In the real world, the Yuuki sisters are in the hospital where they were transferred to after their death in SAO.
The red light warning outside the intensive care unit on the basement floor kept flashing, touching the hearts of the rescuers.
——Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep.
"Doctor Kurahashi! The patient's vital signs are still declining!"
The intermittent sound from the instrument made everyone tremble, and the urgent words came from the nurse's mouth, making the doctor whose eyes were already bloodshot clenched his teeth.
"Don't give up! This child has survived countless times from the hands of the 'god of death', and this time he will definitely——!!"
Yuuki's attending doctor prayed from the bottom of his heart, his white clothes were wet with sweat, and he did not dare to stop taking emergency measures in his hands.
(...Even now, you are still working hard in that world!)
(So you must push through and survive!)
(Yuki——!)
…
Time passed by, and despite everyone's best efforts, this time, the God of Death might no longer have mercy on the girl and raised his sickle mercilessly.
But just when Dr. Kurahashi finally closed his eyes in despair, a phenomenon that could not be explained by science quietly happened to the girl on the hospital bed.
That is an area that cannot be touched by the naked eye. If I had to describe it, it would probably be——
White light particles.
************************************************
Deep in the Obsidian Labyrinth, the members of the attack team had already set up their formations and were attacking alternately in an orderly manner.
This may become the last battle in this game, which makes everyone's nerves tense, and no one dares to neglect it.
"...Haha, as expected, this kind of development is in line with the script of a fantasy story, don't you think so? Kirito."
Seeing the familiar and unfamiliar faces appearing one after another, Heathcliff didn't care at all that he was surrounded. Heathcliff showed what was probably a slight smile on his face, and then looked at his former deputy captain.
"Are you trying to say that this is the ending you had expected? Kayaba!"
No longer calling him the leader, nor calling him by his character name, Kirito whispered the man's real name with a stern look on his face.
Perhaps in the hearts of the young swordsmen, the figure who has been standing at the forefront of the battle is their recognized leader Heathcliff.
"No, that's not the case. The script I designed actually fell into pieces a long time ago."
After answering Kirito calmly, Heathcliff turned his attention to the 'angel' surrounded by the crowd.
"Originally, according to my budget, it would take at least two or three years for you to reach me. However, the appearance of that girl has thrown everything in this world into chaos."
As if thinking of Yuuki's various unusual behaviors, the man sighed in a rare way.
"...Kirito, do you know that the reason why I handed over the 'Two Sword Style' to you is because you were originally the 'brave' I selected."
"That's why I wanted to see who would stand in front of me between the brave man in the script and the brave man outside the script."
"..."
Yes, 'Kayaba Akihiko' is a man who would act for such 'boring' reasons.
If it was the Kirito of the past who was treated as a 'chess piece' like this, he might have become furious. But now, Heathcliff's response was the colder blade of the young swordsman.
"Really? I'm really sorry that I failed to live up to your expectations!"
He sneered and put all his strength on his sword. Even Heathcliff couldn't help but take two steps back, but he quickly stabilized his figure.
"...It seems that losing the 'Two Sword Style' did not make you sink, but actually made you grow up faster... Haha, this is also the fun of adventure stories."
Feeling pleased, a smile actually appeared on Heathcliff's face.
"Then, I'll give you another chance."
"As the successor to the brave lady whose life has come to an end."
"——!!"
……What's the meaning?
"Xiaoyu!!!"
Just when Kirito was thinking about what this man said, the screams from behind forced him to distance himself from Heathcliff.
Facing the angel who lowered his hands to the ground and whose figure began to flicker in and out of sight, perhaps only Aiko and Suguha now understood what the man was referring to.
"Did you do something?! Kayaba!"
Angrily, he pointed his sword at Heathcliff. When Kirito came in, he had noticed that Yuuki's health bar was still in a safe area. Then such a strange change would happen, and everyone subconsciously connected him with that man.
The gangster got in touch.
"To do this kind of thing now is a blasphemy against this battle."
Shaking his head with regret, the man in red calmly told the truth.
"If my prediction is correct, her body must have been terminally ill before entering this game. The battle just now may have overdrawn her vitality."
"——!!!"
Then, as if as a final farewell, Heathcliff did not take the initiative to attack, and everyone had the opportunity to learn the name of Yuuki's disease from Suguha, who looked sad.
Everyone was silent. With what kind of awareness and smile she was playing this game, she kept touching everyone's hearts.
"...Don't show such a sad expression...Sister Lan..."
"Don't worry...I won't die..."
Yuuki raised her head weakly and wiped away Aiko's tears with her hands, smiling peacefully.
But in the eyes of others, this is more like a final farewell.
Shaking her body and slowly getting up, 'Yuuki''s body began to dissipate white particles.
"...are you still unwilling to give up? As a final tribute, I have specially left time for you to say goodbye to your companions."
With an obsession that even surprised Heathcliff, the 'angel' stood firm and slowly began to talk to himself.
"...Indeed...my body has reached its limit..."
"But... it's too early to say goodbye now..."
(…)
(Is the last moment finally over...)
A relieved smile appeared on his face, but because the overflowing white light enveloped his whole body, he was not seen by anyone.
The next moment, the body of the 'angel' turned into fragments and flew into the air.
Seeing this scene, Lan Zi, who could no longer suppress it, began to cry heartbreakingly, stretching out his hands to catch the white light in front of him.
Regarding Yuuki's words as his last stubbornness before death, Heathcliff closed his eyes slightly and sighed.
"Kayaba!!!!!"
Roaring this name angrily, as if this was the only way to vent his anger, Kirito rushed forward waving his weapon.
"Do you understand how many people have lost their lives because of you?!!"
However, the man whose heart was as solid as a rock would not be swayed by this, and easily knocked the young swordsman away.
"...So, the first hero has left the stage, who is next?"
Scanning the whole place with his brass eyes, with an unprecedented sense of oppression, the boss finally said coldly.
Looking at the young swordsman who struggled to get up, the female warriors who fell into endless sorrow, and the strategy players who were shocked by his powerful strength, Heathcliff's eyes flashed with inexplicable disappointment.
…
…………
[It would be troublesome even for me to ask others to leave without permission. 】
Condensed air begins to flow.
The crisp and familiar voice echoed in this space, causing Lanzi, who was immersed in pain, to suddenly raise his head with great expectation.
Everyone had not noticed before that as the 'angel' dissipated, the fragments and white light did not disappear, but gradually hovered in the air.
It was a very tiny point of light, but it brought everyone the light of hope.
The white particles began to shrink continuously, and then gradually gathered into transparent crystals.
With this crystal as the center, Lanzi's familiar outline slowly formed until it became complete.
"...Xiao...Yu..."
Smiling at the girl who happily called out her name, the girl floating in the air looked at the man who also had his eyes wide open and an expression of disbelief on his face.
"No more, Heathcliff."
"Because the battle is over."
…
[‘Quantum Spiritual Crystal’ has been refined. 】
[Quantum calculation circuit installed.]
The next moment, time stopped.
No one can understand what is going on, and no one knows what happened in the stopped world. Perhaps, only Heathcliff, who was facing everything at that time, could understand a little bit.
And the only thing that can represent the result is the inorganic echo that keeps echoing in everyone's ears after the world turns again.
——The game guide is completed, the game guide is completed, the game... (To be continued)