My lapse of awareness was over in an instant.
I shook my head a few times trying to throw off the lingering sensation of the transfer while blinking my eyes. This was similar to the use of teleportation crystals in Aincrad, but instead of the familiar bustle of a gate square I was surrounded by complete silence.
I slowly stood up from the posture which I found myself in with one knee on the ground. In front of me was a concerned looking Yui. She was not in the little pixie form anymore, but the original, with the appearance of a girl about ten years old.
“Are you all right, Papa?”
“Yeah… This is…?”
I looked at my surroundings while nodding.
However you put it - it was a very strange place. Totally unlike the new ‘game’ feel of the excessively elaborate, decorated streets of Sylvain and Aarun. Everything I could see gave a blank impression, there were only white walls with no texture or detail.
I was somewhere in the middle of a passage of some sort. Rather than straight, it gently curved to the right. Looking back, it was similarly curved. It seemed to be a very long curve, or perhaps circular passage.
“…I don’t understand, there seems to be no map data for navigating this place…”
Yui said with a puzzled look.
“Do you know where Asuna is?”
When asked, Yui closed her eyes for an instant, then nodded deeply.
“Yes, it’s very - very close. Upwards… this way.”
Kicking off the floor with her bare feet extending from her white dress, she turned and started running without making a sound. I returned the sword that I still held in my right hand to my back then hurriedly followed. The katana that should have been in my left hand had disappeared. Perhaps, when I was transferred, it had returned to Lyfa, who was the owner of the original system data. If she had not thrown me that sword, I definitely would not have been able to break through the last wall. I closed my eyes for a moment and silently prayed words of gratitude toward the sensation that remained in my left hand.
After following Yui for a few dozen seconds a square door came into view on the left, the outer wall of the curve. It didn’t have a single decoration either.
“It seems to be possible to reach the top from here.”
I nodded at her words as she came to a stop and looked around the door - my posture went rigid instantly.
There were two triangular buttons lined up, one pointing up, the other pointing down. It was something I had never seen in this world, but nonetheless, it was very familiar in the real world. I could only think they were the buttons of an elevator.
Suddenly and strangely, with my body wrapped in battle garb and a sword strapped to my back, I frowned feeling out of place. No - it’s this place that is strange. If these buttons were as I suspected, then this could no longer be thought of as the game world. Then… What is this place?
But that doubt only crossed my mind for a moment. I am good anywhere. As long as Asuna is there.
I touched the arrow pointing up with no hesitation. Soon, the doors slid open with a pong sound effect, exposing a small box-shaped room beyond. Entering the room with Yui I turned around and sure enough, there was a panel of buttons lined up next to the door. The button representing the current floor was lit and there seemed to be two more floors above that one. After hesitating slightly I pressed the top button.
The sound effect rang out again. The door closed and I was wrapped in an unmistakable rising sensation.
The elevator soon stopped. Beyond the open door was a curved passage similar to the one we just left. Facing Yui, who was tightly grasping my right hand, I said:
“Is this the right floor?”
“Yes. - Already, just… just around the corner.”
While saying so, Yui pulled my hand and began running.
For additional tens of seconds I tried to suppress my frantic heartbeat while running through the passage. We came near a few doors on the inner circumference, but Yui went by without sparing a glance toward them.
Eventually, Yui came to a halt in an empty place.
“…What happened? “
“On the other side of this… a passage…”
Yui stroked the smooth wall on the outer circumference while muttering. Abruptly her hand stopped, and like the time with the gate, blue lines of light zigzagged at right angles while running along the surface of the wall.
Suddenly the thick lines separated a square from the wall, then the interior was annihilated with a banging sound. Inside, the dull and uninteresting passage extended straight ahead after all.
When Yui silently set foot into the passage, she began to run at increasingly higher speed. Seeing the tender look on her face, unable to bear the thought of waiting even one more second, I was convinced that Asuna was close.
Hurry, hurry. I wholeheartedly prayed from the bottom of my heart while advancing earnestly. Before long the passage ended ahead and a door with four corners blocked the way. Yui, without even bothering to stop, extended her left hand and forcefully pushed the door open.
“—!!”
In front of us we could see the huge setting sun.
The infinite sunset sky wrapped around the world. I noticed there was a slightly uncomfortable feeling about the view of this place. This place was set at an extremely high altitude, you can see the gently drawn curve of the horizon. The wind was ringing strongly.
Inevitably, I recalled that moment.
Asuna and I sat side by side watching as the floating castle disappeared, dissolving into the eternal sunset. She raised her voice, her words floating to my ear.
“We will be together forever.”
“Ah - yes. I have returned.”
After muttering that, I turned my glance to my feet.
Where once there was a crystal floor, now there was a terribly thick tree branch.
My vision, which had been constricted by the crimson sunset, again widened. Overhead, the tree branched out in all directions, extending dense foliage on all sides, like a pillar that supported the heavens. Below, uncountable branches extended in my vision. Even farther down on the ground, beyond the vast ocean of clouds, I could see a flowing river faintly meandering in green meadows.
That was the top of the World Tree. The place Lyfa… Suguha constantly dreamed of seeing, the top of the world.
However -.
I slowly looked around. There, the trunk of the World Tree stood like a wall stretching on forever as it branched off.
“There is no… City in the Sky…”
I whispered while dumbfounded. It only had some tasteless white passages. Such a thing couldn’t be the legendary City in the Sky. To begin with, it was necessary to generate some sort of event to mark the end of a grand quest. After breaking through the gate of the dome was complete I could hear no fanfare.
In other words, it was all an empty gift box. Decorated in wrapping paper and adorned with ribbons that are meant to hide the hollow lie. Speaking of that, what should I say to Lyfa, who dreamed of being reborn as a high-ranking fairy?
“…This is unforgivable…”
I spoke without thinking. Against the person or group who was running this world.
Suddenly, I felt a gentle tug on my right hand. Yui looked up at me with a worried look.
“Ah, that’s right. Let’s go.”
Everything was to rescue Asuna. I came here just for that.
In front of my eyes a big branch of the tree stretched toward the setting sun. In the center of the branch was an artificial path. The road ahead, beyond the treetops standing in the sun - was reflecting golden light. Aiming for that light Yui and I began running. I desperately suppressed my irritation and a desire that seemed like it would catch fire at any second, and advanced forward on the tree path. My perception accelerated, making an instant seem to stretch on infinitely, so what seemed to me to be an instant could have been many seconds or even minutes.
Passing through an area of den
se strangly-shaped leaves, the path continued. Whenever the branch intersected with another one, there would be up and down stairs to go past it. I would just beat my wings once and jump over.
The nature of the shining golden light in question became apparent over time. It was a combination of vertical and horizontal metal bars forming a metal lattice - no, it was a birdcage.
Above the big branch we were running on another branch ran parallel to it, and from that branch hung the orthodox birdcage. However, it was extraordinarily large. It wouldn’t be able to shut in a bird of prey, much less the smaller birds. That’s right - it seemed to have another purpose -.
I was reminded of the conversation in Egil’s shop, from a memory that seemed so far away it might as well be from ancient times. The five players that had piggybacked to bypass the altitude limit and taken screenshots. The photos they took portrayed a mysterious girl trapped in a birdcage. Yes, definitely. It was Asuna - Asuna would be in there.
There was a strong conviction in that little hand tightly holding my right hand, pulling me forward. We hurtled so fast we practically glided though the air, then we jumped over the final staircase.
The path carved into the branch suddenly narrowed as it ran below the cage, and then it ended.
I could already see clearly inside the golden birdcage. One big plant and various potted flowers littered the white tile floor. In the center was a big bed with a luxurious canopy. Next to it was a round white table with a tall chair. A girl was sitting in the chair with her hands together on the table and her head bowed with the aura of someone praying.
Long, flowing, straight hair was hanging down her back. She was wearing the same type of dress as Yui but more diaphanous. Thin wings extended elegantly from her back. Everything was illuminated in the brilliant red light of the setting sun.
I couldn’t see her face. However, I understood. There was no way I wouldn’t know. Like a magnetic force, my soul was drawn to her with a nearly visible flash that sparked between the two of us.
At that moment, the girl - Asuna quickly lifted her face.
Maybe it’s because of my deep yearning, but that beautiful shape already seemed to have been sublimated into a more light-filled concept of familiarity. Sometimes it was a smart beauty, like a sharpened sword. Other times, a mischievous friendly warmth. Her face, that was always beside me during those short but nostalgic days together, was at first filled with pure surprise. Then both of her hands rose to cover her mouth while moisture collected in those big hazel eyes, overflowing to form tears.
Taking the last few steps with a winged jump, I whispered in a voice that did not become sound.
“- Asuna.”
Yui cried out at the same time, too.
“Mama… Mama!!”
At the end of the path where it ran into the cage there was a square door made of a dense metal lattice inset with a small metal plate that seemed to be a locking mechanism. Although the door was closed Yui didn’t slow down while pulling me. Instead, she stretched out her right hand and held it above her left side. Her hand was enveloped in a blue glow.
Then she waved her hand to the right. At the same time the door quickly blew off as if it was just a metal plate. The door soon became light particles and dispersed, quickly disappearing.
Yui released my hand and with both arms outstretched, cried out again.
“Mama -!!”
She rushed straight through the entrance into the birdcage.
Kicking away her chair, Asuna stood up. She removed her hands from her mouth, and from her lips, a trembling but clear voice issued.
“- Yui-chan!!”
Then Yui kicked off the floor, jumping straight into Asuna’s chest. Black hair mixed with chestnut hair and danced in the sky, appearing maroon in the sunset.
Yui and Asuna hugged each other tightly, nuzzling each other’s cheeks and calling out once again to make sure.
“Mama….”
“Yui… -chan…”
The tears of the two ran down their faces and disappeared in the light of the setting sun, shining like flames.
I relaxed the force that was propelling me forward and quietly walked to Asuna, stopping a few steps in front of her. Asuna lifted her face, and blinking away her tears, looked at me face to face.
The same as that time, I couldn’t move. If I moved any closer and touched her, everything might disappear… Anyway, my current shape is very different from that time. The Spriggan’s dark skin and my spiked hairstyle, I had nothing in common with the Kirito of that time. Holding back my tears, I could do nothing but stare at her.
But just like that time, Asuna’s lips moved, and called my name.
“- Kirito-kun.”
After a moment of silence, my mouth moved and called her name.
“…Asuna.”
I took the last two steps forward, arms open. I wrapped her delicate body with mine, holding her tightly to my chest with Yui nestled between us. The nostalgic fragrance drifted around me and her nostalgic warmth soaked into my body.
“…I’m sorry it took me so long.” I muttered in a trembling voice. Asuna looked into my eyes from point-blank range and replied.
“No, I believed in you. I was certain - that you would come to help…”
More words were already unnecessary. Asuna and I closed our eyes and buried our faces in each others necks. Both of Asuna’s hands were behind my back, holding me firmly. A contented sigh from Yui seemed to leak between us.
- This is good enough. I thought.
If this became my last moment I would have no regrets, even as my life burned out. The life that was supposed to have been over with that world, finally concludes here, just for this…
No, that wasn’t it. Finally, it starts here. Here, that world of swords and battle would end at last and we would finally set out for the new world named reality, together.
I looked up and said:
“Let’s go home. To the real world.”
After the embrace I firmly grasped Asuna’s hand, and Yui held onto Asuna’s other hand. I looked at Yui’s face and inquired:
“Yui, is it possible to log Asuna out from here?”
Yui wrinkled her eyebrows for a moment, then shook her head.
“Mama’s status is bound by a complex code. A system console is required to unlock it.”
“Console…”
Asuna said in a nervous voice, tilting her head.
“I think I saw one on the lowest level of the laboratory… Ah, the laboratory is…”
“You mean in that empty white hallway?”
“Yeah. …You came through there?”
“Yes.”
I nodded my head, Asuna frowned while looking at me, seeming disturbed.
“Did you see anything… strange?”
“No, I never met anyone…”
“…It’s possible a subordinate of Sugou was hanging around… Just cut them with your sword!”
“Wha… Sugou!?”
At Asuna’s mention of that name, I was surprised but at the same time convinced.
“This is that guy… Sugou’s work? To imprison Asuna here.”
“Yes. - Not only that, Sugou is doing horrible things here…”
Asuna started to say, practically radiating resentment, but shook her head immediately.
“We’ll continue this conversation after we return to the real world. Sugou is not at the company now. We can take this chance to get access to the server and free everybody… Let’s go!”
Although there were many things I wanted to ask, my top priority was getting Asuna back to the real world. I nodded and turned around.
Pulling Asuna who was holding Yui’s hand, I began to run toward the blown off door at the entrance. Taking two steps, three steps, just as we were about to reach the edge of the cage, at that time.
- Someone was watching us.
Suddenly, I felt an unpleasant sensation sizzling on the back of my neck. It was the exact same feeling I got
in SAO when I was being targeted by an orange PKer instead of a monster hidden in the shadows.
I quickly let go of Asuna’s hand and grabbed the hilt of my sword. Ready to pull out my sword, I moved my hand slightly. At that moment…
Suddenly, the birdcage was filled with water. It felt like we were wrapped in a dark, highly viscous liquid.
No, that wasn’t it. It was possible to breathe, but the air seemed to become abnormally heavy. Although I could move my body, as if we were in a sticky mucus I felt tremendous resistance. My body was heavy. It was painful to stand. At the same time the light faded from the world. The sunset in the birdcage was blotted out by darkness.
“- What is this!?”
Asuna cried out. Her voice was distorted, as though it was coming from deep underwater.
I tried to keep hold of Asuna and Yui and draw them closer despite the extraordinarily unpleasant feeling, but - I couldn’t move my body at all. The air was sticky, moving with a consciousness like vines tying me up.
Finally, the world was shrouded in complete darkness. No, it was a little different. I could see Asuna and Yui in their one piece dresses clearly. But the view of the background seemed to be painted over with a deep black.
I gritted my teeth and moved my right hand. I should have been close to the lattice of the bird cage. I extended my hand, thinking to pull my body from that space - but my hand touched nothing.
It wasn’t only an appearance. We had been thrown into a world of darkness, there was no telling where it was.
“Yui -“
‘What is the situation’, I was about to say. But from Asuna’s arms, Yui suddenly arched her back and screamed.
“Eek! Papa… Mama… Watch out! There is something really bad here…”
Before she even finished those words, purple lightning started shining from Yui’s body, and with a dazzling flash - Asuna arms were empty.
“Yui!?”
“Yui-chan -!?”
Asuna and I shouted at the same time. But there was no answer.
In the thick and sticky true black darkness, only me and Asuna were left. I reached out desperately, wanting to be nearer to Asuna. Wide-eyed, Asuna reached out anxiously.