Early the next morning, Hachiman, Asuna, and Kizmel set out for the sanctuary dungeon. Time was tight—the Forest Elves' attack on the Dark Elf castle loomed tomorrow, and their detection during the reconnaissance might have accelerated the timeline. They hurried, mooring Chivalry at a suitable spot and assuring the viscount's waiting boat crew they'd return. From there, they entered the dungeon on foot.
Their honed teamwork made short work of regular enemies, but the dungeon's sprawling, complex layout—despite being a single floor—posed the real challenge. Kizmel explained its labyrinthine design, yet they pressed on, mapping as they went. They clashed with Fallen Elf Soldiers along the way, defeating them effortlessly, and after twelve grueling hours, reached a plaza that seemed like the final destination. With little time left for the return, urgency weighed heavy.
"Who dares ambush me when my minions are absent? Cowards!" a lone Fallen Elf bellowed before a door to the sanctuary. His cursor was a deep, ominous black. His tone suggested minions should have been present, but none were in sight. With no choice but to fight, the trio engaged.
Fallen Elf General, huh? Hachiman thought.
The general was formidable—swift, sharp, and powerful. They chipped away at his HP, but when it hit red, his speed surged, overwhelming even Hachiman's defenses. Their HP dwindled, and defeat loomed.
"Asuna, Kizmel! I'll disrupt him! Hit him with your strongest attacks!" Hachiman shouted.
Focusing intensely, Hachiman watched the general's movements. Spotting a telltale muscle twitch, he lunged, parrying the general's weapon upward and striking his shoulder with a martial arts sword skill. The general spun clockwise, exposing his back. Asuna and Kizmel struck with full force, but the blow was shallow, leaving a sliver of HP. Hachiman moved to finish him, but the general recovered faster than expected, aiming a swing at Kizmel.
Damn, this mode boosts speed and shortens stagger time! Hachiman realized, fearing for Kizmel.
A streak of white light flashed—a familiar sight. A metallic clang staggered the general again, and a black-coated figure darted in, delivering the killing blow.
"Kirito!" Hachiman shouted.
"Kirito!" Asuna echoed.
Kirito's blade flashed, finishing the general.
"Just in time," Kirito said.
"Everyone okay?" Nezha called, running up.
"Seriously, you saved us. Thanks, Kirito, Nezha," Hachiman said.
"I thought Kizmel was done for…" Asuna said, voice trembling.
"I'd have been fine, Asuna," Kizmel reassured, though Asuna's near-tears showed her fear.
"Why are you here?" Hachiman asked.
Kirito explained they were on their campaign route, had defeated Fallen Elves in a nearby floor, and heard combat while passing by. "That's why there were no minions," he added.
"Makes sense. Not an instance area, so that tracks," Hachiman said.
"We watched, thinking you had it, but when the general sped up, we got ready to jump in," Kirito said.
"Thanks, both of you," Hachiman said.
"Really, thank you," Asuna added.
"No problem. By the way…" Kirito glanced at Kizmel.
"Right, I said I'd introduce her," Hachiman said.
"My thanks for your aid. I'm Kizmel," she said, bowing.
Nezha flinched nervously, but Kirito extended a hand, grinning. "I've never been able to help you before, so I'm glad I could now. Always wanted to talk properly, Kizmel."
"Have we met?" she asked.
"A long time ago, and briefly recently. You wouldn't remember," Kirito said. "But I do."
"I… feel I've seen you, watching sadly as my life faded," Kizmel murmured.
"No way… beta memories?" Kirito whispered, stunned.
To Hachiman and Asuna, it was as if old friends, long separated, had reunited.
"She really doesn't seem like an NPC," Hachiman said.
"Told you," Kirito replied.
"You're here for the campaign too?" Hachiman asked.
"Yeah, but we're running out of time," Kirito said.
Hachiman briefed him on their questline, distinct from Kirito's. "There are three keyholes here, invisible to you," he added.
"So you're rescuing the lord for a war?" Kirito said. "Your route ends here, and it's the big climax with the sanctuary. Ours continues to the next floor. This'll be instanced, so we'll wait here and help you escape."
"Thanks," Hachiman said.
"Thank you both!" Asuna added.
The trio inserted their sacred keys into the unseen keyholes, vanishing before Kirito and Nezha. Inside, they found a Dark Elf in ornate armor praying intently.
"Viscount Yofilis, it's been a while," Kizmel said.
"Kizmel? An urgent matter?" Yofilis asked.
"Yes. Our investigation revealed the Forest Elves plan to attack the castle soon," Kizmel reported.
"The Fallen Elves' doing?" Yofilis asked.
"You knew?" Kizmel said.
"I've been praying here for harmony between Forest and Dark Elves, aware of the Fallen Elves' schemes," Yofilis explained. "We must return to the castle at once."
"These are the human warriors who've fought with me," Kizmel introduced.
"My thanks. Let's hurry," Yofilis said.
Outside, they introduced Yofilis to Kirito and Nezha, forming a six-person party to escape the dungeon.
"Hachiman, this viscount is beyond strong," Kirito whispered.
"Insane level," Hachiman agreed.
"My legs are shaking," Nezha admitted.
"Hurry, everyone!" Asuna urged.
Yofilis obliterated enemies, and they escaped in half the time it took to enter. Kirito and Nezha's boat was moored elsewhere, so they parted, with Kirito mentioning a boss discovery and an imminent raid.
At the boats, a Dark Elf soldier from the viscount's crew warned that the war was about to begin.
"We're cutting it close. Let's move!" Yofilis said.
"Yes!" the group replied.
Emerging through the castle's fog, they saw the Dark Elf army faltering under attack. Targeting a weak flank, they broke through the encirclement and reached the castle.
"Viscount!" a soldier cried.
"No need to wait any longer. I'm here," Yofilis declared.
A powerful buff enveloped the army, sparking their counterattack.