January 6,2026 New Aincrad,Floor 22
Third Person Pov
Leafa:His fast-acting mind is one reason......
Silica,Asuna,Leafa,and Liz were all sitting on the sofa studying as Asuna noticed Silica doze off as she leaned against Asuna.
Asuna:Wake up.If you start napping now,it's gonna be hard to get sleep tonight.There's three days until break left,and your homework won't finish itself.Sinon finished hers before heading back home to visit.Just saying.
Silica:*Yawn*I'm so sleepy....
Asuna:Poor thing.It's probably because the room's too warm.You want me to turn down the heat?
Liz:It's definitely not the heat.It's probably the two sleep masters over there.
The girls looked at Kirito as he slept with Yui on his lap and Pina on top of the rocking chair.
Leafa:No kidding....
The girls directed their attention to Maverick who was on the sofa across from them fully spread out on the sofa with Strea cuddled up next to him as Strea snored lightly.He was wearing a two-tone hoodie and sweatpants and socks with the sleeves rolled down.
Asuna:You can't blame them,Kirito's been working on his project ever since he helped back in GGO and Maverick has been putting in auditions for VA jobs.
Liz:You mean that gizmo for Yui?
Leafa:Oh!Mechaphonics!
Liz & Asuna:No,it's called Mechatronics.
Leafa:Whatever,bitches.Aw man!Look at them!They're making me feel sleepy!
Liz yawned as all the girls shared a laugh together.
......
Leafa was furiously studying as she looked around and noticed everyone fell asleep.
Leafa:Oh my god,seriously?!
???:Seriously,do you always have to raise your voice?I was having a good dream too....
Leafa looked over and saw Maverick staring at her as his eyes slowly opened wider adjusting to the lights in the room.
Leafa:Did your good dream have to do something with your little girlfriend there.
Maverick glanced at Strea who wrapped her arms tighter around him.
Maverick:Nope,nice guess though.
Leafa:Eh.....
Maverick:Wait,weren't you doing homework with the other girls?
Leafa:Yeah but it looks like they dozed off.
Maverick sat up and gently removed Strea's arms from him without disturbing her slumber.He let out a yawn and did a couple of arm stretches and neck rolls before glancing at the sleeping girls.
Maverick:Might as well wake them up.
Maverick sat up and delicately shook Asuna.
Maverick:Yo,wakey,wakey.
Asuna:Huh?
Asuna slowly opened her eyes as Maverick smiled.
Maverick:Rise and shine,Princess.
Leafa:That goes for you two!
Liz:Wha?
Silica:Aw.......
The girls woke up as Kirito,Pina,and Yui continued sleeping.
Liz:Oh Maverick,your awake?
Maverick:No i'm still sleeping.Actually,i'm just sleeping with my eyes open right now and this is merely me talking in my sleep.
Liz:Okay!Geez,you don't have to be an ass about it.
Maverick:Oh but I do,sweetie.
Liz:*sigh*
Asuna:Haha,I'll make some more tea,and it'll wake us right up.
Maverick:Thanks.I'd could really go for some right about now.
......
We were out of the house getting some supplies to bring back to the cabin.
Silica:Hey,look!I guess it's stopped snowing while we were sleeping!
Maverick:Seems so.
Liz:Oh,have you heard the news?
Maverick:I'm gonna need more details than the "news."
Asuna:Huh?
Liz:You know,about Zekken.Don't tell me you two haven't heard!
Asuna and I exchanged confused looks as we looked back at Liz and shrugged.
Asuna:Ze....kken?Zekken,is that some kind of rare item or something?
Maverick:Sounds an exotic meal.
Liz:Nope.It's the name of a player!Actually,it's not a handle,it's more like a nickname.Anyway,this player's so badass,someone called him Zekken.The name caught on,and there you go.It means Absolute Sword.Ultimate Sword's better,though either way,this player's tough.
Maverick:That so?How'd you hear about this "badass" player.
Leafa:You don't sound impressed.
Maverick:Nothing really impresses me and this person is no different.
Liz:Well,I can't really tell you where I first heard about this person.I guess,maybe the first time was around new year's or something....maybe a week or so ago?Oh right,Asuna was in Kyoto with her family and you were visiting Sinon's family right?
Maverick:Yeah,their place's wifi was pretty crappy to do some VR gaming but luckily I brought my console so I played that instead.
Leafa:Wait,you met Shino's family?
Maverick:Oh yeah,they were really nice folk.Shino and I played a lot of games.
Leafa:I see.....
Maverick:I remember Asuna texting me about her Kyoto trip.
Asuna:Ugh,I was having a good time,but you had to bring that up.I'm sorry Maverick,but I needed to vent.
Maverick:Isn't that your boyfriend's job?
Asuna:I couldn't bother Kirito when he's working on his Mechatronics project.
Maverick:So you decided to bother me instead?
Asuna:You texted back so I seized the opportunity.
Maverkck:Only because you simply texted with "I'm mad."So I though you got into a fight or something.You're a real piece of work.
Asuna:Aw,don't be such a downer.
Maverick:Do you want me to pk you right now?Actually,speaking of pking,is this player a pker or something?
Liz:Nah,just a duelist.That's all.
Asuna:Were there any tournaments?
Liz:Nope.As far as I know,this player's a total noob.I have a feeling they might have converted over from another game,though.You should see their skill stats,they're through the roof!You know,on floor 24,there's that tiny little island,just north of the main town.The one with the huge tree.Well,everyday at three o' clock,you-know-who shows up under that tree.
Maverick:You-know-who?Voldemort?
Liz:No!Zekken!Anyways he posted an "Opponents Wanted!"notice on the MMO Tomorrow bulletin board.Folks wanted to teach this cocky ALO noob a lesson.So,on the first day,about thirty players showed up.It didn't go so well for them,though..
Asuna:What,they lost?
Maverick:No Asuna,they won.
Asuna:Shut it.
Maverick:Or what?Gonna text me,you're mad?
Asuna:No!.......Maybe....
Liz:All of them lost.One after the other.And get this,none of them managed to chip off more than thirty percent of Zekken's HP....That's a badass.
Maverick:And now my Borderlands is intensifying...
I HAVE THE SHINIEST MEAT BICYCLE!
Silica:I can't believe how good Zekken is!Who would've thought a newbie could fly that good?!It took me at least six months to learn how to fly and fight at the same time.And,i'm still learning stuff!
Asuna:Did you fight Zekken,too?
Silica:Not even!I'm no dummy.I watched one duel,and I knew what it was like,why don't you two ask Liz and Leafa?They took Zekken on yesterday.They fought and lost like a couple of champs.
Liz:Please don't remind me.....
Leafa:Good learning experience,though.
Maverick:Wow,y'all big suck.
Liz:Oh i've had enough out of you!
Maverick:Whoa,dial back that intensity buddy.
Asuna:Hehe,ah!It's snowing.
Silica:Yeah,pretty isn't it?
We all went back inside the cabin as we got some treats and sat back down.
Asuna:So anyways,back to Zekken,if this player's as strong as you say,it's only a matter of time before there are no more challengers to face?
Silica:I don't know about that.There's a pretty cool prize on the line,don't you know?
Maverick:I don't think she'd be asking if she knew.
Silica:Well,whoever beats Zekken will get an original sword skill.It's a special move that's supposed to be super strong!
Asuna:An original sword skill?Uh,what type?How many hits?
Silica:Hmm,well,it's a general skill for a one-handed sword.Oh,but there's a catch.It's an eleven hit combo!
Asuna:Eleven?!
Maverick:Boo!
Liz:What's the strongest sword skill right now?How many hits is it?
Leafa:That would be the one General Eugene developed.The Volcanic Blazer.It's supposed to be an eight hit combo.He hasn't passed it onto anyone else yet,and I doubt he ever will.Other than that,there's Maverick which is a 20-hit combo.
I jumped up and stretched before walking over to Strea as the girls continued their conversation.Strea turned on her side as she smiled and giggled to herself.I let out an amused exhale as I picked her up and carried her to one of the beds in the cabin and placed her under the covers.I was about to go when she gripped my hand.I turned around and noticed she was still asleep.I smiled as I leaned in and kissed her forehead as she smiled and let go of my hand as I walked back to the sofa and sat down next to Asuna.
Leafa:Still though,I can't believe Kazuto lost.
Maverick:Kazuto lost to Zekken?
Leafa:Yeah,I couldn't really believe it.
Maverick:Hehehe...hahaha!
Leafa:Maverick?
Maverick:Hahahahaha!!!!
Liz:You're scaring me,Maverick.
I stood up and held up my fist as I clenched it.
Maverick:This person sounds strong and if no one can beat him.Then yours truly will be the one to defeat him.
Liz:You think you're up to the challenge?
Maverkck:I am the challenge.They are the challenger!
Asuna:There's more to your enthusiasm huh?
Maverick:Right you are my tsundere friend.
Asuna:I am not!
Maverick:This Zekken person has to have a reason for challenging all these people so I want to know why.Y'all wanna come cheer ya boy on?
Asuna:Of course we will.
Leafa:Yeah,I wanna see this!
Liz:Oh man,this is gonna be good.
Asuna:If we meet here at 2:30,we can...oh no!it's already six o' clock?!I'll be late for dinner!
Leafa:I guess we might as well call it a day,and log out,too.
Liz:Rich girls have their problems,am I right?
Maverick:I smell hate.
Asuna began putting the dishes away as I glanced at Kirito and smirked.
Maverick:So,Kirito lost huh?
.......
I slowly woke up and noticed Maverick sitting in front of me as Leafa sat behind him trying to contain her laughter.
Maverick:Look out!
Kirito:Wha?!
I tried to get out of the rocking chair but I fell over with the chair.I tried to get out but my body felt extremely heavy.
Leafa:Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!
Kirito:You....you placed a gravity magic trap on the chair?!I can't even logout!
Maverick:That's your problem now.Catch ya later!
Maverick slowly walked out as he whistled.
Kirito:WAIT DON'T GO!YOU BASTARD!!!!!