No one's POV

Currently, Zora and Kirito are hiding at Agil's shop away from all the players who had found out about their dual wielding skills and wanted to ask them question and Agil and Philia was reading the article from to boss fight.

Agil: A blue demon that annihilated a big squad of Army. And a 50 hit combo from a dual wielders who took out the boss by themselves.

Philia: I can believe what a big deal their making out of this thing...?

Zora: Yeah... Its blown up right of our faces.

Kirito: A tons of swordsman and Info Brokers showed up at our place this morning. Now, we need a new house cause they know where we live.

Liz: Yeah well, that's sort of kind of you guys fault? You guys said it was gonna be our little secret but you went to spill it to everyone.

Liz came in holding a box in her hand and she smirked at Zora and he just sighed and suddenly, Asuna came running in.

Asuna: What are we gonna do, Kirito? We've got ourselves a huge problem!

(Timeskip)

Curently, Zora, Philia, Kirito, and Asuna are in KOB HQ on floor 55 and they are standing in front of the commander of the guild, Heathcliff.

Heathcliff: Outside of boss fight, I don't believe we've actually met, Kirito.

Kirito: Well, there was that conference on floor 67, we talked a little bit there, Commander Heathcliff.

Heathcliff: Yes, that was a difficult battle, wasn't it? We almost lost a few players there too. We may be the top guild, but we barely have enough by the amount of troops we have. And now here you are, trying to poach one of our best player, I don't know what to say?

Kirito: If she's that important, maybe you should do a better job picking a bodyguard.

Heathcliff: You have my sincere apologize for whatever trouble you had with, Kuradeel. But you must understand that we simply cannot allow our second in command to leave the guild, just like that. If you want her, you'll have to use your dual blades to take her from us. If you can defeat me in combat, you'll be free to take Asuna with you. On the other hand if you lose, you will join the Knights of the Blood Oath.

Kirito: Okay. If you want to settle it with swords that's fine by me. We'll have ourselves a duel then.

Heathcliff: Then we have an agreement then.

Heathcliff then looked at Zora.

Heathcliff: And you Zora, I've heard that you also posse the dual wielding skills. I'll also ask you, will you please join the Knights of the Blood Oath?!

Zora: Sorry... But I have no interest in joining your guild. No...I have no interest in joining any type of guild.

Heathcliff: I see. That's disappointing. I've heard many great things about you and you would make an excellent member.

Heathcliff then looked at Philia.

Heathcliff: And what about you miss Philia. Are you interested in joining our guild?

Philia: Sorry... but my answers is the same as Zora.

Heathcliff: I see... I will not try any further then. But as for duel, Kirito. It will be held in the colosseum at floor 75, tomorrow.

Zora, Philia, Kirito, and Asuna then walked out of the room and Heathcliff kept his eyes on Zora as he left.

Heathcliff: You've sure have grown...

(Timeskip)

Currently, Zora and Philia are with Asuna and Kirito in the back room of the colosseum as Kirito is getting ready for his duel and Asuna is scolding him.

Asuna: Your such an idiot! How could you agree to a duel?

Kirito: Okay...calm down! It's not like he gave me any other choice.

Asuna: The other day, when you guys use your dual wielding? I've never seen anything like that before. But the thing is, the commander has his own unique skills too.

Kirito: I know...I've seen it several times.

Zora: The Divine Blade. It maximize his offense and defenses moves. His attack is strong, but his defense is incredible.

Philia: I've heard that no ones ever seen the commanders HP bar deep down into the yellow zone before. His invincibility is beyond the normal game power.

Kirito: I know...

Asuna: What if you lose? I don't care if I get my leave of absent. I care of having you joins the KOB.

Kirito: Well, I don't plan to lose easily.

Kirito then went to the arena where Heathcliff was waiting for him and Zora, Philia, and Asuna stood near the entrance of the arena.

Heathcliff: I'm sorry about this, Kirito. I didn't think it would be such a big deal. This is crazy.

Kirito: I'll be taking a cut of the earnings.

Heathcliff: No, but when we're finish you'll become an official member of the guild. I'll consider this your first mission.

Heathcliff then open up his menu and sent Kirito a dual request and Kirito accepted it and as the count down went down, Kirito drew his 2 swords and Heathcliff drew his.

Asuna: Do you guys think, Kirito is going to be okay...?

Philia: He should be able to break his defense if he keeps attacking. It's just a matter of time. What do you think Zora?

Zora didn't answer and just keep looking at them which confused both Asuna and Philia.

Philia: Zora...?

Zora: It's just doesn't make sense? No matter how strong his defense is there's no way that his HP never hits yellow. There's gotta be something fishy and I want to find it during this battle.

Asuna and Philia looked back at Kirito and as the countdown reaches zero, Kirito rushed at Heathcliff, but he blocked it with his shield and Kirito went in with a barrage of attacks but Heathcliff just blocked  them all.

Heathcliff then faked out Kirito by getting ready to shield bash him, but he went for a thrust attack but Kirito managed to cross guard Heathcliff attacked but was pushed back. Heathcliff then rushed at Kirito and Kirito went to slash him, but Heathcliff it Kirito with his shield.

Zora: He attack with his shield?

Heathcliff then pushed Kirito back, Kirito then charged up the Sword Skill "Vorpal Strike" and lunged at Heathcliff, but he blocked it again.

Heathcliff: Splendid reaction time.

Kirito: Yeah... and your defense is impregnable.

Kirito and Heathcliff rushed at one another and continued to clash and Asuna continued to looked with a concern face.

Asuna: Kirito...

Kirito then managed to get a hit on Heathcliff face and Heathcliff looked shocked. Kirito then used his sword skill " Starburst Stream" and started to slash at Heathcliff shield and managed to break through.

Philia: He has him...!

Just as Kirito was getting ready to land his final blow, Zora saw Heathcliff shield move way to quickly and managed to block Kirito last attack and Zora was completely shocked.

Zora(mind): What the hell...?

Heathcliff then slashed Kirito, lowering his HP to yellow and winning the duel, leaving the three of them shocked.

Zora(mind): Did I just see that right...?

(Timeskip)

Currently, Zora, Philia, Kirito, and Asuna are in Zora and Kirito house and Kirito is trying on his KOB uniforms from him now being apart of the guild from losing the duel.

Kirito: Don't you guys have uniforms that aren't so flashy?

Philia: White doesn't really suit you.

Asuna: Actually, that's one of are less flashy one. You look great.

Kirito then sit down onto his bed frowning.

Kirito: I'm in a guild?

Asuna: I guess it is sort my fault, isn't it?

Kirito: No, this is a good opportunity. As a solo player I got as far as I could go.

Asuna: That makes me a little feel a little better...

Asuna then looked at Zora and Philia.

Asuna: That being said, why don't you join guys? Like the commander said, you guys would make an excellent member.

Zora didn't say anything and looked down while Philia just awkwardly smiled.

Philia: Sorry Asuna, I'm just not good with guild.

Zora: I'm sorry, I'm not interested on joining a guild. I refuse to joined one...

Asuna then looked down.

Asuna: Hey, Kirito, Zora. Why do you guys avoid guild and people? I hope you don't mind me asking?

Kirito didn't say anything and Zora just looked down and his hand started shaking.

Asuna: I mean it's not cause you guys a beta tester or because you guys have Unique Skill, is it? You guys care about people. That goes double for you Zora, your the, if not kindest person I've ever met in my life. So why do you avoid people?

Kirito: I was a long time ago. About a year or so, up to now that was the only guild I was in. It was small, including me there was six of us in it. They call themselves the Moonlit Black Cats. As players they were good, but their levels are way lower than mine. And I thought that if I told them my levels was they wouldn't wanted me around. So I decided to keep my mouth shut about it and I joined up with them. I watched them messing around having fun, and I guess I wanted to be part of that too. Then one day, we entered a trap room... and everyone was nearly killed. It took me everything I had to save them. I'm the reason the whole guild was almost wiped out. If I hadn't hidden the fact that I was a beta testers, I could've convinced them how dangerous that trap really was. So once I cleared it, I left, I left the guild and avoided all contact with them and I haven't heard from them since...

Asuna then looked at Kirito surprised.

Asuna: I'm sorry for what happened.

Kirito: It's fine. But that's the reason I avoided guild and people. I'm afraid if I bring them to some kind of danger, like them.

Asuna then looked at Zora.

Asuna: What about you, Zora? Why do you avoided people and guild?

Zora didn't say anything and his hand was still shaking and everyone noticed it and Kirito just close his eyes saddened as well, because he knew what happened to him and his past.

Philia: Zora...? Your hand is shaking...

Kirito: Zora, if you don't won't to tell them I understand. I know what happened to you was a terrible thing. So if your not ready is fine... but I know you can overcome this.

Asuna: You know why?

Kirito: Yeah, he told me everything. And I say it was the worst thing anyone could have experienced.

Philia: Zora if you don't want to tell its fine we understand...

Zora then looked down saddened and sighed.

Zora: It was a long long time ago. I think its been 9 to 10 years since it happened. It was just normal day, I was having fun with friends until it got dark, so we had home. When I arrived at the house, the house was completely empty which is odd because my parents was supposed to have arrived hours ago? After waiting for 3 hours someone finally walked in and it was my uncle and his co-workers searching the house for my parents. When I asked him, he said that my parents stole money from the company and was selling drugs in a black market.

Both Asuna and Philia looked at Zora completely shocked and Kirito continued to close his eyes as Zora continued to tell his story.

Zora: After that day, I was forced to move in to one relatives house because I was to young to defend for myself. When I arrived they were greeting me happily so I thought that they could help me overcome this, but it turns out I was wrong.

Philia: What do you mean?

Zora: It was a week after I moved in. I overheard one of my relatives talking to someone in his phone and it turns out that he was cursing me and said that he wants them to take me off his hand.

Both Asuna and Philia looked completely shocked.

Zora: So for 7 years of my life. I've been moving in and moving out, from one place to another. And all of the people who took me in, all of them lied to me through their teeth. They keep saying how happy they were to see me but it turns out they were just cursing me. Hoping that I died just like my parents. And all of the schools that I moved in wasn't any better because they found out about my parents criminal record and would just look down on me.

Zora then started crying and Asuna and Philia were completely shocked.

Zora: I was alone, I didn't have anyone. Until I met Rumia... the one person that didn't looked down on me... the one person who didn't see me as a son of a criminal... the one person who see me as a family... and she died... she died protecting me from a group of player killers...my last remaining family I had... she's dead because of me.

Multiples tears continued to stream down on Zora's face as he started to break down.

Zora: And after we clear the 100th floor, you'll all go back to your families and friends, and I'll have to go back to being alone again!

Suddenlly, Philia and Asuna hugged Zora from both side and he looked at them shocked.

Asuna: I'm sorry... I'm sorry you had to go through all that...

Philia: We're not like those people who abandoned you. We're your friends. No matter what.

Asuna: And if no one won't to see you as a family, then I will.

Kirito: Same goes for me...

Philia: Me too...

Asuna: We won't ever turn our backs on you, we won't ever abandon you, we won't let you be alone anymore.

Zora eyes widened when he heard Asuna, Philia, and Kirito said that, remembering Rumia saying the exact same words to him.

(Flashback)

Rumia message: Don't believe for one moment that you will be alone on this world, I know that you will find someone that will never abandon you, just like how I was. You will find friends and family who will love and care about you.

(Flashback ended)

Zora then started to break down even more, and hugged both Asuna and Philia tightly and started crying.

Zora: Thank you all of you.

Philia: Of course...

(Timeskip)

Currentely, Zora and Philia are walking on the 55th floor trying to do a quest they picked up together and Zora is smiling happily.

Philia: Look at you now...

Zora: What is it?

Philia: The boy who have no emotions at all is now smiling happily...

Zora just looked away blushing and Philia just smiled at him and as they were walking, they heard running coming from behind them and they turned around and saw Asuna and she looked panicked and terrified.

Asuna: Zora, Philia, I'm so glad I ran into you!

Philia: Asuna, what's wrong? Why are you so worked up?

Zora: Is something the matter?

Asuna: Kirito might be in trouble!

Philia: Huh?

Zora: What do you mean...?

Asuna: No time to explain, please come with me!

Philia: Right!

Zora You got it!

Zora, Philia and Asuna all sped off to the field and as they were running, they saw Kirito on the ground with Kuradeel stabbing him with his sword and Zora ran up and kicked him into the wall and Asuna ran up to Kirito and healed him.

Asuna: We made it...We made it in time! Thank god.

Zora then took out his sword and was glaring at Kuradeel but Asuna stopped him.

Asuna: Stand down, Zora! He's mine...

Zora out his sword away and Asuna walked past him and bring out her rapier and walked up to Kuradeel completely furious.

Kuradeel: A-Asuna, I can explain everything, we were just training and all of a sudden...

Asuna just slashed Kuradeel face and used the Sword Skill "Star Splash" and lowered his HP at the red and he got to his knees.

Kuradeel: I give up...I surrender, please don't kill me! I'll leave the guild you'll never see me again, I promise! Please....! I don't want to die!

Asuna then went to stabbed Kuradeel head but stop inches away and Kuradeel then quickly grabbed his sword and knocked Asuna rapier and went to slash her, but Zora got in front of her and blocked the hit with his arm, getting cut off. Zora then used a sword skill on his hand and stabbed Kuradeel in the chest, draining his HP killing him.

Kuradeel: You murdered me...

Zora then walked up to Kuradeel sword and picked it up and saw that it had Laughing Coffin symbol on it and he gritted his teeth.

Zora: Laughing Coffin...

Philia then walked up to him and put her hand in his shoulder and he looked back at and sighed and he just threw the sword away to the ground and they looked back and saw Kirito and Asuna kissing and they just smiled at them.

Philia: Come on. Lets not ruin their moment.

Zora: Right... We still have a quest to finish.

Zora and Philia left the Kirito and Asuna without saying a word, not ruining their moment.