice stew! Normally this'd take an hour or two along with all the ingredients and sides I wanna make, but honestly, SAO's cooking simplifies a lot of the process." Asuna declared as she scrolled through her menu, bringing out the rest of the ingredients.

"Thanks for the extra meat, Klein. Still, I'd rather we hunt our own instead of taking from Furinkazan's reserve…" Griselda muttered before Klein waved his hand flippantly in response.

"Don't sweat it! If it makes this one-of-a-kind dinner all the better, then why wouldn't I?" Klein laughed, as Asuna took the fruits they had collected from the yard, bringing out some vegetables and assorted condiments from her menu as she extended her hand, a small kitchen knife appearing in her palm.

Tapping the ingredients with the knife, Asuna watched as the ingredients flashed into a bright light before reappearing as broken-down slices, neatly cut and arranged. She then gathered the ingredients and threw them into a large metal pot which she then placed in her oven and set the timer.

"It really is simple, huh?" Silica muttered as she set the plates on the table, watching Asuna work in the kitchen.

"Yeah, it's actually kinda boring if you ask me. Cooking's an art, and it can be a lot of fun to learn and practice. Take a lot of the process away, and it's just not the same, you feel me?" Asuna said as she twirled her knife between her fingers, moving on to prepare the sides.

"I think I get it. It's a lot like Sword Skills in the game. It's one thing to learn the system, and another thing entirely to know how to handle a sword in real life." Kirito muttered, scratching his chin in contemplation.

"What makes you say that?" Okuyasu asked, leading Kirito to smile.

"I used to take kendo lessons when I was a kid. My little sister's a regional champion." Kirito explained, leading Klein to gape.

"So is that where you got your swordsmanship? No wonder!" The older man smacked the back of his hand against his palm, only for Kirito to laugh nervously.

"Y-you'd be wrong, actually. I quit kendo years ago. All my skills here came from practice in the beta. That's my point. The game's system helps anyone do things much easier and flashier than it would be in the real world. Fishing takes minutes instead of hours of patience, swordsmanship comes from combos and game skills, and you can cook food by tapping ingredients with a knife and tossing it all in a big pot." Kirito explained, leading Asuna to nod in agreement, just as the chime of the timer's expiration sounded from the oven.

"Now then. Dinner is served!" Asuna declared as the gang all cheered, eager for the first bite.

The Ragout Rabbit stew came out piping hot as the entire group had their fill. Smiles and cheering filled the dining table as the food was eaten. Asuna received many compliments and praise for the food, leading her to blush as she had her share of the stew, Lisbeth laughing at her expense while still offering her own serving of praise for her cooking.

Silica beamed as she tasted the stew, the taste sending goosebumps down her body. She looked beside her to see Griselda sharing a glass and chatting with Klein and Agil, the three older members of the group all having a good time of their own. Griselda received her own compliments for the fruit she had provided, leading her to smile with words of thanks.

Argo was still a bit annoyed she couldn't be able to sell some servings of her own, but as she tasted the dish, her pouting face quickly evaporated away. She continued to eat, muttering about "putting in a review for The Weekly Argo" amidst chewing, leading Okuyasu to try it himself. One taste of the dish upon his tongue and his eyes widened like saucers.

"IT'S DELICIOUS!" He exclaimed, leading the others to flinch in their seats at the intensity in his voice.

"The rabbit has such a rich taste! The slight gaminess, almost like chicken! It's just as good, nay, maybe even better! Coupled with the butter and the wine in the stew, along with the tang from the spices, it's like a harmony of flavor that gets even better with the vegetables and sides! It's like a duet, no, a John Williams orchestra playing a symphony on my tongue!" Okuyasu declared, his passionate smile shining through as he took bite after bite.

The others simply stopped eating to gape at the words that came out of the boy's mouth, shocked to hear such eloquent speech emerge from his lips as Kirito turned to Asuna, who blushed intensely at Okuyasu's praise. Honestly, he didn't blame her. Okuyasu was very elaborate in his appreciation.

Once the meal was all done, everyone let out a satisfied sigh, thanking Asuna for the meal as she started cleaning up the table, some of the others rising from their seats to help out, carrying dirty plates and utensils to the kitchen sink. With that, the gang started to chat amongst themselves.

Josuke let out a laugh as he patted his stomach. "Man, that was something else. Nearly a year we've been here, I almost forgot what good food tastes like!"

"Nearly a year, huh? Damn, time really flies, doesn't it?" Klein muttered, directing a wistful gaze above as he sat leaning back in his chair.

"It's crazy, I've been here so long, it's almost like I've been here my whole life…" Kirito muttered as Josuke turned to face him.

"As weird as it sounds, I think I get that." The Stand user replied, as Kirito took his cup of tea and swirled it in his hand.

"This world, in a sense feels more of a home than I've really ever known. Sure, I miss my family, but some days I don't even think about my life in the real world at all." Kirito mumbled, his eyes cast down into his drink as Josuke stared at his friend as he heard his answer.

"I think a lot of people feel the same. Last I heard, only about five hundred are fighting up top." Argo muttered as she took another sip from her cup.

"Guess more and more people are starting to adjust to their new lives in here." Agil shared, crossing his arms as he sat in contemplation.

"You think the same, Agil?" Silica asked, leading the larger man to grin in response.

"Not me. I got a wife waiting for me in the real world. I'd be damned if I left her behind and died in here." Agil hummed, thinking back on his life back in the real world.

"Really? She must be a good woman to catch your eye. Not just in looks, but in character. And you've got one hell of a character, Agil." Klein grinned, as Agil nodded as a form of gratitude.

"Must be nice to have a partner like that in your life, huh? You're a lucky man, Agil." Griselda smiled as she returned from washing dishes in the kitchen. This remark led Klein to turn to her.

"You speak from experience, Griselda?" He asked, leading Griselda to sigh, staring at her hand.

"It's… complicated."

"I was married off. He was nice to me and took care of me. However, he didn't love me. That much I could tell after a year or two into our marriage. At first, I tried to be a good wife. Tended to his needs, stayed quiet, took care of the house, and we never argued once. When I thought we had a good relationship, I let my guard down and started acting more freely. I thought he loved me for me, and I was wrong. He would get angry when I protested against his decisions, or whenever I would raise my voice against him. He didn't love me. He wanted a perfect wife as his property. I was trapped in a one-sided relationship, and I decided to break it off myself." Griselda recalled, her face saddened as she stared down at her hands, stroking her ring finger as if reminiscing.

The others at the table could only stare in disbelief at what they heard, Josuke in particular remaining silent, recalling his own life at home, his single mother caring for him alone all throughout his childhood.

"I wouldn't treat anyone like that…" Klein mumbled, leading Griselda to turn to him with a raised eyebrow.

"What are you-"

"Nothing!" Klein quickly cut her off, just as Asuna marched out the kitchen along with Lisbeth.

"So! Seems we're all having a good night. I had fun! Thanks for bringing the meat, Kirito!" Asuna smiled, leading Kirito to return the gesture happily.

"No, thank you. It's been a great night hanging out with everyone!" Kirito laughed, leading Josuke to beam with pride at his friend.

"Well then, how about we meet together more often? Let's all form a guild of our own!" Asuna then suggested, leading Kirito's eyes to widen as she suddenly went on that tangent.

"H-hang on, where'd this come from all of a sudden?! Don't just spring that on me out of the blue!" Kirito protested, as Asuna simply continued twirling her kitchen knife in her hands.

"Well, the frontlines up top are way more dangerous than they've ever been before, and besides, the KoB'll be just fine without me there." Asuna explained, as the others looked amongst each other.

"I think it'd be fun, don't you all agree?" Lisbeth grinned, leading Klein and Okuyasu to smile along with her.

"Yeah! I'm game!" Okuyasu smiled, as Silica nodded along with Griselda.

Argo put a finger to her chin before taking another sip of her cup, sighing all the while. "I got a business to be managin' but what the hell, I guess it wouldn't hurt to hang with y'all."

"So then, what do you say, Kirito?" Josuke asked his friend.

Kirito paused, unsure about what to say next. Then his breath hitched as he realized his hand had unconsciously moved to his necklace. His mind then drifted to a recent memory, of him and Josuke briefly talking on the balcony. He then thought of Sachi and everyone he had watched die in the Moonlit Black Cats.

He couldn't save them. He hated himself for failing to protect them. He wanted more than anything to atone for that failure, but deep down, he wished for those days once more. Days he could celebrate, share in camaraderie among comrades and friends once again.

Finally sure in his conviction, Kirito nodded with a smile.

"By the way… our new guild needs a name." Asuna then said as she sent out the invite to everyone in the room.

"Got any ideas?" Agil asked.

"Purple Rain."

Everyone whipped their heads to face Josuke, who offered his name suggestion before anyone could even say anything. It came out so suddenly and out of nowhere that everyone couldn't help but gawk at the pompadoured Stand user.

"W-where'd that come from?" Silica squeaked.

"Prince is my man! Come on, you guys! Where else do you think I get my style?!" Josuke passionately exclaimed in reply, smacking his palms on the table, leading Agil to laugh.

"You're quite cultured, aren't you? He's before even my time! Not that I blame you! It's a cool name!" Agil chuckled as the others nodded in agreement.

"Then it's decided! From this day forward, let it be known that Purple Rain will be the greatest guild SAO has ever seen!" Josuke declared loudly as he stood up, raising his glass. The others followed with smiles.

"Cheers!"

Stand Showcase:

Lv. ? Stand: Millennium Tree, Appleseed Cast – The tree grows tall and bears fruit, feeding those who eat off its branches. The tree withers and crumbles, but not before seeds give way for life to begin anew. This is the circle of life, the fate all creatures are bound to.

Special: Cultivate: Releases seeds into the air from its body, from which trees of all species and varieties can rapidly grow at a speed, form, and rate controlled by the user.

Enhancement: N/A

Damage: 200 (D)

Speed: 500 (A)

Durability: 500 (A)

Range: 10m (B)

Precision: 75% (B)

Rank: Unique (S)

Selling Price: N/A

Owner: Griselda

Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 74, Kamdet) September 23rd, 2023

A couple of days after the dinner party that formed Purple Rain, the guild had assembled in the upmost town of Aincrad so far, all the way up on the 74th Floor.

The floor itself consisted of many different mountainous areas and hills, greenery abound, but here in Kamdet, it wasn't so. The town itself was rather drab, all the buildings rather small and built entirely of brick and clay.

Kirito and Josuke passed through the Teleport Gate, finding Klein, Griselda, Okuyasu, and Silica there first, Klein's friends from Furinkazan not too far away. The former three were chatting amongst themselves while Silica stood by and listened, waving as she saw the duo enter the town via the Gate.

Not too long after, Argo, Lisbeth, and Agil followed, all arguing over something about Col and items. Leave it to Argo to get all fired up about something like that, Josuke supposed.

Several more minutes passed as the members of Purple Rain mingled, but after some time passed, Kirito spoke up. "Guys, where's Asuna?"

Lisbeth nodded in agreement, a concerned expression on her face. "Yeah. I dunno either. She's usually not one to take her time. Wonder what's keeping her."

Not even a few moments after she said it, a chime from the Teleport Gate indicated a new arrival. Sure enough, it was the girl of the hour, Asuna running out of the light with a panicked expression on her face. Kirito gaped in confusion as Asuna ran behind him, shielding herself with his frame as a second flash at the Teleport Gate indicated someone else arriving in town.

A familiar set of red and white armor along with a frustrated scowl made its appearance, revealing Kuradeel as he turned to see Asuna hiding behind Kirito.

"Why are you behaving this way, ma'am? I'm simply following orders. Please, return with me to headquarters."

Asuna gritted her teeth as she yelled back, clearly angry. "Of course not! Not with you, Kuradeel! And what on earth were you doing lurking outside my house?! How long were you there?!"

The others shifted their shocked glances to Asuna, before whipping their glares to Kuradeel, who gnashed his teeth at the sight. "With all due respect, ma'am, my mission is to guard you, your safety is my utmost duty and this does not change no matter where you are, even in your home. This is why I have taken it upon myself to monitor your wellbeing in Selmburg for the past month, but I digress."

"W-what?! The Commander gave no such order! I gave no such order!" Asuna shouted, her eyes wide as Kuradeel approached her, reaching for her wrist.

"Now, let's return to headquarters-"

"No."

Kuradeel felt something smack his hand away, glaring at the perpetrator incredulously. He locked eyes with Griselda, a stern look on her face as she returned Kuradeel's condescending glare with her own of equal, if not greater intensity. "That's not how you treat a woman, Kuradeel. Much less your superior."

Her voice was cold and ripe with disdain, a tone of voice nobody had heard from her thus far, leading even Silica to shudder as she heard it, Kuradeel growling in response to her words. "You dare lecture me, woman? Do you know who I am?!"

"We do, and sorry, but we'll be borrowing your Vice-Commander for the day. She'll be perfectly fine with us, trust me." Kirito replied, leading the others to nod in agreement. Kuradeel wasn't convinced.

"Preposterous! I am a Knight of the Blood Oath! Part of the most glorious guild in this game! Incompetent fools like you don't compare to me! How could you ever hope to do a better job of protecting Lady Asuna?!"

*pfft*

Kuradeel stopped screaming once he heard a snicker somewhere in the group. His furious glare turned to Josuke, whose spiritual energy flared for a bit, the spectral form of his Stand partially materialized as he grinned smugly at Kuradeel.

"Trust me, pal. We're more than qualified. Way more than your scrawny ass could." Josuke smirked, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Kuradeel's eye twitched as he seethed with rage, before fiddling with his menu furiously. "You got a big mouth. But talk is cheap. Do you have the balls to back it up?"

Josuke raised an eyebrow as a «Duel» request popped up in his notification tab. "You sure about this? You're gonna regret it."

"The only one regretting anything will be you and your shitty ass haircut! If you're that cocky, then come and face me!" Kuradeel yelled in reply.

No words from Josuke.

One second.

Two.

Three passed.

Still, he was frozen. Completely still as his eyes were shaded by his hair.

"...what."

Kirito watched Josuke's finger. It was hammering away at the "Accept" button like he was grinding it into paste. All of a sudden, the atmosphere took on a huge chill, as a massive surge of spiritual energy flared from Josuke's aura, an enormous wave of killing intent washing over everyone, giving Kirito a nauseous feeling in his stomach.

Kuradeel wasn't faring much better. He had drawn his sword and prepared to face his enemy as the timer ticked down the seconds, but taking one look at Josuke made him shake in his boots.

The man was glaring at him with such murderous fury that it looked like Josuke was trying to burn a hole through his very soul. Josuke himself grunted and struggled, but was unable to move as the timer ticked down, as the system prevented him from approaching Kuradeel. However, it seemed he was doing everything in his power to move, to strike, to take a swing.

"Bastard… why… let me…! Why can't I move?! LET ME MOVE! HE NEEDS TO FUCKING PAY, DAMMIT!" Josuke screamed, his face twisted with absolute rage. The members of Purple Rain looked on in fear as Josuke's furious glare met Kuradeel's shaking eyes.

"You bastard…"

Three.

"...what the FUCK did you say…"

Two.

"...ABOUT MY HAIR?!"

One.

Josuke took off like a rocket the second the timer released him, starting the duel as Josuke screamed savagely, seeing red as his sights were set onto the poor soul who dared insult his hair.

Kuradeel screamed for his life as he tried to run away, but alas he was too slow as the rampaging berserker grabbed him by the neck. Crazy Diamond's hands grabbed his throat in a vice grip, before slamming him to the ground, causing him to grunt from the impact. His face paled as Josuke approached him slowly, his face now calm, but his eyes and aura betraying his silent fury.

"You made a huuuge mistake back there, you piece of shit. Listen here, you can talk shit aaall you fucking want. You can insult my friends, you can insult my family, you can insult PRINCE, and I'd still be less mad, but ooooh no…" Josuke spoke in a dark voice as he stomped a boot on Kuradeel's chest, before leaning closer.

"You just haaad to go for the hair. NOBODY. TALKS. SHIT. ABOUT. MY. HAIR!"

"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!"

Crazy Diamond held nothing back. Not for the poor fool who dared insult Josuke Higashikata's hairstyle. Thus, for the first time in less than a year, Kuradeel felt pain again. Not just any pain, but the greatest pain he had ever known as Crazy Diamond unleashed hell with lightning-fast fists.

"THIS IS WHAT YOU GET! YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK SHIT ABOUT MY HAIR AND GET AWAY WITH IT?! YOU'RE DEAD, YOU HEAR ME?! DEAD!"

"JoJo!"

All of a sudden, a force pulled him backward, and suddenly Josuke was at least ten meters behind his previous position. As he tried to advance, he felt contact along his legs, rising to his chest. Large tree roots.

Turning behind him with a crack of his neck, Josuke's veil of red lifted slightly as he locked eyes with both Griselda and Okuyasu, both their Stands out as they sweated nervously, clearly scared. Looking around, he saw the others eye him fearfully as he blinked several times, finally snapping out of his berserker rage.

"H-huh… D-did I go overboard there…? G-geez, this is embarrassing…" Josuke laughed nervously as he looked around, Kirito smacking him upside the head.

"The hell you did! I know you hate people dissing your hair, but come on! I think you just killed that guy!" Kirito exclaimed, leading Josuke to laugh nervously.

"Ugh…"

They heard Kuradeel moan in pain from his crumpled form on the ground, his health still perfectly full. With that, Josuke turned back to the group.

"You see? He's fine! And I still won! So why don't we get a move on! We're all here, aren't we?" Josuke laughed nervously again, sweat rolling down his forehead as Asuna sighed exasperatedly.

"I'll take him back to headquarters and relieve him as my bodyguard. I'll be back soon." Asuna sighed, picking up Kuradeel's body and walking through the Teleport Gate, leaving Josuke to chuckle weakly as the other members of Purple Rain faced him with skeptical faces.

Weapon Showcase:

Lv. 65 Greatsword: Rising Crescendo, Overture – The thumping beat, the weaving of the melody, the dance of the rhythm. The songs of your legend have yet to be sung, the first verse written by the strikes and slashes of the blade.

Special: Reverb: Increase all counter and parry damage by 30%, increase critical chance and critical damage VS «Staggered» enemies by 20%. «Perfect Parry» up to 10 times to unleash a powerful counterattack.

Enhancement: +15

Damage: 550 (S)

Speed: 265 (C)

Durability: 650 (S)

Range: 2.5m (B)

Precision: 50% (C)

Rank: Crafted, Legendary (A)

Selling Price: 90,000 Col

Owner: JoJo

Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 74, Labyrinth) September 23rd, 2023

The dungeons in SAO were all similar, areas where one could find a plethora of monsters and loot, some came in open fields, while most took the form of underground mazes with many rooms and areas.

The Labyrinths, however, all had something in common. All of them stood at the towering height of 100 meters, the exact distance between two connected Floors of Aincrad. These areas were all elaborate dungeons that true to their name, housed a mazelike network of areas and places where one could encounter all manner of monsters in addition to the hidden Boss Room that barred the entrance to the Floor above.

The newly christened guild of Purple Rain moved through the dungeon at top speed, the skill of each individual member only made deadlier by the united force of ten working aside one another, along with the other five that came in the form of Klein's Furinkazan.

Kirito swung his sword to match the strike of a skeleton warrior, crossing blades as sparks flew, before he pushed off and struck it down, slicing at the neck as he moved on to the next one, Elucidator shining with light as it charged up a Sword Skill. One strike on the left, along the back, across the right, then ending with a slash upfront, drawing a square.

Asuna was nearby, the thrusts of her rapier quicker than the eye could see, striking down throes of challengers before they could react. Her sword flared again and again as the seconds passed, moving from one foe to the next at blinding speed. Her thin blade tapped against the shield of one of the undead soldiers, knocking her back.

"Switch!"

"DORA!"

A large greatsword flew through the air, its tip slamming into the skeleton and piercing it through, causing it to hurtle backward. Then spiritual light surrounded the weapon, pulling it back into Josuke's open hand. Josuke then threw a punch at the skeleton's skull, stopping it and yanking his sword out of its body, as he charged his weapon with a Sword Skill and defeated his foe in two swings of his blade.

Lisbeth returned Josuke's goofy grin and thumbs up with her own snicker as she raised her shield, blocking a strike from one of the skeleton warriors. Turning behind her, she saw another of the undead approach her from the back. Grinning, she counted the seconds. One. Two. Three. A swift swerve to the side, and the blade of the monster missed her by an inch's length as she spun back to her feet, smashing her mace against the creature's back, knocking both skeletons into each other to crumple to the floor.

Okuyasu was fired up, more so than he'd been in a while. His mace smashed skulls while The Hand covered his back, using its power to bring enemies to Okuyasu, allowing him to bash his mace at his leisure. "Oi! Oku-boy!"

Argo called out, as Okuyasu grinned, using his Stand to scrape an arc into space directly in front of her, propelling the info-broker at the approaching horde of lizardmen. Her claws stabbed into the first one, allowing her a quick cut at the throat as she jumped over them, dodging strikes and laughing raucously as they hit each other in their attempts to hit her.

Even without her Stand, Griselda was always a fighter in top form. Her shield was impenetrable and her sword made every strike count. A lizardman swung at her, only for her to smash her shield against it, the weapon now coated in thorns, stunning the beast as she smashed into it. All the time she needed to charge up a Sword Skill, finishing her enemy. A new horde approached, and Griselda summoned her Stand, summoning a dense wall of brushery to hold them off as the guild focused on those remaining.

Silica saw this and let Pina go to intercept them, the Little Feathered Dragon flying through the wall of trees and setting its sights on the wave of monsters, watching as Agil held back the line in front of the wall, using his monstrous strength with an axe to cleave through the horde. The small beast opened its mouth, releasing a wave of water that did not do much damage, but was able to stun those in front long enough for Agil to charge up another Skill. Roaring, he swung his axe down to the ground, sending a shockwave through the wave as monsters were sent flying.

Finally, Klein and his own guild were holding their own substantially well. Klein's draw was quick and precise, slashing at one monster after another as they all fell, locking down any foe in his path as Furinkazan cleared the way through the Labyrinth along with the others. After several more minutes as more and more waves of enemies engaged them, the group came to a stop.

"That should be the last of them…" Griselda muttered, her Stand disappearing from sight as the last skeleton clattered to a pile on the floor, exploding into a mass of blue crystals as the battle ended.

Kirito raised his sword as he slotted it back into the sheath slung over his back, letting out a sigh of relief as everyone did the same with their weapons, happy the battle was done with. However, it wasn't completely over just yet.

"O-oi… is that what I think it is?" Okuyasu muttered, pointing ahead of them, the guild following his finger as they looked ahead at the end of the corridor, where the path ended at a massive metal door engraved with eerie grimace and screams.

"Is that…" Josuke muttered, leading Kirito to nod.

"...it is. That must be the Boss Room." He said as the others walked down the path until they were right outside the door.

"So then, team, what's the game plan?" Lisbeth asked, hefting her mace over her shoulder as Argo raised her hands behind her to lean into, sighing.

"Not like we can have a plan, considerin' we ain't got a clue about what's waitin' for us inside." She muttered, leading Asuna to interject.

"Well, we'll never know unless we try it out, right?" The girl suggested with a smile, the others looking to each other, then to Kirito as he nodded.

"I guess. Not like whatever's in there can follow us out the door. Never hurts to be prepared, so keep a Teleport Crystal on hand, everyone!" Kirito exclaimed as the others reached into their inventories, blue crystals appearing in their hands.

"Okuyasu, you hang in the back. If things get hairy, use The Hand to pull us out." Josuke said to his fellow Stand user, who nodded with his own Teleport Crystal in hand.

"You got it!" He grinned as Kirito and Josuke walked to the door, pushing the door aside as their free hands reached for their swords.

The door creaked open as the iron gave way to a room blanketed in darkness, shadows obscuring the space not even a few feet from the doorway. As Purple Rain took several cautious steps through the door, that's when the first signs of light flickered alight in the form of blue flames over the torches decorating the pillars circling the boss room, revealing the resident gatekeeper.

A massive demonic behemoth, curling horns not unlike a ram's decorating a goatlike face lined by a thick black mane of fur. Its body was rippling with powerful muscle, covered almost entirely by a deep blue coat of fur, its built arm gripping a massive greatsword, and lastly, a long, winding tail that ended in a serpentine cobra's head hissed and bared its fangs.

Its eyes flashed a ghostly light blue as it slowly turned its head up to face the frightened guild as four health bars appeared beside its form, announcing the name of this monstrous demon, The Gleam Eyes.

"F-four health bars?!" Klein exclaimed, shocked. Every Floor Boss they had fought before capped at three, but this was something else entirely.

"Secret Technique?" Josuke asked, turning to Kirito.

"Sounds good." Kirito nodded before turning on his heel.

"RUN!" Josuke yelled, immediately spinning on his feet and running for the door, the entire group following suit, screaming as they bolted for the exit, the Boss's footsteps and loud roar increasing their speed.

Once the group was a generous distance from the Boss Room, they were relieved to find out that as planned, the boss didn't follow them outside the room. Taking shelter in a Safe Zone, the group plopped down against a pillar and re-coordinated their thoughts.

"Talk about one tough-looking boss…" Silica muttered as Pina nuzzled her cheek as the Dragon rested on her shoulder.

"I've seen bosses before, and four health bars? That thing means business, I can tell just lookin' at it even a lil' bit." Argo mused, taking out a notepad and pencil, continuing to map out data from the Labyrinth.

"It sure looks tough. Don't think this is a fight we could take alone, not without some big risks." Agil sighed, leaning against the pillar.

"Even with my Stand, Griselda's, and Okuyasu's, this might call for more help if we're hoping to take it on without anyone getting seriously hurt." Josuke pondered, his finger to his chin as Griselda nodded.

"A whole team of tanks in the vanguard looks to be the safest minimum. Keep switching out just to wear it down. Who knows? Between Stands and our skills, I think it's worth a shot." The older woman suggested as Kirito hummed in agreement.

"Couple dozen shield users wouldn't hurt. Bet that thing hits like a train with that big sword of his." Kirito muttered as Asuna raised an eyebrow.

"Shields, you say…"

"What's up?" Kirito asked, turning to the ginger-haired girl before Argo piped up.

"Ya know, I always wondered, why don't ya use a shield? The good thing about one-handed weapons is that you can use a shield with 'em. Sure, dual weapons exist, but those cut the individual weapons' Attack and Defense in two. Shields pretty much cover all your shortcomings. You can take hits and dish out damage all the same. Besides, shields have a bigger surface area, so they parry even better than most weapons. Yet… I've never seen ya use anythin' aside from just a one-handed sword." Argo inquired, as Kirito opened his mouth to protest before she cut him off.

"But hey, I won't judge ya for thinkin' it looks dumb. Ya ain't the first to think so." The info broker laughed raucously, leading Kirito to flare up with a blush.

"T-that's not the case!"

"Come to think of it, didn't you commission a sword from Lis? I haven't seen you use it at all!" Asuna then noted, leading both Kirito and Lisbeth to turn pale as they shrank in their seats.

Looking at Lisbeth's reaction, most of the guild turned to the blacksmith, who sweated under their gazes. "You know something, don't you, Lis?"

"I-I-" Lisbeth began to stammer out, before the sounds of marching interrupted them, causing the group to turn to the entrance of the Safe Zone.

Walking towards them from down the corridor was a group of soldiers dressed in a uniform of heavy iron armor, their helmets obscuring their eyes as a soldier wearing a red sash led them, signifying his rank. The group was all familiar with this uniform.

"What's the Army doing up here? I thought we'd be only seeing them by the time we'd discuss strategy!" Klein asked, wary of the newcomers, but Argo squinted her eyes to get a look at them.

"Huh… wonder if Dia-boy actually sent these guys," Argo muttered as she scratched her chin, leading Okuyasu to turn to her.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Dia-boy has his own half of troops that he leads in the frontlines, but he's not the kinda guy to send a bunch of wet noodles who look like they're ready to burn out at their next step," Argo noted, observing the soldiers' collective groaning and exhausted whimpers, clearly completely out of shape for any kind of combat.

The leader of the squad stopped as they entered the Safe Zone before turning to his men.

"AT EASE!"

With that, all the soldiers dropped to the floor, letting out more exhausted groans and fatigued sighing. Then, the leader stepped forward in front of Purple Rain, introducing himself.

"Greetings. My name is Lt. Colonel Kobatz. I'm a member of the Aincrad Liberation Army." The man identified himself, as Kirito nodded and introduced himself, followed by the other members of Purple Rain and Furinkazan.

"Have you cleared the area up ahead?" The colonel asked, leading Josuke to share a perplexed look with Kirito, who shrugged.

"Well, just the area a bit beyond here, leading up to the Boss Room, but-" Josuke explained, before Kobatz raised his voice, expressing intrigue.

"That's splendid! Now if you'd be so kind, hand over the map data and we'll be on our way." Kobatz smiled, leading Argo's eyes to widen.

"H-hold up just a sec! Ya don't expect us to hand it to ya just like that for free? This kinda stuff is a pain in the ass to do!" The info broker screeched, leading Kobatz to growl.

"We hand out and share all our data to the general playerbase all the time! We do this so that every player can rest easy, to ensure that we escape this wretched prison of a game as soon as possible! This is for the freedom of every soul trapped in this place, and to honor the tragic fallen! Cooperate! It's your duty!" Kobatz replied passionately, leading Argo to gnash her teeth, Josuke and Kirito both eyeing her nervously. Things could only go south from here.

"Didn't reckon Kibaou's guys to be about duty. With all the time ya spend kissin' yer own asses and livin' it high down in Startin' Town, that's the last thing I'd expect to be hearin' outta someone like you." Argo snarked, a wicked grin on her face as Kobatz's scowl intensified.

"You listen here, you little-!" He began before Argo laughed in a carefree tone.

"Hahahahaha! But hey, what do I care? I'm just a schemin' lil' weasel tryin' to make some bank in this shithole game, so I'll make ya a deal! 20,000 Col for the map!" Argo grinned, leading the others to stare at her silently.

"W-what? That's the price you'd pay for a Rare weapon!" Kobatz managed out, before Argo walked up closer to him, tilting her head up to meet his eyes.

"Hoy, this ain't an offer I'll make lightly, ya hear? Think about it. Ya can head back home, hailed as a hero for clearin' this hard-ass dungeon, and all ya had to do to get that is with a lil' fee. Everyone wins! Whaddaya say?" Argo negotiated, leading Kobatz to growl as he tossed a pouch of coins to the happy Argo, leading Kirito to sigh as he handed over the map data.

"I was planning to hand that out for free, anyway. You're actual scum, you know that, Argo?" Kirito mumbled while Argo cackled raucously once again as she hummed shamelessly, clutching her newfound wealth.

"By the way, if you're planning on hitting the Boss Room, I wouldn't try it. That can wait until the other frontliners come to discuss strats." Josuke suggested, leading Kobatz to turn to him as he walked back towards his men.

"That will be for me to decide." The soldier replied, leading the Stand user's wariness to intensify.

"W-wait a second, you can't just rush in if your troops look ready to drop dead! Look! They're exhausted out of their minds! At least let them rest!" Josuke yelled, leading Kobatz to reply sternly.

"Nonsense! My men are tough as nails! We don't stop until I say so! ON YOUR FEET, MEN! LET'S MOVE OUT!" Kobatz barked, his troops groaning miserably as they rose to their feet, marching weakly onwards.

The group looked at the state of the squad as they looked at each other nervously. "Think they'll be fine?" Silica asked, anxious.

"Who knows? That Kobatz guy can't be that stubborn, right? What if he actually goes in there like that?" Okuyasu replied as Josuke sighed.

"Well, guess there's only one way to find out, right?" Josuke asked, leading Asuna and Kirito to nod, along with the others of Purple Rain.

"So what now?" Agil asked, causing Josuke to grin goofily.

"What else? We follow them! They'll be sure to thank us when we save their asses, right?" Josuke laughed, as the guild cheered with him, Kirito patting him on the back with a smile of his own.

"Yeah, laugh all you want. You really do have a heart of gold, man." Kirito grinned, matching Josuke's as his grew.

"You bet I do! Now, which way's the boss room, again?"

Weapon Showcase:

Lv. 45 Mace: Heavy Rain: Stormchaser – The eye of the storm is calm and still, but gives way for harsh winds and wrathful lightning. Your enemies will pray they see the former when you arrive to challenge them.

Special: System Shock: Stuns staggered enemies for 2 more seconds, increases Perfect Parry activation window by 10%

Enhancement: +10

Damage: 450 (A)

Speed: 205 (D)

Durability: 300 (C)

Range: 2m (B)

Precision: 60% (B)

Rank: Crafted, Rare (B)

Selling Price: 45,000 Col

Owner: Lisbeth

Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 74, Floor Boss Room) September 23rd, 2023

Several minutes later, the guild of Purple Rain cleaved a path through the dungeon, trying to retrace their steps after they had given away their map of the area to Kobatz earlier. It certainly took longer than it would have otherwise, but it was not as much of a challenge as the group more than put up a substantial fight, their swords and blades dancing through the air as enemy after enemy fell before them.

"Are you sure this is the right way this time?" Kirito asked as Josuke scratched his head.

"I-I'm not sure? Damn, at this rate we'll never catch up to that jackass." The pompadoured teen sighed, exhausted as he tapped his sword into the ground, leaning against it like a crutch.

"Maybe they went back to their senses and bailed with Teleport Crystals. I don't know?" Klein muttered, hefting his katana on his shoulder as the last lizardman fell.

"AAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!"

A loud scream echoed through the Labyrinth, reaching everyone's ears as they turned to the end of the hall, where the noise was coming from. Josuke, Kirito and everyone else's faces twisted into that of horror as they realized exactly what was going on.

"Those idiots!" Josuke cursed under his breath as the group ran down the corridor, following the noise leading them to the source.

Reaching the familiar end of the hallway, Josuke's eyes widened at a terrible sight, the door of the Boss Room wide open, allowing them a perfect view of The Gleam Eyes at the center of the room, attacking several cowering soldiers on the far side of the room.

The soldiers were in far worse shape than they last saw them at the Safe Zone, now barely able to hold on as the massive demon smashed its sword into their defenses, knocking them back effortlessly as they struggled to protect their wounded and hold the line. The group looked on in shock as The Gleam Eyes' health bar had only gone down about half its first bar, and the squad was in no shape to keep going.

"D-don't just stand there! Use your Teleport Crystals, dammit!" Kirito yelled out, only for one of the soldiers to hold up a crystal, nothing happening.

"W-WE CAN'T! THEY'RE NOT WORKING! WHY AREN'T THEY WORKING?!" The soldier cried, bracing as the boss rushed them once again in a charge.

"N-no… then…" Josuke muttered, his face pale as Kirito's was bleached white as horrid memories returned to the latter.

"...an Anti-Crystal Zone?!" Kirito spoke fearfully, a wave of old memories returning to him.

He saw Sasamaru stabbed in the back in the blink of an eye, the life leaving his eyes as quickly as the monster appeared. He saw Tetsuo's shield shatter as his stomach was pierced, his face mangled to pieces and bitten off. He saw Keita take a hit for his friend, the same friend who fell to his death in despair.

Oh god.

Make it stop.

Make it stop.

MAKE IT STOP.

PLEASE MAKE IT STOP.

PLEASE.

PLEASE.

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE-

All of a sudden, Kirito dropped to his knees, his body shaking as his eyes quivered and twitched, unblinking. He felt nauseous and sick to his stomach. He felt a crushing weight on his shoulders, no, his entire soul as he failed to move.

"K-Kirito?!" Asuna cried out as she saw Kirito fall, completely stunned.

"NO SURRENDER!"

Josuke immediately turned his head to see Kobatz raising his sword defiantly alongside his men, raising his sword to the massive boss. His face twisted into shock as he watched the colonel attempt to rouse his exhausted men.

"The Aincrad Liberation Force doesn't know the meaning of surrender! KEEP FIGHTING! REFORM THE LINE!" The man barked as those able moved to assume battle formation.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?! Get out of there!" Josuke yelled out, frustrated, only for his cries to go unheard.

"CHAAAARGE!"

The men ran at the boss, attempting to strike at it, only for the massive demon to open its mouth, releasing a sudden breath attack with a roar, locking down the squad as they took cover behind their shields. This, however, left them open to a downward slam from the boss's greatsword, decimating the vanguard as they flew back, their health dangerously low and unable to continue.

Another swing, and all of a sudden, Kobatz was in the air, flying towards the exit at Purple Rain's feet, skidding until his body came at a stop before Josuke, his health barely a sliver from depletion and still sinking.

"H-hold on! I'll heal you-"

Alas, a second too late.

Kobatz didn't even have the chance to say anything before his health dropped to zero, his avatar vibrating and glowing before dispersing into a collection of blue pixels.

He was dead.

Josuke could only watch in horror as his hand remained stretched out at the empty space where the man used to be. Looking up, he locked eyes with The Gleam Eyes, which turned to face another helpless soldier who whimpered in fear trying in vain to back away from the hulking beast.

"Damn you…"

The Gleam Eyes raised its sword, ready to end the pathetic man's life with a swing of its blade.

"BASTARD!"

Josuke charged into the room at top speed, summoning his Stand to aid him. The other members of Purple Rain could only look on in shock, before shortly opting to follow him, their weapons out and ready for battle. Asuna was about to rush in with her rapier, when she looked behind her at Kirito, still on the floor and static, shaking like a frightened animal.

"K-Kirito… what's wrong?! Are you alright?!" Asuna asked, panicking as Kirito stammered to himself in jittery sobs.

"I-It's all my fault…! S-Sachi… E-everyone…! I-I was t-t-too weak!...Worthless…! G-garbage!..." Kirito rambled incoherently, his hands wrapped around his head, his fingers digging into his hair as his eyes stared dead at the floor, leaking tears.

"It was this bad?!" Asuna screamed internally, watching the boy break down in front of her. She heard there was an incident that split Kirito and Josuke apart, but she could have never imagined anything that would cause the black-clad swordsman to lose himself this way.

"Why...why...whywhywhywhywhyWHY?!" Kirito screamed, crying as his mind thrashed in his head.

All of a sudden, a pair of hands on his wrists.

Soft.

Gentle.

Comforting.

He stopped screaming as he stared dead ahead. His eyes still shook but recognized the form of Asuna, her own eyes leaking tears as she stared into his own.

"Kirito… I don't know what happened to you before… but I've seen that look before. You lost someone you loved before, haven't you?" Asuna asked, her voice as calm and tender as possible, as Kirito's eyes widened, allowing more tears to fall as he nodded wordlessly.

"I… can't begin to imagine what kind of girl could win your heart. She must have been special." Asuna smiled, leading Kirito's face to soften as even more tears fell in streams.

"You're crying so much… Oh, gods, you must miss her so much…" Asuna sighed, her own tears rising in volume as Kirito wept openly.

"But still… you're afraid, aren't you? Afraid it'll happen again? Asuna asked as Kirito continued to shake.

"Well, here's what I feel. You're not worthless. You're not garbage. You're one of the strongest people I know." Asuna smiled, her eyes true and sincere, leading Kirito's eyes to widen.

"You and JoJo showed me hope back on the First Floor. I'll never forget that day, and I'll always keep hope alive in my heart because I know you're going to be there for me. As a partner, as a friend. As my hero." Asuna smiled warmly, as Kirito's tears lessened.

"So if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, just hold me. Hold me and never let go. I won't be going anywhere." Asuna brought Kirito in closer for an embrace, hugging him as she wrapped her arms around his body.

Her warmth.

Her sincerity.

He hadn't felt this way since...

"Hold me and never let go. So we'll never lose one another ever again."

More tears returned to his eyes as he returned her embrace, weeping his emotions out into his tears, feeling a warmth unlike any other fill his body as he felt at peace at last.

"Asuna…" Kirito cried, sniffling all the while as Asuna stroked his neck.

"Shhh… it's all okay now." Asuna whispered, comforting the boy.

After a good minute, Kirito recovered and rose to his feet, turning to observe the situation. Near the exit, Furinkazan was helping retrieve the Army soldiers, Griselda's Stand erecting a massive blockade of trees to obscure the movement of the injured from the boss and shield them from harm. Next to the door, Argo and Silica helped to heal the injured, Pina using its Healing Breath to recover their HP.

On the battlefield in the Boss Room, Purple Rain was spread out, trying to attack the boss as it neared its final health bar.

"COME OVER HERE!" Okuyasu cried out, using The Hand to swipe at the boss's body, connecting along its arm, scraping away a chunk of flesh, causing it to roar in pain before the flesh grew back, its sword moving to intercept Okuyasu, only for Lisbeth to leap up, smacking it away with a parry from her shield.

"Switch!"

Klein and Griselda moved together, Klein attacking with several slices from his katana while Griselda deflected the next strike with her shield, rooting the boss's legs to the ground with her Stand, just enough for Agil to charge in with a battle cry, cleaving his axe down on the beast's horn, chopping it off.

"COME ON!" Josuke yelled out, his sword in hand as he clashed blades with The Gleam Eyes, Crazy Diamond grabbing the massive blade and tossing it aside before rushing in to deal more punishment.

"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!"

"Swit- OOF!" Josuke yelled out, just before The Gleam Eyes quickly recovered and retaliate, punching Josuke in the gullet and sending him sprawling to the corner.

"Things aren't looking good." Asuna mused out loud, turning to Kirito.

"About that secret with Lis. If you got a plan, then now would be a good time!" Asuna said to the boy, reaching for Lambent Light sheathed at her side.

"I… do. I just need ten seconds. Can you buy me some time?" Kirito asked Asuna, reaching into his menu and fiddling with some settings.

Asuna paused to look at Kirito for a second before nodding, drawing her rapier as she assumed a stance, rushing into battle straight towards The Gleam Eyes.

Asuna blew past the others as her sword was drawn back and glowing with a sword skill. Before the boss could target her and attack, Asuna's blade rammed into the boss's body, drilling into it and causing it to stagger backward. A clean combo chain followed as her sword immediately glowed a different color, her sword stabbing into the boss's body repeatedly and locking it down.

"Ready!"

Hearing Kirito's voice, Asuna dodged a swing of the boss's sword, before swinging her weapon upwards, parrying another strike, and sending the demon reeling for a second. All the time they needed.

The Gleam Eyes recovered quickly, swinging its sword down at the approaching Black Swordsman, only for Kirito to swing Elucidator to clash with the massive blade, sparks grinding as the two weapons collided.

However, it was then that Kirito reached to his back with his free hand, just as a second scabbard materialized onto his back, crossing with Elucidator's, housing a second crystalline sword. Gripping the blade, Kirito drew the second sword and swiped down in an arc with Dark Repulser, wielding both weapons in each hand.

Undeterred by the new challenger, The Gleam Eyes swung down with its blade again, only for Kirito to cross his blades above his head, holding back the attack and swinging outwards, pushing the blade off of him and knocking the massive beast back.

"DORA!"

With the opening, Josuke's sword flew above Kirito's head and directly through the boss's head, nailing it against its goatlike face. Josuke returned to Kirito's side, patting him on the shoulder with a grin as Crazy Diamond healed his injuries.

"Took your time back there, huh?" Josuke laughed as Kirito snickered under his breath as well.

"I've made up my mind. I'm done running. I'm done hiding. I'm gonna keep fighting. For the people I still have in my life!" Kirito declared, leveling Dark Repulser to point at the growling boss.

Josuke turned to his friend, surprised to hear those words, before smiling warmly and sincerely. "Looks like you found your conviction. Proud to hear that! What's say we start with kicking this guy to the curb?"

Kirito's eyes flared with determination as he prepared for battle alongside his friend.

"Yosh! LET'S END THIS!"

As if meeting their challenge, The Gleam Eyes let out one last defiant roar as it charged, the two teens raising their voices in a loud battle cry as they raised their weapons for the final showdown. Meeting the boss in the middle of the arena, the first contact was made.

"DORA!"

Crazy Diamond wielded Overture in its hands, swinging the weapon at a much faster speed than Josuke could have been capable of with his own hands as the Stand parried The Gleam Eyes' attack, sending it backward from the impact. With that, it was open for a final attack as Kirito's swords both glowed the same color of light blue, preparing their ultimate attack.

"Crazy…"

«Starburst Stream»

"...DIAMOND!"

"WHOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"

"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!"

Crazy Diamond and Kirito's swords moved at blinding speed, the intensity at which Kirito's blade danced in the air to slice and dice with a vicious ferocity only matched by the sheer amount of power delivered by Crazy Diamond roaring as it swung Josuke's blade at an inhuman speed impossible by Josuke's own hands.

Everyone could only watch in awe as the duo screamed from their very souls, their fighting spirit shining like the sun itself as The Gleam Eyes' last health bar sank like a rock. Unable to fight back against the onslaught of blades, the boss was left helpless as its health finally depleted to zero.

Josuke and Kirito dropped to their knees as the boss let out its death wail, glowing and exploding into a mass of blue pixels. They gasped for air, their throats hoarse from screaming, their arms exhausted from swinging their swords, their legs limp from standing their ground.

As the Congratulations banner appeared to celebrate their victory, both boys couldn't help but laugh as they both plopped to the floor, flat on their backs as their consciousness faded, the frantic voices of Purple Rain being the last thing they heard before the darkness took hold.

Weapon Showcase:

Lv. 60 One-Handed Sword: Draconic Claw, Dark Repulser – Do not let its glassy frame fool you. Forged from crystals guarded by dragons, this unholy blade strikes without mercy or remorse much like the fearsome beasts themselves. Like a proud dragon flying high, you are a king of nature, an unchained storm.

Special: Reverse Scale: All Sword Skill damage increased by 30%, Critical Damage increased by 50%, Critical Chance increased by 30% for 2 seconds on successful combo chain

Enhancement: +15

Damage: 600 (S)

Speed: 350 (B)

Durability: 250 (C)

Range: 2m (B)

Precision: 75% (B)

Rank: Crafted, Legendary (A)

Selling Price: 75,000 Col

Next time: Meet Heathcliff!

Holy shit, this was a really long chapter. Part of that might be because of that LC segment in the beginning, but I digress. This could easily be the NEW longest chapter I've ever written, and this makes two chapters that exceeded 10k words in a row! Huh, not bad I guess!

So anyway, hope you like the guild name! It's a Prince reference, and Josuke is hugely inspired by and canonically is a fan of Prince, so I thought it only seemed fitting.

Now for this chapter as a whole. I gave Kira a motivation for associating with LC, but honestly I wasn't sure how to integrate him in the story without changing a few things. I know how meticulous and paranoid he can be and I loved him in the original source material, but I hope I didn't completely butcher him. And yes, Mercury is his tag. It's a double meaning, actually. Mercury is a mineral that turns to liquid at room temperature, making it volatile, and was once thought to contain properties of healing and eternal life, but is actually toxic and fatal to consume, as a certain Chinese Emperor found the hard way. Second and more obviously, it's a reference to Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.

No, I have never tried rabbit stew in my life. If I did, I forgot. I was trying to emulate Okuyasu's reactions to Tonio's food. (My favorite JoJo episode by a landslide, mind you)

And yes, I did have Griselda changed up a bit. I never once mentioned the scumbag that is Grimlock before in this story, and I figured I might as well put that to use. Second of all, Klein, poor sod he is doesn't get any love. Who knows if this one tangent ends up working or failing horribly. Who knows?

Josuke finally has someone insult his hair! You know, I hinted at this and people got close, but I never got to write a full-on insult aftermath so far. Oh well, hoped you liked it.

Kirito's breakdown at the boss battle. I didn't have enough screentime to develop the relationship between Kirito and Asuna, and I hope to build on it further in later chapters, meaning it will take a while. Consider this my first real step into developing that bond. I also hope it shows how badly that incident scarred him. I legit have no idea if I handled this right. If not, please let me know.

Anyways, this was a lot to cram into one chapter, but I hope you stick around to see the end! I still have so much planned and I'd be honored to share that with you all! Thanks, and I'll see you in the next one!

Please review, I'm begging you. (Please). Also, noticed people are actually rescinding their follows. Oh well, guess it can't be helped. Not like people stay the same after three years. Just wondering when I'll ever pass the hundred mark lmao

Aurum79: Thank you so much! I really hoped I made Keicho's new arc hit great as it did in the original. Also, Laughing Coffin, I hope I can nail them in my story! So happy you liked Appleseed Cast! I was wondering how Griselda's Stand turned out! Always glad to hear from you!