After changing the wet utensils and drying ourselves with towels, we sat on the sofa in the living room. Shino said: "Let me make something that can warm your body." Then he cooked the soup and we sat on the sofa facing each other.
"Then can you tell me what happened?"
The girl wiped her hair with a towel, looked at me and replied.
"First I want to tell you my name. I'm Yuuki. What about you?"
After hearing the girl's name, I pointed to Yui sitting next to me and Lilan sitting on my shoulder.
\"I am Kirito, this is Yui, and the one on my shoulder is Lilan.\"
Yuuki said "Nice to meet you" to Yui and Liran with a gentle smile. Just when I thought he was a very impressive person, Shino brought a tray with three cups of soup on it and placed it on the table in front of us. I immediately picked up one of them and handed it to Yuuki.
\"Well, I'm Shino. Well, please have something warm.\"
"Haha, thank you for your warmth."
Yuuki took the cup from Shino, tilted it to her mouth, and drank the soup while making a sound. Within seconds he had swallowed the whole thing, removing the cup from his lips and looking completely relieved.
\"Nyaha I am resurrected because my body is cold.\"
"That's fine"
Saying that, I also put the soup prepared by Shino into my mouth. I knew it was corn soup from the thick yellow soup and aroma, and it slowly heated up. It seemed that Yui was the same, she drank the corn soup in one go and breathed a sigh of relief.
Immediately afterwards, Shino sat down next to us on a large sofa that could only accommodate one person, and shouted to Yuuki.
"So, what happened to you to become like this? Is it because the transition crystal malfunctioned or something?"
Yuuki crossed her arms and looked like she was thinking about something.
"There's something I want to confirm. Where is this place? I know it's in VRmmo."
\"This is the 22nd floor of Aincrad.\"
\"Aincrad?\"
"Yeah, yeah, it's in a game called Sword Art Online."
The next moment, Yuuki's expression became extremely surprised.
"S-Sword Art Online!? In Sword Art Online, if the game ends, you will die in real life!?"
From that reaction, I understood that since two years ago, Yuuki no longer came to this world as Shino. In other words, it was because I had a conversation with Shinon, who originally didn't exist in this world.
"If you reacted like that you weren't in this world to begin with."
I turned my face to Shino, but Shino said nothing and nodded. I was instructed that this person was the same person as me. Then, Yui whispered to me.
\"There is no Yuuki-san's name in the diary from two years ago.
\"I see, it turns out that she and Shino are the same\"
\"I turned to Yuuki.\"
\"Then, Yuuki, please tell me how you came here, or what you were doing before you came here.
Yuuki nodded.
"Before I came here, I was playing a game called ALo."
Arlo? It sounds similar to SAo, but is it the abbreviation of some kind of online game?
"Is it an online game?"
\"Yes. It's a game called \"Alfheim online\" but when I try to play it, I launch the app and when I start linking it's not where I logged out before, but in Kirito In his arms. Hey, is this really SAo and not ALo?"
It's the same as Shino and Alice. This person was also caught by SAo who arrived in the online world and was kidnapped into this world. SAo is a game with kidnapping capabilities.
The thought of Kayaba Akihiko creating a game that trapped people in it, and even had the ability to kidnap people, made me feel a surge of rage.
\"That's true. The name of this world is "Sword Art Online\" and the name of this place is Aincrad. It's a demon game that kills dead players even in real life and will kill Kill those who connect to the Internet and go to the world. The VR world. This is a world where people can be kidnapped if conditions permit."
"Hey, do you want to scold people in the online world? Is this really true?"
\"Yeah, actually you sneaked into a game called ALo, but fell into SAo, I understand.\"
Yuuki's expression changed, as if he had seen something terrible.
"This kind of thing is possible. So, if I have zero health in this world, will I die in real life?"
"That's what happened, and I think it's a very shocking thing, but now that I've been brought into this world, the rules of this world apply."
Yuuki lowered her head. ALo is definitely a game that does not have the killing ability like SAo, so it is a substitute that can be played casually. If you try to dive into such a mediocre, stress-free game and then hear that you're in the devil's game that's being talked about in the news, you're going to want to despair, and if you're not good enough, you're going to go crazy. may eventually
\"Yuki, are you okay?\"
The moment I touched Yuuki's shoulder, Yuuki raised her head.
\"Hey Kirito, I have no contact with the outside world here. I promised to play with an important person in ALo and then I sneaked in, but I was sure about that person and I was surprised that I didn't come. That's why I gave that person send email"
Yui shook her head.
"Unfortunately, this world is completely isolated from the outside world and has no contact with the outside world. I can only try to escape."
Yuki made a face as if she realized something.
\"Speaking of which, I saw a piece of news on the Internet that people trapped in SAo can escape as long as they clear the customs. Do you really do that?\"
"Ah, so far, we have reached the 60th floor, but there is still a long way to go before the 100th floor, and the game is getting harder and harder. He said it will take a long time to reach the 100th floor." Floor. Not bad
After Yuuki lowered his head, he immediately raised his head.
"Can I cooperate with you?"
We were surprised by Yuuki's sudden words.
\"Hey, is this true, Yuuki? This is not a game you play, this is a game where demons kill players, a game where you die if you are hit. This is not what you should be playing.\"
Yuuki turned to me. A serious expression appeared on his face.
"I don't play games for fun. ALo or other games. Besides, this world is a killing game, isn't it? This kind of thing must end as soon as possible. I think games make people happy." "I can't kill you."
\"Of course, Yuki is right.\" Games are not meant to restrict people, let alone kill people. Although this world is a living world, it is ultimately a game, a world of murderous demons.
There is nothing wrong with this world having to end. This is the light that Yui shines in the hearts of all players who take it.
"Moreover, I am very confident in my own strength. If the world is a game of fighting monsters, I don't want to lose."
I thought he was a swordsman because when Yuuki came down, he had a sword hanging on his waist, but since the sword wasn't very good, I didn't think he was a very strong swordsman.
"Really? How strong are you?"
\"I'm also known as <Jue Fist> in ALo. Why don't you come and see the duel?\"
Yuuki smiled proudly, but if you are within range, your HP will not decrease even if you fight, so you can confirm the strength of your opponent. It seems that Yuuki wants to join the capture team, so it’s just right. Yuuki's eyes are sincere, but if it weren't for his abilities, fighting on the front line would be extremely dangerous.
"Okay, then let's go to a vast area in the city and I'll go there to see what I can do. I don't play games for fun, I play swords."
"Okay. In exchange, if I win—"
"Uh, do you want to bet?"
"It wouldn't be fun unless you made a bet, wouldn't it? If I win."
Yuuki pointed at me. He opened his mouth with a serious look on his face.
“Buy me the most delicious restaurant in the world!”
Yuuki's words almost made me, Shino, and Lilan weak in shock. With such a serious expression, I thought he would ask me to give him all his things, or give me all his money, but I didn’t expect he would ask me to treat him to the best food in this small town in the world. .I didn’t even look at it. Or rather, it's a pretty light bet, hey.
"what is that?"
"It's not like that at all! Even in VR, food is a very important element, isn't it? I came to a world where if I lose, I will die, but it's not that I'm not interested in the food here."
\"Yuki is right.\"If you lose, you will die, but there are many dishes here that do not exist in reality, and you can eat Western food at a cheaper price than in reality. I think I can understand why Yuji wanted to treat me to rice.
\"Understood. So if I defeat you Yuuki, can you tell me something about you?\"
Yuuki looked at me blankly.
"I want to know myself."
"Yeah, just like you announced to be our companion as soon as you arrived, you should know a little more about your companion. The person you said you wanted to send an email to, that's what it feels like." I like it, don't you? "
Yuuki lowered her head slightly and shook her head.
“No difference”
"Well, here's the rule. If I win, you talk to me. I'll talk to you about yourself."
Yuuki nodded awkwardly, wondering where the good mood had gone. Immediately afterwards, Shino came to me and whispered to me.
\"Kirito, are you okay?\"
\"Ah, it doesn't matter. Yuuki is not a bad person. Like you, Lilann, Diabel, and Klein, he has a serious face and is willing to cooperate with us. Yuuki is a good person. If Yuuki is a bad person. If Well, Lelan might be wary and aggressive, but Lelan is not like that.”
"That's fine, but that girl looks very delicate, but I wonder if she is really okay?"
"In my heart, I also feel that you are very fragile." But even though Shino is so fragile, since he wields a dagger and calmly controls a bow that is difficult for ordinary people to use, Yuuki must have felt the same way.
\"Well, if you dueled him, you'd understand. Yuuki might be really strong though. Or rather, he looks like Asuna.\"
\"To Asuna?\"
\"Yes. Even Asuna is stronger than you think from the outside. Maybe, but I think Yuki is too. So I believe you can trust her power.\"
"I hope so..."
When he looked at Yuuki with those eyes, he saw Yuuki's eyes sparkling as if he really wanted to fight. I think my fighting-loving look matches that figure.
\"Well, Yuki. Then let's go to the village and duel, okay?\"
"It's okay, are there any rules?"
The duel in this world is a full settlement mode that fights until the opponent is really dead. It is a half-life settlement mode that ends when one party's health value is halved. The first one to hit wins, but both sides are in first place. If you don't do this, there are three first hit settlement modes that can be won by halving health, but the safest of them all is the first hit settlement mode.
No matter how high the level is, if the first attack is solved, "when the HP becomes half, the judgment ends and the battle ends", so the HP will disappear and you will not die. In addition, if the power of the technique or attack is too high, the health will really disappear and death will occur, so it is extremely dangerous.
"Let's play a one-hit duel mode. In this case, the party that hits first wins, but if one of the parties fails to attack, the opponent's health will be reduced until the health is reduced to half, the attack detection disappears, and then the opponent's HP will be reduced. The side that cuts it in half wins.
\"Okay, that's it. Then you won't lose HP.\"
"I understand, okay, now that we've decided, let's go out."
When I stood up, I took an excited Yuuki, a worried Shino, Yui who didn't understand Yuuki, and Lilan to the venue on the 22nd floor, and I got out of the car. Perhaps because a world different from ALo was unfolding, Yuuki stared at the venue on the 22nd floor with shining eyes, seemingly admiring the scenery.
Yuuki says he doesn't play games for fun, but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy it. No, maybe Yuuki sees the world of ALo, which is not a death game, as a different world from the real world. As much as we acknowledge this world, the death game created by Kayaba Akihiko is another world.
\"If Yuuki is really that kind of person, maybe he will get along with us.\"——I feel like I have more real friends, and my heart beats.
Just as I was thinking this, I arrived at a town on the 22nd floor of the safe zone. In terms of scale, I arrived at a place equivalent to a village.
When I got there, I looked around and saw that there was only one street tree and a few buildings. If we talked about wells and the like, they were enough for a duel. If we were here, even if it was our first duel, we wouldn't be involved with anyone, so it should be fine.
\"Well, it seems like there's no problem here. Let's get started, Yuki.\"
"Okay! So, how does the duel begin?"
I immediately opened the menu window, brought up the duel item, selected the first attack final mode, and sent it to Yuuki. Immediately afterwards, Yuuki opened the menu window with familiar movements and turned her attention to the content. Probably yes, but there will be a sentence asking if you agree to the duel, and a "yes" button and a "no" button to decide whether to accept it or not.
“I just sent you a duel request.
"No problem, let's leave early!"
"Before that, I have to confirm first." Under the first hit settlement rule, when the health value is reduced by half after continuing to attack, the attack judgment and health value phenomenon judgment will disappear, but the health value will not disappear, but in case the power is too great , if you launch an attack and get hit by it, your HP will disappear, and you cannot say that you have a possibility of death like in reality. I had to tell him not to use too strong a technique.
\"Before that, Yuuki, I want to say one thing, but I won't use very powerful techniques.\"
"Uh, why?"
"As I just said, in this game, if your health disappears, you will die immediately. Whether in this world or in the real world, situations such as excessive damage may occur, and your life The value may drop to 0. If this happens, you will both be in trouble, so please try not to use powerful tricks, and of course I will do the same."
"Okay, in that case, I will protect you."
Just when I thought she was a very considerate girl, Yuuki manipulated the window with familiar gestures and clicked the "Yes" button to display it. The next moment, the countdown sounded in our ears, and we all prepared our weapons. As expected, Yuuki is not a monster, nor does he seem to be a formidable enemy, so it is better not to dual-wield and fight with one-handed sword.
Then, when the countdown ended and the sound of the duel starting sounded in each other's ears, I kicked Yuuki.
While sinking, he kicked the ground and ran like a giant dragon in the air. When he came to Yuuki, he twisted his body and attacked Yuuki from the right side with his sword.
The next moment, Yuuki stretched out the sword in his hand and collided with my sword. The spark effect spread out and both of their faces were illuminated red. I see, Yuuki’s reaction speed seems to be fast enough to match my speed. At this point, I understood that Yuuki's arms were quite high. However, the battle has just begun.
He turned his body in one breath, approached Yuuki again, and instantly switched his sword to his left hand. This time he attacked from the left, but a thick smile appeared on Yuuki's lips, as if he had understood this action. Then he swung his sword again and bounced my sword back.
He temporarily caught the sword that had slipped from his hand with his right hand, and when he turned to face Yuuki, he was surprised to see Yuuki's face right there. Are you saying you can follow me, a person who can move in frames? This Yuuki is no ordinary thing.
Just as I was thinking this, Yuuki's blade flew towards my face. In an instant, he changed into a twisted shrimp posture, grabbed the tip of Yuuki's sword in front of him, and then kicked Yuuki's arm away using the somersault method in the fighting game, breaking Yuuki's posture, and then somersaulted , corrected the posture. , kicked up the ground, this time aimed at Yuuki's abdomen from the side, and swung the sword.
This attack will hit Yuuki - or so I thought, Yuuki regained her posture and stabbed her sword near the abdomen, blocking my sword.
The sword lights collided again, and sparks scattered again, illuminating their bodies. At that time, Yuki's power was stronger than I imagined. The impact of the sword flowed into my hand through the blade and hilt, and a feeling similar to numbness spread throughout my right hand.
Yuuki probably felt the same shock, but Yuuki's expression didn't even change, and I hit my own body with the sword.
The first attack fails, so the fight continues until the health is reduced to half. Now, my health has dropped slightly, and there is a gap between me and Yuuki, who is still full of health.
"I didn't expect that I was hit with the first blow." According to the guy who has been dueling me until now, it seemed that the sword screen was magical when I was fighting. It was pressed by it, exposing the gap, and I lost like this. But Yuuki didn't get any pressure at all, and he and I were evenly matched.
"No, I don't know if they're really evenly matched, who's on top, who's on bottom." But I don't think it matters. Because I haven't had such a fun fight in a long time. The fight with Yuuki was so much fun!
"Wow!!"
The body that was shaken by Yuuki's attack regained its weight. After landing with force, he kicked up with a force that broke the ground, quickly approached Yuuki, succumbed to his speed, and struck Yuuki with his sword.
As expected, Yuuki couldn't understand this, so he raised his sword and tried again, but my sword hit Yuuki like a flash of light. Finally, I confirmed that I could cause damage to the body of the girl named "Absolute Sword" and reduce her health. This fight will continue until my health is reduced to half, though, so it's not the end yet.
Maybe he and I had the same idea, Yuuki reversed his position with a sharp look, and when he struck out with the light in his sword again, I also covered my sword with light and struck hard.
A loud noise and shock wave like an explosion came out, setting off a thick dust cloud around them. I instantly understood what was going on. When I jumped into the dust cloud, tearing and pushing forward, I I immediately saw Yuki's appearance, and this time I slashed at him from above without letting the sword shine.
Yuuki immediately raised his head, saw me, and raised his sword to fight back. The moment I saw the effect of the sparks, I instantly landed on Yuuki's sword, turned over, and hit Yuuki from directly above again. Ji's sword. .Slam.
Now this one is like an application for aerial combat with Lelan, fighting alongside Lelan when it's not a boss fight. I kicked Lilan's back, then jumped up and cut the enemy, then I kicked Lilan's back, and it flew to my destination, but it was moving at an alarming speed, in one frame Within a unit of time, it flew into the air again - it couldn't be like this. I never thought it would be useful.
Perhaps because he could no longer read my movements, Yuuki lost his balance, creating a large gap. However, for Yuuki, whose reaction speed is astonishing, it can be rebuilt in less than a tenth of a second. Hit it in front of it!
"look!"
Just as Yuuki's head was about to explode, Yuuki regained her balance and turned her body to the right, just as I expected. The tip of the sword did not graze Yuuki's head, but his shoulder. It only slightly reduced his health, but the moment I landed, I rushed towards Yuuki like I was gliding.
Yuuki aimed at me without moving and fired a series of thrusts, but I dodged them all. He then jumped into Yuuki's arms while striking out with his sword multiple times.
If you use sword skills, you can increase your strength and speed, but after the sword skills are activated, your weaknesses will be exposed, so don't use them. And just when I was about to hit Yuuki with the last shot, Yuuki, who had been hit, suddenly turned around, flicked my sword away, and turned to attack. What on earth did it come from? Is this just an attack? Or sword skills? If it's just an attack, you can still block and parry, but if it's a sword skill, there's no way to block.
Yuuki's attack speed and attack power are both higher than any player I've seen so far, and the power is also very different. If you receive something like this, your health will be halved in the blink of an eye, and the duel will be over.
(wait?)
This kind of strange high output, reaction speed, and combat effectiveness, I feel like I have seen it before somewhere. It feels like you're not using the same Nerve gear, but some kind of special hardware. I feel like the people around me are very similar. Isn’t this feeling Shino? The hardware used by Sinon is determined
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
Following Yuuki's roar, I regained consciousness and returned my gaze to the front. There, Yuki tried to stab the sword at me without letting it shine. With this, I can block non-sword skill attacks in the future. Just as I was thinking this, Yuuki's sword pierced my body.
Is it beyond my reaction speed? Just when I was about to think this, my body had already erupted ten stabs, and spark-like effects were flying and flickering in front of my eyes. Just when Yuuki was about to launch the final blow, the eleventh blow, as if to break through it - the moment when my HP was halved and the game was over - Yuuki was a little surprised.
"Ahhhh?"
Yuuki's movements slowed down significantly, and there was a confused expression on his face, as if he had lost his usual state. No, the speed may not actually have changed, but to me it has clearly shifted to slow motion. Now I can dodge Yuuki's sword and even deflect it. Of course, it is also possible to add a blow.
I crouched down to avoid Yuuki's approaching sword, then poured all my strength into the sword, turning my body along with the sword. The sword wrapped in strong centrifugal force bit into Yuuki's abdomen, and a clear reaction spread from the blade to the whole body.
"Wow!!!"
I shook the sword away as if to throw away something stuck in it. A thick cloud of dust rolled up, but Yuuki's body that was blown away got into it and finally disappeared.
It's about Yuuki, he will immediately regain his balance and rush in - I thought this while waiting, but Yuuki's attack did not come, and just when I was disappointed, the dust cloud dispersed. Yuuki seemed to have collided with a nearby building and was trapped on the ground in front of him.
Before I knew it, the duel was over—and I was the winner.
