April 1st.
SAO Survivors: 35,000
Number of Trainers: 4,400
Current Floor: 87
Since the beginning of this "Death Game," nearly 15,000 players had lost their lives—almost half again as many as the total number of players in the original game.
However, among these casualties, only about 6,000 had died due to quests, wild Pokémon battles, and floor clearings. 1,000 were slain by the Avenger guild, and the remaining 8,000 deaths were largely connected to those 1,000.
With the start of a new month, most players were filled with immense excitement.
It was very likely that they would be able to return to the real world within this month. It had been ten months since they had been trapped in Aincrad, and the shift from initial despair to newfound hope was evident to all.
However, there were some who were beginning to feel a sense of reluctance and unease—whether it was their attachment to this dreamlike world or their bond with their Pokémon, they were hesitant to leave it behind.
Inside a small inn on Floor 87,
Madara and Izuna sat discussing the events that would likely unfold in one or two months.
"Nii-san, do you think they can do it?"
Izuna slowly sipped the in-game liquor, savoring its taste.
"If they come one by one, definitely not. Whether it's Lisbeth or your disciple, they are still far too weak. No matter how skilled they are among the player base, they have yet to surpass the limits of ordinary people."
Madara expressed his lack of confidence in their individual strength.
"Yeah, that's true. Kirito has improved a lot, but his fighting style is still too childish."
Izuna nodded in agreement.
He knew his disciple well.
Perhaps it was because Kirito had been fighting monsters for so long, but his combat had become formulaic, almost like that of a high-level AI enemy. His attacks followed a set of predetermined patterns, as if his brain was running an automated script in battle.
That, however, wasn't Kirito's greatest weakness—his rigid combat style could still be corrected with time, and it even helped in clearing SAO efficiently.
What truly frustrated Izuna was that when Kirito sparred against other players, his sword never carried any intent to kill.
He never fought with the resolve to take a life.
As someone who had grown up in an era of war, this behavior made Izuna feel as though Kirito was merely playing a game of pretend.
That being said, even if Kirito appeared weak in Izuna's eyes, he was still one of the strongest players in Aincrad.
If all the players were like him, Izuna wouldn't have minded as much.
However, there existed a faction within SAO whose members had no such hesitation when it came to battle.
The Avengers.
Every member of this guild had killed a red-named player before—at the very least, they had participated in extermination missions against them.
Even when they sparred against other players, their instincts pushed them to strike at vital points, aiming for instant kills.
Although their raw combat skills weren't on Kirito's level, their mindset and killing intent were already worthy of being called true shinobi.
"If this were the real world, no matter how many of them came, they wouldn't stand a chance against us. But this is a game. We're just data-driven characters here. With their numbers and their Pokémon, even if their individual strength is lacking, defeating us won't be impossible."
Madara then reaffirmed his trust in the players.
"I trained them myself. I have a good idea of what they're capable of."
"Nii-san, do you really think they'll have the courage to stand against you when the time comes?"
Izuna seemed less optimistic about the raid group, sighing with concern.
"I don't believe Kirito or Sneasel will ever raise their swords against me."
"They will.
They just don't want to."
Madara understood this better than Izuna.
"Lisbeth, though… she definitely won't attack me. If anything, she might even do something reckless."
"Yeah… you've probably already figured it out."
Izuna's gaze turned solemn.
Madara had lived through far more betrayals than he had—whether it was the Uchiha clan turning their backs on him or his friend and rival Hashirama standing against him, Madara's understanding of human nature had been shaped by these experiences.
If Izuna could see the problem, then there was no way Madara wouldn't have noticed it.
"So, how do you plan on forcing them to fight?"
"..."
Madara was silent for a long time before finally making a decision.
Together, he and Izuna would lie to the players when they reached the 100th floor.
One hour later.
After receiving a summons from their masters, Lisbeth and Kirito arrived at the inn.
"Kirito?!"
Just as Lisbeth was about to enter, she saw a familiar figure turn the corner at the end of the street.
Since Kirito was her best friend Asuna's "husband", she was naturally well acquainted with him.
"Lisbeth, you're here too, huh… that means—"
The moment Kirito saw Lisbeth and Hariyama, he immediately understood.
Izuna and Madara were together.
"Sneasel."
Sneasel raised a paw in greeting towards Hariyama, who returned the gesture in kind.
After exchanging quick greetings, the two trainers entered the inn.
And inside, they saw their masters.
"Master." x2
Both Kirito and Lisbeth greeted their mentors in unison, their voices carrying the same reverence as students addressing a strict homeroom teacher.
However, their bond with their mentors was far deeper than that of mere students and teachers.
For Kirito, Izuna was his true master, the one who had trained him and guided his growth.
For Lisbeth, Madara was something akin to a father figure, having once saved her life.
"Good, you're here. There's something important we need to tell you."
Madara glanced at the two of them and gestured toward the seats in front of him.
Izuna, sitting beside his brother, had his legs casually crossed, displaying his usual attitude of indifference toward everything.
The two obediently took their seats, waiting in silence for instructions.
Even Kirito, who had always been strong-willed, wouldn't dare act rashly in front of Madara.
Firstly, because Madara wasn't just his master's older brother, but also the commander of the entire raid group.
Secondly, because he had lost count of how many times Lisbeth had warned him about how strict and terrifying Madara could be.
"The remaining 14 floors and their bosses… You two will be leading the charge from now on."
"What?!" x2
Thud!
Both Kirito and Lisbeth shot up from their seats in shock, the sudden motion knocking their chairs to the floor. Their faces were filled with confusion and unease.
Kirito instinctively looked to Izuna for some kind of explanation, but his master didn't even glance at him, silently confirming Madara's decision.
"Why?! Master, you're not planning something crazy, are you?"
Lisbeth's immediate reaction caused Madara's expression to darken.
"Izuna and I have a critical mission to complete. If we fail, SAO cannot be cleared. The difficulty of this task is extreme—our estimates suggest it will take at least one to two months."
This was the excuse Madara had prepared in advance.
And Lisbeth and Kirito had no reason to doubt him.
To them, Madara and Izuna were legendary figures, and if anyone were to take on a 'I will descend into hell so others don't have to' kind of mission, it would undoubtedly be them.
"Then we'll just wait for you to return."
Lisbeth spoke as if it were the most obvious solution.
"My friend once said something—'Momentum is everything. The first push is strong, the second is weaker, and the third is barely there.'
"Right now, every player in SAO is filled with the hope of returning to the real world. The raid party is at peak morale, fighting at a level beyond their limits. If we delay, we'll lose that momentum, and the chances of success will plummet."
"But…"
Lisbeth furrowed her brows, wanting to argue further, but Izuna coldly cut her off.
"We're powerful, yes. But even without us, you all can clear the game. You two need to stop relying on us.
If we suddenly died, what would you do?
Would you just give up and let yourselves die in Aincrad as well?"
Izuna knew that if he didn't say something harsh, Madara's soft-hearted disciple would never stop clinging to them.
Lisbeth lowered her head, feeling frustrated and lost.
"I understand."
Kirito placed a hand on Lisbeth's shoulder, taking a deep breath before nodding in determination.
"From here on, we will lead the raid group forward."
"Good. If you encounter any issues, seek out Shoumei—she has a strong grasp of the bigger picture."
Madara exhaled slightly in relief, ignoring his pitifully dejected disciple as he gave Kirito one last piece of advice.
In the entire raid group, Shoumei was the only one who had ever dared to challenge his authority and attempt to take control.
At first, Madara had assumed she was just another power-hungry fool, but over time, he realized she actually understood strategy.
She had a solid grasp of raid-wide command, which was why he had entrusted her with leading the Pokémon Trainers.
As for the Guild Leader of the "Army", he was nothing more than a wealthy man with strong organizational skills. In reality, his battle instincts and strategic abilities were laughably weak.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Avengers, Zack, was a skilled assassin with vast experience in coordinating extermination missions. However, he wasn't someone who enjoyed talking.
With Madara and Izuna gone, the only person Kirito and Lisbeth could truly rely on was Shoumei.
"Lisbeth, you must grow. You must take responsibility.
Yes, you are a girl, but you are also my disciple. Even if not the entire raid group, at the very least, every member of Akatsuki trusts you and will follow your command."
Madara stood up, preparing to leave with Izuna. But before he left, he placed a firm hand on Lisbeth's head.
"Lead them. Bring everyone out of this place."
That final statement made Lisbeth feel deeply uneasy, as if a cold wind had passed through her heart.
She didn't understand why, but an inexplicable fear gripped her, leaving her standing frozen in place.
"Kirito."
"Master."
"The rest is up to you."
Izuna didn't bother saying anything more, leaving behind only that one sentence before turning to go.
By the time Madara and Izuna had vanished from the streets, Kirito and Lisbeth were still standing inside the tavern, dazed.
Lisbeth's mind was completely blank, while Kirito was deep in thought, brows furrowed.
Something about Madara and Izuna's words felt like a final farewell.
By the time he realized the unsettling implication and rushed outside to chase after them—
They were already gone.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]