"Returning here fills me with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia."
"Yeah. Even though it hasn't even been a month."
We arrived at the headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Oath after an absence of nearly two weeks. The place still carried its signature air of cold austerity. The man who had summoned Alice and me was none other than the Commander himself, Heathcliff.
The message was brief: the operation to clear the Seventy-Fifth Floor Boss was about to begin, and we were ordered to join the front lines immediately.
"Well, let's win this quickly and go home."
"Goodness... I'm starting to envy that excessive optimism of yours."
Alice took my outstretched hand. On the ring finger of each of our left hands sat a small ring adorned with floral engravings—the items we obtained from a previous quest on the Forty-Seventh Floor.
Inside the meeting room, which felt equally nostalgic, the situation Heathcliff described was far more dire than I had imagined.
Mapping the dungeon area on the Seventy-Fifth Floor had been successfully completed without casualties, despite the long time it took. Upon discovering the Boss room, a scouting party of twenty players from five major guilds was sent in as a precaution, but—
"The scouting party was wiped out...?!"
"Yes. Specifically, the ten players in the vanguard all perished while engaging the Boss. We confirmed their names on the Monument of Life in the Black Iron Palace."
"How did this happen... couldn't they retreat?!"
"According to the surviving rear-guard players, the door slammed shut the moment the vanguard reached the center of the room and the Boss appeared. The door remained sealed for five minutes. They tried using 'Picking' skills and direct attacks to break through, but failed. When the room finally opened── it was empty. There was no trace of the ten who went in, nor of the Boss."
No matter how powerful the enemy, those sent were seasoned elite players. At least one should have managed to escape to relay information. The fact that they couldn't meant only one thing—
"Is it another... 'Crystal-Disabling Area'?"
"I heard the Boss room on the Seventy-Fourth Floor also blocked the use of Teleport Crystals. If that battle was just a prelude to what awaits us here, we must assume from now on that emergency retreats are impossible in all future Boss battles."
Facing a life-or-death battle with no room for error was an unbearable pressure. The fight on the Seventy-Fourth Floor had been a struggle on the brink of collapse; as someone who fought in it, I knew all too well that brute-force tactics relying on luck would not work again.
"... How do you intend to face the Boss this time?"
"The problem is the total lack of information. We don't know its attack patterns or even its form. With the retreat blocked and escape impossible, our only option is to face it with a massive force comprising as many elite front-line players as possible under a unified command. That is why I summoned you. Despite the recent incident, and though I wished for you to rest longer, I am grateful for your immediate response to this urgent call."
"We'll participate, of course... but I have one condition. If necessary, I will prioritize my partner's life over the entire squad. So, do your best to ensure we never reach that point."
"Certainly. And you, I want you to use the power of the 'Double Spear' with everything you've got. I look forward to seeing your desperate struggle."
Heathcliff had already sent out the call to everyone; the battle would begin today. Alice and I were ordered to gather at the Teleport Plaza on the Seventy-Fifth Floor in three hours. We spent that short time alone in an empty room. We didn't do anything special; we simply watched the hours pass with hearts full of tension.
"... Only thirty-two players."
The words left my mouth unconsciously. Thirty-two was the number of elite players Heathcliff had gathered for this raid—the absolute cream of the crop in this world.
Zero information, no escape route, no crystals, and a "Quarter-Point" Boss (Floor 75) which historically inflicted massive casualties—all these disastrous conditions made me feel that thirty-two was far too few for such a battle.
"This reminds me of the early days on the First Floor──"
As if reading my thoughts, Alice murmured those words.
"Back then, we fought with a group that didn't even make up a full raid party. Despite having information from the guidebooks, everyone was terrified of their first Boss battle."
"That's true... Kirito and I fought in the Beta, yet we were still terrified because one condition had been added: death meant the end. Looking back, you were always so calm, Alice. Even on the First Floor, even as a beginner, your composure amazed me."
"... Did I really look that way?"
At her question, I shifted my gaze from the void I was staring at toward Alice. She was looking intently at her hands—those hands, encased in white gauntlets, were visibly trembling.
"I was scared too, especially on the First Floor. However──"
She took my hand. As our fingers intertwined and our palms pressed together, her trembling stopped as if it had been an illusion.
"── I managed to fight until now because you were with me. I always felt your presence, whether you were in front of me, behind me, or by my side... Because of that feeling, I could fight without wavering."
"... Yeah. I always thought about not letting you die, about not looking weak in front of you. That thought gave me the strength to keep going. I used to wonder about these feelings, but now I realize I've been drawn to you since that moment we met on the First Floor. That's why I'm afraid. If I lost you, I might never be able to fight again. I might return to those dark days, that hell I lived in before meeting you. ... Listen, Alice──"
If I told you to run away with me and leave all this behind, would you come? I almost spoke those words, but Alice placed her finger on my lips to silence me.
"... Don't say it. You've become someone much greater than you realize to everyone here. Yes, this battle is very dangerous, and there's no guarantee of returning alive. But do you know why thirty-two players gathered for such a fight? Because there are people standing at the front to lead them. Just as we proved two years ago by clearing the First Floor that 'leaving this world isn't impossible'... today we have the Commander, Kirito, and Mitsuki—the three strongest warriors in Aincrad. Seeing you fight sharpens everyone's resolve and gives them strength. You aren't just my hope; you are everyone's hope."
"But a grand role like 'Hope' doesn't suit me..."
"Don't worry── I'm inside you, aren't I?"
She placed her other hand gently on my chest.
"And you are inside me. We protect each other from the closest possible point. ── I will give you courage, so, give me courage too."
I embraced Alice with my free arm, and she smiled.
"... We will return alive, for certain. In this battle, and in everything that follows."
"Yes... we will... we promised."
We would end this world, and we would meet again in the real world. There, we would experience and build so many memories we couldn't live here. I no longer saw the crying girl who feared the future, but she was surely still hiding deep in her heart. To make her feel safe and believe in the future, I tightened my embrace so my courage would reach her with full force.
On our way to the main city of the Seventy-Fifth Floor, Collinia, we met Kirito and Asuna in front of the Teleport Gate.
"... It seems obvious that you two would be here."
"You too."
Kirito smiled faintly, then glanced at our hands and said:
"The situation might not be ideal, but── congratulations on your marriage."
"Congratulations to both of you."
Alice looked embarrassed as she received their blessings.
"... Th-thank you, Asuna, Kirito."
"If you really want to celebrate with us, let it be a loud celebration── on the Seventy-Sixth Floor."
"Then we need to finish this quickly and book a good restaurant── let's go."
The four of us stood on the gate and, in perfect harmony without prior agreement, spoke the same word at once.
"── Teleport! Collinia!"
Upon arrival, twenty-eight players participating in this battle greeted us with their gazes.
The presence of the Vice-Commanders of the Knights of the Blood Oath, flanked by Kirito and me—two players known as "Beaters" and users of Unique Skills—was enough to draw everyone's attention.
But I felt no malice in their stares. Though I felt slightly awkward being watched, I sensed a mix of respect and awe in their eyes. It seemed Alice's words about Kirito and me representing "Hope" were not a mere exaggeration.
"── Oh! The newlyweds have arrived together."
I turned toward the cheerful voice behind me to find three players I knew well.
"── What, are you guys participating too?"
"Wait, Kirito, what kind of question is that? We heard the battle would be brutal this time, so I left my shop and came to support. It's sad you don't appreciate this spirit of sacrifice!"
"Oh my, then I'll take Mr. Agil's share of the loot for myself. I've been waiting for a chance to use the latest upgrade on my weapon, 'Vinstanis'."
"W-wait, I didn't mean it exactly like that...!"
"Haha! It seems Sarnya has become strong and shrewd too! Are you planning to steal the Last Attack bonus?"
"Absolutely, that's my goal."
Klein, Agil, and Sarnya spoke while laughing. Agil and Sarnya sometimes missed Boss battles for various reasons, but it seemed Heathcliff deemed their strength necessary and trustworthy in this situation.
I asked Sarnya about something that had suddenly crossed my mind.
"Sarnya, what about the Church?"
"... Don't worry. Since that incident, the new guild Mr. Sinker founded has officially begun its relief work. Sasha and the children encouraged me to come and told me not to worry about them."
"I see... we're counting on you."
"And I'm counting on you all too."
As I shook Sarnya's hand, the Teleport Gate lit up again. A group wearing red and white armor appeared—the elite of the Knights of the Blood Oath, led by Heathcliff.
From the strongest guild in Aincrad, only four members other than Heathcliff had been selected for this battle: Alice and Asuna. Including Kirito and me, the number doubled, yet it still felt small. The Commander himself clearly understood the gravity of the situation.
"── It seems everyone is present. Thank you for answering this urgent call on such short notice. You already know the situation. This battle at the final Quarter-Point will be harsher than any before, but I believe that with your strength, you will overcome it── for the day of liberation!"
Everyone cheered in response to Heathcliff's call. Despite the mystery surrounding this man, the presence of a leader who remains calm and guides the group in these conditions is reassuring. Perhaps Asuna or Alice could do that, but Kirito and I never could.
Heathcliff raised a large crystal into the air. It was a Corridor Crystal, which I had often relied on. It seemed the scouting party had set the destination in the Safe Zone before the Boss room to minimize risk.
"Then, let us go──"
The Paladin with the red cloak stepped into the gate, followed by the strongest thirty-two players in this tower toward the battlefield.
After crossing through, players began opening their menus to check their equipment and items for the last time. Their faces were stiff, the pressure from behind that massive door weighing heavily on them.
Alice touched my arm gently, seeing me instinctively tighten my grip on my weapon from the tension. She didn't say a word, but her feelings reached me—she was telling me, "It's okay."
I placed my hand over hers. While I felt our connected existence, Heathcliff, standing at the front, planted his cross shield into the ground.
"The battle plan is as follows── the enemy's attack patterns are completely unknown. Therefore, the Knights of the Blood Oath will act as the vanguard to block attacks. During this, I want you to observe the enemy's movements carefully and react with flexibility."
Everyone nodded silently. Heathcliff returned the nod, then adjusted his white cloak and placed his hand on the door. The door began to open with a heavy, solemn sound—yet every player drew their weapons simultaneously.
"── Don't die."
"Heh. You too, don't you dare fall!"
"I'm not dying before I make a fortune from today's loot...!"
"Yeah. I can never make the children sad."
"If we win, the party is on Kirito. Work hard so you'll be hungry!"
"Wait... well, fine, I'll gladly pay for everyone's banquet, so just come back alive!"
With Kirito's words, the door swung wide open. Heathcliff broke the heavy silence that had lasted for a few moments.
"The battle begins── Charge!"
The squad rushed into the room. Everyone scattered throughout the dark Boss chamber, forming combat formations with their teammates.
At the same time, the door slammed shut behind us. It likely wouldn't open again—not until the Boss was defeated, or until we were all wiped out.
We readied our weapons and watched our surroundings with extreme caution. The Boss hadn't appeared yet. The information said it appears once players reach the center of the room and the door closes...
In this situation, ears were more reliable than eyes. I kept my eyes open and focused my awareness on my hearing. Silence hung over the room; we could only hear the players' breathing and the faint sound of metal armor clashing... No—it was there.
A faint scratching and rattling sound reached my ears from somewhere. I closed my eyes and heightened my focus to pinpoint the source.
The distance was far... the location was... the rear—no, that's wrong!
"Above you── Watch out!!"
Asuna screamed, and everyone looked up toward the ceiling. What was that—it was a centipede. But not a normal one. Its body was devoid of flesh, consisting only of bone. Its hands were two massive scythes, and its head was not an insect's, but the skull of a human-like creature.
The Boss's name appeared with five HP bars—the most we had ever seen.
── The Skull Reaper ──
The giant skeletal centipede ignited a terrifying red light deep within its four eye sockets, then lunged from the ceiling toward the players with lightning speed.
"Don't bunch up! Scatter immediately──!"
Following Heathcliff's order, everyone dispersed from the skeletal centipede's landing point—but some were slow to move, paralyzed by the terror of the enemy's grotesque appearance.
"What are you doing! Get over here, fast!"
"This way, run!"
At the sound of Kirito's and my voices, two players regained their senses and began to run in a panic. But fear seemed to have frozen their limbs; their steps were clumsy—they even lost their balance from the tremor caused by the skeletal centipede slamming into the ground behind them.
In the next instant, the massive scythe swung in a horizontal strike, tearing through the two players' backs with terrifying depth. The force of the blow was so immense it threw them far away. Asuna and Klein tried to catch them, but their HP bars plummeted with insane speed until they hit zero. Before anyone could say goodbye, their digital bodies shattered like scattered glass. In that moment, the dark room was stained with a deep crimson color reminiscent of hell.
"With... one hit... only...?!"
Heathcliff had said he gathered the elite. The clearest measure of that was level. We and all the participants in this battle managed to maintain a level gap of over ten levels above the current floor as a "safety margin." As the saying goes, "strength in numbers," the fundamental rule of level-based RPGs (MMOs) is that a high level makes you hard to kill. As long as you don't die, there's always a chance for victory no matter how strong the enemy—that's how things were supposed to go.
But that scythe, which harvested the souls of two of the strongest front-line players in a single strike, was a direct insult to the game's level system. How were we supposed to defeat a monster like this with only thirty-two players?
The Skull Reaper identified its next prey, letting out a hideous screech as its many legs moved, and it charged madly. While players fled from its path, a man with a red shield jumped to face it—Heathcliff. He raised his cross shield to block the lunging scythe directly. The defenses of the Holy Sword skill matched the power of that terrifying Boss; although the impact pushed him back nearly a meter, he succeeded in blocking the lethal attack.
But the enemy didn't stop. As soon as one of its scythes was blocked, it raised the other to harvest a player who was trying to retreat behind it. It seemed the power of the Holy Sword was not enough to stop the momentum of a massive centipede that far exceeded the players' size. At this rate, we wouldn't even be able to get close to it...!
The Skull Reaper made a massive leap uncharacteristic of an insect, bypassing Heathcliff to corner the fleeing players, and raised its massive scythe high──!
"Kirito──!"
"Damn it──!"
Kirito and I rushed to intercept the scythe with our weapons crossed. I thought that together we could block it, but as soon as the attack hit our weapons, I felt a weight beyond all expectations pressing down on us.
"G-aaah...?!"
"It's... so heavy...!"
Kirito, who uses two heavy swords with one hand each, was struggling, and so was I even though I had boosted my strength stat. The Seventy-Fourth Floor Boss's attacks were powerful, but we could block them together. This skeletal centipede's attacks were on a completely different level—it felt as though they matched the power of that "Grim Reaper" we faced in the First Floor's underground dungeon. That meant its attack power was equivalent to at least the Ninetieth Floor...!
I did my best to prevent my knees from hitting the floor and tried to push the scythe away with all my might, but the blade began to sink slowly into my shoulder... As if mocking us, the Boss raised its other scythe to attack again──!
This is bad...! In the moment I thought it was the end, a red shadow dashed between us and the enemy. The raised cross shield blocked the scythe, and in the blink of an eye, the blade that was pressing down on us was knocked away.
The Skull Reaper recoiled from the Counter impact, giving us a second of respite. I looked behind me to find Alice and Asuna readying their attacks.
"We can't block those attacks alone──"
"But if we face them together with a synchronized strike── we'll succeed! We can do it!"
If that attack is received in a "Guard" stance, it will crush you with its immense weight. As Alice said, no one could block it alone except Heathcliff. But as Asuna said, if we combined two skills at once to meet the scythe, it was possible to knock it back as they had just done. This required precise timing to merge skills that differed in speed and activation time, but—
"You're right... we can do it...!"
Kirito and Asuna, Alice and I—duos connected from the depths of their hearts. Nothing was impossible for us!
"We'll handle blocking the two scythes! The rest of the players, attack from the sides──!"
Alice's steady and clear voice rang out to free everyone from the grip of fear. The players gathered their courage and began launching consecutive attacks on the centipede's body, finally reducing its HP, if only by a little. But its weapons weren't limited to the two scythes.
From the opposite side of the head, its tail, ending in a sharp spearhead, lunged out to pierce another player who fell dead instantly.
Without a single word, without even exchanging glances, I was handling the massive scythe in perfect harmony with Alice, as if our hearts had truly merged. But I felt a deep bitterness.
The scythes were dangerous, but that tail was incredibly troublesome. Its movement was very flexible, and its reach was much wider than its main body. Once the Boss tilted its body slightly, everyone was in the crosshairs of that tail.
The Skull Reaper continued to crush players, then raised its body high and let out a resounding cry of triumph.
Its five HP bars showed only a small portion missing from the first one—it possessed immense defensive power to match its offensive strength.
... This isn't working. We won't win like this. We won't be able to take down this terrifying centipede if we continue this way.
I tightened my grip on my spears and turned toward my comrades.
"... Kirito, Alice, Asuna... you three focus on attacking. Heathcliff and I will handle the scythes."
"Mitsuki, what are you saying──?!"
"Don't be a fool! Kirito couldn't block it with you?! How can you hold out alone──!"
"I won't block it; I'll parry it. You know my special skill well."
"... You intend to 'Repel' the strikes of that great scythe...?!"
"If we keep defending like this, we'll lose by attrition. To minimize casualties, we must finish this as quickly as possible── and you three are the best for the job. Fortunately, the Commander is here with me; I'll lean on him if things go south."
"... I'm glad you trust me, but I see great recklessness in your plan── nevertheless, your logic is sound. If you say you can do it, I will accompany you."
Heathcliff agreed. Now remained the approval of the other three.
"── Fine, I understand."
"Alice...?!"
"But── since you're doing this, you are not allowed to die! Stay alive until we crush this monster completely!"
"Of course. ... Enough talk, I'm counting on you──!"
I separated from the three, and Heathcliff and I charged directly toward the Skull Reaper. The monster noticed our approach and tried to wipe us out with a horizontal strike from its left scythe—but the cross shield blocked it. In the next instant, the right scythe lunged to attack us──!
Despite the terrifying speed and power of the scythe, I was able to track it visually. I had also roughly memorized its timing from previous clashes. As the scythe swung down diagonally from above, I placed the butt of my spear in the path of the attack.
The Double Spear skill I acquired included additional effects upon increasing mastery, including two types of Critical Hit Bonuses. The first is common, but the second is very complex, as it only activates upon a "Counterattack within one second of the enemy's attack." Through experience, I discovered that the shorter the time between parrying the attack and countering it, the more insane the critical hit power became.
Originally, this skill was designed to be used after dodging. It is very rare to combine both critical bonuses—unless the user is an unconventional double spear user like me.
The centipede's scythe pressed against my spear—and in the next instant, the spear spun with a lightning speed never seen before, striking the side of the scythe with immense force──!
The monster regained the balance of its scythe and tried to attack again, this time with an upward strike from below—but I jumped, and my body spun with the spear to send the scythe flying upward by the force of the parry.
I felt its red eyes narrow in rage—and I couldn't help but draw a fierce smile on my face.
Yes, look at me── are you angry? Are you disgusted? You can't believe your lethal attacks, which are supposed to crush me like a bug, aren't working, right? Attack me more, attack me harder──! I'll return every single blow to you, one after another──!
The Skull Reaper continued to run through the room, swinging its scythes. But with the red knight's shield and the grey spearman's strange skills, it couldn't harvest the souls of those "little ones" surrounding it. Meanwhile, the attackers exploited the openings to land successive, brilliant strikes.
The man with the shield and katana swung his blade left and right under the monster's belly, and the girl with the crimson rapier jumped onto its back to tear into its body. The large man with the axe landed powerful blows to the base of its tail. But the most terrifying were these three who attacked with indescribable ferocity—they were completely different from the rest.
In that moment... for the first time, the Skull Reaper—which was supposed to be a mere program executing kill orders—felt a strange sensation: Fear.
Bright lights pierced its body. Black and white danced around it. A silver blade attacked as if it wanted to cleave its strong skeletal body apart──!
Its power far exceeded these small beings. It had seen them trembling in terror moments ago. Why were they the source of terror for it now?
It tried to shake off this fear, swinging its scythe for the thousandth time—but that strange sensation repeated; it was as if its power was absorbed upon impact, then its scythe flew away with immense force that couldn't possibly come from that small body.
Why... Why, why why why why── Why──!?!?
More than an hour had passed since the battle began. Thanks to Heathcliff and me holding our ground against the scythes, and the extraordinary offensive activity of Kirito and his companions, the Skull Reaper's HP had dropped significantly. The five HP bars that had seemed impossible had vanished, leaving only the final bar—which had turned red, meaning we were nearing victory.
The scythe and tail attacks were no longer as fierce as they were at the beginning; it was clear the Boss had exhausted its strength. We as players were exhausted too, but since that irrational frenzy had calmed, dealing with it had become easy.
"Now! All-out attack──!"
At Heathcliff's order, all players lunged at the skeletal centipede, whose movement had slowed. Strikes, stabs, and punches adorned with various light effects poured in to finish off what remained of its life.
I too joined Alice and began launching my strongest consecutive skills, as if I were venting my anger for everything this monster had done to us.
Finally, the Skull Reaper raised its head—and with a resounding death cry, its massive body exploded and vanished.
The word "Congratulations!!" appeared in the air, but no one let out a victory shout.
Silence filled the room once more, and players collapsed onto the floor. They were overwhelmed by the relief that the hell was over, combined with extreme battle fatigue.
Kirito, Asuna, Alice, and I—we no longer even had the energy to use healing items to restore our low HP. Everyone was now drowning in one truth: "I survived."
But... in the midst of this situation, there was one thing that had to be confirmed.
"── How... how many did we lose?"
Klein asked, sitting while leaning on his sword. Kirito opened his menu and began counting the glowing dots on the map. With a simple calculation compared to the original squad number—
"... Ten players died."
"── Impossible..."
"These players are currently the elite warriors of Aincrad, aren't they...? And we lost a third of them in just one battle..."
Agil and Sarnya muttered words full of pain. Their words undoubtedly expressed what was on everyone's minds.
We paid this heavy price to reach only two-thirds of the way—and we had to assume that the remaining twenty-five floors would see far harsher battles. At this rate, the number of participants in Boss battles would gradually dwindle, and we might be wiped out before reaching the Hundredth Floor—even if we did, we might find ourselves in a situation where only one player remained to face the final Boss.
In that case, who would be that player to face the final Boss? It didn't take long to think—it was that man.
I looked at Heathcliff, who was leaning on his shield and watching the players around him. No matter how strong the "Holy Paladin" was, that brutal battle had reduced his HP to nearly half, and it remained fixed at the edge of the yellow zone.
(He and I did our best to protect everyone... yet this happened── no, wait a minute).
Suddenly, a lump of unease formed in my mind.
"We did our best"── was that truly right?
I could answer with a definitive "Yes" for myself. Despite many casualties, I had done everything in my power to prevent it. That is why I feel anxious about future battles.
But... what about Heathcliff? The facial expression I saw now showed no anxiety about whether the defenses of the "Holy Sword" would hold in the future, nor did it show any regret for being unable to protect his elite comrades. This man── this person was hiding something.
At the very least, I was certain this man had not used his full strength in this battle. Usually, no one has the luxury of holding back in a fight like this. If he had that luxury, it meant one thing—
I grabbed the spear lying beside me and adjusted my stance without Heathcliff noticing.
Before Alice could say anything as she noticed my movement—I activated the Double Spear rush skill, Sonic Charge.
Heathcliff noticed me as I lunged toward him, leaving a green trail, and raised his cross shield to block the attack. The spear hit the shield hard and was parried. While surprise registered on Heathcliff's face—he was unable to react to the next attack that came a split second later; the black-clad swordsman's attack with a pale blue glow.
The shining sword blade was aimed directly at the red knight's face... but before it could touch him, the blade stopped suddenly.
Not by the shield. But by a purple barrier that appeared out of thin air—the system protection seen in "Safe Zones." As proof, a system message appeared, telling us the truth—
── Immortal Object ──
"Immortal status...?!"
"... What is the meaning of this, Commander...?"
Alice and Asuna asked as they caught up with us, remembering well that message we had seen before. But he didn't utter a single word in his defense. So, I explained to everyone:
"... This man's HP is protected by the system the moment it reaches the yellow zone. In this state, he could have fought that Boss alone── since he takes no damage no matter what happens."
"... Since coming to this world, one question has haunted me: 'That person' said on that day that his goal was to 'create and observe this world.' If so, where is he watching us players from?"
Kirito said this with a sarcastic smile.
"But the answer was quite simple. There's nothing more complex than that; even a child could understand this simple psyche── 'There is nothing more boring than watching someone else play a game by themselves'── isn't that right, Akihiko Kayaba?"
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