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Hello, dear readers

This is the first fanfiction that I (the author) have decided to write, creating a crossover between two anime I love: Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online. At a glance, the two series are considerably different.

With vastly different themes and atmospheres, the first story is about surviving against creatures called Titans and is filled with mysteries. Meanwhile, the other takes us into a virtual reality RPG where death (which can be real outside the screen) is a factor. However, I discovered that both stories share one common element: "putting your life on the line." Therefore, I decided to write this story as an experiment to see what would happen if the characters from both series were to meet, causing a change to the original timeline that I have altered. I had various questions in my mind: What if the characters from Attack on Titan actually had to play SAO and conquer monsters on each floor up to the 100th alongside the SAO players? And what if the SAO game system connected to Paradis Island, transforming it into a virtual reality RPG, forcing the SAO characters to face a new world, and how would the Attack on Titan characters react to the game's systems? You can follow along to find out.

Setting: For Attack on Titan, the story begins around Season 1, Episode 16. For SAO, it is set during Season 1, Episode 7 (June 2024).

P.S. In summary, the story will primarily focus on altering the Attack on Titan timeline by introducing SAO's elements to the island, thus changing the main storyline. Due to the large cast of characters in Attack on Titan, this story will include OCs (Original Characters) and others from the game SAO: Integral Factor to interact with some of AOT's secondary characters and serve as a bridge for the plot.

The following story may contain descriptions of scenes from the game SAO:IF or Sword Art Online: Integral Factor.

Due to the altered timeline, some Attack on Titan characters may have changed.

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Events prior to the Cardinal system and Aincrad taking over. The story takes place during Season 1, Episode 16.

Year 850, events following the Battle of Trost District. After enduring the tragic and sorrowful events at the "Wall Rose" in Trost District, caused by the colossal Titan that kicked the wall, resulting in Titans breaching the wall and causing havoc, killing countless civilians.

Eren Yeager, a young soldier who had just completed his training, performed his duties admirably. On that day, he saved his comrades from being devoured by Titans as the wall was breached. He used the ODM gear to assist, but ended up being swallowed by a Titan. This marked the beginning of the young man's transformation into a Titan, revealing the mystery hidden within his body.

After reverting to human form, he was deemed a threat to humanity by the Garrison forces. However, he succeeded in repairing Wall Rose with his Titan powers. Later,the Military Police took him into custody for control purposes, eventually bringing the matter to the attention of the Survey Corps.

Erwin Smith, Commander of the Survey Corps, directly negotiated with the military court to place him under the control of the Special Operations Squad of Captain Levi, as a crucial gamble for the future of humanity. This was related to the "Yeager family basement" in Shiganshina District,which had been abandoned since the fall of Wall Maria five years prior. It was hoped to hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Titans.

Eren,who had already desired to join the Survey Corps, finally became a member under the command of Captain Levi. Recently, his fellow trainees from the 104th Cadet Corps, including Mikasa, Armin, and others,also joined the Survey Corps.

"You guys... why are you..." His emerald-green eyes widened in shock as his former comrades now joined the Survey Corps. The wind blew through the brick fortifications at the Survey Corps training camp. The 104th Cadet stood there, no one spoke, but their expressions and eyes conveyed the same feelings.

"That's right, we'll be joining this operation with you," the voice of a shorthaired girl with dark eyes spoke up. She wore a red scarf. Mikasa Ackerman stood close to her close friend, a young man with blond, feminine-style hair, responding to him.

The young man, who was like family to her, stood before her "Our lives and the fate of humanity now hinge on this doctor. We might die without Eren even realizing it...just like Marco did," said the deep voice of the long-faced young man with short, light brown hair and wide, rectangular eyes, standing on the other side.

Jean Kirstein reached out, placing his hands on Eren's shoulders, looking at him with desperation. This caused the emerald-eyed boy's face to twitch slightly.

"Eren, you're our only hope... We're searching for a reward that only you can give us... So we can move forward with determination."

"What do you mean..."

"Make our lives worth it… So, Eren, can we count on you?" Jean's voice echoed in the silence, as though everyone's breath had halted for a moment.

Eren stared into the eyes of his comrade, with whom he had often argued every time they met. But this time... there was no anger, no stubbornness—only harsh truths and fragile hope.

This was the beginning of the "Journey to the Truth," a path with no return,and soon, the world of Paradise Island would change forever.

The next day, the 57th Expedition beyond the Walls was underway. The ringing of the bell from the village tower signaled the time to prepare for the mission outside the walls. The soldiers of the Survey Corps lined up, ready to depart from the Karanes District.

"Commander Erwin, in 30 seconds, the gates will open shortly. We've already cleared the Titans in the surrounding area, sir," reported one of the soldiers.

"Alright, let's give it our best," replied Erwin Smith, the blond man with an undercut hairstyle and a blue-eyed, serious expression, his tone as firm as ever as he stood at the front of the group.

But before long, a red ring appeared in the sky with the word "WARNING" plastered across it, spreading rapidly until it enveloped the entire sky above the walls. The villagers and citizens were terrified by the sudden event.

Then, an anonymous figure appeared—neither a Titan nor a monster, but a Messenger. A faceless man cloaked in red floated above the sky, about to announce something to all the people on the island.

The warping sound of thousands of "Players" from another world echoed as they were teleported to Paradise Island amidst the chaos. The islanders and players from another world, some on rooftops, some by the water's edge — to put it simply, the situation has become chaotic. The district is now overcrowded because tens of thousands of people are crammed into this area.

"What the hell is that... Hey, who are you?!" One of the exploration squad soldiers pointed at a stranger from another world, clad in white and red armor, bearing the symbol of a sword on their cape.

"And Who the hell are you?!... I just used a crystal to open a dungeon a moment ago, only to waste money being transported to who-knows-where." The stranger drew their sword, ready to face the soldier.

"Don't mess around. You've caused chaos in our world—" But before the soldier could finish, everyone—exploration squad soldiers, civilians, and even those who were once in military or casual attire—transformed into rookie swordsmen in training gear, complete with armor.

"What the hell? My dimensional movement device and my trusted sword are gone. This can't be real. What am I even wearing?" The soldier, now seemingly becoming one with the strangers from another world, exclaimed in disbelief.

"What's going on here…" Armin muttered, his eyes wide as he stood on horseback, gazing at the faceless figure floating in the sky.

"That's not a Titan… but it's not a human we've ever encountered either…" Mikasa readied herself, raising her newly appeared sword, now wearing the sudden attire of a novice swordsman.

"Please, remain silent and listen to me." a booming voice reverberated across Paradis Island, drawing the attention of both soldiers and civilians to the faceless figure in the sky, encircled by a red ring above Paradis.

"My name is Kayaba Akihiko, the one who implemented the Cardinal system by connecting the world of Aincrad to Paradis Island. This is a masterpiece I've successfully achieved." Kayaba addressed the island's inhabitants before continuing.

"I welcome all of you who originally hailed from Aincrad to this new world…."

Soon, cheers erupted from the original Aincrad players and the people of Paradis Island.

"How much longer are you going to toy with our lives?! Where the hell are we, you damn Kayaba bastard?" The voice of a player who played this game before echoed out loud across the sky. Some cursed, others shouted, trying to find a way out, while some prepared to fight against the soldiers of Paradise, even though they themselves were just as confused by the situation before them.

"The Cardinal system..." Armin muttered to himself, hurriedly pulling out a small notebook to jot down Kayaba's words. "Aincrad world... but how is it connected to this world?"

"If this isn't a dream..." Mikasa looked around. "Do we have to survive both the Titans... and people from another world?"

Eren took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His fists clenched tightly. "Whatever it is, if it stands in the way of our freedom, it's the enemy!" he shouted without hesitation, his emerald-green eyes blazing with determination.

"Eren, calm down." The soft, high-pitched voice of Petra Ral, Eren's senior with short orange hair, came from the horse beside him.

"Tch... This damn situation is a mess. Who knows what these crazy giants are talking about? Even if that guy isn't a Titan, he should have died by our hands," said a light-brown-haired young man with a face older than his years, sitting on the horse next to Eren, who was trying to act as their leader. His tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Captain Levi, do you have any clue what's going on? How could something this insane even happen?" Oluo spoke up.

The small-statured but highly capable man with dark eyes and an undercut hairstyle turned to look at him. "Something this insane? None of us here knows. Just listen to that man floating in the sky for now." Levi replied.

Kayaba Akihiko continued to hover in mid-air, his palms outstretched. A red magic circle expanded, covering the entire sky.

"As you all know, the system has now adjusted to transform all players on the island into swordsmen to conquer the 100-floor labyrinth. If everyone successfully completes this grand quest, everything you've forgotten will return to reality."

Afterward, the atmosphere in Karanes District and other areas transformed. What were once simple villages and shops became NPC weapon shops, restaurants, and inns, created by a supernatural system controlled by some technology that rapidly altered the buildings. The system then integrated "The Town of Beginnings" with the world of Paradis.

It was placed in an area outside Wall Sina, erasing the existing villages to merge the new and old towns, leaving the locals stunned as Kayaba manipulated their home.

"This is insane... what is this..." a nobleman exclaimed, his hands trembling as a tall clock tower suddenly appeared, surrounded by a wide plaza and a row of NPC shops connecting to the original city layout. Wall Sina had originally been the residential area for the upper class and nobility, and now original Aincrad players were milling about.

"That damn Kayaba! It's not enough that you changed my clothes, now you're trying to make us lose our way home too!" the voice of another nobleman shouted in anger, his words echoing across the central plaza. Some began to protest, pointing their fingers at the sky where the floating image of Kayaba Akihiko was displayed.

"My apologies for causing confusion and terror to some of the people within Wall Sina. I have fused 'The Town of Beginnings,' or the 1st floor, with this important location on your island."

"Bring our old villages back to the way they were, right now! You can't just turn us into players and change our towns as you please!"

"That man is a clear threat to our humanity! This is unacceptable. We must eliminate him before it's too late." a senior Military Police officer glared at Kayaba, his face contorted with a rage that matched the townspeople's. He wanted to draw his gun and take aim, but all their weapons had been replaced with basic swords.

"Can this system really change our world to this extent..." Armin murmured softly, frantically opening his notebook, jotting down everything he saw like a scientist who had just witnessed a world-changing revolution.

"'The Town of Beginnings' connected to Wall Sina... but what exactly is that town?" a tall, powerfully built young man with light blond hair, Reiner Braun, asked with a serious and thoughtful expression, sitting on his horse next to Armin.

"Everyone, the new town you have just witnessed is 'The Town of Beginnings,' which is considered the 1st floor and has the lowest difficulty. Outside your city walls, our system has replaced the Titans with monsters that may be as ferocious as the Titans themselves. This place will be the starting point for your survival, to determine whether you are worthy in a world without limits. The entirety of this island will also be considered part of the 1st floor."

Levi remained on high alert. Although he hadn't drawn his sword, his cold eyes scanned his surroundings vigilantly. Erwin and Hange were also stunned by the system.

"Does that mean Kayaba has erased all the Titans from the entire island? If so, then that means..."

"Hold on, Levi. From what Kayaba announced, he said... monsters have replaced the Titans. That sounds even more terrifying. With a crazy system like this, even if it really did get rid of the Titans, if it replaces them with something worse... we're still in the same hell," Hange said with a tense expression.

"All new players on the island...or in this world, information is power, and access to that power is through the player menu. Raise your dominant hand and imagine a transparent screen before you... then, with the fingertip of either hand, swipe down once in the air. The system Interface will then display the player's information." Kayaba said.

The islanders, began to understand and followed the instructions, swiping their hands. A light blue, transparent UI screen appeared in front of each person.

"Skill Records... Items... Party... I don't know what Kayaba is thinking, but turning everything into a game is incredibly interesting," Hange Zoë, a squad leader with a messy ponytail, dark red hair, and thick glasses, smiled slyly and chuckled quietly at the Interface screen displaying their information.

"Button your lip, Four-Eyes. That guy is leading our home to ruin. Don't get so excited yet."

"Oh, come on, Levi. Didn't Kayaba say there's something interesting in the labyrinth? If we don't try to conquer it, we'll never know."

Erwin Smith stepped in between them, his own UI screen open. "If we look at this strategically, Kayaba is turning a battlefield we're familiar with into his chessboard, and we've become the pieces. But if he's telling the truth, that the top floor of the labyrinth holds the answer, then perhaps the basement of the Jaeger house... is just a tiny fragment of the whole truth."

Kayaba Akihiko, who had been silent for a moment, added,

"Aincrad has transcended the boundaries of a game... merging with a land filled with mysteries and monsters. In each floor of this tower, which has now fused with your island, if you can clear this tower up to the 100th floor, everything will be at peace. The only way to survive is this method alone. All players must maintain their HP, or Hit Points, during their journey, not letting it reach 0. If that time comes, it means you will die and disappear from this world. Not even life-saving items can be used.

"Remember... the only way to survive is to keep moving forward... You must not die... for any reason."

"Life-recovery items, so things like that exist? That's good, at least it's reassuring to know we still have a chance of survival." The voice of a female soldier with long, dark brown hair tied back, her large, round eyes the same color as her hair, said from her horse while still in formation, clasping her hands with hope.

"As good as a ghost, huh? Mistaken like that missy, if you standing in the front line during the boss raid... You would indeed get a 'permanent rest' for sure." a player from SAO, a tall, muscular man with broad shoulders, a shaved head, and dark skin, wearing silver armor over a dark green, forest-patterned cloak, who had experienced the cruelty of the Aincrad game system, warned the young woman.

"But we've faced countless Titans, giant human-like creatures that have eaten so many people... We'd be overjoyed to deal with something like that!" Sasha Blouse argued back, her voice full of emotion and the experience of someone who had seen death countless times.

"Wha... what? Titans?... Are they really that scary?" Agil asked.

"Yes! Titans are the most terrifying creatures in the world!" Sasha retorted with all her heart.

Kayaba looked up at the crowd, filled with fear and uncertainty, before speaking in a cold but steady voice. "This is the only chance to change everyone's destiny. No one can escape the reality that is coming... Prepare yourselves. We will meet again on the path to the 100th floor of this tower."

"And on that day... this world will never be the same again."

Suddenly, the red ring that had encircled the city slowly faded away, as if dissolving into the air, leaving the people on the island in an uproar. Some cried out, begging for things to go back to the way they were, afraid of the change. Others stood stunned by what they could not comprehend, their hearts a mixture of extreme hope and fear... Meanwhile, many of the original SAO players still harbored a deep-seated hatred for Kayaba. Some whispered curses quietly, while others declared it openly.

"I will never accept him... The one who trapped us in this damn world and made us lose everything! Even on this cursed island... what the hell do you want?! What the hell did you bring us here for?"

"We won't let the players on this island snatch all the good items from us. We're already dying with just a few thousand people," the aggressive voice of a familiar man, Kibaou, a short man with spiky orange hair, small, narrow brown eyes, wearing the green cloak of the Aincrad Liberation Force, who had previously branded Beta Testers as unfair players, spoke up first.

Even though he was filled with resentment and vengeance, the road ahead was fraught with hardship and uncertainty.

On the other side, far from the Survey Corps, within Wall Sina, a young man in a jet-black coat, a long sword of the same color slung across his back, walked along the river in the heart of the city. There were now many players from his world, all looking frightened and anxious about being moved to this new, different world. The island's inhabitants wore expressions that were no different.

"I have to find Asuna... Klein, and the others... where did they get lost?"

Kirito murmured softly, his eyes looking up from under his bangs at the tall clock tower that stood prominently in the middle of the city. He recognized it. It was the center of The Town of Beginnings... but this wasn't the Aincrad he knew. Everything seemed to have been merged into a new, more brutal world.

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To be Continued.

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Chapter 2

Knights of the Blood Oath

"Erwin, what do we do next? The whole city is in ruins. I guess I really have to do as that bastard said." the short man asked.

"We won't blindly trust Kayaba's words until we understand this system better... but at the same time, we don't have many options. If he's telling the truth, clearing every floor is the only way to survive. In that case, we might really have to follow Kayaba's lead".

"Tch, I don't like this situation at all. And this stupid sword... I guess it's the only weapon we can use to win on each floor." Levi said, looking at the chaotic scene. The surrounding villagers were periodically shouting for help from the Survey Corps.

"Commander Erwin, please help us! Everyone has turned into something we don't know."

"Commander Erwin, please do something! We're all going crazy".

"You're the soldiers who are supposed to protect the nation!... do something about these foreigners!".

"Kayaba's game theme is probably inspired by knights or adventurers, something like that? But that man, Kayaba, is using something called the Cardinal System to control our city like something out of a novel... It would be laughable if he called himself human, don't you think?" Hange said with a light, sarcastic laugh.

Levi glanced at Hange for a moment before letting out a weary sigh. He drew his sword from its sheath, gave it a light flick to test its balance, and muttered lowly, "If it can actually kill humans, I don't care how stupid it is...".

Hange shrugged lightly, looking at her own palm where a status screen was now floating above the skin. "Everything is too supernatural to be called reality anymore... That Cardinal System probably doesn't just control the area; it controls the 'rules of the world' entirely".

"Should I... transform into a Titan and go outside the walls right now, Captain Levi?" Eren Jaeger, the young man who held the power of the Titans and had been quiet for a moment, asked.

"But from what Kayaba said... he has removed the Titans from outside the walls and replaced them with creatures called 'monsters.' I'm not so sure what to do anymore. I don't even know if the Titan within me still exists," the young man said, raising his hand, ready to bite it to become a Titan, but hesitant that it might cause even more damage to the city.

"If you believe that what you want to do is not wrong, your feeling of wanting to save all of humanity... then just do it." But suddenly, Erwin Smith answered instead.

Eren froze, his hand suspended in mid-air, his eyes filled with confusion and hesitation. He turned to look at Erwin Smith, the man he respected for his decisiveness and his commitment to the greater good. His emerald eyes then shifted to the chaotic crowds of confused people in the alleys of Karanes District, which was still simmering with turmoil.

"That's why 'you' have to decide for yourself," Levi said in a firm voice. "Because being human means choosing to take responsibility for the consequences of your own actions. There's no right or wrong about what the outcome will be. It's just that you have to decide what you're going to do".

Captain Levi's words were enough to make the young man realize. Eren looked at the hand he had raised a moment ago, still hesitating about what would happen to his body if he bit down.

"You're too slow, Eren. What are you doing? Hurry up and save humanity from Kayaba!" Petra Ral, the young woman with short orange hair who was his senior, tried to snap the young man back to his senses.

"That's right, Eren. We're in a terrible situation right now. It's time for you to help us," Eld Jinn, a tall man with blond hair tied back, tried to warn his junior with a concern no less than Petra's.

"In that case... I'll turn into a Titan. I'll save everyone here from Kayaba's evil myself." With that, the young man dismounted his horse, ran to the front of the wall, and bit his hand, ready to become a Titan. However, a red message popped up in mid-air, reading 'ERROR' as if the system was suppressing the Titan's power, announcing the failure of Eren's transformation in front of everyone. The soldiers' eyes were fixed on Eren, who stood in the middle of the plaza as if he had become the center of shattered hope.

Eren froze, standing stiff as if rooted to the spot. "Why... why can't I transform... Did my power really gone?" He looked down at his hand, which now had a pixelated wound. "And what is this? Why does the wound look so strange? It should be bleeding".

"Perhaps the mystery Kayaba is hiding is something he wants us to find... the system he has suppressed. We'll have to conquer each floor until you can actually transform into a Titan." Levi said, getting off his horse to examine Eren's bloodless wound. The short man then happened to see the HP bar above the young man's head decrease by a sliver, before his expression grew even more grim.

"Holy shit. Our lives probably depend on that green bar, and we have to try not to let it reach 0, just like Kayaba said. This thing must be called HP, or Hit Points, I'm sure of it. Right, Eren?".

"Yes, sir! It shows up as a number, just like an HP value, no doubt," Eren replied, his eyes still trembling.

"So, has my Titan power really disappeared?".

"It hasn't disappeared yet. I believe so." Hange added, her eyes sparkling again with a glint of technological interest.

"Your power is still there... but it's been restricted by Kayaba's system. It's as if your Titan form has become one of the locked data points in this game, and you have to unlock it by playing through each floor, step by step, just like any other player".

"So, what should we do now?".

"Clear the first floor." Levi answered curtly. "Start from there. Kayaba has created a new battlefield for us, so we'll play his game... until we find its end. That's probably the only way we can destroy his system".

"That's right. You all will have to clear the first floor's dungeon. It's the only way to bring peace back to your city. The only way is to fight." said the voice of a young woman. She was unfamiliar to the Survey Corps soldiers and walked up with her guild members, dressed in elegant and formidable white and red swordsman armor.

"Who are you? Could you be...".

"My name is Asuna. I'm an SAO player who's been trapped in the game for almost two years. I'm from the Knights of the Blood Oath, or KOB for short. It's a pleasure to meet all the people of this island who have to face this with us." The young woman with long, orange-blonde hair, wearing the white guild armor, approached and greeted the Survey Corps, offering her help. Her squad members stood ready behind her. However, one of the Survey Corps soldiers stepped forward from the ranks, eyeing the original SAO players warily.

"Commander Erwin, Captain Levi, what should we do with these people... Should we interrogate them?" a junior soldier asked.

"Calm down! We have no intention of being your enemies. We were just as surprised as you are that Kayaba would go this far..." Godfree, a large man with curly, brownish-orange hair, who looked like a high-level player feared by many judging by his attire and thick axe, said. He wore the white and red KOB guild uniform with a white cape, a metal chest plate, shoulder pads, metal arm guards, and brown leather gloves.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well. My name is Erwin Smith, the current commander of the Survey Corps... I welcome you to this new war." Erwin said in a firm yet gentle tone amidst the tense situation.

Asuna nodded slightly before continuing, "We are all trapped in Kayaba's game. Even though we come from different worlds, our desire to survive and protect the ones we love... is no different".

Levi stared at the group of SAO players for a moment before turning to Erwin. "So, what's the plan? These people claim to be from another world, but if they have a hidden agenda, we shouldn't trust them so easily".

"True," Erwin replied unhurriedly. "But right now, we have a common enemy: Kayaba's system and the game's floors that have turned our world into someone's experiment. If they can help us, they are our allies in this war".

"Just believe in us. With our experience, we will lead everyone on this island to conquer the 100th floor for the peace of your city," Asuna said, meeting Levi's gaze, her hand firmly gripping her beloved sword, 'Lambent Light'.

Hange, who had interjected into the conversation, smiled with a hint of satisfaction. "This just got more interesting... The technology from one world, and the power of the Titans, which we don't even know if we can use. There must be some secret hidden in the dungeon for sure!".

"Huh... the power of the Titans? What do exactly mean?" Asuna was surprised by Squad Leader Hange's words.

"Oh, right. You probably don't know..." Hange glanced at Asuna, her eyes sparkling with the natural fascination of someone who was obsessed with Titans.

After that, Hange's expression changed from sparkling to grim, as if she were a different person. "Titans are giant creatures that have been a threat to humanity on this island for hundreds of years. They have destroyed walls, destroyed cities, and eaten humans alive. But a mystery we recently discovered within the walls is that the power of the Titans can be integrated into the bodies of certain humans".

Asuna's eyes widened slightly. "You mean there are people who can transform into... Titans?".

"Yes, and one of them is the young man you saw earlier... Eren Jaeger." Hange said, nodding towards the young man who stood quietly nearby, his hand still bearing the bite mark from his failed transformation attempt.

"But now, he can no longer use that power," Hange continued, her voice changing slightly to a more serious tone. "Because it seems Kayaba's system has 'blocked' his power with some mechanism tied to the game system, just as Kayaba controls this world".

"It's like his power has been 'locked' in the system..." Asuna murmured, her expression growing worried. "Just like how some high-level skills in SAO require special conditions to be met before they can be used...".

"Huh... in that case." Hange's eyes widened in surprise. "That's what makes me certain. If we are to solve the mysteries on each floor of the dungeon, you... who have experienced SAO before, might have the information or methods to help unlock the power that this system has sealed away".

"As for that, I really don't know what the game creator, that man Kayaba, is thinking right now. From the fact that he has a system called the Cardinal System that can connect to a world I've never known... perhaps he's interested in the matter of the Titan powers. But as for this Cardinal System, I want to discover for myself what it really is," Asuna explained, raising her arm in thought.

Levi, who had been listening quietly all along, spoke in a flat but firm voice. "If you don't know for sure, get your shit together then find the answer with us... Don't expect anyone to lead the way for you but yourself".

Asuna nodded slowly. She was not fazed by Levi's sharp words, but rather gave a faint smile with a determined look in her eyes.

"Don't worry. I've been through plenty of unanswered questions, just like everyone here... I'll fight until I find the answers too. Besides, we've cleared the first floor of Aincrad countless times." Asuna continued with determined eyes. "If I have to clear the first floor of this world again, I'm ready to fight alongside everyone to free everyone from this system once more!".

Erwin stroked his chin slightly before cutting in with a leader's voice. "Since both our sides have the same goal, joining forces seems to be the best option... Tonight, we will hold a meeting to plan our attack on the first-floor dungeon. Prepare all the details, including the entrance, monster information, and how to deal with the mechanics of this system".

"It seems I've arrived at just the right time." said a voice from a tall, imposing man. He had a sharp, scholarly face and gray hair with a single lock hanging down his forehead. He walked up wearing his usual red armor and cape.

"Leader Heathcliff!" Asuna greeted him, standing up immediately, her eyes filled with a clear mix of respect and surprise.

The other KOB guild members quickly saluted him in unison. The tall man named Heathcliff walked in with an air of elegance, radiating the aura of a leader who had been through countless battles in SAO.

"It seems the situation is much more complicated than I anticipated." he said in a flat but powerful voice.

"Commander Erwin, Captain Levi... a pleasure to meet you. It seems the time has come for us to draw our swords and walk side by side".

Levi looked at the man before him with an appraising gaze. "...You're the leader of their guild?".

"That's right. You can call me Heathcliff for short, as many people do," he replied, pausing for a moment before continuing.

"Commander Erwin, it seems you are the leader of the guild called the Survey Corps at this time, right?" Heathcliff said, his eyes fixed on Erwin.

"...If a guild in this game's terms means a group or faction of some sort, then yes, what you said is correct." Erwin replied.

"From my wandering and surveying of the area, it seems the surrounding populace has placed a great deal of hope in you all".

"They have no other choice," Erwin replied, meeting Heathcliff's gaze with a determined expression. "Since this world has been changed by Kayaba's will, they must place their hope in those who still dare to step forward... even without knowing what lies ahead".

Heathcliff nodded slowly. "As someone who has seen despair in a virtual world before, I understand completely... People need a symbol of hope, even if it's just one person, one team, or... one unit".

He turned to look at the Survey Corps soldiers who were still watching him warily.

"And if you are that symbol, then I am willing to place my sword alongside yours." The man then took out a small notebook, similar to a journal for important notes.

"This is a guidebook. I've written down all the information about the bosses of various floors, as well as information on how to play, use skills, and many other things in this notebook".

Erwin's eyes widened as if he had seen a great treasure. "That would be very helpful... If we can copy this guide and distribute it to the other military divisions and the public...".

"Tonight, we will make copies of this information. Then... tomorrow morning, we will head to the capital to negotiate with the Military Police. If this is resolved quickly, we might be able to head straight into the first-floor dungeon".

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To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

Not a Game Anymore

The next morning, at the headquarters of the Military Police Brigade.

"This is too much. That bastard Kayaba, he's definitely playing with our lives...!" A middle-aged man of average build, with short, slightly messy jet-black hair, slammed his fist on the conference table in despair. He was Commander Nile Dok, the chief of the Military Police.

The other officers in the conference room sat frozen in their seats. Some frowned, while others exchanged worried glances.

"He hasn't just interfered with our system of government... he has completely changed the laws of this world!" Nile's gaze swept over the city, now altered almost beyond recognition. The original districts had been replaced with new townscapes, marked with "Teleport Gate" and "NPC Shop" icons, all now connected to Wall Sina.

"The very word 'player'... shouldn't even be used for the citizens of this land!" He wanted to scream at the walls, but since this was a meeting convened for a monumental crisis, he had to maintain his leadership composure.

"If anyone in our forces dies because of this man's horrific game, I will consider it an act of war, without a doubt!"

A nobleman sitting at the corner of the table looked up, his voice hoarse yet steady. "That kind of talk... sounds like we're letting fear win, Commander Nile."

"Then this is unacceptable! If Kayaba continues to rule this world for much longer... the people, everyone, will be in danger," Nile said, his voice trembling with fear.

"We must coordinate with the commanders of every military branch as quickly as possible, including Darius Zackly. We need a plan to deal with this 'game' before the people of this island start dying for real!"

"What about the Titan power that Eren Jaeger possesses, sir? I believe Eren can truly be a force for humanity, but is it possible for him to destroy this game system?" a soldier attending the meeting asked.

Nile Dok paused for a moment upon hearing the question. He averted his gaze to another corner of the room before slowly turning back, his voice hard but laced with hesitation.

"Eren Jaeger's power... if we were to use it to 'break' this game system as you suggest, it might be theoretically possible. But we have no idea what kind of structure Kayaba's Cardinal System has created to envelop this universe."

Father Nick, who had been listening in silence, deep in thought, finally spoke up, his voice heavy with a faith and doubt that resonated through the room. "But God granted the power of the Titans to humanity... perhaps so we could use it to fight against a 'false god' like Kayaba..."

Nile's brow furrowed tightly at that statement. He turned to the attendees and spoke with a decisive tone. "We must negotiate with the Survey Corps immediately. Right now, the Titan power within Eren Jaeger is absolutely essential. If Erwin Smith agrees to hand Eren over to our custody—the Military Police's—then order in this nation might be restored much faster."

The room fell silent once more. Soon, the commander adjourned the meeting. The soldiers, nobles, and others rose from their chairs, filing out of the room one by one with grave expressions.

Inside the Military Police Headquarters, Stohess District.

"June 24th, year 850..." The young man in black swordsman attire frowned as he read the text on the translucent screen before him. Isn't it supposed to be the year 2024? he murmured to himself, before his eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the unfamiliar medieval atmosphere.

"This place... it feels like a kingdom that Kayaba connected to another dimension, don't you think, Kirinoji?" a deep voice commented. The speaker was a man dressed in armor styled after a samurai, with his signature katana slung across his back. He was quietly exploring the inside of the Military Police castle.

"Klein, not so loud. The strangers around here might hear you," the black-clad swordsman warned his companion, who was exploring beside him.

"Kirinoji" better known to many as Kirito, glanced around the courtyard behind the Military Police headquarters in Stohess District, his eyes filled with caution.

"This place... it doesn't seem like a game backdrop." he said softly. "And the people... they seem alive, like real human beings. They have factions, fear, and... resistance to the game's system."

"You're right," Klein said, scratching the back of his neck with a dry laugh. "Ever since Kayaba mixed the data from the old castle scenes and the Town of Beginnings with these people's world, it's no surprise they're scared of us. They're all confused and bewildered. You can immediately feel that they're living, breathing humans, just like us. And it looks like there are soldiers on patrol inside."

Kirito nodded slightly. "They don't know us yet... We're still outsiders in this world."

The sound of a steel door behind the office creaked open softly, and a tall man in armor bearing the Military Police insignia stepped out cautiously. His expression was firm but laced with suspicion, which instantly turned to shock, fear, and irritation that spread through his body as he saw two unfamiliar swordsmen loitering in his territory.

"Who are you!?" the stern voice of Commander Nile Dok demanded. "Judging by the strange armor you're wearing and those peculiar swords on your backs... you must be..."

"That's right, sir... Kayaba pulled us from our server... no, our original world, Aincrad. Simply put, he's trying to make your world more chaotic by dragging his game system into it and forcing you to follow his rules... "

The boy spoke continuously with determined expression. "Not only that, but we've all been turned into his swordsman-players. The only way out is to conquer the labyrinth tower up to the 100th floor."

"Hey, Kirito, what if Kayaba just created a new world and changed the atmosphere to make it more exciting? You might be talking to an NPC or something?" Klein interjected, pointing a finger at Nile.

Upon hearing this, Commander Nile's brow furrowed, not in anger, but in confusion from receiving unfamiliar information from two strangers.

"NPC? Aincrad? What the hell is this nonsense..."

He fell silent for a moment, taking a deep breath to quell his frustration. "I don't know what crazy things you two are talking about..." he said in a low voice. "But what I see is that you are in our city, fully armed, and speaking of a system that controls the lives of everyone on this land as if you're outsiders looking down from above."

Kirito raised a hand slightly, showing he meant no harm. "We didn't come here to conquer or control anything. We're just trying to find a way to help everyone escape this death game that Kayaba created."

Nile's suspicion didn't lessen, but he began to notice Kirito's straightforward demeanor. "Then prove that you aren't the enemy." he said flatly. "This city has dealt with Titans before. They were disgusting and cruel to our home, devouring our people right before our eyes. If this system you speak of is even more dangerous... then we don't have time for idle arguments."

Kirito turned to face him without breaking eye contact, but his expression began to shift to one of surprise and a hint of fear. "Titans...? What are those?"

"Hey... don't tell me the person we're talking to... isn't an NPC, but actually an actual human just like us," Klein said with a worried expression, clapping a hand on the black swordsman's shoulder.

"What kind of world did Kayaba drag us into? Is this real, Kirinoji? And what he said about Titans... don't tell me they're supernatural beings that aren't just part of a quest." He glanced at the commander, who was still staring at them with distrustful eyes.

The black-clad swordsman didn't answer immediately. He was silent, looking down at the ground before slowly raising his head. His eyes were momentarily blank, then returned to a state of focused seriousness. "...So this world isn't a game. I don't want to believe it either, but the world we're standing on doesn't seem to be made of code like Aincrad at all. Kayaba has brought us to a new universe."

"As for the Titans... I'm not sure what they are. But if what he said is true, and they've 'eaten humans,' then it's highly possible that what you're suggesting is right."

Kirito clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Klein... we're not just in a game anymore."

Nile Dok's brow furrowed deeply as he listened to Kirito and Klein. The distrust was still clear on his face before the commander turned and shouted a sharp order to the soldiers around him.

"All soldiers, prepare your weapons! Seize these two, now!" The Military Police soldiers heard the command and responded instantly. They ran towards the armory inside the building without hesitation, ready to bring back guns and ammunition to apprehend the strangers.

"Commander! In the armory... there are no guns left, sir!" a soldier shouted back as he rushed out of the armory, his face a mask of confusion and shock. "We can't find a single rifle! All the ammunition is gone too!"

"What do you mean, you can't find them!?" Nile roared, striding towards the armory himself. But what he saw was a storage room without so much as an empty ammunition barrel. The weapon racks were bare, without even a sword or a small knife left. It wasn't just the guns; even the most basic weapons were gone, as if some system had "sucked" everything from the armory without a trace.

Kirito, who had followed cautiously, looked at the scene and spoke softly. "It must be the work of the Cardinal System again... It's converted the entire combat system to match Kayaba's game... Ranged weapons like guns are probably 'not permitted' in this world anymore."

"So you mean... Humanity's hope is lost?" Commander Nile collapsed, slamming his fist on the ground in despair.

"Mr. Nile, please calm down... If you can be strong, you can surely protect humanity." Kirito said, trying to help the commander to his feet.

"...How do you know my name!? I haven't told you anything..." Nile stood up and brushed the young man's hand away.

"Your display... on the upper left, you can see your own HP along with my name... and the names of the other soldiers." the young man explained, persuading the commander to try summoning the interface himself.

Nile froze upon hearing Kirito's explanation. He quickly raised his hand and looked into the air, and he saw it. A small, light-green bar appeared near the far left of his vision, along with the name "Nile Dok" and some numbers he didn't understand floating above his own head.

"...What is this..." he murmured softly, his eyes, once filled with rage, now turning to confusion and suspicion. "Your name is Kirito, I see. I understand now... It seems you really aren't a threat to humanity."

"I swear, we are victims trapped in this system just like you." Kirito said with a small nod.

Nile let out a long, weary sigh, leaning lightly against a wall. His gaze drifted to a large nearby window where faint sunlight streamed in. "Whatever... even if this world has changed this much, even if we have no guns... we still have to protect the people within these walls."

He looked up at Kirito again, his voice more serious than before. "And if you're going to stay here, then prove that 'swordsmen' like you will actually protect us, not just say cool-sounding words and then disappear like that Kayaba."

"I can promise you with that." Kirito said, drawing his jet-black sword, the Elucidator—a recent drop from a 50th-floor monster—and pointing it toward the ceiling.

"As long as there are innocent people in danger, whether the enemy is a Titan... or a monster, I will fight to the very end."

Soon, the sound of heavy footsteps grew louder, and a group of familiar-looking leaders appeared. They wore basic armor sets engraved with the Survey Corps symbol on the chest plate. A tall, blond-haired man with blue eyes strode confidently in the lead. He was followed by an older, bald man with a distinctive mustache and beard, wearing armor with the rose symbol of the Garrison Regiment, flanked by a female soldier. On the other side was a man in dark red armor, his cape fluttering gently with the calm, deliberate steps of the leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath. Finally, there was a short, portly, elderly man, adjusting his glasses as he walked.

"Nile, there you are. It's been a while," a firm voice that Nile knew well said, causing him to turn and meet the speaker's eyes.

"Erwin...! Commander Pixis..Zackly, and... who did you bring with you?"

"My apologies, if we've interrupted anything..." Heathcliff said flatly, his gaze sweeping from Nile to the young man in the black coat and the samurai swordsman.

"My name is Heathcliff. I am the leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath. Today is a good opportunity for me to distribute a basic guidebook on how to survive against the monsters on each floor."

Nile, still standing near Kirito, turned sharply towards the newcomers before sighing softly. "I thought you would have sent a message first, not just show up all at once like this."

"My apologies. We're not quite used to the... uh, what was it? Teleport system, was it? Hahaha! It's so interesting, ever since this game system arrived." the older, bald man with the small beard said, raising a flask of alcohol to his lips without a care for how others might see him.

"Commander Pixis... honestly. We're about to have a meeting. Please stop drinking," a short-haired young woman who appeared to be his aide said, gently touching the commander's arm.

Pixis chuckled softly in his throat and lowered the flask. "Oh, come now. How can we have a meeting if our throats are too dry to think!... very well, I shall be more serious."

Kirito, the black-clad swordsman, was about to sigh at the chaotic situation amidst the gathering of all three military branches when, suddenly, the woman who held the position of Vice-Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath appeared before him and Klein, greeting them with her usual friendly and cheerful voice.

"Kirito-kun, I've been looking all over for you..." Asuna said softly to her male friend, her hazel eyes shining with unconcealed joy.

Klein, standing next to Kirito, his eyes went wide the moment he saw the young woman. He stared at her face as if he'd just met a legendary pop star.

"Whoa... you're the real Asuna, in the flesh! Hello there, I'm Klein. Leader of the guild Furinkazan, 24, single. A pleasure to meet you!" He bowed his head slightly before giving her a subtle wink and adjusting his posture to appear more gentlemanly.

Asuna blinked in a mixture of confusion and surprise at the man's forward approach. "Eh... huh?"

Kirito let out a heavy sigh and lightly slapped Klein's arm, causing the man to yelp softly. "Klein,This isn't the time to flirt. Have you no shame in front of these soldiers?"

He then turned back to the young woman with a faint smile laced with relief. "As long as you didn't run away from me too, I'm happy."

"I'm not going anywhere. We have to find a way out of this world together, right?" Asuna replied in a soft but steady voice, before her expression turned serious as she scanned their surroundings.

"Alright, so as not to waste any more time, let's get down to business." said Zackly, the short, elderly man with a stern face. He adjusted his glasses slightly, signaling that it was time for all of them—the three military branches and the representatives from the Knights of the Blood Oath—to enter the conference room.

"Thank you, Mr. Zackly." Heathcliff said curtly. "In that case, I will begin the meeting now." With that, the strong-willed man followed the group of soldiers, preparing to share the information from the guidebook—a document that was about to become an invaluable treasure for the people of Eldia.

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To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

The Rules of Survival

"Attention, citizens! Please take a guidebook! This is a treasure for all of humanity!" The shouts of Military Polices echoed as they roamed the city, distributing the small but immensely useful books for fighting monsters.

"This little book can save your life! If you want to protect your family... please, take one!" another soldier continued earnestly, waving his hands to draw people's attention.

A large crowd began to gather around the book stall in the city square. Many wore expressions of alarm; some were unsure why the world had changed so suddenly, while others slowly took a guidebook with trembling hands. Before long, the book had implicitly become a "The hope for humanity."

However, the reality was not so simple. The number of copied guidebooks was limited, making distribution to everyone on Paradis Island difficult. Due to constraints on resources and time, Heathcliff's guidebook was first sent to the upper class, following a decree from the royal court. This was due to the kingdom's long-standing governmental structure, where nobles close to the king and high-ranking officials were always the first to receive important news. Meanwhile, in the outer districts, ordinary citizens had been left to fend for themselves since the Aincrad event. Some groups survived by befriending original SAO players, learning about the teleport system, forming parties, and creating small guilds. Some young people, who had lived their entire lives within the walls under military rule, could now venture outside on their own to fight monsters and explore the wider world.

"I wonder if the people in this city still needmyguidebook. It seems like they're doing a good job of taking care of themselves." said the clear, small voice of a young girl with short, light brown hair, who was concealing herself in a hooded cloak made of cloth and leather.

"I think you should try distributing them like you did two years ago. From what we've seen teleporting around, it feels like the people here haven't been given the same opportunities as those in the rich cities." replied the sweet voice of another young girl with short, black, shoulder-length hair and emerald-green eyes, who was walking beside her friend.

"I knew it. The person who wrote this really is the guild leader that'A-chan'is with. Acting all generous with the locals all of a sudden." she said, flipping through the pages of the guidebook written by Heathcliff, which detailed various aspects of the game.

"He's gathered an unnerving amount of information, that guy."

"Are you secretly tailing people again? I'm worried about you."

Her brown eyes fixated on the sight of the commoners in the outer city trying to survive, seemingly no longer needing to rely on the military, as Aincrad had pushed the citizens to fight for themselves.

"This world is enclosed by three layers of walls with gates carved with faces like gods. They must have names. Each city is situated along the walls and sectioned off again. The open areas with forests and mountains are likely the agricultural lands and rural settlements of this kingdom. From the looks of it, the innermost layer is safer than the others and filled with the upper class, while the outer layers are for common folk. That's what I gathered from my quick analysis survey." the small girl explained, showcasing her sharp observational skills and understanding of the new world's context.

She continued, frowning, "The suspicious thing is...why does this city need to protect itself with three layers of thick walls?And from what Kayaba said, he replaced the Titans with monsters... which means..."

"It means they had to protect themselves from Titans...How pity." the friend walking with them added, her voice a mix of sympathy and shock.

"Well then... I guess we have to start from here. Public relations is my specialty, after all." the girl in the brown hood said with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with firm resolve.

"You really are a true hero...Argo. Without you, me, Kirito, and the others wouldn't have survived back then."Koharureplied, her voice full of confidence in the friend who shared her fate in the death game.

"Speaking of which... Koharu-chan, I know why you didn't go to the teleport plaza. You've been following me for a while now." the small girl said, turning to her friend with hands on her hips, seeming to sense her friend's desire to search the area for someone.

"You still haven't forgotten'her'have you... It's been almost a year, and you still haven't moved on. You two aren't even friends anymore," Argo said.

"I haven't forgotten..."

Koharu stopped walking for a moment, looking at Argo with eyes that held a mixture of sadness and determination."I regret that she left me that day. She is the only reason I haven't given up, the reason I refuse to stop moving forward."she said in a soft but firm voice. She looked up at the sky and Wall Rose. "I've spent the past year trying to find someone. I'm sure I'll find her... but if she's dead, then I..."

The small girl in the wild leather hood stepped closer, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder and offering a gentle, comforting smile. "You'll never walk alone. Whether she's here or not, as long as we're alive in this place, I'll be staying by your side."

Koharu paused for a moment before giving a small smile back. "Thank you, Argo... You really are the best friend."

the Origin Plains, Floor 1.

"Mikasa! That was too rough on that boar...!" Armin shouted, reacting to his friend's recklessness after she defeated the tenth boar monster with her new sword from the game system.

Mikasa turned back, her expression cold. Her eyes were filled with determination and fearlessness, but laced with a hint of rage. "It's not recklessness. Sometimes, we have to be brutal to survive, Armin." she replied, her voice steady but firm.

"Are you still thinking about Eren? Commander Erwin has probably already made a plan for him to be with us." the blond-haired young man said, referring to their childhood friend, Eren, who was away in the capital for meetings about his inability to transform into a Titan.

"About reclaiming Wall Maria and Eren's father's basement... the Commander wouldn't ignore something like that. Eren is incredibly important to us, right, Connie?" the blond boy continued.

Connie, a small-statured young man, sighed deeply and gave a slight smile. "Yeah, that's true... But seeing Mikasa this intense reminds me of the days we had to fight real Titans. I was scared to death back then." After speaking, he began to test out a weapon he had just gotten as a drop from a monster—a small, well-balanced axe that he could twirl like a knife.

Mikasa scanned the savanna of the Origin Plains, filled with tall grass, soft sunlight, and lumbering boars, which were the easiest monsters to defeat according to the game system that simulated the environment with perfect realism. "True... In this world, no one knows what will happen next. But if we're weak, we'll be devoured, just like before."

"And with Eren still unable to turn into a Titan is the mission to retake Wall Maria even possible anymore? The system seems to give everyone the same kind of power, so we might not even need the Titan power to reclaim the wall. I don't even know if the Garrison Regiment still needs to guard the walls, because their duty now is probably the same as ours: to conquer the labyrinth up to the 100th floor." Jean said, raising his sword and pointing towards a group of new players in the opposite direction.

"Look at that. So many people who used to live only inside the walls. Now they're running around the outside, in what's become an EXP-grinding field, attacking monsters... I wonder how the people at the top feel, that this system has made people more equal now."

Mikasa nodded slightly, her eyes still fixed on the tall grass swaying in the wind. "The Cardinal System... that Kayaba uses to control the rules of this world. It's not the same anymore. If we can understand it, we might be able to 'unlock' Eren's abilities again."

"But what if we're wrong?" Armin blurted out, his voice tinged with worry. He sighed. "What if this system was truly designed so that no one is superior to anyone else...That would mean Eren's Titan power might have been 'erased' completely..."

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. Armin's words hung heavy in the air like a thick fog covering everyone's hearts.

Jean lowered his sword, looking at the distant group of players and citizens fighting low-level monsters. "But if that's true... if the Titan power is gone, then does what we've held onto for so long still matter? This world has been rewritten by who-knows-who, so what are we even fighting for anymore? As for that guy, he's probably just another ordinary person in this game system now."

"But that... is what makes him Eren." Armin said, his voice flat but filled with conviction. "Whether he has powers or not, he's still the person who wants to 'fight for freedom.' That hasn't changed. It's not because he can transform, but because he never gives up."

He shifted his gaze to the horizon. "Or, another possibility... the system might be 'forcing' us to travel to the 100th floor to find something that's been 'hidden.' Like clues about the Titan power... or the answer to what this world really is."

Connie, who had been catching his breath by a bush, chimed in. "In that case... we might have to find a new way to fight without relying on Titan power at all. Wha- Whoa!" Before he could finish, a bee monster flew in and stung him.

"That freaking hurts! You damn giant bee! Here, have a taste of my sword—I mean, my hammer!"

Just before Connie could swing his hammer at the bee, a flaming arrow shot past and struck the giant bee monster, killing it before its body disintegrated into pixels.

"Woohoo! Now I should have enough money to finally try some of the food in this game..." The familiar, enthusiastic voice of a hunter could only belong to the potato girl, Sasha, who had been sniping monsters from a distant bush.

"You could've blow up my head! What if your arrow had hit me?" Connie said, his voice rising slightly with annoyance.

"Just drink an HP potion. It's not that a big deal." Sasha replied with a sly grin.

"What...! But I'm trying to save money! Are you're imagining yourself eating all the strange foods from this game, aren't you? Just admit it!"

"Stop arguing, you two... Speaking of which, about that first-floor boss, the 'Kobold Lord' or whatever, we need to hurry up and plan when we're going to take it on." Jean said, stepping in to mediate between the two bickering partners.

"If we can defeat the first-floor boss before anyone else, it would mean we're the first Survey Corps group to beat a boss... sounds pretty cool, right? And that guy will definitely be jealous of us," Jean said, smiling proudly at his fantastical idea.

"But I'm going to wait for Eren to finish his meeting in the capital first... I'll follow you guys later," Mikasa informed her teammates.

"As for that 'party' thing, you can invite whoever you want... but I'm not available right now."

The atmosphere around the team quieted instantly after Mikasa spoke. Everyone could sense her unwavering determination and her bond with Eren, which remained strong no matter what this world had become.

Jean cleared his throat awkwardly, trying not to show his disappointment that his grand plan had been thwarted. "Uh, er... alright. If you're not available, I guess we'll just have to start preparing with who we have."

Armin raised his hand politely. "According to Heathcliff's guidebook, the Kobold Lord monster is in the lowest level of the Origin Plains labyrinth. It has an area-of-effect attack and very high defense. So, if we don't have someone to break its shield or a support class, we might not survive."

Connie grinned widely. "So who's going to be the 'tank'? Don't tell me I have to stand in the front every time! I want to be the last thing the boss sees before it dies, not the first one it stomps on!"

"But I forgot to think about this part. Commander Erwin is still in a meeting with Eren... wouldn't it be bad if we went ahead without them? Don't forget, we're in theSurvey Corps guildnow. We can't just go without our leader."

"That's true... You're right, Armin," Jean replied, having just remembered.

"By the way, have you guys seen Reiner and the others? I have no idea where that guy went." Connie asked the group.

"Reiner and Bertolt told me that they were going to find Annie in Wall Sina... basically, they used a teleport crystal to go to her at the Military Police headquarters... I guess they'll be back soon." Armin answered.

"Annie, huh... It'd be great if we could invite her to the party... She's probably really skilled with different weapons," Connie said. "She could easily take an attacker role on the front lines. Before Aincrad came, she was almost as strong as Mikasa, right guys?" Connie's face brightened as the team talked about Annie.

"For now, we should wait for Eren and the others. Once Commander Erwin is back, we can present our plan. Is that okay with everyone?"

Everyone nodded in agreement with Armin's proposal, except for Mikasa, who stood silently, her gaze still fixed on the distant wall of the capital city where Eren was.

Stohess District.

"Captain Levi... from what Mr. Heathcliff said, does this mean that humanity might not need to rely on soldiers anymore? And does it mean that the public might be able to discover the truth about this world on their own?" Eren asked as he and the team headed back.

The short man, who was second to none, leaned against a tall, old building in Stohess, looking down at Eren with calm, sharp eyes. Those eyes seemed to be silently weighing the young man's words.

He replied in a flat, cutting tone. "The peoplecanlearn... but that doesn't mean everyone will learn."

Levi walked a little closer to Eren, the hem of his Survey Corps cloak fluttering in the cool breeze of the innermost district. "As long as they're still clinging to fear... waiting for someone to protect them, this world will still need people to fight for them. Just look at those filthy pigs who live inside here. When they received the guidebook from Heathcliff, they were trembling as they held it, but they still act like they'll continue to rely on us... Utterly pathetic, isn't it?"

"So the Garrison Regiment will have to change its ideology, right? Their duty is no different from ours now."

"Something like that." Levi answered curtly.

The young man grit his teeth slightly. "Then what about the plan to retake Wall Maria and find my old house to see the basement?"

"The Wall Maria of this world is not the Wall Maria you once knew. It's still there,but not to keep Titans out anymore. It's just a 'boundary in the system'... and that basement you're talking about has probably been altered as well."

Floor 50th.

The clash of a rapier rang out as it struck a monster as tall as a Titan. A young woman with her blonde hair tied back on the left side had just sliced into its arm with the power of her sword, causing it to start to fall.

"One last time. I'll end this with my new sword skill."

With that, the blonde woman in a brass-colored hood over her armor launched herself into the air with a speed that was nearly impossible to follow. The system's voice echoed in her head.

[Activate Skill: Wind Hornet]

The tip of her rapier glowed with a translucent green light, indicating the wind element. The stored energy flowed through her wrist like a beam of light. As her body shot through the air, she unleashed a final, powerful slash down the middle of the giant monster's head, a creature named "The Last Number." A line of light shot out from the blade.

The sound of the sword cutting through metal bone thundered, and the massive monster let out a final roar before slowly collapsing, dissolving into a shower of pixels that scattered on the wind.

"Finally over... Fighting alone is exhausting,"Prairie said, sheathing the ruby-colored rapier she had gotten as a drop on Floor 42th, a level that was a cave of jewels. Though her face showed fatigue, her eyes remained sharp and filled with determination.

She narrowed her eyes slightly before slowly getting to her feet, lightly dusting off the skirt of her armor. She was a solo player who didn't belong to any guild and usually avoided parties for her own reasons. Even so, she had climbed all the way to Floor 50th by herself.

"I wonder how many people understand... that 'being alone' is also a form of freedom... No matter what new world Kayaba drags me to, I don't care. As long as I can get home safely, that's all that matters."

.

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To Be Continued.

Note :       

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

Her Background (1)

November 2021, A suburban town in the Tohoku region of Japan.

"Hey, Beni-chan, do you really exactly want to go to Tokyo?"

The clear voice came from a young girl, a classmate in a black school uniform with a short, plaid skirt and a red bow tied at the center of her blouse. She was currently pedaling her bicycle along a road that hugged a hillside, while "Chisaki Beni" aka her classmate with long, flowing, jet-black hair, sat behind her, facing backward to take in the natural scenery.

"You've already pedaled five kilometers from the school... where exactly are you taking me?"

"Hey, answer my question first! We're in the third year now... so you've really decided to go to the college in Tokyo, haven't you?"

Beni sighed at the question, turning point for a high school girl like her. "I have decided that I wanted to go to the capital since when I was in the second year. And there's no way I'm going to miss out on further education."

"Of course not, you're a brilliant student. You'll definitely get into a good college in Tokyo. I hope so, anyway," her friend said, turning back to smile at Beni.

"Please watch the road. I'd rather not get into an accident right now." Beni warned.

"I just turned to smile for a second! It's not that dangerous. You're the one sitting backward, you're more of a worry."

"Yeah, yeah, you're right. My bad. It's just that the view on the way home is so nice," Beni apologized, turning to face forward.

"I was planning to take you to hang out on that mountain... thought we could get a view of scenery, do our homework while we are looking at the pretty mountain view..."

The girl began pedaling up a steep hill. The narrow path, though it seemed deserted, eerie, and lonely, would transform that feeling of unease into one of relaxation once they reached the summit. There, the two of them could enjoy a 360-degree view of the town while they did their homework together.

"Mmm... the air feels so nice... It would be perfect if there was a vending machine around here," Beni commented, walking over to the viewpoint and gazing at the townscape they had traveled up from.

"Come back and do your homework! It would kill our study time," her friend called, waving her over.

"I know, I know. But honestly, I'd rather just sit here and draw," Beni said with a shrug.

"Speaking of which, you're interested in a good art college in Tokyo, right?" her friend asked. Beni frowned for a moment before smiling back.

"Of course. The connections are good, and I'll get to be in a new environment where I can find inspiration for my life."

"A career like that….that means you want to live and work there, right? There's barely any work in that field here..."

"I don't know. I haven't really thought that far ahead... I just want to study what I love and be able to make it. Just that it would make me happy enough." After speaking, the young woman took her phone out of her skirt pocket and launched an MMORPG, diving into a fierce battle.

"Oh, by the way, about the homework... I already finished it in class. So, I'll just play for a bit and wait for you to finish," Beni said with a grin, her eyes glued to her phone screen, oblivious to her friend, whose face was now flushed with a hint of envy at her free time.

"Hey! Why didn't you say so from the start? Geez... Anyway... what game are you playing?"

"'Game XXX,' it's an RPG... adventure genre. The main character has super cool skills, I'm telling you," Beni replied, continuously mashing the attack skill buttons.

"Speaking of RPGs, have you heard the news on social media about the NerveGear?" The moment her friend mentioned the word "NerveGear," Beni hit the auto-combat button and put her phone down to explain.

"The NerveGear is the invention from the developer named Kayaba Akihiko. It's a gaming gear that lets you actually enter the game in a virtual space, right? But the price is pretty insane..." Beni sighed, a look of slight disappointment on her face over the price of the advanced device that was likely out of her reach. Even though she came from a well-off family, the NerveGear was still considered an unnecessary "luxury item" that her parents would surely disapprove of for an ordinary 18-year-old girl.

"You are craving for that aren't you...? You know what, the NerveGear is supposed to be released next year... and it's going to be sold in the capital first... If you get into a college in Tokyo, you might even get to see a real NerveGear in person."

"Yeah, but still... I'll probably try asking my parents to purchase it for me... but I'll have to give them some good reasons" Beni said with a slightly worried expression.

"Why not just get a part-time job? Once you're accepted, you can live the college life... You can't rely on your parents forever, right?"

"If the price is so high... that working part-time for it would take up all my time until the semester starts, when would I have time to play the game? That's why I thought I'd make a deal with them by getting into the college I want... there's no harm in that, right?"

"Hmm... a deal to get into college in exchange for a gaming gear like the NerveGear, huh... You'll have to work really hard then. You'll be competing against the top students in Tokyo, you know. It's not going to be easy," her friend said, starting to worry about the fierce competition in the capital.

"I understand... I'll try my absolute hardest... Please cheer me on," Beni said with a small smile, turning back to her game, which had just displayed "Victory," signaling her win in a duel against an anonymous player.

"Oh! It's time for me to go. I have a delivery job I need to do... We have to head down now," Beni's friend said, quickly walking towards the bicycle parked by the mountain path.

"Already?... That's a shame," Beni said as she got on the back.

"I'll get you home quickly... See you at school tomorrow..."

"Mmm... thanks." said by Beni.

At Chisaki Beni's house.

A modern, two-story house that still retained a traditional Japanese feel stood at the end of a quiet alley. The evening songs of birds and the faint fragrance from the flower garden out front spoke of a simple but warm lifestyle. Her home environment was clearly well-to-do. It was a detached, two-story house of about 200 square meters. Behind the house was a cherry orchard, which the housekeeper and workers would harvest for sale as a side business for the family.

"I'm home, aunty" the young woman greeted the housekeeper, taking off her shoes and heading to her private room.

"Miss Beni, good evening dear... Have you eaten yet? Your mother made a lot of food in the kitchen."

The housekeeper gestured towards the kitchen, where a full dinner spread was laid out on the table.

"Where's my mom?" Beni asked.

"She's out picking cherries in the backyard... and your father went out to buy fertilizer, he'll be back soon... As for me, I'm about to head home."

"Okay, thank you. Goodbye, Auntie" Beni replied briefly, then walked over to look at the prepared food.

"Grilled mackerel... and kimchi?... Looks yummy." And with that, the girl quickly scooped rice into a bowl and began to eat the meal before her.

"When did you get back, sweetie?" a middle-aged voice said, causing Beni to turn and see her "Mom."

"Hi, Mommy... Dinner is delicious today," she said, giving a thumbs-up, which seemed to relieve the middle-aged woman.

"Of course, dear. How was school today? You're in your third year now, right? What are you planning to study?" Here comes the stressful question again... The young woman sighed. She wanted to answer with confidence but felt a considerable amount of fear... about the major she had chosen... and the condition of asking her parents to buy her a NerveGear.

"Well... I'm going to AAA Art College in Tokyo... I've been studying for the entrance exams since my second year, specifically for this..."

The sentence stunned her mother for a moment... but she ultimately accepted it, as her stubborn daughter had wanted to get into this program since her first year of high school.

"So you're really going to study art in Tokyo... You understand how intense the competition is, right? And after you graduate, you'll have to compete with others with your work."

"I know how hard it is... but that's why I've been preparing since my second year, Mom... And I have one more thing to ask," Beni said, looking her mother seriously in the eye...

"If I get into AAA College in Tokyo... I'd like a NerveGear..."

"Honey... what do you need a game console for?" Beni's mother was shocked, thinking her daughter would ask for something related to art supplies. Instead, it was an expensive game console.

"I really didn't want to ask for this... but because the NerveGear is so expensive, plus I'll have to buy the games that support it, if I work part-time for just two or three months for that machine... I won't have time to play." Beni tried to persuade her with a plausible reason.

"So you're asking me to buy that game console for you if you get into college in Tokyo... And what if you don't get in?"

"I'd probably decide to work part-time to buy it myself anyway... and that's not going to happen... I've planned everything out. I will get in," Beni said seriously, her face full of determination.

Beni's mother sighed. Soon, she placed her hand on the table and met her daughter's gaze. "Alright, Mom will be cheering for you. My daughter has always been a good student and has always worked hard. She always gets what she wants..."

The young woman's mother paused for a moment before speaking again. "Promise me you'll get into that college in Tokyo and find a job after you graduate... Understand?"

"Yes, I promise... I won't fail..." she replied, smiling with pride.

March 2022, the end of the high school year.

"Beni-chan, how were your exam results? Isn't today the day they announce the selections?" her friend asked, her face full of excitement.

"I... I got in... hic... I'm so happy I could cry," Beni said, wiping away tears of pure joy and happiness.

"I'm really going to Tokyo... I can't wait to find an apartment."

"There, there... calm down, girl... You're going to be a Tokyo girl just like you wanted. Congratulations! Let's go celebrate tonight," her friend encouraged.

"You're treating, my dear friend," Beni said with a sly smile.

"Yeah, yeah... you're so sly when it comes to food... If I ever come to Tokyo, don't forget to treat me back and let me borrow your NerveGear."

"Of course! Let's go celebrate at the Korean fried chicken place at the mall! And I need to go to the bookstore... the K-pop group I like and some game character stickers are on sale today," Beni said, her face turning slightly shy.

At a department store in the city center.

Bookstore Section

"So, show me... the character you were talking about..." her friend said, following Beni into the section displaying merchandise for the mobile MMORPG that Beni played.

But when she saw the prim and proper Beni pick up a sticker of a middle-aged male character—handsome, but with a dangerous and cunning look that hinted at a savage instinct, his hair got a medium hair at neck length—her face lit up as if she had just met her crush.

"This is him... he's so cool and handsome... and a great fighter, too."

"So... this is your type, huh..." her friend said with a smirk, picking up a sticker to look at it.

"What's the big deal... I am just simping on a character, no need to judge..."

"Oh dear,You're blushing so much. Don't tell me your type is some old drug addict or a senior teacher at school. Judging by this guy's age... you don't have a secret crush on one of our teachers, do you?"

"What are you talking about... That kind of thing is disgusting. A character is just a character. It's just like admiring a famous singer or an idol." She pouted back.

After that, Beni and her friend heard the sound of a television from across the way. It seemed to be playing a commercial for a new game, and a large crowd was gathering to watch.

"This is the game! The one everyone's talking about on social media... Looks fun, right?"

"An adventure game that's supported on the NerveGear."

"And it's coming out this November! I can't wait!"

"It would be amazing to go on an adventure through each floor up to the 100th!"

The chatter reached Beni and her friend's ears, prompting the two girls to walk over and look at the advertisement for the NerveGear, which would soon be sold in Tokyo, and a game called "Sword Art Online." On the TV, the background was a picture of a floating tower, which seemed to be the main icon of the game.

"Whoa... that game looks fun... but it won't be out until the end of the year, Beni-chan." Her friend picked up a flyer for the NerveGear-supported game called Sword Art Online, and Beni's eyes were also fixed on the flyer.

"You're right. College starts this April. Knowing this, maybe I shouldn't have asked Mom for money for the NerveGear..."

"Don't worry about it... Hey, wait a minute, Beni-chan, look at this... The game Sword Art Online has the same developer as the NerveGear... Don't tell me this is going to be the pioneering game for the NerveGear, the first and only one."

"Maybe... right now, the only game being promoted is Sword Art Online. But whatever, it looks interesting."

"It says here there will be a beta test for players to try it out in May before the official release in November. This Kayaba guy is a real marketing genius."

"I don't really care... Anyway, I'll just wait until November... Once I get to play, I'll message you on LINE right away."

As Beni finished speaking, her friend suddenly grabbed her hands, looked her in the eye, and said something touching.

"Before you go to Tokyo... good luck with the new environment. If you ever feel down, you can call me anytime. And... don't forget me after this... I'll miss you... Maybe one day I'll come visit you..."

Beni smiled back. "Mmm. I'll definitely pick you up. And I will never leave you behind."

May 2022, the heart of Tokyo.

It was the weekend. Beni, wearing a khaki turtleneck under a pair of short overalls, was walking along a sidewalk. The environment was now filled with towering skyscrapers and the colorful lights of billboards of various sizes that adorned the buildings, creating an attractive sight. She then came across an advertisement for the game Sword Art Online, which was holding its beta test, a product trial by the game developer, Akihiko Kayaba.

"So many people are interested in that game. Most of them are probably teenagers. Now that I'm a college student, I have so much less time to play games..." she thought, sighing.

"When is it going to be November... I can't wait."

Just then, she saw a slender young man dressed all in black carrying a NerveGear out of the department store, a look of glee on his face over Kayaba's invention.

"Sigh... he's right... I should just go buy the NerveGear now and keep it until I can actually play in November."

November 6, 2022.

It was the weekend, the day that the young woman known as Beni-chan would finally have the chance to turn on her NerveGear for the first time and enter the world of the online game, Sword Art Online.

"It's time... I'm so excited. I can finally tell my friend all about this."

With that, Beni plugged in the NerveGear and the game, establishing a connection. She put the helmet on her head and spoke the launch command to enter the game.

"Link Start!"

And just like that, her nervous system was cut off from the outside world, transporting her to the game world she was about to explore. Her body lay still on the bed, soundless, motionless, completely disconnected from reality.

.

.

To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Her Background (2)

 Town of Beginnings

This time, her spirit, having connected her five senses through the NerveGear, inhabited her avatar's body. She now wore the basic swordsman attire and had chosen a body completely different from her real life. She had selected a male physique for her avatar to play this game, changing her jet-black hair to blonde and her onyx eyes to ruby red to conceal her true self.

The 19-year-old girl, Beni, now used the alias "Prairie" as her avatar's name, inspired by the prairie grasslands from the game's Western atmosphere that she had read about in a magazine.

"Whoa, so this is me in the game Sword Art Online... And I can touch things here just like in the real world... This is Awesome."

With that, the young man—her avatar—began to explore the first floor, from the meeting plaza and appointment spots to the NPC shop zone filled with various items like HP (Hit Point) recovery potions and minor healing salves, all the way to the weapon shops for new players like them.

"So many people are logging in... maybe a thousand? No... it could be tens of thousands. This first floor has so many zones... Oof! Who did I just bump into?"

Without realizing, she had accidentally bumped into a young female player who was Browse the various weapon shops. As soon as the girl realized she had run into a stranger, she quickly bowed her head to the young man before her.

"S-sorry... I really didn't mean to. There are so many people playing on the first day... I was running and ended up bumping into you." The girl had short black hair with bangs, emerald-green eyes, and was wearing the standard black female swordsman outfit with a short skirt.

"I-it's... okay, miss... sir! You're right... there really are a lot of people..."

"Um... by the way, your name is Prairie, right? Would you like to be friends? I was just looking for someone to go monster hunting with."

"Ah... huh? Are you sure, sir? I just came to check out the game's environment I was thinking of logging out in about half an hour, haha."

"Just half an hour is fine! I'd be happy to just have someone teach me how to play this game a little..." Her expression was so earnestly pleading that the blond-haired young man's heart softened.

"Alright, then... By the way, your name is Koharu, right? Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too!"

Origin Plains

"Those boars... there are so many of them wandering around. I was even a beta tester... why am I still not confident?" Koharu began to tremble. She gripped her short sword tightly but still didn't have the courage to fight a boar.

"Hmm? Don't tell me you've played this game before."

"Yes... yes, I have. But when it comes to fighting, I'm still not very confident."

"If we don't mess with it, it probably won't turn towards us..." Prairie got into a ready stance, drawing his rapier from its sheath.

"Prairie, behind you!" she shouted, pointing her finger at a frenzied boar that was charging and ramming into him from behind, sending him flying to the opposite side with a cry of pain.

"Ouch! That really hurt... Great, now my HP is down to half." The young man grew worried before getting up, dusting himself off, and preparing to fight the frenzied boar.

"Die, you crazed boar!" And with that, Prairie accidentally unlocked the "Linear" skill. It was the first skill he had used, and the physical exertion caused the sword to burst forth with the skill's power unexpectedly, slicing through the poor boar until it vanished into scattered pixels.

"Awesome... so this is a sword skill in the game... How did that beam of light shoot out from the sword..?" After the attack, he received points for killing the boar monster.

"It's because you used enough physical force to make your sword unleash a skill from your Skills Record in your item bag," the young girl, who was a former beta tester, explained after he had unintentionally unleashed the skill in a fit of emotion.

"I see. By the way... why don't you try fighting with your sword? I just earned some money."

Koharu froze for a moment... She gathered her courage to fight. She drew her short sword from its sheath, aiming at a boar that was walking about, unaware that someone was about to attack it.

"Take this! Die, you boar!" Koharu took a stance and, using her physical strength, unleashed a skill of her own, slashing the boar until it fell and its body scattered into pixelated fragments.

"I did it, Prairie-san! I did it!"

"That's the spirit... It's good that you're showing some courage... This is just a game, isn't it? Even if we die, we can just reset and come back, right?" he said, warming up his limbs and getting ready to fight again.

"You're right... In that case... let's keep going." She also raised her short sword to continue the fight. The battle on that field was still far from over.

One hour later.

"Oh no, has it already been an hour?... We've played for way too long." The blond-haired young man sighed, swiping his finger in mid-air to open the menu button, causing a screen to appear.

"You're amazing, Prairie-san! You helped me hunt monsters until I leveled up to level 2," Koharu praised the young man in front of her as she sat down on a patch of grass, gazing at the simulated sky and the floating tower in the far distance.

"Well, this game is fun... I feel so lucky I bought the NerveGear when the beta test first came out. If I had waited any longer... I would have missed out for a long time."

"That's true... because only 10,000 units of the NerveGear bundled with Sword Art Online were sold... but I wonder if they'll open a second period in the future."

The young man, who had been standing still for about a minute while checking his interface screen, noticed that something was wrong.

"Hey, Koharu, do you know why the logout button isn't shown? Is there some kind of problem?"

The young woman sitting on the grass was stunned by the unexpected question. She stood up, walked over to him, and examined the screen carefully. "You're right... Maybe the system is just a bit buggy right now. Let's wait a little longer, we should be able to get back... she replied, checking the menu system and going to the settings. It turned out the logout button was still missing.

"By the way, I have enough money now to buy a new sword... can you take me to buy a weapon?"

"Of course... It's better to upgrade our weapons before we go home."

Town of Beginnings - Merchant Zone

"The logout button still hasn't appeared... When are we going to get to go eat dinner?" the young man started to worry.

"Calm down. Maybe there's an important event for the first day... We can just walk around here for a bit. I'll show you around."

But before they could, the sound of a bell rang out from the plaza of the Town of Beginnings, and he and Koharu were teleported to the central square, as if they had been summoned. The once-bright sky was now as if it had been hacked by some system. The sky had turned a blood-red color, with a red box containing the word "WARNING" enclosing the once-vibrant atmosphere. The people who had been smiling, walking around to add friends and form parties, were now filled with fear and suspicion at the unfolding event.

"Hey... what's happening? Why were we all teleported to the  plaza?"

"Look at that... Is that a GM or something? Did the system crash?" one player asked, pointing a finger at a large figure floating high in the sky, wearing a red cloak that concealed its face, about to make some kind of announcement.

"Players, welcome to my game. My name is Kayaba Akihiko. As of now, I am the only one who can control this world."

“As you all have probably realized by now, you are unable to log out. This is by my own design... And if you hope for someone on the outside to remove your NerveGear, you are mistaken. The microwave transceivers in the NerveGear are connected to your brainwaves, and if it is removed suddenly, they will destroy your brain, resulting in death.”

 “As of this moment, 213 players have already fallen victim to this event." Kayaba, in his disguised form of a red-cloaked figure floating in the sky, spoke in a chilling tone, as if he viewed the lives of his "victims" without a shred of pity, and likely wouldn't care if they started fighting and forming factions among themselves.

A roar of horror erupted from the players who were now victims, and he and Koharu were just as terrified as everyone else.

Why... why would he do something so crazy... How would he supposed to get back to college... She had an important class tomorrow. Her spirit began to weaken as the reality of "death" was spoken.

"Stop... stop it... please stop..." Koharu covered her ears, wishing the ground would swallow her whole... She glanced around at the scene, where some players were losing their minds, some were ending their own lives by jumping from the tower, and some were starting to protest, crying for help, their voices a mix of curses and despair-filled invectives every second.

"Finally, I have prepared a gift for each of you.... Please use the item I have sent you," Kayaba said, his tone like a command. It seemed he was about to surprise the players with something.

"A gift? Hmm? Let's see." The young man swiped to an item. It appeared to be an ordinary "mirror."

"A mirror?... What is this for? I thought it would be a healing potion or something..." After looking in the mirror for about three seconds, the young man's body suddenly transformed into that of a slender young woman—her real-life body... That's right. This mirror was a mirror that instantly changed a player's avatar to match their real-life appearance.

"It's just a normal mirror... there's nothing special about it... Hey, you... huh? Wait, where did Prairie-san go?" Koharu looked left and right. The young woman who was now behind her took the opportunity to place a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"It's me, I am Prairie... It seems this mirror changed my avatar back into my real body." Her voice, which had been a cracking youth's, was now a sweet, feminine one. Koharu, turning to meet the eyes of the young woman before her, was thoroughly confused.

"I think we were lucky to have gotten those items earlier... We... have to go back to the Origin Plain."

"What do you mean..."

"You were a beta tester, right? I'm asking you to be my guide. The traps, the monsters on the maps we have... you can show me the safest route, can't you? Because right now, everyone is panicking about what just happened... We need to get to a rest stop and gather as many resources on this floor as we can, and we need to get stronger, right?"

Koharu, having just realized this shortcut to escaping the game—even if it was the only way to survive, which was to accumulate high EXP and hunt for resources in the labyrinth, which was a good guarantee of their strength—agreed immediately. "That's right... right now, we need to gather as many resources as we can... Since I was a beta tester... I know where the safe routes on this floor are."

And with that event, the lives of every young person, including Prairie, were now trapped in this death game. They had to find a way out, without any doubt.

Two weeks later. At the college dormitory.

Several hours earlier, Beni's family had traveled to their daughter's college in Tokyo to contact the owner of the student dormitory and check on their daughter's condition after the news broke about being trapped in the game.

"Our college has implemented measures after the SAO incident was broadcast nationwide. We have a policy to check student dorms, and if we find any of them still wearing the helmet-like device, it means they are currently trapped in the SAO game with the NerveGear on," the dorm owner explained.

"My daughter bought a NerveGear... and it seems she's trapped in the game, just like the news said a few days ago... I've called her so many times, but she never picks up.!"

"Please take us to see our daughter... We're so worried about her... Please" Beni's father pleaded, just as worried as her mother.

The dorm owner nodded immediately, then pulled a list of student residents from a drawer to check. "What is your daughter's name again?"

"Her name is Chisaki Beni. She's just started her first year in the Faculty of Art and Design... Please, take us to her." her mother replied instantly, without hesitation.

"Oh... this person? It seems the maids haven't gone in to check yet... Alright, I can take you to see your daughter." With that, the dorm manager grabbed the key to Beni's room and led the couple to see their daughter.

When she unlocked the door to her room, the dorm manager was shocked by the sight before her. She never thought someone in this dorm would actually be trapped in the game.

"Oh my god... she must be one of the victims from the SAO incident a few days ago."

The college dorm manager had unlocked Beni's room and found, in the bedroom, a young woman trapped in the NerveGear, her body so thin it was as if she hadn't eaten in weeks.

"my baby... you shouldn't have played that game... Oh, God, look at you, you're so pale and thin," Beni's mother nearly collapsed at the sight before her. She looked at her daughter on the bed, whose once healthy and vibrant body was now emaciated, pale, and unconscious. There was no response, and she was wearing the NerveGear. She then noticed her daughter's cell phone, which hadn't called them back, lying on the edge of the bed.

"I knew it, that's why you didn't call me... Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"I just want you to survive the game... Please, make it through..." The father was now holding a lucky charm, his hands clasped in prayer to the gods, hoping it would bring his daughter good fortune and ward off evil.

"I have to call the staff to handle this. I am so, so sorry... I can't believe the creator of this game could just lock up tens of thousands of people in that world. How could he do such a thing?"

The manager sighed, then reached for her phone in her bag to call the staff, but just then, a maid walked up. "Oh, it's you. How is it? Did you find any kids wearing the NerveGear?"

"We've checked... and we found about 10 people wearing the NerveGear. They're in very bad shape... They need to be taken to the hospital immediately."

First Floor Dungeon, December 4, 2022.

Amidst the confusion and outrage of the players, dozens of pairs of eyes stared at the black-haired young man in the jet-black coat, who now stood alone after the incident. He gave a soft, derisive laugh, then swung the sword he had just used to slay the first-floor boss over his shoulder.

"'Beater,' huh? That's interesting."

His black eyes stared back at the crowd that was whispering and cursing him as a traitor, for not sharing information, for not cooperating with the group.

"Putting those two words together and calling me that... I'm quite satisfied. It suits me perfectly," the player known as Kirito said, his sharp, arrogant tone a sarcastic jab at the players surrounding him. This was after he had received the bonus for killing the monster known as "Illfang the Kobold Lord" and for not saving Diavel, the leader of the raid.

"That crazy kid... why would he..." Prairie, having witnessed the event along with the other players, stood at the back of the crowd, which was still whispering nonstop. As a swordswoman, her adventure in the world of Aincrad had just begun, not unlike the boy standing there. But she never thought that boy would end up casting himself as the villain in everyone's eyes. She stood with her arms crossed, watching Kirito's figure disappear into the shadows of the stone corridor.

"Hey, that kid... is something wrong with him?" Prairie leaned over and asked a large, dark-skinned man.

"No... Kirito's not really like that. When Diavel fell from the monster's attack, he was the first one who rushed in to help. But... Diavel didn't drink a healing potion. It was as if he was ready to die and leave this cruel world," Agil replied, knowing the young man's true character.

"He's an unsung hero, trying to sacrifice himself by pretending to be the villain in front of all of us, taking all the blame on himself alone."

Prairie placed a hand on her chest and sighed softly. "That... just makes me feel even more guilty for just watching him from a distance... I thought the same thing as you."

She bit her lip, deliberating, before speaking softly again. "Someone who has the heart to help others but has to let himself be misunderstood... I hate that."

After that, Prairie and the others began to walk up the stairs to the second floor. The stone door slowly opened, and a cool breeze blew past. The atmosphere was a comfortable savanna kingdom, covered in plains and rocks, about the same size as the first floor. A new land awaited them, along with the next challenge on their path to survival in this death game. But from now on, and on the floors to come, he would change the course of her life, and she would never be able to turn back, once she got to know "a certain person."

To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7

Her Background (3)

Floor 11 - Cave Desert

January 30, 2023

"It's been almost three months since we got trapped in this game." The blonde-haired young woman was exploring a new area after defeating a boss by herself. Koharu had been walking with her until now, and they had finally reached the 11th floor.

"I'm so tired... I'm going to go wash my face." the short, black-haired girl said, walking over to a waterfall. The area of the 11th floor they were in was an open field with patches of flowers scattered about, leading to a cave entrance that connected to a desert with an ancient Egyptian theme. To the left, near the cave, was a rushing waterfall that flowed into a clean stream, a perfect place for a picnic while listening to the relaxing sound of the water.

"Ah... so refreshing. I never thought a game could simulate water this realistically... It's so clear, so cool, and even cleaner than real water." the black-haired girl said with a bright smile after touching the clear water of the virtual waterfall. Her small hands gently parted the mist falling from the cascade in front of her. Watching her, Prairie, who was standing behind, couldn't help but take off her shoes and slowly dip her toes into the clear water.

"This means we can probably drink it." With that, she quickly scooped some water up with her hands and drank, before turning to Koharu.

"You were right! The water is really clean and refreshing." She took another small sip, her eyes widening slightly. "It also restores our HP back to normal!"

"That's great." Koharu said, walking out of the stream. She sat down by the water's edge, where a tree growing on a small hill provided some shade.

"Um... Prairie-san?" As something came to the young girl's mind, she asked her companion in a soft voice.

"Hmm? What is it?" The beautiful face met the young girl's eyes.

"I... have something I want to ask... because I want to get to know you better." Koharu looked at the young woman who had just finished washing her face by the stream.

 Prairie froze for a moment. She looked at the young girl in disbelief... but she eventually understood. To Koharu, she was the only friend who had been through everything with her. It wasn't so strange for her to suddenly start a conversation like this.

"You want to get to know me better?... I could die any day, you know."

"Even so, I want to know your real name, just once. I want to know how old you are, what you did in that other world." The short, black-haired girl bit her lip before continuing in a quiet voice. "I know it might be breaking a rule of this game, but even so... you're very important to me."

The beautiful face remained still. She looked down at her own reflection on the water's surface, shimmering in the bright sunlight. Her usually stern expression seemed to tremble slightly.

 "Koharu..." she murmured the other's name softly. She looked up, meeting the girl's eyes, a certain feeling pressing on her chest. "It's not just a rule of the game..."

Prairie spoke slowly, her voice so soft it was as if she was afraid someone might hear. "It's that I... I'm also scared."

"Scared?" Koharu repeated, her clear, round eyes showing confusion but filled with concern.

Prairie took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she continued. "I'm scared that... if I tell you my real name, if I tell you who I am, and then one day I don't make it out of here... everything will just become a painful memory for the one who's left."

Koharu moved closer, taking Prairie's hand in her own. "Then I will remember that you are important to me, no matter what your name is... but if one day you're ready, I'll be waiting to listen."

The wind rustled through the leaves, swaying with the gentle breeze. Prairie closed her eyes slowly before speaking in a voice so quiet it was barely audible. "Well,Prairie isn't my real name."

She took a breath before continuing. "I'm 19 years old. I had just gotten into university... before I got trapped in this nightmare."

Hearing the answer, Koharu couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, a sign that she could no longer hold it in. A shy smile appeared on her face. "You're... older than me... I knew you were older than me!"

Prairie let out a light laugh, her voice a mix of affection and relief as the tense atmosphere from a moment ago dissipated. "Hmm? So the reason you asked was to find out if I was your 'big sister'?"

The girl's round face turned bright red. She quickly looked down to hide her embarrassment. "N-no, not at all! I was just... just curious!"

"Well, that's good then." The beautiful face reached out a hand and gently stroked the younger girl's head. A faint smile appeared on her usually impassive face. "Because if you don't mind... I'd be happy to be like a big sister to you."

Koharu looked up, her sparkling, joyful eyes answering for her. She nodded vigorously, tears welling up, as the older girl wiped them away.

"My username and real life are the same. I'm 16 years old... My school's second semester had just started, and I saved up money from my part-time job specifically to play this game. But... but now I'm so glad I met you... from the very beginning."

The well-featured face looked into the younger girl's shining, tear-filled eyes. She felt something stirring in her chest. It wasn't just pity or affection... it was a bond, beginning to form in this uncertain world.

"In that case..." Prairie said softly, holding out her pinky finger. "Shall we make a promise? That no matter how twisted this world becomes, we won't leave each other."

Koharu's eyes widened slightly before she broke into a bright smile. She linked her own pinky with Prairie's and nodded emphatically. "Mhm! If there's anyone I can trust in this world... it's you, Prairie-san."

A cool wind continued to blow gently, as if witnessing the bond that had just been silently woven under the shadow of the distant, towering Aincrad.

And maybe... this was the beginning of something greater than just survival.

Suddenly, the sound of loud footsteps came from behind them. Prairie and Koharu whipped around towards the sound.

"Who's there?" the older girl called out.

"That's... Kibaou," Koharu said, her eyes widening. She hadn't expected the cunning man to show up with his cronies.

Prairie immediately moved into a defensive stance, one hand gripping her rapier tightly. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the spiky, orange-haired man who stepped out of the shadows with a few of his followers.

"Oh... what a coincidence. What are you two ladies talking about?" his voice was tinged with mockery. He glanced at their hands, which were still linked. "Getting along well, I see."

Koharu quickly pulled her hand back and hugged Prairie from behind, fear evident in her eyes. Prairie didn't lower her guard, her gaze cold. "Kibaou. How long have you been following us?"

Kibaou let out a soft "heh" before taking another step closer, the footsteps of his followers creating a pressuring rhythm. "Nothing much. We were just on our way to clear the dungeon on this floor."

He spoke again, his cunning smile replaced with a friendly one. "By the way, our group seems a little too small to clear this floor. Why don't you two join our party?"

"You're in the ALF guild, you should have plenty of members... why do you need us?" Prairie retorted, unable to hide her suspicion, as the guild the small man was in was not small by any means.

Koharu moved closer to Prairie, whispering softly, "They don't seem trustworthy..."

The young woman nodded slightly and turned to answer Kibaou in a firm voice. "If you're following me because you want someone to carry your own party through the dungeon... I'm sorry, but I'm not that kind of person."

Kibaou's mocking laughter instantly turned into a dry, displeased sound. "Is that so... you choose to be our enemy, then?"

The atmosphere grew tense with every passing moment. The shadow of mistrust was spreading wide in a land where survival was supposed to be the main focus. "Why would you say that? We're just a couple of girls. I'm scared of dying too, you know. I'm not reckless like you guys. We're being careful."

Koharu swallowed hard, looking at Prairie with apprehension. "Prairie-san... what do we do...?"

She raised a hand to shield Koharu behind her, her eyes fixed on Kibaou. "If you're going to use force on girls who aren't fully armed, then just admit that the ALF doesn't have the honor to clear the 11th floor on its own."

"Hmph... you've got a sharp tongue, missy" he said, trying to hide his anger with a slick smile before speaking in a normal tone. "Easy there, little lady. I just saw you have a rapier. Looks like it was made by a skilled blacksmith. That means you could probably help us and save us some effort."

"What do you mean?" Prairie frowned, still distrustful of the small man's plan.

"The boss of the 11th floor is called the Griffin. We went into the dungeon the other day, but we still couldn't beat it... It wasn't until we got there that we realized the boss is weak to piercing thrust attacks. The kind of ability your sword has."

Prairie froze for a moment. She glanced at the rapier hanging at her waist, her trusted weapon chosen for its agility and rapid attack style. While it didn't have the highest attack power, it suited her fighting style perfectly. "...Then why didn't you tell everyone this in the first place?" she asked flatly, her eyes still locked on Kibaou.

Koharu, from behind, moved closer to Prairie and whispered uncertainly, "Prairie-san... he seems to really know his stuff..."

Prairie didn't answer immediately, but her gaze shifted to the system light above. Her cold eyes were still before she spoke firmly. "Fine. I'll help you defeat that boss, if it will make this floor safer for the other surviving players."

Kibaou's slick smile returned. "As you wish... but don't forget, little lady, in this world, those who walk alone usually don't survive. If your skills are good, maybe I'll even invite you to join my guild."

"Well, good for you, because I'm not walking alone," she said with a faint smile, turning to meet Koharu's eyes, who was now smiling back.

"Koharu and I will be the pioneers who conquer this tower all the way to the 100th floor."

Kibaou was taken aback for a moment upon hearing her declaration. The mockery in his eyes changed to genuine interest, before he let out a soft laugh, as if he had just heard a tale from a child who didn't yet understand the real world.

"Interesting. I chose the right people to invite." Kibaou laughed out loud. "Then let's not waste any more time. We should hurry to the dungeon... straight through that cave."

Koharu looked at the dark cave entrance, a cold wind blowing out from within, making her skin crawl. The pressure of the 11th floor they were about to face seemed to be no joke. "We're going in now?" Koharu whispered softly to Prairie.

Prairie didn't answer right away. She just gripped the handle of her rapier tighter before giving a slow nod, her determined eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. "We don't have a choice. If we want to move forward... we have to get through it."

She spoke in a flat but firm voice. "I will never back down... especially when I've promised someone that I won't leave anyone behind."

Koharu looked up, her expression changing from fear to renewed strength.

11th Floor Dungeon

The overall environment was an ancient Egyptian setting. With its desert landscape, the monsters on this floor were scorpions and mermaid soldiers, creatures that were half-human, half-fish. Upon entering the dungeon room, the interior was decorated in an ancient Egyptian style. The walls were carved with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, and mermaid soldiers moved about, a clear trap for players. The sound of the players' footsteps echoed as Kibaou's group, along with Prairie and Koharu, slowly entered the area that looked like a pharaoh's worship chamber. The atmosphere was dead silent, as if the world had stopped, but not everything was truly quiet.

"A trap..." Koharu said softly. "They were placed here to guard the entrance, weren't they?"

"Not just guard," Kibaou said in a low voice, drawing his sword. "This is the first wave before the boss... If we don't clear them all out first, the boss room won't open."

At that very moment, two mermaid soldiers shot out from the shadows, their bodies moving as fluidly as water, but the claws and spears in their hands glinted as if they could pierce through armor.

"Get ready!" Prairie shouted, as the rapier in her hand glowed with the light of the "Linear" skill, launching herself at the first shadow in an instant.

The clash of steel on stone echoed throughout the room. All eyes were on the fierce battle, which was perhaps only the beginning before the real fight began...

After the small battle of defeating all the mermaid soldiers, everyone gathered in front of a large door.

"I never thought you'd be able to take down those mermaids so quickly." Kibaou said, complimenting the young woman who was now stretching, preparing for the big fight.

"Once you know their weak points and timing, it's not too difficult." Prairie replied flatly, lightly twirling her rapier. The tip of the blade reflected the light from the wall torches with a formidable glint. "But the real battle... has probably just begun."

Kibaou raised an eyebrow slightly. He smiled at the corner of his mouth before nodding to his followers to clear the way. "Okay, I guess it's time..."

As the large, ancient stone door began to move, the sound of old mechanisms echoed as if awakening something that had long been slumbering. The atmosphere inside the grand hall immediately turned cold as they stepped inside. The sandy floor became polished marble with gold hieroglyphic patterns. Sculptures of bird wings were carved on the high walls, and in the center of the room...

A "Griffin," a massive creature that was half-lion, half-eagle, stood on a central pedestal. Its feathered head glowed faintly, as if alive. When it looked up, its bright red eyes swept over everyone who had entered.

"Doesn't look very welcoming..." Koharu murmured, raising the short sword she carried at the ready.

"Stick to the plan," Kibaou said, stepping back to organize his guild's formation. "Front-line attackers, start the engagement! Let Prairie go in when it's airborne. It's weak to thrust attacks!"

Suddenly, the Griffin let out a deafening screech. Its wings spread to their full extent, creating a wind so strong that it scattered the sand in the room and caused several HP bars to appear at the top of the system display.

The clash of a dozen swords against claws began... this was the true beginning!

"Aaaargh!! No, Vice-leader, I'm sorry!" came the scream of a player who had been caught in the crossfire. He was now gone, struck by the claws of the monster named Griffin, his small body disappearing into scattered pixels.

"You bastard... Hey! Prairie, Koharu! We have to change the plan!" the small man, the vice-commander, roared.

Prairie bit her lip tightly, her eyes flickering as she saw a party member dissolve into pixels before her. The sharp pain in her chest wasn't just the fear of death... it was the guilt of the one who was still alive.

"Koharu! You defend the rear! I'll lure it!" she shouted as she dashed from her original position. The blue light of her rapier flashed brightly. She was about to unleash her power.

"Prairie! Wait!" Koharu cried out, but she followed the order immediately, trying to collect herself and prepare healing items.

"Only fast-thrust attackers and support remain!" Kibaou roared, his face covered in sweat and pressure. "Don't let it fly and use its charge skill!"

The ferocious Griffin flapped its wings again, lunging at Prairie with a speed that surpassed what was recorded in the guidebook.

It's faster...? Did it rebalance the enemy's stats during the battle? Prairie thought to herself as she narrowly dodged an attack, then countered with a thrust at the seam between its neck and wing.

"Screeeeeeeeech!" The giant bird's first scream echoed through the stone chamber.

"I got a hit in!" Prairie cried out in shock, but then a smile broke out. She barely had time to think before lunging in again. But before the tip of her sword could reach its target, a sandstorm suddenly interrupted, nearly blowing the young woman away.

Luckily, she managed to spin out of the way in time. She dropped into a low crouch, aimed at the same target, and then leaped towards the giant bird, thrusting with the full force of her sword skill. After a few relentless stabs, the bird's HP depleted. Its body disappeared into scattered pixels, and a light from the inner part of the dungeon began to shine, along with a system notification that everyone was familiar with:

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[SYSTEM UNLOCKED: FLOOR 12 - Teleport Gate Activated]

The silence was broken by a roar of cheers from all the players, both from ALF and the independent groups. Koharu rushed over to Prairie, her face a mixture of relief and joy.

"Prairie-san! You did it!" she cried, throwing her arms around the young woman who was still panting.

Prairie slowly sheathed her sharp rapier, her vision blurring from the battle, her eyes trembling slightly... not from fear, but from a renewed sense of confidence.

"You..." Suddenly, a familiar deep voice spoke. He walked closer to the young woman, his face filled with disappointment.

"Why didn't you tell me from the start that you were a beta tester, huh!?"

Kibaou's aggressive and harsh tone made Prairie and Koharu freeze. "What are you talking about? I'm not a beta tester. You were the one who said the monster was weak in thrusting attacks."

"Lies! You damned liar!" Kibaou lost his temper. "In the end, you're no different from that smart-mouthed kid who beat the first-floor boss. Acting like a hero, but in reality, you probably knew something you weren't telling us... otherwise, that guy wouldn't have died in the first place!"

"That's not true! Kibaou, I just used the abilities of this sword as best I could! What makes you think I'm a beta tester?"

"Because no normal person could kill a boss that fast!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from accumulated stress. "I lost someone from my guild! That man... he was my friend! And then I see you stab that thing with such precision... just like that damn kid on the first floor! Why didn't you warn us from the start!?"

Koharu stood frozen, her face filled with shock. "Please stop... Prairie-san didn't mean for anyone to die..."

"Whether she meant to or not, the fact is, she knew! And she didn't say anything. Probably just like those other Beaters... right?" Kibaou grit his teeth, his hands clenched into tight fists. He looked at Koharu, a hint of concern in his eyes.

"you look like a scaredy-cat,Koharu. If you still stick with that liar, you'll only get into trouble... What will you do if one day she doesn't help you?"

"That's not true... she's... she's..." The young girl trembled, trying to take a deep breath to calm herself, but before she could speak, the young woman who had just been branded a liar turned to meet her emerald eyes with a serious gaze.

Prairie stood still for a moment, then spoke in a soft but firm voice... "Koharu... I'm sorry."

Koharu, who was about to step forward, froze. Her wide, round eyes trembled when she heard those words. "...Huh?"

"If you stay close to me... you'll be hated too. They won't listen, they don't care what the truth is... I don't want you to become a target."

"Prairie-san, don't say that!" Koharu cried out, tears welling up in her eyes.

Prairie bit her lip tightly, gripping the sheathed sword even harder, her hand trembling slightly. She didn't know if she felt angry, sad, or just too exhausted to speak. But she took a deep breath and spoke with resolve. "I'm leaving."

With those final words, the blonde-haired young woman walked away without looking back, leaving Koharu to hide her face and cry silently. As soon as Prairie was gone, a system message quietly appeared.

[Prairie has unfriended you from Friends List.]

Koharu looked down at the vanished icon, a single tear falling onto the stone floor. Her voice was just a faint whisper in her mind.

"Prairie-san..."

To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8

First Floor Dungeon

"So many people died in the dungeon!"

"Everyone, fall back! Get out of that room!"

"Aaaargh! That monster is even scarier than a real Titan!"

"Somebody, help us!"

"I'm going to die... Goodbye, everyone."

Screams of chaos echoed throughout the first-floor boss room as a number of players from Paradis Island faced off against the monster known as the Kobold Lord. Some were cornered and killed, while others fought back with all their might. Today, hundreds of people from Paradis Island had come to defeat the first-floor monster. But even though they had all been turned into swordsmen, and even though they all had weapons in their hands, their lack of combat experience and a plan to attack the monster resulted in a large number of these new players from Paradis Island dying and disappearing. The aftermath was a symphony of terrified screams, the sight of bodies dissolving into pixels, and the stench of death hanging heavy in the virtual battlefield.

The players from the Survey Corps had also arrived to raid the dungeon today, but the sight that greeted them was of hundreds of new players stumbling out of the dungeon, battered and broken. The HP bars of dozens were in the red, with only a few slivers left. Many were trying to support their comrades who had been knocked unconscious by the monster's attacks, and one party was fighting amongst themselves over a Healing Potion in a desperate bid for survival.

"I did the most work! I risked my life and charged in before anyone else! You, who were just hiding in the back, don't need to drink this!"

"But that boy got hit by their attacks too, damn it! The support line shouldn't be abandoned like this! Give it to us, now!"

"This is...totally hell." one of the Survey Corps members muttered, his face pale with shock. Even having faced Titans, nothing could compare to the scene before him now.

"We were too late..." The young man with brown hair and emerald-green eyes tightened his grip on his sword. "No... there are still survivors! Let's go help them!"

"Tch. But can we even get into that room right now? It looks like the fight has already started in there," the young man's senior, Oluo, who was currently guarding Eren, said, automatically moving to shield the front line.

"That means... there are still people inside," Eren said, looking up, his expression grave. "They might be trapped inside without knowing we're here..."

"Then we have to be ready," Kirito said, stepping forward, his voice firm. "The moment the system opens the door again, we're rushing in to help."

"Hey! That's the soldiers from the Survey Corps...!!" A cry of shock from a townsman made all eyes turn. He pointed a finger at the group of soldiers in their unit's uniform who had just entered the area in front of the dungeon, his eyes a mixture of hope and despair.

"Y-you're finally here! Please, hurry and help my friends' party! They're still in that boss room! There are only a few of them left!"

The young man's voice trembled. He nearly collapsed in front of Erwin Smith, who was leading the group forward. The commander's face was calm, but his eyes moved quickly, assessing the situation in an instant.

"Levi, take some people in and block their attacks. Keep the monster's attention for now," the tall, blond-haired man ordered in a flat voice.

"Roger." Levi replied curtly, before leaping forward in his signature style.

"Everyone! Put your weapons! We, the Survey Corps, will advance to defeat the Kobold! All citizens, please evacuate the room immediately," Erwin commanded, his voice as firm as ever.

"Um... should I go in too?" the black-clad swordsman asked.

"I'm afraid that if I go in, you might not get the additional bonuses... because my sword's effectiveness is already too high for that monster. Plus... it limits the number of players."

The man who held the title of commander turned to look at Kirito with a solemn gaze. He considered it for a moment before giving a slow nod.

"I understand... but this is no longer about bonuses or abilities. It's about people's lives. As you can see from the citizens here who just came from that battle." He paused for a moment before continuing. "If you go in and it results in even one more person surviving, it's worth it, wouldn't you say?"

"...In that case, I'll try not to steal anyone's kill." the young man in black said with a small smile, drawing his sword from its sheath. The soft sound of metal scraping against leather followed the movement.

Inside the First Floor Dungeon Room

The room was laid with a complex green-and-purple patterned carpet, which seemed to be magical or an ancient symbol connected to the dungeon system. The polished stone floor below reflected the light. Walking further in, one would find dark gray stone pillars lined up on the left and right, giving the feeling of a sacred temple or an ancient ritual site. The side walls had vibrant, flowing patterns of light that moved like projections on a screen. The ceiling above had a light pattern resembling stained glass, as if magical energy were circulating, creating an indescribably sacred yet unsettling feeling. Suddenly, a large creature appeared.

It was humanoid in shape, with a large tail and ears like a rabbit, and it was walking towards the Survey Corps soldiers. This monster, which had claimed the lives of hundreds of people from the island, was none other than a Kobold. Since it was a humanoid-type monster, it could use sword skills and wield weapons. Its sword was large enough to cut down dozens of players at once.

"Levi-san, I'll lure the Kobold, then you can slice it in one go." said the young man who had experience fighting this portly monster.

The large rabbit creature wasn't alone; it had about two smaller minions protecting their rabbit leader.

"Tch, you damn bastards!" Levi used his "Anneal Blade" sword skill, slicing through the minions until they instantly vanished.

Kirito was stunned for a moment at how the captain had killed the small minions in an instant. Even though Levi might be smaller than him, his abilities were second to none.

"When I first entered this dungeon... I couldn't even deal with them that quickly." Kirito murmured, gripping his sword tightly, his eyes showing admiration for the man's skill.

Levi said nothing. He simply flicked his sword clean of the monster pixels before glancing at Kirito impassively. "Don't just stand there,kiddos They're not all gone," he said flatly, his sharp eyes fixed on a group of enemies that had started moving again from a corner of the room.

"Didn't you say you were going to help lure that fat rabbit? Now get your ass and fight, before all my subordinates die," Levi said in a firm, decisive tone, making the young man in black nod quickly.

"Roger, Levi-san!" Kirito used his weakest slashing skill to trigger the fat rabbit's senses... The tip of the young man's sword danced through the air, a blue light glowing from the blade as he used a basic one-handed skill, "Slant," slashing diagonally at the ground near the fat rabbit's front leg to get the system to target it and trigger the monster's response without causing serious damage.

The giant rabbit in the center of the room twitched slightly, its red eyes showing caution. "It's noticed," Kirito said softly, his sword still at the ready.

"Petra-san... Eld-san... please let me use my abilities. I'm not a Titan anymore." Eren pleaded, currently being guarded by his four seniors.

Petra turned to look at the round-faced young man with a serious gaze, but it was tinged with a slight hesitation. "Eren... it's not that I don't trust you, but we don't have time to take risks. What if you can't control yourself again..."

Eld interjected, then nodded to Oluo and Gunther, who were positioned around him. "That's right, Eren. We don't know if you can control yourself."

Eren clenched his fists, his face filled with determination. "I know... that I've made mistakes... but I'm not a Titan now. I'm an ordinary swordsman, like everyone else here. And I want to use the skills I have to help you all as much as I can!"

Oluo pouted. "You're really stubborn. Fine. You go be our support. Your seniors like me will go in and slash the monster first..."

The orange-haired young woman chuckled softly in her throat as she took a small potion from her belt. "Oluo, you've always got such a sharp tongue. But it can't be helped. Eren, you do your best to support us from the rear. We're counting on you."

Eren nodded, then quickly fell back to the rear as ordered, checking the item and support skill buttons he had recently been practicing.

"Its swing has a wider range than I thought," Eld said as he drew his sword into a ready stance.

"Good. That means we won't waste time," Gunther said grimly as he shifted into a fighting stance.

A low growl echoed in the room paved with ancient carved stones. The image of the Kobold Lord appeared, glowing with a brilliant red aura. Soon, it began to attack, swinging its house-sized sword, causing a number of Survey Corps soldiers to fall.

The stone floor cracked, forming a large fissure. The sound of metal clashing against stone echoed loudly. Some of the front-line Survey Corps soldiers who couldn't move in time were hit full-force by the impact of the giant sword, their HP vanishing in an instant as they dissolved into pixels before everyone's eyes.

"Dammit! It hits harder than the system estimated!" Eld grit his teeth. "I didn't think it would be this fast."

Levi shot into the air with superhuman speed, then slashed diagonally from above onto the enemy's left shoulder. Although it didn't pierce the armor completely, it made the Kobold Lord stagger for a moment.

"Captain, it's dangerous! It hits really hard!" Petra screamed at the top of her lungs.

"You guys, switch now! I've already used my skills," Levi replied, his words an order.

"Understood!" Upon acknowledgment, the four members of Levi's squad—Petra, Eld, Oluo, and Gunther—emerged from the shadows in an instant. With timing honed from countless drills, they closed in on the Kobold Lord with a powerful, continuous skill combination, slashing at the giant rabbit fiercely. The sound of sharp blades hitting flesh rang out. It wasn't just the force of their slashes, but also their perfect timing in switching positions, which left it unable to recover.

"Eren... switch!" Eld roared, his voice as sharp and decisive as a sword's edge.

"Yes, sir!" the young man in the basic swordsman gear responded instantly, without hesitation, his eyes shining with determination. He tightened his grip on his sword and dashed forward, taking Eld's place as he pulled back. His body weaved through the Kobold Lord's attack line before he slashed his sword with incredible speed.

The system's sound effect chimed along with his movements. Eren slashed at the giant monster's abdomen, right at the spot Eld had just opened up, with all his might, forcing it back a step. Its HP was now down to just a few slivers.

"Good job, Eren!" Petra cried out in praise, following up to reinforce the attack with precision.

"You're still not out of blood yet?... This is the last time, then. Die, you damn rabbit!" Before Eren could use another skill, the giant rabbit used its other claw. It was about to slash the young man's body!

"No way... that guy..." Kirito grit his teeth, preparing to rush in and help. "The Kobold Lord's power is too much... I got you, Eren!"

But before he could move, the sound of armor hitting the ground rang out, as the tall figure of a man rushed in ahead of him. Commander Erwin had managed to intervene in time, using a large shield to block the attack and protect the young man.

"It's not just Titans we can fight... Don't forget, Eren, that I'm a tank" Erwin said, looking up to meet the Kobold Lord's eyes. "...We will not allow anything to take away humanity's future, not even close” The blond-haired man's voice, though calm, was filled with unwavering faith.

Soon after, the sound of his firm and steady footsteps was heard. He said nothing, but flicked his sword to one side to shake off the pixel residue, then sheathed it, putting an end to the battle with this formidable monster.

"Captain Levi!" Eren shouted loudly.

"It's over... the fight with that thing. You should be more careful next time." Levi said quietly, looking towards the gate on the other side, which was beginning to open, signaling the way to the next floor.

"We did it! The Survey Corps won!" Soon, a roar of cheers echoed throughout the wide stone chamber of the first-floor dungeon, becoming the first sound of hope in this strange new world. The surviving players from Paradis Island cheered, tears of joy streaming down many faces. Some fell to their knees on the ground, while others hugged their comrades tightly, their chests trembling.

Kirito gasped for breath, his eyes still fixed on the light of the gate above, which was gradually growing brighter. "...Finishing just this floor is only the beginning," he whispered to himself, before meeting the small man's gaze. "I think you could have beaten it by yourself without me. No worries at all."

Levi glanced over before speaking again without turning his head. "Don't let their deaths be in vain. The next floor won't be any kinder."

Erwin straightened up from his defensive stance, nodding to Levi without a word, before turning back to give orders to the survey group. "The battlefield is long. We must prepare to face the monsters on the next floor. Attacks, switching, evasive positions, and survivor statistics. We will not lose anyone in vain again."

Outside the dungeon room, another Survey Corps group was arriving to prepare for battle. It was Hange's team, along with Mike and the new recruits. "The citizens are cheering nonstop. That must mean Commander Erwin's team succeeded," Armin commented, glancing at the crowd of people who were praising the Survey Corps as if they had now become heroes in their eyes and the next hope for conquering the monsters on each floor.

"If Eren survived, that's a relief," the young woman wearing her signature red scarf said softly, but her voice was still as firm and resolute as ever. She kept her gaze fixed on the dungeon entrance as if she could see through the thick stone to her childhood friend.

"I don't know how many more floors there will be... but if we have to break through them one by one for humanity to survive, I will go with him. If you survive, I will survive too, Eren."

She gave a faint smile before starting to draw her sword from its sheath.

"Erwin! Levi! You beat it already?! So, how was it? Can you tell me if it was as cute as a Titan?" the familiar voice of Hange Zoë said as she ran up to her close friends as she always did.

"Hange-san! Please calm down!" the voice of her secretary said as he rushed after her.

"Whether it's a monster or a Titan, they're both equally ugly and scary... Anyway, just make sure you don't get your own squad killed," Levi said, glancing at Hange, who had run up with excessive excitement, before sighing softly and checking the new coat he had received as a special bonus for getting the highest score in defeating the monster.

"Hey! Where did you get that coat? Can I touch it?"

"Don't put your hands on it right now.... You're such a pain."

Hange grinned widely and moved closer, eagerly reaching out to grab Levi's long, black outer coat. "Whoa... the fabric feels light but looks really strong! Is this a rare drop from the boss?!"

Levi sighed in exasperation. "Yeah, it's a reward for clearing the first-floor boss... but it's not something for you to paw at," he said, lightly batting Hange's hand away.

Erwin chuckled softly in his throat. "If you were to compare it to a Titan... I suppose the only difference is that the system gives you a slight chance to predict its movements. But if you're careless, the end result is no different."

"So interesting! I wonder how great it would be if I could capture one alive..." Hange said, her eyes sparkling like a researcher's.

"Actually, I have a friend who knows a lot about this game, but that person..." Kirito spoke up amidst the soldiers who had experience fighting Titans.

"Huh? Who, who?! What are they like?" Hange turned to look the black-clad swordsman in the eye.

"Um... you could say she doesn't keep a schedule. She comes and goes, you see. Ha ha ha" he replied, describing his mysterious friend. "If you see a newspaper for sale at a general NPC item shop and there's a name at the end of it, that's her."

Hange's eyes widened with interest. "Whoa, sounds like a freelance journalist! And she has an information network, too? I really want to meet her in person!"

"When we do meet her... we should try to invite her to help plan our boss raids. It would be good to have someone similar to Heathcliff," Erwin said flatly, the serious look in his eyes indicating his interest in this influential figure in the shadows of this virtual world.

"She's not affiliated with any guild, so she might be a bit hard to track down. Haha," Kirito said with a dry laugh. Everyone laughed softly amidst the tension of this changed world. Perhaps... even a small bit of information could be a light in this dark world.

On the other side, far from the Survey Corps.

A tall man, concealing himself in his usual black cloak, stood with about two of his subordinates, his eyes fixed on the scene with a uniquely chilling smile.

"Interesting. That person named Levi seems to be the number one of... what was it again?"

"The Survey Corps, boss" his member replied.

"Good. Keep a close eye on that one. Don't let him out of our sight... If we can kill one of his members, I'd really like to see the look on his face. I wonder if it will be like 'The Blackie'." The man chuckled softly in his throat, his voice low and cold, before continuing in a tone filled with dangerous intent.

"I think this guild seems more formidable than the other guilds I've encountered... even if they are from this island."

A cold wind blew past, making the end of the black cloak flutter. The man's dark hair was half-obscuring his face, but his sharp eyes still clearly reflected his ambition.

.

.

To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9

The Impossible Incident.

 It has been just over a month since the event began. The survey team has conquered each floor up to the more than 20th level, thanks to the strength of a certain individual. However, due to a strange event with many item drops occurring on the first to tenth floors, some survey teams have returned to collect items in these areas.

"You've been getting the last-hit bonus on monsters from the first floor all the way to now?"

"That's right."

"And you got bonus items just like Captain Levi did back on that floor, right?"

"Certainly,I was planning to give those items specifically to you."

The sounds of the two's lively argument echoed through the sacred forest, the setting of the tower's third floor.

"I'm starting to get a little jealous of you,Mikasa. I wish I could get something like that for myself."

"Don't be like that, Eren! I'm trying to do all of this for you."

"I already told you, you don't have to give me anything! You heard me." his voice grew more serious.

"I'll do everything myself. I'm not your little brother or your child, you know."

The blond, bob-haired young man sighed as his two best friends started to bicker over something so trivial... or perhaps not so trivial in someone's eyes. He stepped in to comfort his friend, who was feeling slighted despite not getting a high score from their party's dungeon raid. He moved closer, a gentle smile on his face that he often used to diffuse tension.

"Come on, Eren. I haven't gotten as many points as either of you," Armin said in a calm, steady voice, shrugging his shoulders and feigning indifference, even though deep down, he also wanted to be as skilled as his friends.

"But that doesn't mean we can't fight, or that we're worthless." he said, patting Eren's shoulder lightly. "Even if we don't get special items or sky-high scores, we've come this far together, haven't we?"

A breeze on the third floor's jungle-like terrain rustled the ends of their hair. Armin looked towards the winding forest path that stretched endlessly upwards and smiled faintly. "At the very least... we're still walking side-by-side, right?"

Those words made both Eren and Mikasa fall silent for a moment. A gentle wind blew from a side path, as if confirming his statement.

"I heard that in your party, you're the one who does the strategic planning, right, Armin?" Eren asked, glancing at his blond-haired friend still walking beside him.

"Mhm... I guess so. Even though I'm not as good at fighting as you or Mikasa, I can use my brain to help the party survive," he said. Mikasa nodded slightly; she didn't speak, but her expression seemed to say she felt the same way.

"Don't say that. Without your plans, you guys would have never survived those traps." Eren continued, his tone softer than before.

"Well, well, well, what are you all talking about?" a deep, slightly mischievous voice called out from behind, making the three of them turn towards the speaker.

"Jean! Sasha! Connie! Aren't you guys on a mission with the seniors?" Armin asked in surprise.

The tall, light-brown-haired young man shrugged before replying in his usual teasing style. "Couldn't be helped. The seniors wanted to go take on a sub-boss first, so we're temporarily out of a job." The seniors he was referring to were Nanaba and Mike's group.

The female sniper interjected, still chewing on a potato chip. "I think it's lucky. This way, we'll have more time to explore the NPC restaurants on this floor."

The bald young man gave a dry laugh. "Are you crazy? This is the third floor, a place filled with dense jungle and ambush monsters. There are no restaurants here. If you want to go back, you have to go to the first floor." The third floor Connie was talking about was called the "Forest of Wavering Mists," a floor filled with countless massive, sacred trees. The wide clearings were mostly areas where monsters roamed, waiting for players to grind EXP from them.

"Then let's go back to the first floor~" Sasha said with a straight face, popping another chip into her mouth.

"And who's going to get you down there and back without someone getting killed first?" Jean chimed in, rolling his eyes.

"You should really call it the 'Corpse-Collecting' floor if you keep thinking only about food like this," a girl with a gloomy face suddenly interjected, her ice-cold voice cutting through the banter. Sasha shook her head but still managed a happy smile.

"Hey, I'm just trying to enjoy the little things! You know" Sasha pouted slightly. "Or maybe... I should ask you for your cooperation, Mikasa-chan."

"I'm not going. What if I'm not here and something happens to Eren..." Mikasa cut her off immediately, her voice flat but firm. Hearing this, the emerald-eyed young man with a stubborn look on his face frowned.

"What?! I can take care of myself! Can you please not act like my mother, Mikasa!" he raised his voice without thinking.

Mikasa didn't respond right away. She just stared at him silently, her dark grey eyes showing no anger, no retort.

There was just a flicker of something in them... a little bit of hurt, and a little bit of resignation.

" You're really starting to make me jealous every single day!" Jean's furious voice erupted from the side, before he stomped over to stand right next to his classmate.

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about, Horse-face? I don't even understand what you're saying," Eren shot back, his face still clouded from their previous conversation.

Jean grit his teeth before pointing a finger as if he was about to throw a punch. "It's all about you, silly! Out of nowhere, you've got a girl like Mikasa protecting you, cooking for you, taking care of you from morning till night, and you still make a sour face at her like you don't want it! What kind of person are you!?"

Eren looked even more confused. "You're just jealous because I have someone to cook for me? What is wrong with you?"

"It's not just that, you idiot!" Jean blurted out, but quickly turned his face away.

"That's enough, you two... still fighting all the time." A deep, firm voice from a tall, imposing figure cut through Eren and Jean's argument. The formidable-looking young man, who was like the big brother of their class, walked over with a slender, tall young man, as well as a tall, tan-skinned young woman and a small girl beloved by everyone.

"Reiner... you guys... where did you come from? Did you just finish a side quest?" Jean asked, turning to look at the newcomers.

Reiner nodded slowly. "Yeah, the cave quest on the west side of this floor," he answered in a flat voice. "We ran into an ambush monster group on the way. It took more time than we thought. I hope you guys weren't just spending your time arguing..."

"We could barely survive ourselves. If you two get into a fight in the middle of a dungeon, you're finished for sure," the young man finished, as if lecturing his classmates.

The tall young woman rolled her eyes at his fatherly words. "It's not surprising. If Eren and Jean don't bite each other's heads off three times a day, their brains probably don't get enough blood."

"Ymir, don't be so harsh... that's not nice." the small girl quickly whispered, but Ymir just shrugged and ignored her.

"That quest... what was it like?" Eren, having just stopped his fight with his friend, asked the large young man.

Reiner turned to look at him before sighing slightly. "The quest was to explore the cave on the west side. It was a side mission, but the system indicated we'd get good armor after completing it."

He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice steady but serious. "At first, it was nothing... there were four of us, and we only encountered a few mid-level monsters. But the deeper we went, the more it felt like we were being lured in. The strange thing was..."

Reiner's expression began to contort with horror. It shifted from stress to something that was clearly sheer terror. "Suddenly... we were ambushed from all four sides. Those creatures, they've come back..."

He looked up, meeting the eyes of everyone who had fallen silent, waiting to hear. "The things that came back... were Titans."

After the large young man recounted the event, the one thing no one thought would ever return, a heavy silence fell over the surroundings. His friends each started to say something, but couldn't, not wanting to speak it aloud. Mikasa looked down slightly, her fingers silently touching the hilt of her sword.

"How is that possible... Titans in SAO? Are you out of your mind,Reiner?" the stubborn young man said slowly, his voice a conflict of fear and anger.

"I'm not lying... all four of us saw it with our own eyes..." Reiner's eyes were wide as he stood as still as a statue.

"But the guidebook has no information about Titans." Armin said, shocked by the impossible statement. His voice was trembling, not with hesitation, but with a deeply ingrained image he could never forget.

"Is the system bugged?... Should we go talk to Kirito about this?... Or Asuna-san?" Eren murmured, his eyes not leaving his slightly trembling information screen.

"Kirito... Asuna? Who are they, Eren?" Reiner asked, his face a mask of confusion.

"They're players who survived SAO for almost two years... They're the ones who helped our Survey Corps and distributed the guidebook to us. I happen to be friends with them."

Sasha's eyes widened. "What? You mean I've been using a book made by legendary people every day?! I've probably dropped it in a pile of potatoes so many times..."

Connie reached out and lightly bopped Sasha on the head. "You potato-brained idiot! You should have known that from the first day..."

"If that's the case... can you go get them for us... Eren?" Reiner said, gripping Eren's shoulders tightly. "That way, we can find out if the original SAO players have ever seen a real Titan before... or if this is something that just 'slipped in' after the system started merging the two worlds..."

Eren flinched slightly before meeting his eyes. He wasn't used to having this kind of hope placed on him, but he nodded slowly.

"...Understood. If that's the case, I'll go find them. I'll also let Captain Levi know."

On the side of Levi's Special Operations Squad.

"I think... we've gathered enough EXP... Don't you think it's time to get Eren back, Captain?" the sweet voice of the short, orange-haired young woman asked her squad leader.

"Good... It's time to go to the third-floor dungeon." Before the small man could say anything else, a message suddenly popped up in mid-air. It was a message from one of his squad members.

[Eren_Jaeger]

"Captain, I have an urgent report. Titans. They've suddenly appeared in the game. It happened in the quest on the west side of the third floor. I'm on my way to meet Kirito and Asuna-san now. Please teleport to my location..."

His sharp eyes read the message slowly, his expression unchanging. He then closed the window and spoke in a flat voice.

"Titans, huh..."

The young woman beside him was taken aback. "Is that a monster's name, sir? But it's not in the guidebook..."

The small but strong man stood up, dusting off his cloak, nearly making his subordinate lose her composure. "From what that brat reported, it's probably not a monster..."

"It's the nightmare from our old world. It's back again, Petra."

"Do your duty as soldiers. All of you. This is our chance to reclaim our lives for humanity once again."

Levi met Petra's eyes with a grim expression. "Go get Erwin. This is important."

"Yes, sir!"

.

.

Inside the Cave, The air inside was damp and musty. The smell of wet stone mixed with the distinct scent of mud filled the air. Lanterns were attached to the cave walls, lining a path that led somewhere.

"Normally, in a cave, from what I remember exploring with Asuna almost two years ago, the monsters are mostly spiders... or wild rats." the young man in the black swordsman attire said, leading the Survey Corps members. Kirito's eyes scanned the cave cautiously, his fingertips naturally resting near the hilt of the sword on his back.

"But as for 'Titans,' I've never seen anything like that with my own eyes. If 'that girl' were here to see a creature called a Titan, she'd be just as shocked."

Armin, walking behind him, adjusted his non-existent glasses. "Kirito-kun... is it possible that 'Titan data' was embedded into the system after the big reset?"

Kirito didn't answer right away. He stopped to look at a scratch mark on the cave wall before speaking slowly. "It probably wasn't just embedded... The system might have fused with the world you used to live in."

Everyone froze. Armin opened his mouth as if to ask something, but no words came out. Eren's eyes were wide with disbelief; the things Kayaba had done were still haunting them in a new form. The gloomy-faced young woman unconsciously tightened her grip on her sword's hilt, her instinct to protect someone important kicking in without her realizing it.

"In that case... we have to fight Titans along with the monsters," Eren said, coming to a swift conclusion, his teeth clenched.

"Are you all that scared of Titans?" Kirito asked, his voice flat, his dark black eyes reflecting the cave's light with a calm stillness.

"You don't understand what they did to us... They... they took someone important from me," Eren said, his grip tightening on his sword.

"Hey, I know how much you hate the Titans, but you need to cool that hot-headed stubbornness of yours down a bit," the small man said, gripping Eren's shoulder to bring the young man back to his senses.

"I'm sorry... Captain." The round-faced young man sighed and continued to follow Kirito.

Kirito, who was skilled in using the "Searching" skill to find things, now that he had encountered the real deal, finally understood clearly why the people from this island had been rambling on about life and death ever since he was teleported to this mysterious world. It was a massive creature that had never been recorded in any Monster Data.

His black eyes stood still. His heart slowed, but his palms grew cold at the sight of this strange creature he had never encountered before. The young man had just realized, for the first time in two years, what "fear" truly felt like.

He stared wide-eyed, Kirito unable to look away, his eyes trembling slightly. He had finally found it, the thing that would let him touch fear. "A... Titan... is that it, over there?"

His voice came out hoarse without him realizing it. "I've found it..."

As the young man used his "Searching" skill to survey the monsters in the cave again, he spotted something in the distance. At the very end of the cave, surrounded by Titans, was a large golden cage. Inside the cage was a female elf NPC he knew very well.

His eyes widened instantly. "No way... That's Ms. Kizmel!"

To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10

Kizmel

22nd Floor: Serene Shore

About 90% of this floor consists of dense pine forests, meadows stretching to the water's edge, and numerous lakes scattered throughout the area. In short, forests and lakes cover most of the landscape, with a massive lake, about 1 kilometer in diameter, located in the center. The floor's Labyrinth is situated on the northern shore of this huge lake. Looking out from the meadows, large mountains and hills can be seen in the distance. The various areas of this floor are connected by raised wooden walkways. The floor has beautiful scenery, and many people come here to relax by fishing. This is a way to find 'Enhancement' type items for weapons or armor; if a level 5 or higher fish is caught, these fish or aquatic creatures can be exchanged for goods at NPC shops. Besides obtaining items from fishing, the resources here can also be used to cook food.

Some time after the SAO incident began, it seems someone has been frequently enjoying activities on this floor.

"Fishing here is so much more fun than the old-fashioned fishing in the woods and mountains before this game, don't you think, Erwin?" a bald, elderly man chuckled softly as he checked the tension on his fishing line just before catching a high-level rare fish.

"It's because fishing here allows us to get stronger quickly, Commander Pixis," Erwin smiled faintly while staring at the tip of his fishing rod, his eyes under his thick eyebrows still as sharp as on a day of planning a battle.

"It would be nice if there was some aged liquor around here..." Pixis feigned disappointment, glancing at the bait fish drifting with the gentle waves. The wind rustling through the treetops was still cool and pleasant, but for this old man... something was missing.

"Oh, aged liquor, you say... I have some sake to go with sashimi. Care to join me for a drink?" Suddenly, the voice of a middle-aged man rang out from the other side of the wooden bridge, interrupting the conversation between the two commanders.

"And you are...?" Pixis's eyes widened slightly.

"My name is 'Nishida.' My real name is the same inside and outside the game. I'm just an old guy who lives in a village around here," the middle-aged man finished speaking and pressed the interface screen, selecting a bottle of his homemade sake and handing it to the commander before him.

Pixis turned his head sharply, his eyes sparkling as if he had seen a divine light. "Hah... this is clearly an angel from heaven... Thank you very much," he laughed as he stepped forward without hesitation.

"By the way, this sake... what is it like, local fella?"

The elderly man sniffed it before downing it in one gulp and letting out a long sigh. "Mmm... the aroma is so good, it makes life feel not so bad after all, even in a virtual world."

Nishida chuckled softly, handing Pixis a warm cup of sake with a hand that still faintly smelled of smoke from grilling fish. "Heh heh... Sake is a Japanese liquor brewed from fermented rice. The taste is mellow, not as strong as whiskey. But if you drink it leisurely in this cool breeze... you might just laugh out loud and forget you're trapped in a game."

"Japan?" Pixis scratched his head upon receiving this new information. "What is Japan... the name doesn't sound familiar at all."

Nishida paused for a moment. "Huh... you really don't know Japan? It's in East Asia. It's a country in this world, you know." Nishida couldn't believe what he was hearing from a man of about the same age.

Pixis calmly raised his sake cup for another drink before speaking in a flat tone, "My apologies... but in 'my world,' there is no such country."

Nishida raised his eyebrows high, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses, observing him closely. "...What do you mean by that?"

Erwin met Nishida's gaze briefly before stating firmly, "We didn't 'log in' like everyone else. To be clear... this world is the only one we have known since birth."

Nishida froze instantly, the hand holding the sake cup suspended in mid-air for a moment. He blinked rapidly, as if trying to comprehend what he had just heard.

"...So that means..." he muttered softly, taking a deep breath. "...Hah... I knew it. That's why you two have a strange 'vibe' compared to everyone else in this game... You must be from Paradis Island, without a doubt."

The man in the hat sighed deeply. "What is Kayaba thinking...? Dragging us to this new world... what did he do it for? As a network administrator, working under a company that collaborated with Kayaba to inspect the network connections for SAO, I'm at a complete loss when faced with something so supernatural."

Erwin and Pixis froze. They exchanged a look without a word. A small piece of information from an old man had just struck them with the force of a massive explosion in their minds.

"Wait a minute..." Pixis placed his sake cup down beside him. "What you just said... does that mean you work in this field and have worked with Kayaba before?"

Nishida nodded slowly. The shock was gone from his eyes. Instead, he looked like someone who had accepted the 'impossible' for far too long. "Yes... Before the SAO project was launched, I was on the technical support team from a company, responsible for checking and managing the server connections for the prototype VRMMO."

He took off his wide-brimmed hat, placing it next to his fishing rod, revealing a bald head aged by time. "When Kayaba launched SAO and turned it into a death trap, I was trapped in here from day one... just like any other player."

"The network connection within this game... what is it like, Mr. Nishida?" Erwin became interested after the tech-savvy old man briefly explained his background.

"How could someone from an ancient era like you understand the world I come from... If I were to explain it properly, it would take hours," he picked up another piece of grilled fish but didn't bite into it. He just stared at it for a moment, as if trying to find an analogy.

"Alright, I'll try to explain it in a way you might understand..." He glanced at Erwin, who was still listening intently, his face firm like someone who had read books heavier than stone.

"Try to imagine another world... woven from thousands upon thousands of invisible threads. Those threads are what we call the 'network.'"

"When we connect the feelings, thoughts, or even the very minds of real people to these threads, it becomes a bridge... allowing us to step into a new world without taking a single step."

Erwin paused for a moment after receiving the new information. The blond young man smiled faintly. "How interesting. In that case, I'd like to befriend you."

He looked at Nishida seriously. "Because you must know more about this thing called technology than anyone else. If we can gather information from you... we can solve this bewildering mystery together."

Nishida let out a soft laugh, his voice hoarse but tinged with pleasure. "I may not be a warrior or a brave man, but what I have... is an understanding of the network, and a disbelief in the 'God' named Kayaba."

Erwin's smile widened slightly, the same kind of smile he wore when he began to plan a gamble with everyone's lives at a dead end.

"This means we are allies now, doesn't it?" He extended his hand directly, even though his cloak was dusty from walking through the forest.

Nishida hesitated for a second, glancing at the hand before extending his own wrinkled one to shake it firmly. "Then, welcome as my fishing companion."

But just then, a "Ping!" sound from a voice message alert rang in Commander Erwin Smith's system. It was an emergency message from Levi's unit.

[Petra_Ral]

"Commander! There's an urgent matter from Captain Levi! We were grinding EXP on the 3rd floor when Titans suddenly appeared from the west in the Sacred Cavern zone. Please come and investigate immediately!"

Erwin froze, his previously stern expression instantly turning serious, as if his brain had instinctively switched to command mode.

"Titans... you say?" he repeated softly, but his eyes shone with a glint of disbelief.

Pixis narrowed his eyes as Erwin calmly put down his fishing rod and rose to his full height. "Hmph, what's going on?"

"The Titans... they're back, Commander Pixis," Erwin met the older man's eyes with a tense expression.

"What... But we're trapped in a game. How can Titans be appearing?" Pixis was shocked by what he was being asked to believe. He gulped down his sake, then glanced up at the Aincrad sky, making a gesture as if he had resigned himself to the countless terrible things he had faced before.

"Heh... so this is what they call a death game. Anything can happen, can't it?"

"W-what... Where are you going? We haven't finished our conversation," Nishida said, slightly startled as Erwin abruptly stood up from his seat.

"Something urgent has come up. We'll talk again next time, Mr. Nishida."

Back to the present. Sacred Cavern Zone, 3rd Floor.

A dozen Titans approached Kirito's group and the Survey Corps. Some were Abnormal Titans, looking like they were about to charge at them.

The young black swordsman nearly lost his composure, struggling to steady himself and gripping his sword, Elucidator, tightly, trying to ignore the grotesque faces of the mindlessly grinning giants.

"Everyone! I'll draw their attention to myself... The rest of you, run to Kishmel's cage and unlock it!!"

"Who? Who's Kizmel?" Eren asked.

Kirito gritted his teeth. "She's... an NPC from a lower floor in the past. My quest partner to me, she's someone important."

He took a step back, his face a mixture of shock and anger. "What do we do... They're so big."

Erwin reassured the young black swordsman, who was not from the island and had lived here before. "I trust in your strength, Kirito... but the Titan's weak spot is the nape of its neck."

"The nape of the neck... you say?" Kirito muttered to himself, his voice trembling but his mind beginning to steady.

An Abnormal Titan, about 10 meters tall and engulfed in flames, charged forward at high speed, causing the Survey Corps members to scatter to avoid the massive creature.

"Aaaah! It's so scary" the potato-loving girl, Sasha, screamed in terror until Mikasa had to pull her behind a rock formation. Kirito quickly regained his footing. He looked up at the charging Titan, the orange-red flames burning around its body like an abyssal demon.

"The nape... that's right. I have to aim carefully," he gritted his teeth, then quickly opened his weapon window. His finger tapped on a skill, and he launched himself into a high jump, one he had used before against a monster in Aincrad.

A line of blue light shot up above his head with a powerful impact on the ground. The black sword in his hand swung straight into the center of the Flame Titan's nape with all his might!

The sound of tearing flesh echoed as the Titan let out a low groan before its massive body staggered and collapsed onto the cavern floor, causing a tremor and sending dust flying.

Armin, who was hiding nearby, stared wide-eyed. "He did it... Kirito really defeated it..."

Eren clenched his fists tightly. "These people... they're too strong..."

Levi watched the scene silently. He drew a new sword dropped from a monster out of its sheath and said curtly, "That kid in black... not bad at all."

Kirito panted heavily, his face a mix of excitement and fear, but a determined light had appeared in his eyes.

"Nine more to go..."

The short man with sharp, slanted eyes stepped forward. He looked at Kirito silently. "We won't get any stronger if we keep depending on you like that..."

He shifted the tip of his sword unhurriedly. "Don't think we're just going to stand behind you... my comrades' corpses didn't wait for someone to come save them before they died."

He walked past without looking back, leaving his words hanging in the cavern air. "Fight with us, or get out of the way."

Kirito stood frozen for a moment, not out of fear... but because he fully understood the sentiment of those who were once soldiers. "Yes, sir!"

Erwin immediately issued a command. "All soldiers, prepare to engage the Titans with your weapons and advance toward the golden cage. That is our objective now."

"Yes, ma'am/sir!!!"

The Survey Corps then began their assault on the Titans, each using different weapons according to their individual skills and preferences.

Levi, Eren, Mikasa, Jean, Oluo, and Erwin, the sword-wielders, engaged the Titans first. Next were Christa and Bertolt, who followed closely with rapiers. Ymir, worried about Christa, grabbed her short sword and ran after them. On the other side, where Titans still remained, Gunther and Eld, both spear users, rushed in to fight, followed by Connie, who wielded a hammer. The tankers, Reiner and Petra, who used axes, provided support from the rear. At the very back, keeping a watchful eye, were the archers, Armin and Sasha.

And just then, a sound like a chain being unlocked echoed from the cage deep within the cave—a tan-skinned elf girl was opening her eyes once more...

To Be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11

Lost Memories

During a battle with a Land Spider on the 3rd floor.

“Hahahaha, my adorable little spider! Come back here right now!” The voice belonged to a player who was always thrilled by combat. They chased after a pitiful giant spider monster, which was now the center of attention. It ran back to its original spot to regain its footing. Once it did, it began to raise its thin legs, which were comparable to a cage of thorns. Its legs rose, ready to scratch the person in front of it who intended to harm it, but what could it do against a player who was clearly unhinged?

“What, you think you can scratch me with those flimsy legs!! Only in your dreams!!” With those words, Hange Zoë, an admirer of all monster species, slammed a gigantic hammer down with a loud crash that echoed through the sacred forest. The spider shrieked as its HP bar dropped to a single sliver.

“Please My dear spider,I need you!”

Hange’s voice was filled with a crazed cheerfulness, making it impossible to tell if this was a life-or-death battlefield or a playground. She raised the hammer over her head again, her eyes sparkling as if she was about to collect a rare animal part she had been aiming for.

“Drop anything! Just give me a leg!! Or maybe your back armor!! Just give it to meeee!!”

A loud thud resounded throughout the sacred forest floor as the hammer struck the Land Spider's torso in a final blow. It cried out in pain before its body disintegrated into a shower of blue light particles amidst the dark forest.

An item drop popped into the air, spinning as it fell to the ground in front of Hange. She leaped towards it almost instantly.

“Time for the next phase of research!!!!” Her laughter echoed throughout the area, causing other players observing from the corners to break into a cold sweat.

“Section Commander! Please don't be so loud! We shouldn't risk our lives any more than we have to. We should probably rest now,” Moblit cautioned as he walked closer. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes still warily scanning the surroundings. The sacred forest on the 3rd floor was quiet, but something could be heard moving deep within the fog.

“What!? But I’m not satisfied yet, Moblit. If you’re tired, you can go back with Nifa’s group,” she said, the crazed glint still in her eyes as she targeted her next spider or prey. Hange used her Searching skill to meticulously scan for them.

“Found one! Over there, to the north… 1.6 times bigger than the last one! Ohhh, my heart’s going to burst!” Hange nearly bolted off, but Moblit remained standing still.

“Squad Leader… wait for me!” he sighed softly before running after his squad leader.

At the Sacred Cavern.

The resounding clang of metal striking bone echoed throughout the cavern. A tall, light-brown-haired young man used a sword skill to strike a Titan’s leg with full force before switching out with someone else.

 “Connie, I’m switching with you!!!!” Jean shouted loudly, timing his move perfectly with his teammate’s.

“Yeah, got it! Eat this Lava Hammer!!!” Connie’s voice replied with equal enthusiasm. The close-cropped-haired boy used a fire-elemental hammer skill, empowered by his own body, smashing it onto the ground in front of the Titan’s leg. The impact shook the cavern floor, sending cracks spreading out in a wide circle. The Titan’s HP bar dropped by another 20%.

“Now, Mikasa! Use your special move!”

Mikasa, who had been waiting for the right moment, shot out from the shadows like a specter of death. She swung both of her swords simultaneously in a cross-shaped pattern in mid-air, leaving two blinding blue streaks of light. A split second later, those lights precisely slashed the nape of the Titan's neck.

A Critical Hit sound effect chimed as a purple effect flashed at the point of impact. The Titan’s head flew from its neck just as its HP bar dropped to zero.

Connie looked up at the sight and cheered loudly, “Whoa, that move was totally awesome!”

Jean laughed, panting. “Aren’t you overdoing it a bit, Mikasa… but that was so damn cool.”

The somber-faced girl didn't reply. She merely sheathed her swords quietly and turned to look towards the cave entrance.

 “We still have many more left… Don’t let your guard down yet.” Her voice was perfectly calm, but the warrior’s glint in her eyes had not faded.

Reiner, who had just taken down a nearby Titan, turned to look at Mikasa with admiration. “As strong as ever, you are.”

“Thanks,” she replied flatly, before turning her gaze to the cavern ruins before them instead.

From the other side, a sharp cry suddenly rang out.

“Nooooo!!!! Don’t eat me!!” A girl’s high-pitched scream echoed. A Titan about 10 meters tall had grabbed the young girl tightly. She was now its prey, about to be eaten!

“KRISTA!!!!!!!!” Reiner shouted in fury, his roar echoing through the cave like the command of a warrior driven by raw instinct. Without hesitation, he grabbed his signature dual axes from his back and charged forward at maximum speed.

The Titan had just opened its mouth, its jaw moving slowly as its fingers were about to drop her inside—

CRASH!!

The sound of slicing flesh resounded, accompanied by the sound of someone's weapon skill. Blood spurted out in a stream, along with the Titan’s scream. Christa’s body fell through the air for just a few seconds, before—

“I’ve got you!” Ymir lunged forward, catching her in her arms in the nick of time. They both hit the ground with the force of the impact but were safe.

“Are you okay, Krista!?” Jean ran over immediately, asking with ragged breaths.

“I… I’m alright. Thank you so much…” Christa’s voice trembled, her eyes welling with tears, but she tried to keep her composure.

Reiner stood defiantly before the Titan, watching it slowly collapse to the ground and disappear. He turned back to Krista, his eyes still filled with a mixture of anger and concern.

“…If it touches you again, I’ll kill every single one of them on this floor with my own hands.” Reiner’s voice was low and firm.

“You don’t need to butt into her business. I’ll be the one to protect her.” Ymir's declaration started an argument between her and Reiner.

“You guys, this isn’t the time to be fighting,” the tall and slender Bertolt, who had just defeated a Titan himself, warned them.

Ymir narrowed her eyes at Reiner before turning away in frustration. “Hmph… fine. I don’t want to waste my energy on a stubborn mule.” Reiner gritted his teeth and fell silent, but he didn’t take his eyes off Christa for a second.

Armin, standing not far away, spoke up in a calm, steady voice. “Bertolt is right. Now is not the time to be emotional... They’re coming again.”

Suddenly, a "thud... thud..." sound came from the darkness of the cavern floor. It was the sound of heavy footsteps from Eren's direction.

“Eren’s group is handling that side, aren’t they…” Sasha pointed towards the unfolding event, but Mikasa immediately dashed towards that spot, desperately worried.

“Eren…!” Mikasa screamed her beloved’s name, accelerating until she almost left her own shadow behind. She gritted her teeth, swinging her swords rapidly.

“Wait, Mikasa!!” Armin reached out to stop her, but it was too late.

On Eren’s side, Levi was about to use his final sword skill. Just before he could, a sound like a chain being unlocked came from a cage deep inside the cave—a tan-skinned elf girl was opening her eyes.

The glowing golden cage, located deep inside, began to break apart, bar by bar, as if shaken by some internal force. She broke out of the golden cage with her own personal sword. Before she said anything, it was as if she was chanting something, causing all the Titans to vanish without a trace.

Levi stopped short, his sharp eyes turning to the darkest part of the cave. “They’re all gone…?”

“What… was that?” Eld muttered, turning to his comrade-in-arms in disbelief.

Even Erwin was taken aback, his thick eyebrows knitting together slightly.

 “Who in the world are you…” His voice was a soft whisper, tinged with a slight distrust.

The short, purple-haired elf girl didn’t answer. She simply met Levi’s gaze for a moment, then spoke slowly, her voice firm, as if casting a spell on the entire cavern.

“My name is ‘Kizmel.’ I am the guardian of this sacred forest, and…”

Then she raised her sword and rested it on her shoulder. The sound of everyone’s breathing was clear in the dead silence of the sacred cavern, now… completely devoid of Titans. But before she could meet someone's eyes, a young man whom she hadn't seen in almost two years appeared.

“K- Kirito…”

Kizmel’s dark purple eyes widened slightly before she averted her gaze as if she couldn't bear to look at him directly.

“…I never thought… I would see you again.” Her voice trembled ever so slightly, but it was clear.

Kirito stared at her intently, his expression a mixture of confusion and sadness. “You… you still remember me?”

The young woman nodded lightly before speaking slowly. “Though time has passed… for me, it is still the day you left that forest… without turning back.”

Silence fell over the entire cave. Mikasa, Bertolt, Ymir, and the others, even Levi, said nothing, as if they could sense the emotional turmoil between the two.

Kizmel stared at him for a moment before continuing, “…Kirito, you’ve returned at a time when this world is collapsing once again, haven’t you?”

“That’s not it. It’s because ‘Titans’ came and attacked and imprisoned you, wasn’t it?”

“…”

Kizmel said nothing. The heavy atmosphere from the Survey Corps and Kirito seemed to pressure her for an answer. She avoided making direct eye contact with the black-clad swordsman and replied softly.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anything.”

The young man in the black coat flinched slightly. He fell silent, his heart feeling as if it had been ripped from his chest. The sense of care, the bond he thought still remained—shattered in an instant.

His dark eyes stared at Kizmel, trembling. “What do you mean by that,huh..?”

Kizmel didn’t answer. She just turned her face away slightly before lowering her eyes. Something in her gaze still concealed complex emotions, as if some memories were still stuck in the recesses of her mind but sealed away by something.

“I’m sorry…. I cannot tell you the whole story of what really happened…”

She sighed. “Something is not right. I want to say it… but I really can’t remember.”

Levi, who was standing nearby, walked a little closer. “You can’t remember even a single fragment, can you?”

“…It’s not that I can’t remember at all,” she said softly, almost like a confession. “But it’s as if… every time I try to remember… something pushes it back into the darkness.”

She raised her other hand to her temple, her eyes filled with pain and confusion. “It’s like something… or someone, is locking my memories from the inside, preventing me from accessing them.”

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To Be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12

Something Is Not Right

Reiner, gripping his axe, began to tremble. He didn't answer, but glanced at Kirito with a strange expression, as if feeling a conflict between 'hope' and 'reality.'

"You... you really don't remember anything?"

Kizmel turned to look at Reiner slowly, her eyes at that moment tinged with an inexplicable pity. It wasn't just because she couldn't remember... but because she knew the other person wanted her to.

"I'm sorry... I don't want to deceive all of you." she said, swallowing with difficulty. "But inside my head... there's only the echo of something lost. No images, no names, not even a clear feeling... If I ever knew you, or anyone else here, it must have been in another life."

"Hey... Kizmel, are you sure you're okay?" The black-clad swordsman noticed her somber expression, as if some kind of spell was controlling her.

"The first time I met you... you were much more cheerful than this, weren't you?"

Kizmel fell silent for a moment, her eyes reflecting the image of Kirito standing before her. The reflection wavered slightly... like her own mind, which was fighting against something within.

"You're right... I'm really not myself."

She closed her eyes, trying to picture it again. "An image of two people... one was shouting at the players, and the other... Agh!?"

Suddenly, the elf knight clutched her temples as if in pain. "... the system... the system won't let me speak."

Kirito rushed forward to support Kizmel before she could collapse. "Hey! Take it easy... Kizmel, stay calm. What's happening to you?"

She trembled slightly, her hands still pressed tightly to her temples. Sweat began to bead on her hairline, even though the air in the cave was frigid. "I'm sorry... I tried."

Erwin, seeming to have noticed a key point, spoke up. "Two people, you say? That means they have already been here..."

Armin, who had been searching the area for evidence, found nothing. "I can't find any clues or evidence at all, sir."

"Was there anyone else inside here besides those two, Ms. Kizmel?" the blond-haired man asked.

"No... I don't know anything right now." Kizmel, her eyes still vacant, shook her head weakly.

"What the heck is this... Hey Blackie, if this elf can't remember anything, don't tell me there's some secret quest we have to unlock?" the slender, light-brown-haired young man said amidst the tense situation.

"I don't know either, Jean. Since she can't provide any information, we have no choice but to investigate," Kirito said, still supporting Kizmel with concern, before looking up. "But if the system is intentionally blocking her memory, we have to find a way to unlock it..."

But then, as Kirito thought of something, he sighed and tried to make his friends feel better. "But let's not worry too much. Maybe when Kayaba dragged the server over, it caused high-level NPCs like her to have a few errors. Besides, the Floor 3 Elf Quest wasn't a big deal anyway. Once the system stabilizes in a week or so, we should be able to check on her again. Or, if you're worried, I can file a report to the admins to help fix this." With that, the young man in black opened his screen to the game's problem report page.

"If... if that's true... please, help me." Kizmel pleaded, gripping Kirito's hand tightly.

"I'll definitely help you." he replied firmly, immediately sending a report detailing the recent events to the game's support system.

Jean frowned. "Huh... but a simple problem report really going to make this elf feel better instantly?"

Levi, who was leaning against a nearby wall, spoke up in a flat tone. "Let's just hope the 'admins' you're talking about aren't the ones behind this whole mess."

Kirito gave a dry laugh, scratching the back of his neck lightly. "Well, no... it probably won't work that fast, but it's worth a try. Sometimes these systems update quietly without even telling us."

He turned back to Kizmel, who was still holding his hand tightly. Her face was anxious but held a deep glimmer of hope. "Errors in this game... I've seen a few NPCs acting strangely like you before."

"Good. Then I'll take this information to Hange," Erwin said.

"Titans suddenly appearing like this, we can't just rely on the in-game system anymore... Kirito-kun, perhaps we should analyze everything from the golden cage onward and form a hypothesis about what's really going on."

During dinner at a luxurious restaurant on the 61st floor, the black-clad swordsman had reserved a table for two. He had invited the young woman who held the position of vice-commander of her guild to dine with him.

"Titans!? You guys found Titans in the game?" After hearing the news from her friend, her jaw dropped.

"I think it's just a system error. Besides, I ran into Kizmel today, too," Kirito said, quietly sipping his water and taking a bite of food.

"No, no, Kirito-kun. You need to tell me everything... right now."

Kirito looked up from his plate. He stared at Asuna's serious face across from him. She wasn't just curious; she was genuinely worried.

"I'm not hiding anything... I just didn't want to stress you out more than you already are," Kirito said, putting down his spoon and leaning back in his chair.

"You know this, Asuna... Titans definitely aren't normal monsters. They don't appear in the monster data log at all."

"A system error, but Titans just happen to show up on the 3rd floor?... By the way, what are Titans like?" the young woman asked, beginning to think, then continued.

"Floor 3 is the place Kizmel governs, too. How is she now?"

"When I saw a Titan for the first time, they were huge, about 8 meters tall or more... It was terrifying. Their faces are modeled exactly like ours. They don't wear clothes, have no reproductive organs, and they smile like psychotic killers all the time," the young man explained, painting a chilling picture.

"Also, I heard from Levi-san that their food is humans like us," Kirito added.

"And... what about Kizmel? How is she involved in this?"

Kirito met her eyes before speaking in a flat tone. "I remember when the Survey Corps and I were fighting the Titans, I glanced over and saw a golden cage that I thought a Titan had trapped her in. When she managed to break out of the cage herself, I asked her what happened. Turns out, she can't remember anything."

He sighed and continued. "The system is preventing her from saying certain things. It's like she's about to... break out of her role as a normal NPC."

Asuna listened to Kirito's story, her expression a mixture of shock and anxiety. Her eyes were fixed on the young man's face as if to analyze every word that came from his mouth.

"...A golden cage?" she repeated in disbelief. "And what... is it? Or... is it something beyond the system? Do you remember if there was a golden cage two years ago?"

"No... there wasn't one at all. I don't know if the admins summoned new things, including the Titans."

"That makes this even more dangerous," Asuna said, putting down her spoon, her expression tense.

"During the beta test, or even when we first logged in two years ago... there was no such thing as a 'golden cage' in the system. I've explored almost every nook and cranny of floors 1 through 10. If it existed, I would have seen or heard about it."

Asuna raised an eyebrow. "So what does that mean?"

"...It means something new was inserted after the game had been running for a while," he said, pausing to look out at the nighttime view of Aincrad through the window. "The Cardinal System, if I had to guess, probably controlled everything in this game initially, from quests, events, and NPCs to the display of items and enemies... but if something was embedded into it..."

"...Could it be the work of 'him'?" Asuna asked softly. "But we have to find out who that person is, and why they have so much influence."

"You're right. But ever since we were moved to this new world involving Titans, maybe the admins are just trying to surprise us."

"But nothing is certain anymore," Kirito added flatly. "Because even an NPC like Kizmel... seems to have something more hidden within her than what the system designated her to be."

Asuna nodded slightly. "Then we have to find the truth from the source itself... from the golden cage that's trying to silence her."

Kirito looked troubled. "It would be great if Hange-san could figure something out."

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"Our objective is to find the 'person' who imprisoned Ms. Kizmel," Erwin announced inside the grand guild's meeting room. The light from the magic chandelier on the ceiling cast shadows of everyone sitting at the long wooden table in the center of the room.

Erwin Smith, wearing the navy-blue cloak of his "Survey Corps" guild—the leader whose team was normally responsible for raiding new dungeons to unlock the next floor of SAO—now had a stoic expression, but one that hid immense pressure.

"And more than that, we need to find out why the system allowed something like this to happen."

"But it's only been three days... since Kirito-san's problem report was sent... What if it really is just a system malfunction?" Armin protested.

"I also hope that all of this is merely a malfunction." Erwin said flatly, before walking back to the end of the table and displaying a new digital map of the 3rd floor.

"An NPC breaking from her role for no reason, and Titans appearing without a reason or a quest," Kirito, who had been invited to the meeting, added in a firm voice. "This isn't just a bug. It feels like data that was hidden or manually inserted. That's my hypothesis."

"Titans are like mindless beasts. Their normal routine is to eat only humans for food. If they managed to capture Kizmel, it must be the work of a human," Hange interjected.

Erwin looked at Armin with an understanding expression before speaking cautiously. "I know you're trying to look at this from every possible angle within the system, but from our brainstorming session just now, I can surmise that this situation is an anomaly."

Armin fell silent for a moment, his face still deep in thought. "In that case... let's assume someone is really interfering with the system. How do we deal with it, if even Kizmel can't speak out? Should we keep this hypothesis a secret for now, and just keep adventuring through the floors until we find a suspect?"

"That's a good idea," Erwin said flatly, his eyes still fixed on the map before him. "We don't have enough information to accuse anyone. Especially if the one interfering with the system is inside the game and has access to the system itself..."

He paused for a moment before continuing in a more serious tone. "We will keep this matter at the command level only. The normal clearing of each floor will be our cover. But the main survey unit will have a hidden mission. I will reassign your duties, from investigating abnormal quests and NPCs with strange behavior to any foreign structures within this game."

"Dismissed." With that, the members in the grand meeting room began to rise from their seats. Some were silent, while others began to whisper and debate the possibilities of what they had just heard.

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"It's been about only a whole month since we started clearing the monsters on each floor..." the steady, powerful voice of a young woman, a right hand, spoke up as she stood beside a mysterious man, her team leader, in front of a towering boss room door.

"It was faster than I thought, Captain. I think we've come much further than the people from the walls. It's all because of you."

"But it's still far away from my dream."

The voice belonged to a strong woman, like the right hand of a mysterious leader. her members, and this man had used a crystal to unlock the door to the said boss floor. This mysterious team seemed to be conquering each floor faster than the Survey Corps, driven by some force from the man who held the position of team leader. Their training in climbing each floor, one could say, was a non-stop, day-and-night conquest to reach this level. It seemed the main strength of this party came from its leader.

"How long did we take?"

"About 10 minutes to defeat those mermaid guards, sir."

The mysterious, tall man merely smiled slightly, showing no surprise at all. A cunning smile was prominent on his face under the black cap he always wore.

"Good, Faster than the first time we cleared this stage, right? Let's get this over with quickly. I want this to be finished."

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To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13

An Unexpected Dual

30 minutes earlier.

11th Floor Dungeon.

The sharp sound of a rapier sliced through the air before piercing the center of a female mermaid guard. The mermaid shrieked before her body shattered into scattering pixels, drifting away in the air.

The young woman with long, flowing blonde hair—her figure slender but her gaze razor-sharp—let out a soft sigh, stretching her neck after the battle.

"Looks like it took about 5 minutes to deal with the mermaid guards in this dungeon room," she murmured quietly, sighing before continuing. She paused for a moment, as if something from the past had returned to strike her heart.

"It's different from that time... Even with Kibaou's group, it took us longer than this."

She didn't want to let the painful past weigh on her mind right now... It was just that the "item" inside that giant bird was the only thing she needed at this moment.

"No... don't think about that... I have to take it down until I get what I want."

Prairie walked over and stopped in front of the towering stone door of the boss room in the middle of the dungeon. Her footsteps were light but firm—her eyes blazing with purpose. She took a clear blue crystal from her item storage. A faint light emanated from her hand before she reached out and touched it to the control panel in front of the door.

Ping...

The sound of a mechanism echoed in the silence before the door slowly slid open, revealing the deep darkness of the boss room within. Prairie took a shallow breath and murmured to herself, "About 30 minutes or less... should be enough for each round to get what I need."

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The right-hand woman quickly approached the door, checking the interface in front of the boss room. "Huh, hold on. It looks like the room isn't locked... Don't tell me we have to wait."

"Well then, looks like we'll have to wait for that player to finish off the monster, Caven" his low, deep voice said as he glanced at his interface clock, then at the slender young woman inside the room.

"But from the looks of it, she's in there all by herself!" Caven said, peering at the interface panel which showed only one player's name in the boss room.

"Or, another way to look at it, we could just waltz right in and join the fight ourselves..." Kenny let out a soft chuckle in his throat, his sharp eyes holding a knowing glint, as if he understood everything in the world.

Kenny Ackerman drew his unique dagger from its sheath with an expression of absolute confidence. He brandished the blade in one hand, its tip reflecting the faint light from the boss room's crystals. A cold, self-assured smile touched his face.

"Reckon we're about ready to go..." he whispered to himself, but before they could even step into the battlefield...

In less than 30 seconds, before the tall man's team could even ready their weapons to strike the monster named Griffin, the blonde-haired young woman had already finished it off. She had used a red rapier made of a ruby-like gem—a drop from the 42nd floor—to stab the giant bird just a few times. The bird shrieked before it disappeared into pixels that scattered on the wind.

"What the fuck was going on..." the deep voice of the tall man standing at the boss room door escaped his lips in disbelief. He hadn't even had a chance to fully draw his weapon.

The wind inside the boss room, which had just settled down from the explosive battle, still carried the pixelated remains of the Griffin, making them swirl like disintegrating snowflakes. The blonde-haired young woman, standing calmly in the middle of the room, still held her vivid red rapier by her side, the faint glow from its blade not yet faded.

"It wasn't even a minute since we were talking to our Captain.." Caven said, walking up to stand beside her leader, glancing at the slender woman who had just defeated the Griffin.

She slowly turned to look at the source of the voice, her expression blank, cold... but her eyes shone with a challenging light. Above her, the interface displayed her name: "Prairie."

The truth is, this was the 20th time she had been in fighting this giant bird monster. However, when she observed Kenny's team, they were probably also returning to collect items from each of the floors they had previously passed through.This was due to her desire for an item from the Griffin—its wing, a drop so rare it was said to be as hard to find as a diamond in the desert. It seemed the group of players before her wanted the same item drop, which is why she had come back for it.

Prairie turned her head slowly towards the door, as if she knew from the start that someone was watching. Her voice was flat and cold, but held a note of caution.

"A large group huh..."

The beautiful face murmured to herself warily. But the moment her eyes met those of a tall man in the center of the group, her heart began to race for a different reason. That silhouette... the sharp face, the light stubble, the fierce yet cold eyes filled with a ruthless aggression. It was the look she had dreamed of long ago.

...He looks just like that character from the game I liked before I got trapped in here...

The young woman could only think to herself before quickly turning her back, her face flushing a bright red, like a young girl who had just unexpectedly met her favorite celebrity. She looked down, trying to calm herself.

"Now hold on, little gal. Ain't proper manners to be turnin' your back on a fella when he's talkin' to ya, you know that?" the deep, mocking voice said from behind her. Prairie froze. The hand that was about to sheathe her weapon clenched tightly instead. Her survival instincts kicked in instantly.

It's too late... he definitely saw my face...

She bit her lip lightly to regain her composure, and in that split second—

Ping!

The system interface opened instantly. Her slender fingers tapped on the teleport crystal without hesitation. A blue light immediately shot up and enveloped her body.

But before it could take effect, the middle-aged man grabbed her wrist in time.

 "Where do ya think you're scurrying off to, Missy?" Prairie whipped her head around to meet the man's eyes for the first time, her face still blushing.

But the man's grip was as strong as an iron clamp—tight, heavy, and cold. The violence hidden in his eyes and his posture told her instantly that... he wasn't the type to let his prey go easily. The rapier was drawn in a split second. With her free hand, she accurately launched a skill at the mysterious man's body.

But this man was the head of the Ackerman's royal secret service. He dodged the attack just in time before using his own short sword to unleash a skill aimed at her vivid red rapier. A violent clash ensued. "Well now, ain't you somethin' else. How'd you like to join up with my squad? Reckon our goals are probably the same."

But as Prairie observed his short sword while defending herself, she could tell it was a drop from some worthless monster. It looked like these members had only been through a few floors... If he were to clash his beginner's sword against hers again...

"Please Stop! Don't fight me, your Dagger will break!" she shouted. She had no intention of being an enemy to this tall man, but what could she do? For a player like him who was new to this game.

"Mighty peculiar. You think a little sweet-talkin' like that's gonna stop me—"

CRACK!!!

The sound of his short sword, which had been with him for some time, shattering into pieces echoed in an instant, leaving its wielder utterly stunned. The fragments of Kenny's sword fell to the ground and disintegrated into pixels. The sound died down, and the boss room fell into a deathly silence.

Kenny stood there, frozen, unable to hide the feeling of 'defeat' in his heart.

She was the first person who had ever been able to take him down... in this virtual reality.

Oh no, I just broke his sword, she thought to herself. She met his eyes, about to apologize, but he broke into a chilling smile instead.

Kenny stared at her... before his lips curled into a cold, reckless grin that made it impossible to tell if he was having 'fun' or if he was actually going to kill her.

"Heh... well, I'll be damned. That's mighty interestin'" he murmured in a low voice. "It's been a long time... since someone managed to break my stuff like this..."

Prairie flinched slightly before speaking softly, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry... I really didn't mean to destroy it."

A look of surprise appeared on the face of the man who had never been challenged before in this virtual world.

He looked up at the young woman before him—slender, delicate, her eyes calm, not triumphant, not mocking... but resolute. Instead of getting angry, he stepped closer, his sharp eyes a mixture of suspicion, admiration... and a terrifying madness.

"Now this is what I call interesting... someone who dares to destroy my weapon right in front of my face."

The man who had never been defeated, not even once on a real battlefield, had just been bested by a small female player. Prairie's body began to fade before the eyes of the mysterious members, disappearing completely in a fraction of a second.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... Goodbye."

The tall man let out a calm chuckle deep in his throat. His lips twitched into a cunning smile before he spoke softly.

"...Quick, ain't she? Got skills and wits, too. Like a little cat. Must be an SAO player, not one of them cowardly Eldians folk, heh."

Kenny stood still, looking at the spot where she had been. His hand still gripped the empty sword hilt tightly. The lips that had been sneering... now held a faint smile. But it wasn't a smile of victory. It was the smile of someone who had found something valuable... from defeat.

"Losing to that little gal... without even tryin' my hardest. Things just got a whole lot more interestin'..." He tilted his head slightly before giving an order.

"Caven... let's get back to it. Take down that giant bird."

"We can't, sir. Your dagger is broken. It would be pointless to force it."

"Tch. Then just hurry up and buy one from an NPC shop, and we'll be done with it. And when I find that 'Missy'' again, I'm gonna teach her a lesson she won't forget, watch me"

Traute Caven let out a long sigh. She knew that young woman had just lit a fire under this tall man, pushing him to improve himself drastically.

"If I may, sir, don't get jealous of that player. It would be better to focus on the mission."

Kenny frowned, looking at his shattered short sword, and said jokingly, "Reckon I ain't pro enough yet... feel like a greenhorn just startin' out."

Caven sighed faintly. "At least you realized it quickly, so you won't be so reckless and get outplayed like this again,sir."

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"What did you run into, missy?" a cheerful, clear voice asked. It belonged to a young girl with short pink hair, dressed in a red maid-like outfit that matched her energetic personality. She was currently sharpening the beloved rapier of her regular customer, who had just returned from a near-death experience.

"Just drop it. And don't call me missy, it is ridiculous..." she said, turning her face away and rubbing the back of her neck, as if she had just escaped someone's snare.

"My, my, but you came back with your face still so red. How could I not be worried?" the maid's teasing voice made the young woman in front of her let out a sharp sigh. Though she tried to keep a calm expression, the faint blush still on her cheeks did nothing to make her words sound more believable.

"It wasn't that bad, Lisbeth. Just hurry up and finish sharpening my sword so I can finally leave," the young woman's voice turned cold, but her eyes couldn't hide her unease.

"Yea, yea, yea, I know." Lisbeth dragged out her words intentionally, before turning her attention back to the rapier in her hand. The rhythmic sound of metal on a sharpening stone filled the silence that had started to settle between them.

The swordswoman stood still, looking out the window of the blacksmith shop. The lights from the city on the 48th floor shone brightly, but in her heart, it felt like it was raining. She spoke in a soft voice.

"It seems like you've found someone important already, Prairie-san..."

"What...?" The young woman was taken aback. "What did you just say?"

"Oh! I just said your rapier is all sharpened! It's beautiful!" Lisbeth quickly changed the subject, showing off the now-sharper rapier. "From now on, I wish you good luck on your adventures."

"...Thanks," she replied curtly without turning back. The young woman took her weapon back. She looked at it for a moment, preparing to leave the shop, but before her foot could cross the threshold, she came face-to-face with a player who seemed to have a similar status to her.

A wandering swordsman? Just like me. But dressed all in black like that, he looks pretty formidable.

Before she could step aside to let the player pass, a familiar voice, one she felt like she had heard somewhere before, spoke up.

"Um, excuse me. I was wondering if the shop owner is here? I'd like to get a new sword."

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To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14

Lisbeth

"Um, excuse me. I was wondering if the shop owner is here? I'd like to get a new sword."

The deep voice of a young man asked for the owner of the weapon shop, his eyes scanning the interior. The solo female player slowly lifted her head, her gaze locking onto the young man's face before her. A simple but sincere face, light brown eyes that shone with a polite glimmer, and brown hair that looked like it had never been styled—this man was...

Kirito?

The name echoed in her mind. Though her lips remained sealed, a torrent of emotions flowed back through her like a tidal wave. He hadn't even noticed her yet, as he was focused on looking deeper into the shop.

She said nothing, merely walking past him quietly, gently pushing open the wooden door and leaving the place. She couldn't believe her eyes; that even now, the young man was still relying on himself.

And more than that, he was still "him," just as he had always been.

But before she could leave, Prairie accidentally bumped into another player.

"Agh! Who just walked into me?"

The young woman, having just gathered her wits, looked up at the person taller than her. The voice of a stubborn young man rang out, slightly annoyed. It seemed this man had followed the swordsman named Kirito. Prairie quickly took a small step back, composing herself as she looked at him.

But judging by the armor he wore, which bore an insignia of white and black wings, it must be the symbol of some guild. In that case…

"I guess I was wrong..." she murmured softly, as if speaking to herself.

"That boy must have a social ...unlike me, still just a solo player, never truly a part of anything."

Her hand tightened on the hilt of her sword for a moment before quickly relaxing. "I hope he hasn't heard the 'rumors' about me..."

Prairie walked away for good, but little did she know that her soft murmur had been perfectly audible to the stubborn young man.

"Huh? What was that woman mumbling about? How weird."

He frowned, glancing back in the direction she had gone. But before he could say more, the gloomy-faced young woman stepped in front of him.

"Just let it go, Eren." she said, her firm tone leaving no room for questions.

Eren looked away, but his eyes still held a trace of curiosity. He whispered softly, "But she looked sad... Mikasa."

"Don't get yourself involved with a stranger like her. Weren't we going to look at the weapons Kirito recommended?"

Mikasa's voice remained cool and flat, but it was laced with a pressure that forced Eren to tear his gaze away from the path the strange woman had just taken. He frowned slightly.

"It's just that... she looked lonely," he mumbled, not entirely pleased, but ultimately followed his friend into the shop.

"By the way... that woman was... um... very beautiful, don't you think, Eren?" Armin, who had been trailing behind them, commented, glancing at where Prairie had walked off. Before Eren could even open his mouth to reply, Mikasa's voice cut in instantly.

"Don't you dare answer that, Eren." Mikasa said at once, a hint of jealousy showing.

"Hey! I didn't say anything, Mikasa! Calm down," he said, raising both hands slightly in a gesture of surrender.

"Yeah, Mikasa, let's all calm down," Armin added with a quick, dry laugh, trying to restore a sense of normalcy, though he felt a little strange himself.

She was just a stranger we passed for a few seconds, so why is the atmosphere so tense...

"Welcome to the Lindarth Weapon Shop! Is there any weapon you're looking for?" The bright voice of the young shop owner rang out, accompanied by a smile as refreshing as the morning sun as she emerged from the back of the shop.

The young man in the black coat turned away from his inspection of the sword rack, a faint smile on his face. "I'm looking for a one-handed sword with good balance. Something to use alongside the other sword I already have."

Eren, standing behind Kirito, began to wonder why he would want another sword when the one he had was already so good. "Hey, Kirito, isn't your sword already fine?"

Kirito glanced at Eren out of the corner of his eye before letting out a soft laugh, deftly twirling the sword in his hand. "It's fine, but in some situations, you need a lighter, faster sword to balance out a heavier one," he said with a faint smile.

Eren scrunched his brow, murmuring, "I get that... but isn't carrying two swords a bit too heavy...?"

When Kirito and the young shop owner made direct eye contact, she, Lisbeth, who had a knack for sizing up customers, found herself hesitating. A young man with a single sword on his back, a black coat, and no armor... she wondered if she should even bother negotiating with this player.

Can he even afford it? He doesn't look like he has enough money to buy one of my weapons... she thought to herself.

"Whoa... Eren, look at this! This sword is beautiful. Try holding it." Armin's voice rang out, causing Lisbeth to whip around from the counter instantly, a proud smile spreading across her face.

"Ah! That sword is one of my limited-edition pieces that I just finished forging last week!" Lisbeth said, walking closer.

"You made this yourself...? That's amazing." Eren said, letting the compliment slip out. Suddenly, a murderous aura emanated from behind him.

"Hmm?" A cool, flat voice cut in from behind, carrying a pressure as immense as the chill in the deepest part of a dungeon. Mikasa stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on Eren with the intensity of a silent assassin.

"Eren."

"Wh-what? I... I was just complimenting a skilled blacksmith, Mikasa! Don't look at me like that!" Eren cried, frantically covering his face. Kirito and Armin, standing nearby, could barely contain their laughter.

Lisbeth herself got goosebumps and almost ducked under the table. From the looks of it, the gloomy young woman was showing signs of jealousy, and the young man seemed to be quite close to her...

They must be important to each other...

The little heart of the blacksmith. In truth, the reason she opened her weapon shop for everyone, besides meeting and interacting with various people... was partly because she was waiting for 'someone important' who could protect her. It was a small hope, a hope that someone would step into her life, not just to order a sword or polish a rapier.

She gave a faint smile as she placed the newly sharpened sword down on the table, handing it politely to Eren. "I'd be happy if you really wanted it, but it looks like the price might be a bit steep. Maybe—"

"Wait a moment." a soft, deep voice interjected.

"What is it, Kirito?" Eren asked as Kirito walked quietly to the table. His onyx eyes scanned the sword Lisbeth had just handed to Eren before he spoke in a serious but unpressured tone.

"May I compare the performance of that sword?"

Lisbeth's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Huh?... Test its performance... how?"

Before she could ask further, the black-clad swordsman drew his Elucidator, a sword he had gotten as a drop from a 50th-floor monster some time ago. Lisbeth's eyes widened even more. Not only was this sword not from a regular shop, but it was a top-tier magic sword. She watched as he prepared to test the performance, laying his own sword flat and then using his other hand, which held her sword, to strike against his...

Lisbeth quickly reached out her hands, as if to stop him by instinct. "Wait a minute! Are you going to test a sword of that level against one I just finished forging!? If it breaks—"

CLANG!

The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the shop, followed a second later by a horrifying cracking sound. The tip of Lisbeth's freshly forged sword fell to the floor, separating from the main blade before dissolving into faint, scattering pixels in the air.

The atmosphere in the shop froze, as if time had stopped...

"N-no way..." Lisbeth's mouth fell open, her face filled with shock. Her voice was hoarse. "...It broke... Mine... it broke...?"

Noooooooooo!

Kirito was also taken aback for a moment. He looked at the sword in his hand and slowly lowered his arm. His expression wasn't one of shock, but rather a firm look of serious evaluation. His three companions, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, were just as stunned.

"How dare you come in here and disrespect my work like this!"

Kirito froze instantly as Lisbeth grabbed him by the collar. The small hands gripping his shirt trembled with an explosive burst of emotion. It wasn't just anger, but also disappointment, grief, and the feeling that her heartfelt work had been crushed right before her eyes.

"W-well... I didn't know your sword was that—"

"Oh, I get it. You're trying to say my sword is too crappy to even be sold, is that it!" Her eyes glistened, tears welling up uncontrollably.

"N-no, that's not it at all! Just listen to me!" Kirito quickly raised his hands.

"Let's all calm down... both of you," Armin interjected, raising a hand between Kirito and Lisbeth, as if to block the flames of emotion flaring between them.

"I mean... Lisbeth-san, you didn't mean for it to break, right? And Kirito just didn't expect it to be that fragile."

"You... will be taking responsibility for my work." Lisbeth said, pointing a finger at Kirito, her expression so serious that even Eren took a step back. "You have to go find the metal, or the ore, that will let me repair it or forge a new one."

Kirito sighed softly, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright... Just tell me where I need to go and what I need to find. I'll take care of it."

"Good!" Lisbeth's head snapped up at once. "Right now, it seems there's a rare ore hidden on the 55th floor. Given how hard it is to find, that ore should have abilities comparable to your Elucidator."

She sighed and continued. "That ore can only be found from a specific monster in a single location in an ice mine, deep in the western part of the map... from what I know."

Eren, who was listening nearby, looked dumbfounded. "That doesn't sound easy at all..."

"Of course it's hard! That's why I need you to do it for me!" Lisbeth replied with a slight smirk.

She cleared her throat softly and put on a thoughtful expression, as if she had just remembered something. "But from the looks of it, I'll have to go with you anyway..."

"What...? Someone like you?" Kirito's eyes widened at her bravery.

"I'm a master-level of club user, just so you know. Besides, to collect a rare mineral like that, you'll need a smith like me."

Kirito looked at Lisbeth in surprise for a moment before a faint smile broke out.

"Okay... if you put it like that, I guess I can't refuse," he said, scratching the back of his neck lightly. "But I have one condition... just try not to hit me over the head with your mace along the way."

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"You're pretty brave, saying you'll go alone with her. Are you sure you'll be okay?" Eren asked with a hint of concern as the four of them were walking back.

Kirito raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing Eren's words, then gave a knowing, dry laugh. "Well... I didn't really intend to drag her along, but Lisbeth said it herself. How could I refuse?" he said with a shrug.

Mikasa narrowed her eyes at him before adding, her voice flat but sharp. "You should be careful... She might not be just an ordinary blacksmith."

Kirito nodded. "I know... that's why I'm not underestimating her."

"By the way... tomorrow you're joining the raid with Captain Levi's squad, right, Eren?" Armin asked.

"Yeah... and I can't mess up like before..." he said, clenching his fists at his sides, as if to remind himself that he would not fail again, no matter what he had to face.

"good luck with your hunt on the 55th floor. I trust you,buddy."

"You try not to be too reckless yourself," Kirito, who had been listening quietly from behind, said in a firm voice.

It seemed the friendship between the two of them had grown stronger...

To be Continued.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15 : The Weight of Bonds 

At the training gym inside the Scout Regiment guild.

"It sure took you long enough, Eren."
The voice of an older female senior cut through the air. Her hands rested on her hips, her expression just slightly annoyed. One hand was clenched into a fist at chest level as she cast a glance at the watch she always wore. The time showed that their scheduled practice at the gym should have started already—long before they would eventually set out into the real dungeon.

"You're late. Wasting everyone's time again! Do you even realize how long we've been waiting for you, rookie!?"
The booming voice of another senior, a man with a haughty air, followed immediately after.

Eren, who had just pushed open the door, came in slightly out of breath. He quickly bowed in apology.
"I'm sorry! I went to see Kirito-san and ended up buying a new weapon, that's why I'm late…"

"Excuses!" Oluo's voice growled, his long bangs nearly covering the sharp glare in his eyes. "Do you think out there on the battlefield anyone's gonna give you time to prepare, you idiot!?"

"Oluo, you're overdoing it again. He's only two or three minutes late," Gunther sighed, already weary of his comrade's act of imitating Captain Levi—for what must've been the tenth time today.

"Hmph! If you're gonna be late, better not come at all!" Oluo raised an eyebrow dramatically, tossing his hair with ridiculous exaggeration. "On the battlefield, a single second can mean life or death!"

Gunther rolled his eyes, completely fed up, and patted Eren lightly on the shoulder. "Don't take him too seriously, Eren. He's always like this when he meets the new guys."

"Yeah… Give it a little time, he'll probably bite his own tongue sooner or later," Eld chimed in, stepping into the conversation.

"Rude! You think I'd bite my own tongue? Who would ever hurt themselves like tha—"

Thunk! (sound of biting tongue)

Right then, Oluo bit his tongue hard mid-sentence. He howled in pain and crumpled to the floor, leaving Eren wide-eyed in sheer disbelief. In fact, this wasn't even the first time Eren had witnessed such a ridiculous incident. The very first day he joined the Survey Corps, on the way to the new headquarters, Oluo had been talking down to him—only for his horse to trip on a rock. His teeth had snapped down on his tongue then, too.

At his age… he still bites his tongue like a kid. And on top of that, he never stops trying to imitate Captain Levi… Eren thought silently.

"That's enough."A calm yet commanding voice cut across the gym. The dark-haired man with his undercut, his expression cold and unflinching, stood in a navy-blue training suit. Captain Levi himself.
"At least he made it. We're not only training our bodies today. We're testing whether you can work together—your mental state. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Captain Levi!" The seniors responded instantly and in unison, taking their positions on the gym floor without hesitation.

Eren swallowed nervously and stepped forward. He knew very well—even this "practice" could be harder than facing the dungeon itself.

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"Aaaghhh! Lost again!"
A senior collapsed on the floor mid-sparring, groaning in frustration.

"Yes! I finally beat you! You owe me ramen tonight, Oluo!"
Petra beamed with pride, swinging her Viking axe up onto her back.

Before long, Oluo—still sprawled on the ground—scrambled back to his feet. He brushed his clothes off and stood tall again.

"Fine… I'll treat you… tch." His voice was low, his face resigned. But then, suddenly, he grinned far too wide, his expression unsettling.

"But you must sit next to me while eating, Petra! You're not allowed to sit by Gunther! And I'll be the one choosing the ramen flavor for you!"

"What!? That's not even worth agreeing to!" Petra's victorious smile instantly twisted into shock. She stepped back like she feared he might drag her to the table himself.

"Heh. Orders are orders… Petra. My ramen recipe will make you fall in love with it—it's worthy of a winner like you." Oluo smirked slyly.

"…No matter how much you imitate Captain Levi, you'll never be him. You're not even in the same league."

"That hurt! You sound like we're some awkward married couple, you know?"

"In your dreams!" Petra shot back immediately, raising an eyebrow. Gunther, sitting nearby, choked on his own laughter.

"Enough, you two," Gunther finally raised a hand, stopping the exchange. Then he turned to the confused Eren. "Don't worry, you'll get used to our insanity soon enough."

Eren chuckled awkwardly. "I think I'm starting to understand already… but I still can't keep up."

The playful chatter died down as the sound of new footsteps echoed in the gym. Everyone turned toward the door at once. The atmosphere shifted sharply.

"C-Captain Levi…" Petra whispered, voice laced with both shock and respect.

"Shit…" Oluo muttered, instantly snapping to attention. His earlier playful demeanor vanished, his posture stiff as a frozen soldier.

Eren, closest to the door, raised his hand in salute on instinct. "Good evening, sir! Welcome back!"

Lifting his gaze, Eren noticed Levi still mounted on his horse—he seemed prepared to head out somewhere. The captain spoke curtly, "You all did well today. That's enough training. Go rest."

"Sir, are you heading somewhere?" one of the subordinates asked.

"I'm going to buy some land. Won't be long before I return." Levi's response was as short as ever.

"In the meantime, do whatever you want. Go have fun. I'll see you all later."
With that, he rode away without looking back.

"Land…? Is he investing in real estate now?" Petra frowned, puzzled but not daring to press.

Eld murmured to Gunther beside him, "Maybe he's planning to build a house. Since SAO came around, we've needed places of our own—guild bases don't have living quarters."
Gunther nodded, analyzing the idea.

"So, Eren, where do you usually stay? An inn…?"

"Me? I rent a small first-floor apartment with two friends."
Eren smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "It's tiny—just one room and a shared bathroom with the other tenants. But it's better than nothing."

"So, you're not planning to buy land yet?" Petra asked curiously.

"Not yet. I don't have the money." He laughed dryly. "The upkeep costs for the apartment alone are high. That's why I take quests constantly."

"And your old house in Shiganshina? How is it now?"

"My house… huh?!" Eren suddenly froze, emerald eyes widening.

Since SAO's arrival, they had all been so focused on quests and dungeons that the matter of the basement at his old home had been completely pushed aside. Back when Commander Erwin last reported in the capital, he had declared that Eren's Titan power was unusable. And with the mysterious Titan sighting on Floor 3 just a month ago, the basement mystery had been shelved.

"I completely forgot about the basement… But at the last capital meeting…"Eren's voice was low, filled with guilt.
"Commander Erwin decided to suspend the key investigation—since there's no clear proof of what my father left down there. For now, the priority is the Holy Cave incident. There were clues of Titan appearances there. Captain Levi told me himself."

"It's been over a month now, hasn't it? And still no admin reply to that bug report Kirito submitted… There's definitely something deeper going on." Gunther frowned in thought.

Petra's eyes softened as she looked at Eren. "And you… Do you still want to return to your old house—if one day that mission is reopened?"

Eren lowered his gaze for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes. Even if no one believes me, I still want to know… what my father really left behind."

"Anyway… It'd be boring to just head home now. The sun's not even down yet." Eld suddenly shifted the topic.

"Why don't we do a small quest in a side dungeon before Captain Levi comes back? We can treat it as extra training."

Inside the cave on Floor 55th

"I've become a burden to you again… I'm so sorry, Kirito-kun."
The short pink-haired girl's voice trembled with had just encountered a dragon—the boss monster of the floor. Kirito had volunteered to fight it alone, asking Lisbeth to hide among the scattered crystals.

But to Lisbeth, watching him fight the dragon alone was far too dangerous. She had rushed out to help, only to draw the beast's attention. Its massive tail whipped, creating a gust that hurled her off the cliff. Kirito had no choice but to leap after her to save her from certain death.

Fortunately, his higher EXP and defensive gear allowed him to shield her just in time. They both survived the fall—but with teleport crystals unusable this deep, the massive pit on Floor 55 became their lodging for the night.

"At least you're alive… We'll have to sleep here tonight."Kirito pulled a cloak from his inventory and handed it to her.
"Take it. The temperature's going to drop further tonight."

Lisbeth hugged the cloth silently, then lifted her gaze.
"Thank you… for saving me, Kirito-kun."

Kirito said nothing. Not because he didn't care—his eyes were fixed on the endless darkness above, already searching for a way out of the pit.
"Tomorrow, we have to get out of here. The sooner we leave this dangerous floor, the better."

She nodded and lay down on her bedding. Quietly, her eyes lingered on the black-clad boy across from her. But soon, a strange unease stirred within her—her heart pounding harder for reasons she couldn't explain.

Why now? Why is my heart racing? I've only just met him… Why does it feel this way?

"You're ridiculous, you know… Trying to climb out of this pit. You really are crazy."

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry for trying to save your life."

Lisbeth couldn't help but chuckle softly. Though her tone sounded like scolding, she felt strangely comforted.

She sat up, studying his face, then asked quietly, "Why… did you save me anyway? We barely know each other."

Kirito froze. He stared at her for a long moment before answering."If I had to watch you die… I'd rather die alongside you. For someone like you, I figured it wouldn't matter much."A faint smirk crossed his lips.

"You're insane, Kirito. There's no one else in this world as crazy as you." Lisbeth pressed her lips together, trying to scowl—but inside, her chest bubbled with irritation and laughter all at once.

"Kirito-kun… Can I hold your hand? I'm cold." She stretched her hand out from under the cloak, reaching toward him.

Kirito hesitated for a long second, clearly torn. Finally, he let out a quiet sigh and clasped her hand firmly. Her fingers were icy cold, but the warmth from his palm slowly pushed away the chill. Lisbeth's heart hammered even faster.

"…Your hand… It's warmer than I thought," she whispered softly, almost to herself.

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To Be Continued

Chapter Text

Floor 27 – Shining Stone Shaft

"Wooow, Oluo, look! I picked up a ton of gemstones. These will be perfect for enhancing our weapons!" Petra, the short-haired girl with fiery orange locks, said cheerfully after felling a few small monsters scattered across the cavern. She walked toward the entrance of a mid-level dungeon chamber.

"Pfft, that's nothing, Petra… I just got an A-rank weapon drop! Check this out!" Oluo boasted loudly, drawing a brand-new sword from its sheath and showing it off to everyone in the party. Eren, too, was there to witness it.

"That's amazing, Oluo-san! I really hope I can become as strong as you someday," Eren said with genuine admiration.

"Heh, rookie. This—this is the true power of Captain Levi's squad!" Oluo declared proudly, swinging the gleaming sword so that its blade caught the glow of the crystals embedded in the cavern walls, scattering dazzling reflections across the chamber.

"You're spouting nonsense again, Oluo." Eld shook his head. "Don't forget—this is the 27th floor. Not a playground. Show off too much and you'll end up with a monster biting your head off."

"Ha! You're just jealous that I got the rare loot!" Oluo waggled his eyebrows and made a dramatic slash through the air, the sword slicing with a sharp fwoooosh that echoed through the cave.

Petra pressed a palm to her forehead with a weary sigh. "If that sword breaks, don't come crying to me. I'm not Lizbeth—I can't fix weapons for you."

Eren chuckled softly, trying to ease the atmosphere. "But she's right, though. Still, Oluo you really are amazing. I want to learn to fight with that same kind of confidence…"

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"Spacing out again, Mikasa?" A gentle baritone voice broke through the steady rhythm of practice inside the Survey Corps' training hall. Armin walked up and offered his friend a bottle of Energy Drink.

Clearly, she was worried about Eren, who at that very moment was inside the 27th-floor dungeon.

"I have a bad feeling too," Sasha murmured from the corner of the room, her body trembling slightly. She avoided everyone's eyes, her posture betraying a sense of unease.

"Oh, come on, you two. Stop overthinking," Jean cut in, striding over with the air of a self-proclaimed leader.

"You're worried about Eren, right? I really don't get it. What's there to fear? The guy's with Levi's elite squad, isn't he?"

"That was a bit harsh, Jean…" Armin tried to calm him.

Jean sighed and crossed his arms. "Fine, maybe I was too blunt. But think about it. He's with Eld, Petra, Oluo, Gunther… some of the very best the Survey Corps has. What's the big deal?"

"But can they match Kirito and Asuna yet? Those veterans are still on another level compared to Levi's squad…" Mikasa retorted firmly.

"…True. Compared to long-time players, we're still at a disadvantage," Jean admitted, lowering his head. The thought of competing not only against monsters but also against players from other worlds weighed heavily on him.

"Even so, we need to get stronger. Train harder. Catch up."

"Right… maybe my hunter's intuition doesn't work so well in this crazy system after all… Sorry for making the mood worse," Sasha apologized, bowing her head.

Armin smiled gently and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "No need to apologize. We're all worried. You just said it out loud."

Mikasa, still sitting with her head resting on her knees, spoke in a flat but resolute tone: "No matter what anyone says… I won't stop worrying until I see Eren standing here again."

She moved to a corner seat and flicked her finger through the air to pull up her interface menu, opening the map to track Eren's position with his seniors.

"Looks like he's safe… for now. Eren…" she sighed softly. Surely his squadmates would protect him.

"By the way, Mikasa—what floor is Eren on right now?" Armin asked.

"The mining cave floor… Floor 27," she replied.

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"This sword is called Dark Repulser. It's a rare-class weapon. Not something you'll find in any shop."

After Kirito and Lisbeth's return from Floor 55, they had brought back something unexpected: "dragon droppings," crystallized remains from the monster they'd barely escaped. Using it, Lisbeth had forged him a powerful blade.

"Can't believe the hole we slept in last night was actually its nest." Kirito let out a dry laugh. Who would have thought such a thing would turn into the perfect weapon material?

"Anyway… try it out," Lizbeth urged.

Kirito raised the aqua-green sword and swung it. It hummed sharply as it cut through the air, its gleam radiant, as though imbued with life itself. The weight and balance felt unnervingly perfect in his hands.

"…Amazing. It fits me perfectly," Kirito murmured, his eyes filled with rare sincerity. "I love it, Lis. It's like you poured your blacksmith's soul into it."

Lisbeth clenched her fists, her heart pounding at the sight of his satisfied expression. "This is the first time I've felt… forging something for someone could mean so much."

"How much is it, then? The commission's done."

"That sword… is free." Her reply was barely a whisper.

"What—free?!" Kirito blinked in shock. Considering the danger they'd faced together, he never expected such generosity from someone he'd only recently met.

"It doesn't matter. I want you to have it. Because I trust you, Kirito. One day, you'll clear this game." Her words faltered, but her feelings were clear.

"And besides… I want to be your blacksmith. If you ever need repairs or new weapons… my shop will always be open to you."

Kirito's eyes widened. "What do you mean, a privilege like that—?"

"Actually, I—"

Before she could finish, the door burst open. A slender figure clad in the armor of the Knights of the Blood entered, pulling Lisbeth into a worried embrace.

"Lis! I couldn't reach you yesterday. You just vanished! I thought something happened to you!"

"I'm fine, Asuna…" Lisbeth forced a smile, though her heart still raced from what she almost confessed earlier.

"I went into a dungeon with Kirito. Sorry I forgot to tell you."

"You went alone? As a smith?" Asuna's eyes widened.

"With Kirito. He hired me to forge that sword."

"Oh, I see. I actually recommended your shop to him!" Asuna grinned.

"So… you two already knew each other." Lizbeth's smile was thin, but her heart stung.

"Yes, he's one of the original members. Wait, Lis—where are you going?"

"Got an urgent customer request. Please watch the shop for me," she said hurriedly, running out before either could stop her.

Kirito knew instantly, she'd misunderstood. And he would need to clear it up.

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By Floor 48, players had begun settling in its mid-tier housing district. The area bustled with life, making it easy for Kirito to spot Lisbeth hiding beneath a bridge.

"There you are… disappearing like that—eh?"

He froze when he saw her wiping tears from her eyes. Lisbeth quickly turned away, forcing a smile.

"Almost back to being cheerful Lisbeth again. You're such a cheat…"

"Sorry… for making you sad," Kirito said quietly.

"I'm fine now. But how did you find me?"

"The observation tower. I spotted you from there."

The river's murmur filled the silence until Lis finally spoke again. "Thank you, Kirito… for coming after me. Even if I just got my heart broken, it means a lot that someone still sees value in me."

Kirito shook his head. "Don't say that. You're important—not just as a blacksmith, but as Lisbeth. The person I know."

Her clenched hands slowly relaxed, the weight in her chest lifting just a little.

Before they could leave, a familiar figure appeared across the street—compact, sharp-eyed, carrying the weight of command.

"C-Captain Levi?! You… bought a house here?" Kirito blurted.

"…Am I interrupting something? I'll leave you two to it. I need to check on Eren and the others."

Kirito flailed, face red. "N-no! It's not like that!"

Levi regarded them coolly, though the faintest glint of amusement crossed his eyes. "Whatever. Not my business." Then his gaze caught the crossed swords on Kirito's back.

"A new blade?"

"Forged by Lisbeth. She's… my personal smith." Kirito gestured awkwardly.

"Oh? A personal smith, huh? Then I'll be counting on you too." Levi's eyes flicked to Lisbeth.

She blushed faintly. "N-nice to meet you… I'm Lisbeth, and you are…?"

"Levi. Just Levi. If you have time, I'd like you to repair my gear someday."

Kirito gawked. "Wha—Captain, you want Liz as your smith too?"

"Why not? Better to trust someone reliable than gamble on strangers," Levi said flatly.

Lisbeth bowed. "It would be my honor,Mr Levi."

Their conversation soon turned to the floors. "Which floor are you at now?" Kirito asked.

"About Floor 47. Took just over two months," Levi replied.

"Two months?!" Lisbeth exclaimed. "Players usually take weeks to defeat just one boss…"

Kirito scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Well,I actually helped him clearing dungeons and since Captain Levi's from Paradis Island. A soldier fighting Titans. He needed our strength."

Lisbeth's eyes widened. "Wait—you mean the rumors were true? Giants that eat humans?"

"They're real," Levi said coldly.

Kirito stiffened. "Captain, should you really say that so openly—?"

"It's the truth. You're in a death game too. Doesn't make much difference," Levi shrugged.

Lisbeth paled. "I thought it was just a rumor… to think such monsters really exist…"

Kirito placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "They're worse than anything here. But Captain Levi and his squad fought them regardless."

"Because if we don't fight, there's no future. Not in this world, nor our own." Levi said firmly.

Lisbeth's heart tightened. She met his gaze and spoke with conviction: "Captain Levi… I may only be a smith, but please—let me offer free, unlimited service to your entire squad."

"Lis!" Kirito gasped. "That's insane! You'll go bankrupt—!"

Levi raised an eyebrow, unreadable. "You know we're not just twenty soldiers, right? An entire squadron."

Lisbeth's cheeks burned, but her eyes were steady. "I know. And I don't care. If strengthening you even a little can save more lives… it's worth it."

Kirito groaned and rubbed his temples. Levi, however, was silent for a moment. Then—almost imperceptibly—he smiled.

"You're insane. But I like that. Fine. I'll consider it one more step for humanity's survival. I'll bring my squad to your shop."

Lisbeth's eyes shone as she bowed deeply. "Thank you so much, Captain Levi!"

Levi opened his menu to check his squad's status. His eyes narrowed. "Floor 27? …Why the hell would they go back there?"

Kirito froze at the mention. Floor 27—an uncertain place, plagued with unstable mechanics. Survivability plummeted without a large raid group.

It dragged up the bitter memory of Sachi's death.

"Only five of them…? No. They won't survive." he muttered, clenching his fists.

He turned sharply to Levi. "Captain! We have to go save your squad. Right now!"

"…What's with that look?" Levi asked.

"Floor 27 is dangerously unstable. If they get caught in it, it'll be disastrous. Please—come with me!"

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To be continued…

Chapter Text

W-Wait a minute! Kirito.!" Lisbeth cried out, startled as Kirito and Captain Levi abruptly left the city, leaving her utterly bewildered.

"What in the world just happened?" Deep down, she wanted to help, but her role as a weapons merchant tied her to the shop. Rushing off so suddenly would undoubtedly affect her business.

"But... Just be safe, you two." she whispered with a hopeful smile, praying for Kirito and Captain Levi's safe return from their battle against the monsters, a mission to rescue Eren and the elite squad members.

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"Run to the left! Don't let a single monster escape!" Eld's voice roared across the battlefield on the 27th floor's dungeon. "Eren, Gunther, take the right! Don't let them cut us off!"

"Roger!" came the unified reply from the three squad members. The clang of metal, CLANG! CLANG!, echoed through the wide, square room with its blue-green walls. The lights lining the dungeon walls cast menacing shadows of monstrous, black-scaled lizards moving with ferocious speed.

Eren raised his sword to parry. "Damn it... these things are faster than I thought! And we've cleared this floor before!" He staggered back as a monster's claws slashed just inches from his face.

"Stay calm, Eren! Focus on defense!" Gunther yelled, slamming his shield into another creature that lunged forward. Petra brought her sword down in a powerful arc from above, shattering its hard scales. But instead of falling, the monster let out a deafening roar, as if summoning more of its kind.

"Let's keep going! We'll wipe them all out!" Oluo unleashed a sword skill, a seamless blend of martial arts and in-game abilities. He leaped high into the air, spinning like he was felling a Titan, and began a whirlwind of merciless slashes, felling several monsters in a single instant.

"Nice one, Oluo! Switch!" Petra charged in, swinging her axe like a Viking warrior. She spun as she ran, her axe cleaving through the monsters and sending them flying into pieces. Black blood sprayed through the air as her axe struck true, their agonizing shrieks echoing through the stone chamber.

"It's not over yet!" Petra roared, swinging her axe back to strike from the other side, severing a monster's leg and sending it writhing to the floor.

Meanwhile, Gunther used his shield to ram a monster that was about to attack Eren, knocking it off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Eren gritted his teeth and unleashed the 'Vertical Arc' sword skill, a powerful upward slash that tore through the creature's body, causing it to disintegrate into a shower of polygons.

"Don't you dare touch my friend!" Eld shouted, charging from behind a monster and unleashing a tackle skill that sent it flying into the wall with a sickening crunch.

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"You have the map for this floor, right?" Levi, clad in armor emblazoned with the Survey Corps insignia, asked as he and the black-clad young man searched for the dungeon room.

"Yes, I'm following the map's path now." Kirito confirmed.

"If that map you're holding isn't accurate..." Levi's eyes shifted to Kirito, his voice flat and laced with pressure. "...my team might not make it out alive."

Kirito's grip on his sword tightened. "Trust me, Captain Levi... I've been here before with the Moonlit Black Cats guild. Besides, the map data in the system is highly accurate." His voice trembled slightly as a memory he'd rather forget surfaced.

Levi noticed the boy's flicker of uncertainty but didn't press the issue, merely stating, "Then don't make any mistakes." With that, he drew the formidable blade from his hip, the sound of steel scraping against the scabbard filling the air. "Let's hurry... before they all turn into polygon dust."

The two of them quickened their pace, sprinting through the narrow, dimly lit corridors and into the heart of the battle where Eren's team was on the brink of despair.

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"We did it! We won!" The four senior members cheered in unison as they finally defeated the last monster in the area. The sounds of their ragged breaths filled the air, thick with the smell of dust and the faint shimmering of dissolving polygons.

Eld rested his sword on his shoulder, looking at his teammates with a proud smile. "Well done, everyone... we did it." Oluo collapsed onto the ground, gulping down a healing potion to restore his HP. He was breathing heavily but still managed a smug grin. "Hah... see that! My skills are second to none. I bet I killed the most monsters in here, hehe."

"As arrogant as ever, you idiot." Petra said, crossing her arms. "You almost got hit back there. If I hadn't switched with you in time, you'd be the one squirming on the floor!" Though Petra disliked how her comrade always tried to measure up to Captain Levi, deep down, she cared for him deeply.

"It's true, Petra's support was incredible... We would've been in real trouble without you." Eren praised, oblivious to the murderous glare coming from the person he'd just inadvertently slighted.

"When are you going to stop taking jabs at me!? I'll teach you a lesson myself, you little brat!"

Petra slung her axe over her shoulder, then gave her friends a warm smile. "You know, we really work well together... If we were fighting Titans, I don't think we'd lose, either."

Eld wiped the virtual blood from his cheek with a blue potion that had the instantaneous cleansing properties of alcohol. He chuckled softly. "That's right... our team... we're the elites, just like they say!"

Seeing his seniors smiling and celebrating their victory brought a smile to Eren's face as well.

"Break's over... We should keep moving. Don't stop now," Gunther said, taking the lead. As he scouted ahead, he noticed another room, sealed off as if it were a hidden chamber.

"Hmm?" Gunther's eyes fell upon a section of the wall in the right corner that looked distinctly different from the rest. He spotted a rectangular shape, the size of a door. Driven by curiosity, he reached out and touched it. It was indeed a door, and it slid open. The room inside was a standard square chamber, much like the one they'd just fought in, except for one thing...

"Hey! Isn't that a treasure chest!?" he exclaimed, pointing to a mysterious chest resting against the far wall.

"You're right! What do you think is inside? Let's go see!" Oluo's face lit up. The four seniors rushed to open it.

As they lifted the lid, their minds filled with dreams of gold, life-saving equipment, or at least some useful healing potions. But the chest they found was completely empty.

"Wait, you've got to be kidding me. There's nothing here?" Oluo cursed. Just then, a strange sound began to fill the room.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Suddenly, the walls of the square room turned a blood-red, and a "WARNING" symbol flashed. The five of them looked around in confusion, their smiles instantly replaced by expressions of shock and fear.

"What's happening now!?" Oluo yelled in alarm as the number of monsters on his radar began to increase at an abnormal rate.

Eld gritted his teeth. "This floor's system... it's not normal! This is bad."

The roars of monsters began to close in from all directions. A strange, suffocating pressure, completely different from any other dungeon floor, descended upon them...

Suddenly, hundreds of monsters materialized around the five squad members. To their left, an army of skeletons; to their right, a horde of goblins, all advancing to attack.

"No way..." Oluo swore.

Eld wiped the sweat from his brow and raised his hand. "Everyone, stay calm! Don't let your guard down!"

"Sir, there are too many! We can't possibly defeat them all. Shouldn't we just use a teleport crystal and get out of here?" Eren, ever the impetuous one, pulled a crystal from his item box.

"Teleport to the starting point! Teleport to the starting point!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Fighting their way out was impossible; retreating was the only safe option.

But... it didn't work.

"No... this can't be happening..." the young man despaired.

"What? We can't teleport back?" Gunther's face went pale. "What does this mean? Is the system down!?"

The screeches of the monsters grew closer with each passing second. The rattling of the skeletons' bones echoed through the chamber, while the goblins on the right began to swarm forward.

Petra gripped her axe tightly. "Everyone, form a defensive line! Don't let them surround us!"

Oluo cursed under his breath. "Damn it all...! A hundred monsters are no different from a horde of mindless Titans! Just die!" Enraged, he charged forward, furiously cutting down goblins one by one.

"What do we do, sir!?" Eren's voice trembled as he retreated, raising his sword to block a goblin's attack.

"If you die, humanity can't be saved! Get to the rear!" Eld commanded before lunging toward the right flank, his spear cleaving through two goblins and sending them crashing against the wall.

Oluo followed close behind. "Eld, Gunther, Petra, this is the real deal! Let's give it everything we've got!" he roared, unleashing 'Vertical Arc' on the skeletons before him, the sound of shattering bone filling the air.

Gunther and Petra took up positions on the left and right, guarding the rear, while Eren, still desperately trying to bring up his interface, fought on.

We really have to fight... But I'm a soldier... I have to save everyone, he thought. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, took a deep breath, and steadied his grip on his sword.

Those words seemed to awaken a dormant instinct within him, the instinct of the boy who had once broken through walls to fight giant, man-eating creatures.

In an instant, the look in Eren's eyes changed. The sword in his hand was steady. "If we run now... we'll never be able to protect anyone again!" he screamed, rushing forward to help his seniors. Eld, lost in the frenzy of battle, turned to him. "Eren... you..."

"Don't do anything stupid, Eren!" Petra cried out.

"If you keep protecting me... Titans and monsters... they're terrifying in different ways... Please, let me help," Eren pleaded. He then darted to the center of the room, his blade a blur as he struck at the skeletons, sparks flying as steel met steel.

"Eren... I understand, but please, trust us... If we all die in here, what will happen to humanity? You're their hope," Petra argued, her voice filled with a mixture of understanding and worry for the boy she was sworn to protect. For Captain Levi... for Squad Leader Hange, and for Commander Erwin, who had planned everything so meticulously.

"That's right. Your Titan power hasn't even awakened in this death game. If something happens to you, it'll be disastrous," Gunther said grimly, fending off a wave of goblins with his spear.

"You don't even know how your power will manifest in this world, Eren! If you're gone, everything we've worked for will be for nothing!" Oluo shouted, still fighting.

Petra moved to cover another flank, her voice strained with urgency. "Please, just listen to us this once... We've always fought for you, to get to this day. You don't have to carry everything alone anymore."

Gunther, breathing heavily, commanded, "Everyone, formation! Don't let them split us up!"

But before he could give another order, an aggressive skeleton lunged forward. With a single, powerful swipe of its long, bony hand, it struck the young man with full force. Gunther's body began to dissolve into pixels...

"No! Gunther!" Petra screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Eld gritted his teeth. "Tch... we messed up again! Everyone, fall back! Regroup!" Oluo raised his sword to block the path. "Damn it, they just keep coming! It's like the system is spawning them endlessly!"

The red "Warning" sign continued to flash above them, a relentless beacon of their doom.

Eren stood at the front, panting from the frantic battle. He had watched Gunther's body disappear before his very eyes. A chilling numbness spread through him, his heart feeling as if it were being crushed.

"...Is it my fault again...?" he murmured, his voice shaking.

The monsters continued to pour in. In the flashing red light that reflected off their blades, Petra stepped forward with a battle cry, knowing there was no retreat.

"Wait, Petra!" Oluo saw a skeleton closing in on her from behind. It lunged, its bony hand swiping at her.

"You think you can hit me? Dream on! I'll never forgive you!" Petra's axe clashed violently with the skeleton's hand. She held on with all her might, but her axe's durability was fading. The skeleton seized the opportunity, using its other hand to shatter her weapon into pieces.

"No... no... stay away!" Petra scrambled away from the skeleton, only to find her path blocked by a goblin from the other side.

"Petra...! Don't you kill her!" Oluo started to run to his friend's aid, but...

SQUELCH!

Her body staggered back two steps as a goblin's blade was pulled from her side. She gritted her teeth, trying to stay upright, her eyes filled with pain. But as she tried to rise one last time, the goblin ended her life.

"PETRA!" Oluo screamed, charging recklessly through two skeletons that stood in his way, desperately searching for Eld.

"Eld, are you still there!? Where are you, answer me!" He glanced around frantically and saw Eld on the ground, being mercilessly beaten by a dozen goblins.

"Don't come... Oluo..." Eld managed to say, his voice flat. "Protect... Eren."

With his comrade's final order, his friend's body dissolved into pixels.

"Damn you! You bastards!" Oluo leaped into the fray, slashing at the goblins. "You killed my friends! I'll never forgive you!"

Even with their levels and experience from clearing the 27th floor, this unexpected turn had claimed the lives of Levi's squad...

"Damn you, Kayaba! Die!" But his sword's durability was gone... his trusted blade shattered into fragments.

"Oluo, look out!" Eren cried, rushing to protect him, but it was too late. Oluo was struck from behind.

"Oluo!" Eren screamed in despair, his heart feeling like it had been ripped apart. In that moment, a power forged from fear and rage erupted within him.

All four of them, the members of Captain Levi's elite squad, were gone...

And he hadn't been able to save any of them... he had just followed orders... never imagining something like this could happen.

I just wanted to help... that's all... but you... Eren cursed inwardly, consumed by hopelessness.

You... you monsters... you're no different from the Titans. You kill just because you can...

Heartless creatures like you... you all have to die. I'll destroy every last one of you! I won't leave a single trace of you in this world!

Eren clenched his fists so tightly that veins bulged on his arms. Anger, pain, and loss ignited within him like a wildfire. As his vow ended, he bit his own hand.

A faint, pixelated glow, like static electricity, emanated from the bite mark. It wasn't the glow of a normal skill, but something else, a power that had been dormant within him in this world... a power he had never used in this death game before.

Now, it had awakened.

Golden flames erupted from the ground, reshaping Eren's form into that of a giant. Tiny bolts of lightning crackled around him as muscle and sinew began to form from digital code.

At that moment of utter despair, the entrance doors burst open. The sound of two sets of footsteps echoed as two figures shot into the room. One was small in stature but possessed the sharp, piercing eyes of Captain Levi. The other was a high-level player, a boy in a black coat—Kirito. His brows furrowed; his eyes had already registered that something was terribly wrong.

"You all... did well..." Levi's face was a mask of control as he processed the loss of his four subordinates. Kirito felt a pang of sorrow, sensing the captain's grief. They both turned to look at the new, strange presence in the room. A roar echoed through the dungeon, a sound that no longer belonged to the young boy they knew. It was a familiar, terrifying roar that made the short captain's eyes widen in disbelief.

"Eren... how is this possible... you're a Titan again."

"Is that... the Titan form Eren is transforming into...?" Kirito whispered, his grip tightening on his swords, Elucidator and Dark Repulser.

Just then, another set of footsteps rushed into the room, heading straight for the Attack Titan.

"Who's that!? Hey...! Wait, it's dangerous!" Kirito tried to stop the newcomer, but he was easily pushed aside by their sheer strength.

"EREN! I'm here!" Mikasa shouted, her swords drawn as she leaped into the room. Her eyes were fixed on the Titan, a form she recognized. For some reason, here in this world of death, his power had returned.

"You... it can't be. You're back..."

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To Be Continued.