The long-awaited day arrived: Aincrad's floors 21 through 25 were unlocked. Lessons from past MMORPGs prompted a one-day delay post-maintenance for floor transfers to avoid chaos. Moments ago, the teleport gate displayed floor 21, and players flooded the portal plaza, more crowded than ever, as most raiding guilds converged.
"Floor 22's a no-enemy zone with forests and water? Seriously?"
"Seems so. Lots of guilds are eyeing it for housing."
Rumors about floor 22 had spread days earlier, likely from former SAO players, fueling active guild information exchanges. Amid the chaos, a voice rose from the plaza's center.
"Hey, it's cramped enough, stop pushing! This is ridiculous. Look, there's space over there—let's move!"
The crowd's density wasn't the only issue. A conspicuous empty zone in the plaza, avoided by all, drew attention. One player pointed it out, urging their group to move, but their companions shook their heads, stopping them.
"Idiot, look who's there!"
"Huh? Who—Eugene, Kagemune, Sakuya, and Alicia? Aren't they rivals?"
"No clue, but better not mess with them. I don't wanna get caught in their drama."
"Fair point."
Most players shared the sentiment, steering clear of the four, who showed no signs of clashing. The plaza hummed with uneasy tension. That balance shattered when a black-clad group appeared, boldly approaching the four without hesitation. Sixteen strong, led by Hachiman, flanked by Asuna and Yukino, followed by Klein and Egil's rugged crew, then Recon and Krushite's light-armored team. Behind them, Leafa, Yuiyui, Iroha, Komachi, Yumii, Mebius, Silica, and Lizbeth added vibrancy, with Kirito, wielding a massive sword, bringing up the rear.
In a game with few female players, this guild's two-thirds female ratio—including absent Soleil and Argo—was unmatched. Their striking arrival drew every eye, players holding their breath to see what would unfold. Hachiman stopped before the four, who seemed stunned. Eugene recovered first, addressing him.
"Yo, quite the entrance. That's your guild uniform? Finally launched it, huh?"
"Sorry, first time starting a guild. Took a bit to get it right."
"No worries, we go way back."
Eugene's friendly handshake with Hachiman sent murmurs through the crowd. Eugene, a symbol of fear, was so casual with this group—who were they? Players scrutinized the lineup.
"Wait… that's Absolute Zero and Berserk Healer!"
"Leafa, one of Sylph's Four Heavenly Kings, is there too… and Absolute Zero's party?"
"Is that Mebius, the retired Undine lord?"
"That guy in the back—the Black Swordsman, rumored to get a title soon. What a powerhouse lineup!"
The buzz spread like wildfire, the crowd's excitement unrelenting. Sakuya and Alicia, snapping out of their daze, rushed to Hachiman, pressing close.
"Hachiman-kun, you finally started a guild?"
"Uh, yeah, took a while. Alicia-san, you're a bit close."
"Congrats on the decision! Those matching uniforms look great. I'm a bit jealous—I don't have one."
"Thanks. My team picked a solid design. Sakuya-san, you're too close."
The two clung to Hachiman, speaking at point-blank range, looking like they were vying for him. They were, but it didn't last.
"Alright, that's enough, you two."
"That distance is already in our territory."
"Asuna, territory?"
Yukino slid between them, and Asuna staked her claim with a huff. Hachiman grimaced at her word choice, but Alicia and Sakuya took it differently.
"As expected of the Harem King…"
"Will we fall to you too, Sakuya-chan?"
"I wouldn't mind."
"Cheating already? I'm fine with it!"
Hachiman started to shrug off their teasing but realized the crowd might misinterpret. He tried to stop them, but it was too late—especially since Alicia and Sakuya were half-serious.
"Did you hear that?"
"I thought their group had a lot of women, but a harem?"
"Harem King? What a—lucky jerk!"
"No, wait, that's not—"
Panicked by the sudden reputational hit, Hachiman glared at the culprits, who whistled and looked away.
"Damn it, I'll make you pay later…"
Hachiman mulled his options. Getting Eugene, a big name, to mediate would help, but Eugene only cared about fighting Kirito and stayed aloof.
"Fine… we'll raise the banner here."
Hachiman's decision was simple. Originally planning a private ceremony after securing a base, he opted to hold it now, publicly. Go big or go home. He called to Kirito.
"Kirito!"
"Got it!"
Kirito, Hachiman's closest ally, instantly understood. He swung his greatsword, slamming it into the ground with a thud, silencing the crowd. The team flanked Kirito as he stood tall. Hachiman and Asuna leaped over the group with a moonsault, landing gracefully in front. Hachiman stepped forward, addressing the players.
"Sorry for the commotion. We're Valhalla Resort, and I'm Hachiman, the leader. Beside me is Asuna, deputy leader."
Asuna gave an elegant curtsy, then leaned into Hachiman.
"And our other deputy leaders, Kirito and Yukino."
Kirito struck the ground again with a thud, while Yukino smiled calmly.
"Sorry, I'll skip introducing the rest."
The others waved or posed for the crowd.
"We aim to clear all hundred floors but lean toward enjoying the game. Right now, we're racing to reach floor 22 for specific reasons. Some of you might not like that. We're ready for any challenges, but be warned—Valhalla Resort prides itself as ALO's strongest guild."
The crowd stirred, some glaring with hostility. Eugene stepped forward, breaking his silence.
"Hachiman's right, regrettably. The Salamander army lost to them."
The murmurs turned to shocked gasps. Skeptics remained, but Eugene added a clincher.
"By the way, Absolute Tyrant, who's not here, is also in Valhalla Resort. Hachiman's leading over them. Think about what that means. If you've got a problem, be ready."
The crowd's hostility vanished instantly as the weight of his words sank in.
"That's the deal. We're in a hurry, so we'll head out. We'll meet again—as allies or enemies. Take care."
Hachiman turned, striding toward the labyrinth district, Asuna clinging to his arm. The team followed, chatting lively, with Eugene, Kagemune, Alicia, and Sakuya hurrying after. Thus, Valhalla Resort was born, dominating player chatter for days. Later, Hachiman would earn the title "The Ruler."
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