Sword Art Online: Aincrad's Hollow Fragment

November 7, 2024

Floor 75: Skull Reaper Boss Room

My breathing was heavy, my knees were weak, my hands were trembling as I slowly stood up straight. I looked around me and saw no trace of the enemy before me.

I... did it?

I... won?

My words were cut off by a sudden pushing pressure against my lower back, followed by heavy sobs and a small fist softly slamming into my back. Turning back, I noticed that everyone who was paralyzed on the ground had regained their movement and were slowly starting to stand up. Looking down, I noticed the small pressure was my daughter, crying into my back and hitting me with a balled-up fist.

Kiyo- Papa! Don't ever do something like that again! I thought I was going to lose you!

Her cries continued as another figure entered my vision and hugged me gently. Her flowing honey hair and her sweet lavender scent.

Ashtry...

She said nothing as she gripped onto me tighter, slightly shaking along with her breath. The battle must have scared her too if she was this shaken. I let out a breath and stroked her hair, hoping to calm her down.

Ashtry- I'm glad you're ok... my prince.

"I'm more than ok. I did it. I beat him. Heathcliff... Kayaba... he's dead, right?"

Ashtry- We didn't see him use a teleport crystal or anything. So... he has to be.

A red armored figure entered the conversation as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I smiled at his appearance.

Klein- Hey! Hey hey hey! You did it, Kazzu! What's with you? You should be whooping and hollering! You defeated the last boss, man!

Klein then pulled me away from my lover and daughter and embraced me in a bear hug. The crushing pressure of his arms causing me to lose oxygen.

"Klein! Too tight dude!"

Assault Team Member #1- Oh... Hey, man! So, you really did it?

Assault Team Member #2- That means we cleared the game, right!?

Assault Team Member #3- Did we, though...?

Assault Team Member #4- I saw it with my own eyes! He beat the commander! That means we won! It's over!

Assault Team Member #5- That's right... That means we're finally free!

Assault Team Member #6- We won! We won! It's all over!

The entirety of the Assault Team started cheering for their freedom. Some hugged others, some broke down crying, some of them so happy to head home that they dropped their weapons right in the middle of the field. I smiled as Klein put me down next to Kiyo and Ashtry as they both hugged me again.

Kiyo- Papa... I can't believe I'll finally get to see you and mama in the real world.

Ashtry- I'm so nervous... I probably look like a wreck...

"If anything, you look like a baby twig branch."

Ashtry- Even so, I can't wait to look the real you in the eyes and tell you just how much I really love you...

"Ash..."

Ashtry- Kazzu...

Klein- Um, can you guys wait for the final credits to roll before you start doing all of that gooey gazing-into-each-others' eyes stuff?

Me and Ashtry forgot about our present company and backed away slightly, huge blushes on our faces.

Ashtry- Sorry...

"Heat of the moment..."

Kiyo- Papa, Mama, you two are tomatoes again.

Assault Team Member #1- Stop showing off you two!

Assault Team Member #2- Ah, I'm so jealous.

Damn, I drew in a crowd.

Asuna- Get off their back's guys!

Kirito- Kazzu just had to defeat his old man. If anything, they deserve a little time to be lovey dovely.

"Shut up Kirito!"

Ashtry- You too Asuna!

Klein- It's fine! Do what you like! I'm going to be going back to the real world and finding a girl to do that stuff with soon enough!

"Debatable"

Ashtry- Highly debatable...

Asuna- Maybe...

Kirito- Maybe not...

Klein- Screw you guys.

We all shared a laugh as Klein pulled down his menu and went towards the Log Off button. Where his face was happy at the defeat of Kayaba, it was replaced by confusion and a tiny bead of sweat running down his head.

Klein- So, um, Kazzu...?

"What's up?"

Klein- The Log Out Button is still missing, so when are we going back? To the real world, I mean.

That's... a very good damn question.

I stood in silence as I looked at Asuna and Kirito, who responded to me with a shrug. I looked at Kiyo and Ashtry, who glared back with worry. The game was over. Why weren't we leaving?

Klein- You beat Heathcliff, didn't you? That's game over, isn't it?

"My father definitely said that if I beat him in a duel that we would all be free to go."

Asuna- Yeah... I heard him say that too...

Ashtry- He said it, and yet, nothing is happening.

Kiyo- Why aren't we leaving Papa? You won...

"I don't know little pup."

Klein- Why isn't this over? Is there no way of, you know, hurrying things along?

Kirito- Did your dad lie Kazzu?

"Like I said before, my father was never a liar. He stuck to his word. If he meant it, he meant it."

But if that's true, why isn't the game cleared? Is there something we need to do first? That makes no sense.

Klein- Kazzu! What do we do?

"I don't know Klein. Yelling at me won't solve that problem."

Ashtry- Do we need to keep going?

Kirito- You've gotta be kidding me...

Kiyo- Well, that's not fair!

Asuna- This is too much...

Klein- Oh, come on! You can't be serious!

Suddenly, another figure entered the mix. His build was a foot or so taller than me and he was pointing towards the exit zone of the boss room.

Agil- Kazzu, look. That door over there just opened.

"If my guess is right it should lead to the 76th floor..."

Agil- Are we going to go through it?

Ashtry- Kazzu...

Kiyo- Papa...

Klein- Kazzu...

Kirito- Kazzu...

Asuna- Kazzu...

Taking a deep breath, I knew that the only way was forward. Even if they didn't want to hear these words, they needed to be said.

"If the game's not just going to come to an end, I guess we've got no choice but to keep going. Let's go! To the 76th floor!"

November 7, 2024

Floor 76: Verdant Plains

We proceeded out of the boss room and entered the 76th floor. As we were walking, I noticed a few of the Assault Team members looking nervous about the situation. I turned back to my group and saw the same look of worry on their face.

This doesn't make sense. The game should be over. What the hell is going on?

Klein- So this is the 76th floor... I thought maybe once we'd climbed up the stairs from the 75th floor, we'd be able to log out, man. I kind of got my hopes up...

"I'm not sure what to say... I really don't know why we can't leave..."

Suddenly, the area around us as enveloped in the same weird yellowish, white light that occurred when me and my father had our duel. It only lasted a second but when it faded, all of our skill and item menus popped up.

Klein- Huh? What the?

"That's weird... The hell are my menus doing?"

Klein- Whoa! The names of all my items! All of the writing is jumbled up. I can't read it anymore! What's going on!?

Looking at my items, I realized he wasn't lying. Every single item in my inventory was jumbled up in letters, numbers and other symbols. The only thing that remained the same was the name on my gauntlets.

"Strange, my gauntlets seem to be just fine..."

Kirito- Maybe because they are a secret skill you implemented before the launch?

"Maybe..."

Kirito- Regardless, the same thing has happened to me. My Dark Repulser and Elucidator is all mingled with code now.

Ashtry- What the shit!?

"What's wrong Ash?"

Ashtry- What happened to all of my skills!?

I took a look at my skills menu and my eyes widened at the sight before me.

Kazzu, Level 100

HP: 32,760/32,760

Dagger: 0/1000

One Handed Sword: 0/1000

Scimitar: 0/1000

Rapier: 0/1000

Mace: 0/1000

Two Handed Axe: 0/1000

Two Handed Spear: 0/1000

Katana: 0/1000

Two Handed Sword: 0/1000

Gauntlets: 0/1000

All of my sword skills had been reset to zero. Looking deeper into it, I noticed that every single skill I had accumulated in the game had been reset.

Shit! You've got to be kidding me!

"Well... damn..."

Klein- What the hell!? My skill data!? After I spent all of those years frantically polishing up my skills!?

Kiyo- This game is cheating! I almost had maxed out dagger skills!

"Kirito? Do you still...?"

Kirito- It's reset to zero but yes, I still have the dual wielding skill. How about you?

"Yep. Gauntlets are still here, and it seems I can use them without maxing out everything again."

Asuna- Our skills disappeared but our levels look the same.

Ashtry- Still sucks that we wasted all of that time for nothing.

Agil- Hey! We have more problems over here!

As if this day could get any worse...

"What's the situation Agil?"

Agil- It seems that the teleport crystals have started acting really weirdly...

"Weirdly how?"

Agil- It looks like we can't teleport down to the lower floors.

"Wait what!?"

I pulled out a teleport crystal and started listing off lower floor safe zones. The Town of Beginnings, Lindas, Taft, Selmburg, none of them worked. I looked back at my teleport crystal and chucked it away out of anger.

"What's the point of these things if there are areas that forbid it and now we can't even go to the lower floors!?"

Asuna- What are we going to do now!?

Looking back at the Assault Team, I noticed everyone looking at me for guidance. They needed someone to follow. With my father out of the picture as commander of the Assault Team, it seemed I was left to take his place.

"Ok everyone! Listen up! There's no point in us just waiting around here. The game's system is unstable, and we can't go back to the lower floors."

That means I can't see Silica, Lisbeth, Keita, Sachi, Argo, Caynz or Yolko... unless they move to this floor.

"With the system being unstable, I think we should try to make as much progress as we can before another fatal error occurs."

Ashtry- That's right!

Kiyo- We can do it!

Asuna- Yes... I guess you're right...

Kirito- After all, our goal is to clear Sword Art Online so we can get back to the real world.

Ashtry- So let's keep on fighting!

Asuna- And clear this game!

Assault Team Member #1- Y-yeah!

Assault Team Member #2- Okay! We can do this!

Assault Team Member #3- We started out on the 1st floor and look how far we've come! We can finish this! I know we can!

Kirito- The Assault Team's goal is to beat this game right!?

Assault Team- Right!

Asuna- And we won't stop until we are free from this game right!?

Assault Team- Right!

Ashtry- Then I could think of no one else to lead us to that victory than the person who defeated the Floor 100 boss on his own! Kazzu, we all stand with you!

The Assault Team started to cheer my name as the clapped and roared a chant of victory. I looked at the crowd and smiled, noticing the safe zone not that far away. I turned my attention towards it and addressed the crowd once more.

"Let's move out!"

November 7, 2024

Floor 76: Arc Sophia

As we all entered the safe zone, the Assault Team wasted no time exploring the town and setting up their base of operations. Me and the others took a while to look around the town's shopping center, where we ran into a familiar face.

"Wait is that...?"

They noticed us in a heartbeat and ran forward towards us, running into me as they squeezed my body in an enormous hug.

Lisbeth- Oh my god! You're ok! I thought you were dead! The news of the boss reached the lower floors and before I had a chance to see you one last time, I was instantly teleported here.

"I'm glad to see you too Liz."

Asuna- Wait, Liz, you know we can't go back to the lower floors now, right?

Lisbeth's eyes widened as she pulled back from the hug and looked at Asuna shocked.

Lisbeth- What...?

Kirito- We've tried using teleport crystals and the don't seem to work anymore.

Lisbeth- No way! What about the teleport gate!?

She rushed over towards the gate in the center of town and stood right on top of it.

Lisbeth- Teleport: Lindas!

Her body transported for only a second before she reappeared with her back facing us.

Lisbeth- Sheesh... Why did you have to scare me like that!? The gate's working just fine.

I walked up to her and put my head on her shoulder with a cocky smirk on my face.

"Jeez, it's like we were telling you that the teleport gates wouldn't allow us to go back to the lower floors."

Lisbeth- But... What about Lisbeth's Smithy!?

Ashtry- I'm sorry Lizzie...

Kiyo- Maybe we could help you set up a new one...?

Kirito- I know it's a real pain that we can't go back, but there's some pretty cool stuff here on the 76th floor I bet.

Lisbeth- Cool stuff...? What do you mean?

Ashtry- Rarer metals that you couldn't find on the lower floors...

Kiyo- Monsters that have blacksmith only drops...

"And a chance to start a new smith shop on this floor. If anything, you'll have our assistance in all of those matters and if you ever need help with anything at all, I'm at your beck and call."

Lisbeth blushed at my comment and her frown turned upside down.

Lisbeth- I guess I am right on the front line now. Dropped and foraged items up here are bound to be pretty different from the ones on the lower floors...

Asuna- That's the spirit!

Lisbeth- Thanks you guys! I think I'll go and look for a new place to open up the second branch of Lisbeth's Smithy!

Before she ran off, she leaned closer to my ear and whispered.

Lisbeth- Be sure to find me later, ok? We have a lot to talk about.

"Agreed."

With that, she ran away, leaving us to explore the town again. As we left the shopping district and entered the town square, we all heard a squawk up in the air. We looked up as a small flying animal flew down towards me and landed on my head. I looked up to see a small blue feathered dragon.

"Pina? What are you...?"

Before I could answer my own question, the owner of the beast appeared before me.

Silica- Pina! What have I told you about rushing... Oh... Kazzu...

"Silica..."

Her eyes suddenly teared up as she rushed over to me and hugged me tightly, just like Liz.

Silica- I'm so happy you're ok!

Ashtry- Man, that's two for two. Keep going on the lady streak babe.

"I don't mean to attract them!"

Silica- It's nice to see you again Kazzu...

"So how did you get here?"

Silica- Well, after the jail break, I did as you said and found a place to hide. After a while I heard the rumors that something happened on the front line. As soon as I heard that the Assault Team had made it to this floor, I wanted to see if you were ok.

"Well, as you can see, I'm not dead..."

Silica- I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to see you...

Ashtry- Aw, that's sweet!

Kiyo- I bet Pina was thinking the same thing!

Pina- Skraw!

Silica released me from her grip, Pina flew off my head, and they both looked at me with a serious look.

Silica- Anyways, we've come here to help you Kazzu! I'm sure I'll get on your nerves from time to time, but I promise to do anything that I can to be useful!

"You'll never get on my nerves Silica. Thank you for coming all this way. I appreciate having Sword Art Online's Beast Tamer helping us out!"

Silica- Alright!

?- Kazzu!

I tried to turn around but was interrupted by two overwhelming forces pushing me to the ground.

?- Crap, sorry!

Both pressures got off of me as I slowly got back up. Dusting myself off, I turned around as my eyes widened.

"Argo... Keita... Sachi..."

The Rat gave off a smug smirk as Keita and Sachi looked at me with small smiles.

Keita- So what happened on the 75th floor? I thought we were supposed to be free.

"I don't know. Heathcliff was definitely defeated but the game is starting to go unstable."

Keita- Damn it... so it seems like your father was a lair after all.

Sachi- Hey! Kazzu said that his father wasn't a liar, plus he mentioned that the game is unstable. Maybe that has something to do with this.

"Regardless of that, you guys are aware that you can't..."

Argo- Can't go back to the lower floors? Yea, I knew. I filled them in as soon as we entered town.

"And that's ok with you?"

Keita- Well, we teleported here in the safe zone. We should be fine.

Sachi- Besides, if anything now we have a chance to live up to our friends dreams of being part of the Assault Team.

Argo- It doesn't change the fact that we can't get out of this world to begin with. So, onward and upward.

Kirito- Does that mean you'll keep gathering information for us?

Argo- Obviously. Especially since I got to know the biggest secret in the game and now, I know Kazzu's secret. I think that pays for all of the free information I've given you in the past.

Kazzu- Thanks Argo.

Argo- Not a problem.

"Now there's one more thing I have to do. Asuna?"

Asuna- Yes Kazzu?

"Please gather everyone on the Assault Team and our friends that were teleported to this floor. Have them meet me in the city center, I have something to say."

Asuna- On it. Come on Kirito.

Kirito and Asuna split up and ran in two different directions. Argo raised her eyebrows at me.

Argo- Kaz, should I be worried about this?

"Nope. I just wanted to address everyone about the recent change and inform them about the game plan."

Keita- Then I guess me and Sachi should go, right?

"Not necessary. I actually have something for you two. Just wait for a moment."

They both looked at me confused but shrugged it off as Asuna and Kirito returned with the Assault Team and friends that we have made during our journey in this game. I walked up to the center of town and looked down at the crowd as they all focused up on me.

"Thank you all for coming to this little meet. I know most of you are confused as to what is going on, so I'll give you the rundown. On the 75th floor, me and Commander Heathcliff A.K.A Kayaba Akihiko engaged in a duel which resulted in his death."

The Assault Team members cheered as the regulars in the crowd just remained silent.

"We assumed that his death would mean the end of Sword Art Online and that we could finally leave this world and return home. Clearly, this isn't the case. Upon entering the 75th floor, all of our items, weapons and skills were either scrambled in code or deleted entirely."

The regulars in the crowd looked at each other frantically over the loss of two years of progress while the Assault Team stood quiet, already aware of the situation.

"Now I know the situation looks grim, but we have made it this far. Three quarters of the game are completed. All we have to do is persevere and push our way up to the 100th floor."

Caynz- Sorry for the interruption Kazzu, but how will we do that?

Yolko- With our skills and data deleted, the game suddenly just became impossible. How are we going to make it to the top floor in these conditions?

"A simple yet hard answer Yolko & Caynz. We raise our skills back up to what they were. The monsters just outside of town will serve as excellent grinding material to at least get most of our skills back. However, I won't let players fight alone. The Assault Team has appointed me the new commander so there are somethings I have planned so we can leave this game as soon as possible."

Both regular and Assault Team players looked at me with intrigue, ready to discover what I had in store.

"First off, we won't be split up into different assaulting guilds. The Knights of the Blood Oath, Aincrad Liberation Force and the Holy Dragon Alliance will merge together and accept anyone here who is willing to fight for their freedom. This new team will be called the: Aincrad Assault Army. A team dedicated to saving the lives of each and every survivor left in Sword Art Online!"

The crowd cheered as all three guilds marched up behind me and stood at attention, accepting the fact that we needed to band together to beat this game.

"Secondly, instead of having seconds in command like Heathcliff had with the Knights of the Blood Oath, I will assign leadership roles amongst those who I know are experienced in their field. These people being: Ashtry, Kiyo, Asuna, Argo, Agil, Silica, Lisbeth, Kirito and Klein."

All of them joined me in the center and looked back at the crowd with serious, determined glares.

"These men and women will be my inner council; they will help me determine the best course of action when it comes to clearing the floors. They will assist anyone who plans on going outside of town to fight monsters in order to raise skills and levels. If any of you wish to do so, find one of these players and ask them, they will help you with anything you need."

The crowd cheered for my friends standing next to me. Klein started to sniffle at the attention.

Agil- What's wrong with you, man?

Klein- I'm finally going to be popular with the ladies.

Kirito- Get a grip dude.

"Lastly, I wanted to make things clear. Back on the 1st floor, people were concerned that after my father was defeated, I was going to take his place and keep you all trapped for my amusement. I want to state that I had no intention of doing so and, even if I wanted too, I couldn't. The game is directly programed to end as soon as the Floor 100 boss is defeated. There is no way of assuming control of Aincrad once all 100 floors are cleared. And trust me, I do plan on clearing all 100 floors!"

The crowd looked at each other in relief and acceptance as they cheered for me one more time, my friends and the soldiers behind them joining in on the applause. I smiled at them as I wrapped the meeting up, allowing everyone to go back to doing what they were doing. My friends split off to go and do their own thing, but I whistled at both Kirito and Asuna.

"Hey, you two, follow me for a second."

They both looked at each other and shrugged as the five of us walked towards the residential area of Arc Sophia.

Kirito- What's going on?

Asuna- Is everything ok?

"Yes. I just need you to do something for me Asuna."

Asuna- What's up?

"Your necklace, Yui's Heart, where is it?"

Asuna- In my inventory, why?

"Please check and see if its description is jumbled up in code."

Asuna did as I asked and showed me the item description which, sure enough, was also jumbled in a slur of letters and code. Kirito looked at the description with a worried face as Asuna started to tear up.

Asuna- Is she...?

Kirito- Nothing happened to her, right?

"Could you convert the item into an object please?"

Ashtry- What good would that do?

"If I'm right about this, Yui should be able to return to you two without the system running a check on her."

Kirito- What!?

Asuna- You mean it!?

"Everything else has been janky so far. If the Cardinal System is really unstable right now and with Kayaba presumed dead, there should be no reason as to why Yui should be trapped any longer. So, let's find out."

Asuna wasted no time converting the necklace into an item. As it was trying to form the necklace, the tear drop jewel shattered at a glowing white light appeared in its place. As the light faded, I smiled as I saw A.I. I had presumed lost forever land on the ground and stretch her arms out.

Yui- Phew...! I finally got out!

Kirito- Yui!?

Asuna- Yui!? Is it really you, Yui!?

Yui- Daddy! Mommy! I haven't seen you in so long!

Both Kirito and Asuna rushed in and hugged their daughter, tears flooding down each member's face. Ashtry and Kiyo held back a sniffle as I stepped closer to Yui. Yui noticed me and stuck her hand out towards me, which I gladly accepted.

Yui- Kazzu... how am I here...?

"The Cardinal System is unstable at the moment. A lot of things have happened after you disappeared. We can discuss it on a later date but for now..."

I joined Yui's adoptive parents in a hug as I pressed my forehead against Yui's.

"I'm just glad you're safe."

Yui- And I am glad that you are still alive Kazzu...

I don't know why the game is unstable or if more dangerous errors will occur in this game, but if Yui is here, she'll be the closest thing we have to identify the systems workings.

My ear twitched as I jerked my head backwards towards an empty alleyway. Yui looked at me confused while Ashtry and Kiyo looked over with a glare.

Yui- Kazzu...

Ashtry- Did you see something?

Kiyo- Want me to check it out Papa?

"No... I just thought a saw something..."

Little did I know that further into the alleyway, in an intersection leading to multiple alleys, the was someone hiding behind a wall. They let out a small giggle as they poked their head out one more time to see if I gave chase.

?- This is the beginning of the end, Master. Let the games begin...