"Hard to believe… Everything you're saying sounds absurd."
Sitting in a restaurant in town, Asuna stared skeptically at Charlie, seated across from her.
She had just heard a story she found utterly far-fetched—about a Savior, an Abyssal Devourer, other worlds, and all sorts of things beyond common sense.
"…"
Charlie calmly sipped his yogurt before responding.
"If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't believe it either. But Asuna, you've felt a power that shouldn't exist in this game world or the real one, haven't you?"
Raising his right hand above the table, Charlie slowly used Spirit Arts to manipulate various elements in his palm.
A small flame flickered and danced on his fingers, followed by a spinning ice crystal, then a miniature spiral of wind, and finally a tiny orb of floating earth.
"This isn't a Sword Skill from SAO. This is power from another world."
Asuna watched the display with wide eyes but quickly shook her head.
"Maybe you're just a special NPC created by Kayaba Akihiko to trick players."
"I'm a Child of Destiny? If I die, the world ends? Who'd believe such a ridiculous story? Even light novel authors wouldn't write a plot that clichéd!"
Her words dripped with sarcasm.
"Phew~ Seems like no matter what I say, you won't believe me."
"…"
Asuna's silence confirmed Charlie's statement.
"Please, stop following me. Your actions are no different from a stalker's."
Asuna's brows furrowed, her gaze on Charlie like he was unrecyclable kitchen trash.
"Your opinion is irrelevant, Asuna."
"…"
Biting her lower lip in frustration, Asuna stood and left the restaurant. But Charlie casually followed her.
Realizing this, Asuna tried to escape. She darted into narrow alleys between buildings, hoping to lose him.
Her footsteps echoed through the stone corridors. Glancing back—no one was there.
'Got away!'
But as she turned forward—
"Hey~"
"Kyaa!"
Asuna jumped, startled to see Charlie standing in front of her with a relaxed smile.
"How did you—"
Without finishing, Asuna ran in the opposite direction. This time, she hid behind a stack of wooden crates in the market.
'This time, I'm safe.' She thought, catching her breath.
"Nice hiding spot."
"Eek!"
Asuna nearly screamed as Charlie appeared, lounging atop the crates above her.
"What… what kind of monster are you?!"
Asuna tried other methods—hiding in shops, sprinting across rooftops, even blending into groups of players. But the result was the same. Wherever she hid, Charlie always appeared with his carefree expression.
"…"
Fifteen minutes later, Asuna gave up trying to escape. She merely glared at Charlie, who strolled casually behind her.
"Perverted stalker. Stop following me!"
With that, Asuna marched on, ignoring Charlie, though she knew he was still tailing her.
"Haaa… When will you strike, Abyssal Devourer? An enemy hiding in the shadows is such a pain."
Charlie sighed mentally, eyeing Asuna's back.
He understood why Asuna was so uncooperative. At 15, she was underage and in her rebellious teen phase.
This was evident from her secretly using her brother's Nerve Gear without permission, driven by mental pressure from her mother.
'Teenage years are such a hassle.'
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Dark clouds in the sky began dropping rain. Players on the streets hurried for shelter or equipped waterproof cloaks from their inventories.
Though a virtual world, players would get a fever debuff if exposed to rain too long—one of Kayaba Akihiko's realism systems.
After selling unneeded items at an NPC shop, Asuna donned a dark brown cloak that nearly covered her entire body, hiding her gender from other players.
She completely ignored Charlie, who faithfully trailed behind.
'Even if I'm defeated by a monster and die, I won't lose to this game… to this world.'
Steeling her resolve, Asuna decided to head to the Dungeon to grow stronger.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In a stone corridor lit by neatly lined oil lamps along the walls, Asuna faced six Kobolds—humanoid, dog-faced monsters wielding swords.
"GRAAWR!"
Asuna swung her rapier, its blade glowing bright red as she activated [Linear], thrusting forward and piercing a Kobold's body.
*CRUSH-BANG!*
The monster shattered into light particles.
"GRAAWR! GRAAWR!"
Two more Kobolds attacked from her left and right. Asuna spun elegantly, her rapier glowing red again.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*
Sword Skill [Parallel Sting]—two simultaneous stabs hit both monsters at once.
"GYAAAK! GYAAAK!"
Two more Kobolds fell.
The remaining three attacked in a more organized formation. Undaunted, Asuna leaped high, her body spinning midair like a deadly ballerina.
Her rapier blazed with brighter red light—Sword Skill [Radiant Arc]!
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
In one spinning motion, all three Kobolds were sliced and exploded into pixels.
Asuna landed gracefully, her breath slightly heavy but her eyes shining with fierce determination.
Though a beginner, her natural agility and speed, combined with mastery of basic Sword Skills, made her a formidable opponent.
"GRAAWR!"
Suddenly, a Kobold hidden behind a stone pillar leaped out, swinging a wooden sword high, targeting the unsuspecting Asuna.
"What?!"
Before Asuna could react, someone else intervened.
"Arc Rays."
*BZZZZT!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Blasts of white light, like guided missiles, bombarded the unfortunate Kobold from all directions. The monster didn't even have time to scream before disintegrating into scattered pixels.
Charlie stepped out of the shadows, his right hand still glowing with residual power.
"I didn't need your help. I could've handled it myself."
Instead of gratitude, Asuna shot Charlie a cold glare.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just didn't want to see you get backstabbed."
"Hmph."
Charlie's nonchalant attitude made Asuna scowl further. With an annoyed grumble, she ignored him and continued deeper into the corridor.
*TAP!* *TAP!* *TAP!*
Their footsteps echoed in the dimly lit stone hallway. The oil lamps on the walls swayed gently, casting dancing shadows.
Along the way, Asuna faced more waves of Kobolds. Each time she was in danger, Charlie stepped in.
After all, who knew if the Abyssal Devourer was disguised among those monsters, right?
Charlie wasn't taking any chances.