Alice: I didn't make it in time.

Sinon watched the crying knight in golden armour clinging to the scarred body of the older swordsman in silence. At the knight's side, two huge dragons hung their heads, apparently sharing in the grief.

Sinon gently touched the rock top, Alice heard the soft landing and turned back to see Sinon standing with a grim expression on her face. Sinon began walking slowly toward the crying knight, knowing she had to explain that Bercouli was dead but Vecta was not.

Alice: Did you... come from the real world, as well?"

Sinon: yes, I am Sinon. I'm a sister in law of Asuna, Sachi, and Kirito and Yami's mates. I came here to rescue you and Bercouli from Vecta... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to make it in time.

Sinon bowed in apology to the girl. Alice just shook her head.

Alice: No... I was such a fool. How's the battle going?"

Sinon: Asuna, Sachi and the Human Empire are holding off the red forces from the real world... but just barely.

Alice: Then I will return north to them.

Alice said, getting unsteadily to her feet. She tried to head to one of the dragons, but Sinon stopped her.

Sinon: You can't do that. Alice, you need to continue south to the World's End Altar. If you can touch the console... no, the crystal panel on the altar, you should hear voices from the real world.

Alice: Why? Emperor Vecta is already dead?

Sinon: Because... because that's not true.

And then Sinon explained it all. About how if a real worlder died in the Underworld, they did not truly lose their life. That the enemy who dwelled in Vecta's body was surely coming to attack again in a different form this time.

Alice reacted with tremendous fury, as though emotions she'd just barely been holding in check all exploded at once.

Alice: So... the foe that Uncle gave his... life to slay is not even dead?! He's only temporarily vanished and will return to life as though nothing ever happened... I that what you are telling me?!

She shouted, her armour clanking as she closed in on Sinon.

Alice: That... that nonsense cannot be allowed to pass!! Then... why did Uncle... why did he have to die?! What is a duel when only one combatant is risking his life... but a folly, a farce?!

Her blue eyes filled with tears again, and all Sinon could do was stare.

Sinon took a deep breath and stared at Alice, who had fallen to her knees, sobbing. She placed her hands on Alice's shoulders and said firmly.

Sinon: Yami went through that because he was trying to save you, Alice. He went through all of what they did for that purpose. Are you trying to say that the way he felt was false? And it's not just Yami. The same goes for your commander. He suffered all these wounds and ultimately gave his life to create the opportunity to save you. He gave us this valuable time to escape from the enemy's clutches.

There was no answer right away. Alice simply stared back silently at the prone body of Bercouli.

Big tears began to fall from his eyes again- until the golden knight clenched them shut and raised her head, resisting some urge. In a hoarse voice, she asked

Alice: Sinon, if I... If I leave through the World's End Altar to the real world, will I be able to return here? Will I be able to see my loved ones again...?

Her mind flashed an image of Selka then Eugeo brightly smiling at her with his arm extended. Sadly, Sinon did not have the truthful answers to Alice's pressing questions. All she knew for certain was that if the enemy got Alice, the Underworld itself would be a barren wasteland with no Underwolders in sight.

So Sinon nodded her head slowly.

Sinon: Yes. As long as you... and the Underworld are safe.

Aloce: Very well. Then I will continue south. I don't know what awaits at the World's End Altar, but if that is what Uncle, along with Yami would wish I do.

Alice knelt, white skirt splaying outward so that she could tenderly brush Bercouli's hair, and she placed her lips on his forehead. When she stood up again, the knight's body seemed surrounded by an aura of newfound purpose.

Alice: Amayori, Takiguri, just a bit more work to do.

She said to the dragons, then turned back to Sinon.

Alice: And... what will you do, Sinon?

Sinon: Now it's my turn to use this life. I think Vecta will come back to life on this spot. I'll find a way to beat him... or at least to buy you enough time to do what's necessary.

Alice tucked in her bottom lip and lowered her head.

Alice: Please do. I will be sure that your sentiments do not of to waste.

Just before she flew off into the air, she spoke again still facing south.

Alice: Sinon, may I ask a question?

Sinon turned back to the knight with curiosity,

Sinon: What is it?

She asked gazing at the back of the golden knight.

Alice. How's Yami? How's Eugeo?

Sinon was about to ask why but stopped herself when she glanced at the cheeks of the knight. They were red, her ears were red as well and it was the reason why she didn't face Sinon to ask for this favour.

Sinon: Eugeo is doing finally really handling the battles with Kirito. Yami still in that state but I'm sure he'll wake up.

Sinon grinned as Alice immediately took off into the air once she heard Sinon's words.

Sinon saw the two dragons off as they flew into the southern sky, then took the white longbow off her shoulder.

Apparently, it was highly likely that the people who attacked the Ocean Turtle were private military contractors working with the support of the American government. One of them used the Vecta Super account, dark god, to attack Alice.

It was the kind of opponent that Sinon, just a normal teenage girl in the real world, could never deal with.

But here, in a one-on-one fight in a virtual world? She would beat anyone who crossed her path.

With that oath in mind, Sinon waited and waited for the moment her enemy dived back in. She heard footsteps as she ready up her bow.

????: woah easy there Sinon, it's me.

Sinon: Kitsune? Why are you doing here?

Kitsune: providing back up.

Sinon: so...did they figured it out? That your master is a observer and trying to change the timeline?

Kitsune: no they haven't figured it out.

Sinon: hehe we're now partners again back in GGO.

Kitsune: yes I remember when you slapped Kirito because he was using a female avatar.

Sinon: still waiting for that match.

Kitsune: sure but get ready for him.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Sachi made her way to a group of healers from the real world, sitting next to Klein, Kirito and Asuna. Retsu took charge, sitting her small frame next to her master's mate, activating a healing ability.

Klein: Looks like things are about to wrap up, huh?"

Spoke Klein as they were being healed by some priests along with real worlders. Asuna turned from the wound being healed and turned to the red samurai.

Asuna: Thank you. Klein... I don't know how to show my appreciation.

Kirito: He can get us a meal when we meet up in the real world.

Kirito noted, saying thanks to the healer that was walking away.

Klein: Hey-! Actually, you know what? Fine.

Kirito was actually taken aback by Klein agreeing.

Klein: I owe you, Asuna, Sachi and Yami way too much to ever be able to pay you back so I guess a meal would be a great start after this.

Klein said with a grin.

Kirito: Maybe I'll make you buy me a meal somewhere expensive.

Kirito murmured to himself but was loud enough for Klein to hear.

Klein: Hey! I thought it was going to be at Dicey's Cafe?

Klein tried changing Kirito's mind in a pleading tone.

Kirito: I never said that.

Kirito got to his feet, sliding his black sword out of its black leather sheath. The healers all finished their healing and made their way to others that needed their help. Though Sachi stayed near Retsu, watching the battle in the distance. Baiken was fighting alongside Eugeo, he was holding an iron sword from the American players and was switching in between herself and Eugeo after each sword skill.

Medina was slashing the American players with burning effects from her sword, Artoria was near him using the holy energy from her sword by thrusting forward, creating an air cannon-type attack. Ichigo was using shunpo to increase his speed as he used his hollow mask to increase his power for the long battle he has been fighting since the start of this counterattack.

Asuna: Everything will go our way. I'm sure.

Asuna murmured to herself. Kirito, Sachi and Klein overheard and firmly agreed.

Kirito: Yeah, it will.

Klein: You said it! Now then, there's one more round to go."

Kirito: I know.

Kirito was about to make his way to the front of the battle, but something caught his eye above him. He froze.

Kirito: What the hell? It was something dark... like a black smear...

He glanced around, the black smear felt familiar and he felt as if he needed to find out what it was or something bad was going to happen. He finally spotted it after a quick glance.

Standing atop one of the huge holy statues that lined the path through the temple ruins, the closest one to the right-hand side, was a person.

It was hard to see against the glare of the sun. It was just a dark shadow, blurring into the red of the Dark Territory's sky. Was it one of the Americans who was taking refuge from the battle? Or one of the Japanese, using the opportunity to scout out the situation?

A closer examination revealed that the cause of the silhouette's flickering outline was a black half cloak that whipped in the wind. The cloak's hood was pulled low, keeping the face completely hidden.

Asuna and Sachi were about to walk to the front as well, but Kirito grabbed their arms stopping them as his breathing hastened.

Asuna: K...Kirito?

Asuna asked, worried about his breathing. They followed his gaze to see what he was looking at. Klein turned to the others his stubbled face, white as paper, Sachi and Asuna were wondering who he was as well.

Klein: No... it can't be. There's just no way... Am I... looking at a ghost...?

Kirito: Klein... It's him...

Kirito murmured, his eyes turning into a glare.

Klein: Yeah... There's no doubt... He's...That's the leader of the Laughing coffin...

The instant the girls heard that name, they felt the center of their heads freeze, like it had just turned to ice.

Laughing Coffin. That was the almighty red guild, the group of murderous PKers who'd terrorized the old, deadly SAO from its mid-level to late-game sections.

Kirito and Asuna both have seen the leader long ago, which meant Yami did as well. Sachi has barely seen the leader herself but she had encountered some red players, that seemed to have a connection to them, the day she met Yami for the first time. All she knew was his name from what Kirito told her, the man who was responsible for directly and indirectly killing a lot of the SAO players. He went by the name PoH.

He always wore a black poncho and did his bloody work with a huge dagger that was more like a meat cleaver than anything else. And now, two years later, that murderer was in the Underworld and watching Asuna, Sachi, Retsu and Klein from above.

Kirito: That bastard is here...?"

Kirito's voice was full of anger, and resentment toward the man above them. Sachi was in shock, this is the worst-case scenario and they knew what this man could do, like all those times in SAO.

It's an illusion. I'm seeing a ghost.

Begone. Go away.

But the black silhouette flickering in the heat haze just mocked her prayer by raising its right hand. Then it wiggled it back and forth in a sarcastic greeting.

And what she saw next was worse than her nightmares.

Next to the figure of the man in the black poncho, a new figure appeared out of thin air. then another. Then another.

An entire squad of red soldiers appeared on the roof of the massive temple ruins adjacent to the back of the statues. Another few dozen appeared atop the building on the left side of the path, too.

The new red army continued to arrive, and continued, and continued. A thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand.

When it passed two hundred thousand, Sachi stopped trying to estimate the number.

Sachi: It was impossible.

They had just succeeded, at great cost, nearly removing all five hundred thousand of the American players from the simulation. The other side couldn't possibly have arranged another such huge army in this short amount of time. But they couldn't be Japanese, either. If there was a misleading recruitment effort on the Japanese Internet to get people to the Underworld, Klein and the others would have noticed it.

It was an illusion. They were all shadows without form, created by sacred arts.

Even the Japanese players on the front line of battle, their victory all but complete over the remaining American straggler, stopped fighting and turned to watch. An eerie silence settled over the huge battlefield.

Then the murmuring began.

The rustling and activity of the red soldiers crowding the rooftops of the palatial temples reached Sachi's ears like a disquieting breeze. With the voices all blended together, Rain couldn't tell at the moment what language they were speaking. She concentrated hard and eventually heard a few voices speaking louder than the others.

"...Bigeopan Ilbonin."

"...Uri Narreul jikida."

"...Han Zhong lianmeng."

It wasn't English. It wasn't Japanese.

Kirito still had his hands on both Asuna and Sachi's arms, to their side was Klein, who uttered a wordless groan from deep in his throat.

Klein: Uhh... that's not good... That's really not good... That army ain't from Japan or the US...

Kirito's anger grew even more as he waited for Klein to finish.

Klein: Those are Chinese and Koreans.

—————-

Sinon awaited the arrival of the person who dwelled within the Emperor Vecta account to appear. The next moment they indeed appear, a black storm of black energy erupted from the top rock where Vecta was defeated.

Sinon gasped at the eerie sight as the surface of the rock was engulfed in black mud that shot up into the storm. She floating in the air with her bow in hand, waiting with her fingers on the bowstring.

Here he comes!

Slurd. A left hand appeared to join the right and rose out of the mud.

With a wet slosh, a man's head appeared.

It was a surprisingly unremarkable face. It certainly wasn't what she'd call attractive. His short blonde hair seemed plastered to his head, his nose was narrow, and his lips were thin. It was a caucasian face but oddly plain and underwhelming.

The man floated into the air, the wings of something unspeakable appeared below his feet. It had three eyes on the front, the scales were black as the storm but it wasn't a dragon or anything like that. The man stopped his ascent right in front of Sinon, dressed in a military-style outfit with a sword on his back.

Kitsune: There's no doubt... you know him.

Sinon: Those eyes... that face... I know him!

He reached forward into the empty air with his arms, for some reason. Sinon tensed, preparing for a spell or something of that nature, but that was not it. He curled his hands into a choking gesture and wrenched them together, simulating wringing her neck.

At last, and all at once, Sinon remembered. Her voice escaped from her lips, dry and hot.

Sinon: Subtilizer.

Kitsune growls as his master hated him for his reasons. For him he wanted him to suffer more than anybody has ever wanted.

Kitsune: great this is gonna be ugly.
——-

(In Ocean Turtle)

Ichiemon was descending the stairs, two men dressed in suits behind it with pistols in their hands. In the Maintenance duct, Higa was climbing down the ladder with a backpack strapped to his back and a headset on his head.

Rinko: Well, Higa? Any problems?

Rinko's voice came from the headset. Higa glanced up top to see a small figure poking their head out of the duct they had just climbed through.

Higa: Y-Yeah, we're managing. I think we should be able to climb down to the pressure bulkhead in another five minutes.

He said into the headset.

Rinko: Understood. Once you're ready, I'll give Ichiemon team the order to move in.

Rinko said unmoving even in the front of the steep drop below her.

Higa: Roger!"

They continued going down as fast as they could without falling off the ladder, which would lead to their deaths.

Rinko: Sorry about this, Mr. Yanai. Please look after him for me, all right?"

Yanai: Roger that.

Yanai replied, the side of his side filled in by something small but compact.

Critter watched the players from China and Korea swarm on the monitor screen like a giant cloud, until an alarm out of nowhere jolted him to his feet.

Critter: What's that...?!

He glanced over the console and noticed that a single red alert was blinking on a sub monitor off to the right.

Critter: Whoa... The lock on the pressure-resistant barrier's been undone! Someone, go check out the corridor!!

He shouted. Before the sentence had even left his mouth, Hans the lanky assault trooper had grabbed an assault rifle and sprinted out to see.

Higa already knew that the percussive Kata-ta-ta-ta sound coming through the walls of the cable duct belonged to Semiautomatic guns.

Rinko. The invaders just started attacking the Ichiemon team! Hurry!

Rinko told the pair of scrawny men. Higa glanced to the bottom of his right and saw his goal below him.

Higa: The cable maintenance connector is ten meters away.

He spoke to her into the headset.

Rinko: Then I'll monitor Kirito's and Yami's fluctlight in Subcon. Higa, good luck!

Rinko said before running back to Subcon.

Higa: Right!

Higa made it to his goal and lowered himself onto the control box platform.
———-

The players within the Underworld were all watching the growing population of red players. The Human Empire Army had moved into an open area to not be surrounded by the mass of red players that were atop the ruins.

PoH Comrades!

A voice in Korean gained the attention of the red players.

PoH: I am deeply grateful to you for answering my call to arms.

A black aura appeared around the body of PoH, the aura was very different than his fellow real worlder, Gabriel Miller. His was a mix of red, black and purple that appeared like a mist from his body, the work of his Incarnation.

PoH: Unfortunately, the test players who were alpha testing this site have already been killed by the Japanese. However, they've moved to another test location, so they can do the same thing here. The Japanese have hacked the server, and can produce as much high spec equipment as they want!

The army was instantly bristling with anger, tangible among the crowd of a hundred thousand.

PoH: Whereas, since we've been stripped of our admin privileges, we can only offer you the default equipment!"

"Protect our server!!"

"Let's kick the cowards out!"

The shouts continued, all in their respective languages but the Human Empire Army instantly knew that they were brimming with rage.

PoH: However, your sense of justice and unity won't be defeated by any sword or armour!

PoH turned to the group below him, all surrounding six wagons.

PoH: The enemy is right in front of us!

He pointed his cleaver downward and shouted, "GO!!" in English, a command that players of both countries would understand. The furious Army rolled like one massive being and burst into motion.

Asuna and Sachi left as Retsu stayed and rushed at the Korean and Chinese players with Kirito joining them immediately after. Philia, Yuna and the sleeping knights all charged forward together, working in tandem with one another. Agil and Klein rushed in with Lisbeth and Silica who were using their own weapons, magic for the last. Eugeo, Baiken along with Artoria, Ichigo and the rest of the groups all brandished their own weapons. Players from GGO worked in unison with the players from ALO, covering them from a distance with their automatic weapons.

After a short while in the carriage, Yami felt a piercing gaze from above and he saw the image of PoH maniacally cackling to himself. Yami despite him being in such state he would still glare at him if he could but he could only grit his teeth in anger at the image of the man laughing.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

End of Volume