"Well, figures," Hachiman said.
"Yeah," Yukino said. "We joined that fight once. It's insane—like battling an endless swarm."
"That bad?" Kirito asked.
"Worse," Yukino said. "The numbers are overwhelming."
"Got it," Hachiman said. "But we can't back down. Right, Kirito?"
"Absolutely," Kirito said. "I'll save Asuna to achieve my goal."
"Your resolve is unshakable," Yukino said.
"Yeah," Hachiman said.
"Even knowing it's futile?" Yukino pressed.
"If we set the right conditions, it's not impossible," Hachiman said. "I believe that."
Yukino seemed caught off guard. "You have a plan?"
"First, I think the Grand Quest is incomplete," Hachiman said.
"What?" Yukino said.
"Hikki, what do you mean?" Yui asked.
"No way that's true, Senpai," Iroha said.
"Got evidence, Hachiman?" Kirito asked.
"Think about it," Hachiman said. "Asuna's Titania now. If someone cleared the Grand Quest, she'd appear before players. Sugou wouldn't risk that, would he?"
"But… that's…" Yui stammered.
"If it was clearable, making Asuna Titania would be pointless," Hachiman said. "It'd just endanger him. If I were Sugou, I'd be paranoid. But he seemed smug, not worried—full of absolute confidence."
The others mulled over Hachiman's words, unable to counter them.
"That's plausible," Yukino admitted.
"Plus, like I told Kikuoka," Hachiman said, "the clear reward is nonsense. Only the first race to finish gets unlimited flight? That's a garbage design commercially. Once it's cleared, everyone would roll Alf characters, and other races would swap. ALO's only draw would be flying."
"I never questioned that, but you're right…" Yukino said. "But then, doesn't that mean there's no way to save Asuna-san in-game?"
Everyone nodded, grim.
"Basically, freeing Asuna through the game is near impossible," Hachiman said. "But if Zaimokuza pulls through, we've got a shot."
"Zaimokuza-kun?" Yukino asked. "What's he got to do with this?"
"He's working at Recto Progress," Hachiman said.
"What? That Zaimokuza?" Yui said.
"How'd he pass the interview?" Yukino asked.
"Yui-san pulled strings," Hachiman said.
"Ahh," the others said, except Kirito, who stayed quiet, confused.
"Zaimokuza's digging for high-level IDs," Hachiman said. "Then it's Yui's turn."
"Me?" Yui squeaked, startled.
"Sorry, I mean our Yui," Hachiman said. "She's our trump card. She's a Navigation Pixie now, but she's SAO's mental care program—our daughter, mine and Asuna's."
"What…" Yukino said.
"Daughter?!" Komachi said. "Am I an aunt already?!"
"Senpai, explain!" Iroha demanded.
"It's a long story, but I'll summarize," Hachiman said, recounting Yui's creation, their parting, and reunion.
"You're married and have a kid?" Yukino said.
"No chance for us now…" Iroha sighed.
"The daughter part aside, it's hard to wrap my head around," Yukino said.
"It's like a miracle," Hachiman said.
"Think of it as having a friend who can wield GM powers with an admin ID," Kirito said.
"That makes sense!" Yui said.
"Kind of," Yukino said.
"One more thing," Hachiman said. "You saw Asuna by flying high, right?"
"Yup, Onii-chan," Komachi said.
"So, her area and the main field are likely connected, right?" Hachiman said.
Yukino nodded after a pause. "No area transition while flying, so yes."
"Then her area's probably just walled off inside the World Tree," Hachiman said.
"That's likely," Yukino said.
"If we get close to that wall with an ID, Yui might break through," Hachiman said. "If we can get close."
"Back to the Grand Quest," Yukino said.
"Can we reach the top of that battlefield with this group?" Hachiman asked.
Yukino considered, then shook her head. "No. We'd burn out halfway."
"Damn…" Hachiman said, deflated.
"But it's not hopeless," Yukino added.
"Really? Got a plan?" Kirito asked.
"Align with the Salamanders or the Sylph-Kettshi alliance," Yukino said. "One or the other."
"Borrow a faction's strength," Hachiman said.
"We're escorting the Sylph-Kettshi alliance meeting," Yukino said. "If you secure their support, your chances skyrocket."
"Got it," Hachiman said.
"I can make introductions, but the rest is on you," Yukino said.
"What about the Salamanders?" Kirito asked.
"No connections there," Yukino said. "The Sylph-Kettshi alliance is more feasible."
Hachiman didn't hesitate. "Then we'll go with that. Cool with you, Kirito?"
"Yeah, seems like our only option," Kirito said.
"Any chance we can win them over?" Hachiman asked.
"No clue," Kirito said. "But we've got gold."
"Huh?" Yukino said.
"Our SAO gold carried over," Hachiman said. "Yuld, was it? We've got a ton."
"How much?" Yukino asked.
"Combined? A few hundred million Yuld," Hachiman said.
"What?!" Yui gasped.
"Nouveau riche Onii-chan?" Komachi said.
"That's insane, Senpai!" Iroha said. "That could work!"
"With that much, you've got leverage," Yukino said. "This is looking promising."
"It hinges on Zaimokuza, though," Hachiman said. "That's the bottleneck."
"We've got something for that," Yui-no-neesan said, breaking her silence.
"What's that, Yui-san?" Hachiman asked.
"Not me—Kikuoka," she said. "He's got someone strong in that area helping."
"Nice," Kirito said.
"But negotiations are tricky," Yui-no-neesan said.
"Leave it to Kikuoka," Hachiman said. "He's good at that."
"True," Yukino said. "He's built for negotiations."
"Then, after we meet the day after tomorrow, we'll head to the Sylph-Kettshi alliance meeting," Yukino said.
"Sounds good," Hachiman said. "One more thing, Yui-san."
"What?" Yui-no-neesan asked.
"I need you to contact some allies via Kikuoka," Hachiman said. "Give them my number, but use your contact info and explain if they respond. I don't want to miss calls while diving. Names are Klein, Egil, Silica, and Argo. We were supposed to meet at Dicey Café, but things escalated."
Wish I could include Nezha, but his vision issues and ALO's lack of throwing weapons rule him out… Hachiman thought.
"Got it," Yui-no-neesan said. "Hachiman-kun's request? I'm on it!"
"Thanks," Hachiman said. "Check their status and if they can join ALO."
"If they agree, they log in with NerveGear, right?" Yui-no-neesan asked.
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "If they've ditched their NerveGear or hesitate, don't push."
"Got it," Yui-no-neesan said. "They'll spawn at your location?"
"Klein and Egil in the sky, Silica and Argo on the ground nearby," Hachiman said. "We can't guide them, so they'll have to manage."
"I'll handle it," Yui-no-neesan said. "I've got a guide in mind."
"You're a lifesaver, Yui-san," Hachiman said.
"I'll call Kikuoka," Yui-no-neesan said, dialing.
"Kikuoka speaking," he answered.
"Hey, Kikuoka-san," Yui-no-neesan said. "Hachiman-kun needs you to contact some players urgently. Names: Klein, Egil, Silica, Argo."
"Got it," Kikuoka said. "One sec, switching to hands-free… Done."
Yui-no-neesan explained the situation.
"Understood," Kikuoka said. "Easy enough. I'll arrange it."
"Thanks," Yui-no-neesan said. "How's the other negotiation?"
"Just wrapped up during our call," Kikuoka said.
"You were mid-negotiation?" Yui-no-neesan asked.
"Yup," Kikuoka said. "Letting them hear worked. Deal's done—they're moving now."
"Awesome!" Yui-no-neesan said. "Hachiman-kun, the other contact's on board. Kikuoka's on hands-free—say thanks!"
"Thanks, Kikuoka-san," Hachiman said into the phone. "I'll repay this."
The call ended, wrapping up the meeting. Everyone headed home to prepare for the night's login. As Hachiman and Kirito readied, Hachiman paused.
"Hey, Kirito, any word on Liz?" he asked.
"Kikuoka left a note with my name and number by her bedside," Kirito said.
"Hope she calls soon," Hachiman said.
"Yeah," Kirito said, a shy nod.
"Let's start the fight to take back our loved ones," Hachiman said.
"Today's the real beginning," Kirito said. "We're all in."
"Hell yeah!" Hachiman said.
"Link Start!" they shouted together.
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