Edition 3 of my fanfic! Glad you guys are enjoying this! The plot is advancing very nicely as far as how I saw it! Keep it up with the support!!! Love to put out more
*Note: If a mod or Admin needs to take the series down, please contact me via PM and I will take it down myself. I do not want to cause any trouble here. If I do eventually have to take it down, I will make one last thread about this asking for the names of who wants to continue so I can send it to them. Thanks for your understanding!*

The night came quickly and the break of dawn came even quicker. By noon, Kirito, Asuna, and Michiko, were at KOB's headquarters. The halls were filled with players in red and white uniforms worn by the guild members. Many were talking about how the next boss raid would go. Many plans were shared amongst cliques. Those who weren't planning were playing. They sat around tables betting to increase their Col amount.

The trio neared the door to the gathering hall, where the planning on the next boss would take place. The closer they got, the more mumbles could be heard. Kirito tried to catch phrases but only got slight details. Not much could be made out of them, but something was definitely causing the unsettlement amongst the higher ranked members. Finally reaching the door, they were greeted by Heathcliff.

"Come in, there is something urgent we need to discuss. Just the three of you are allowed. The rest have heard, but not the details that I want to share with you." Heathcliff stated with a gesture into his room.

They went inside cautiously as the massive quartz doors behind them shut. The informants sat at a table, discussing what they saw. The conversation was inaudible, too quiet to understand. They were almost in a whisper and didn't even take notice of the new people within the room.

"Have a seat." Said Heathcliff invitingly. "There was an extraordinary event that took place yesterday that can, and will, change the way we approach these upcoming levels. As you may or may not have noticed, floor 77 has been unlocked within you teleportation crystals."

Kirito and Asuna both checked their crystals' destinations. Just as Heathcliff said, floor 77 was an available destination within their list.

"But how? The informants are not suited for a combat with a boss, especially the number of them is too low. Was there a glitch?" Kirito said, almost jumping out of his chair.

"On the contrary, the number didn't matter in this case. It was who did it that makes me curious. One single person equipped with a one-handed long sword, much like Kirito, entered the mouth of the cave leading to the boss room. The informants throughly discouraged him from entering, but he progressed. A group of mobs, about 25-40, respawned right beside the entrance re-creating the hostile environment. With speed unknown by previous players and a strength unlike any tank, he delt with the enemies quickly and cleanly. After their elimination, he walked on to the boss room. According to the informants, it took about 45 minutes before floor 77 was unlocked."

"No way," gasped Asuna, "he soloed the boss battle? That's unheard of at a level like this!"

"I've heard of him." Stated Michiko out of the blue. "He's one of the solo players that are not well-known. There was another occurrence like this one during the beginning levels. Legend has it that he cleared those levels, but never took credit. The guild who was the first to claim responsibility, took his credit and he didn't even mind. He's like a ghost."

That might explain the player I saw before Kirito thought to himself. The informants' description of his speed seems to match what I saw.

Kirito, now seemingly troubled, got up and left the table. Walking towards the gigantic doors, the guards opened it for him. Slowly, they shut as he passed through. Asuna stared on, worried about what was going on in his mind.

He headed outside and teleported to the 76th floor. Quickly, he moved to the entrance of the cave. Already, the darkness that was inside seemed to emit an evil presence. It seemed to grab and attempt to pull him deeper into it. He fought it off, surveying the structure. Standing on the side of a mountain, he contemplated going in. Already, he suspected that the caves were programmed to look like a hive of some sort. He guessed the boss's room would be the main chamber - home to the queen of the hive. But she was dead, and this place wouldn't respawn its enemies anymore. Just as he was about to step in, a voice called from behind him.

"You know floor 77 is now on your teleportation crystal, right? Don't bother heading through there."

Kirito stepped back, moving his hand towards his sword. In one swift movement it was out, but something odd happened. The sword did not want to move forward anymore. He couldn't move anything for that matter. Damn...Paralysis He thought.

"I give you a fact to help you and you try to draw your weapon on me. Do you think I am a threat?" The voice said.

"Everyone is a possible threat. What makes you a saint?" Kirito stated, struggling.

"What makes me a saint, hmm? That's what you could come up with? What a shame." He sounded disappointed. "What...makes ME a saint? What makes me a saint is that I saved the men that were going to die during your next attack. I spared them the humiliation of defeat and gave them their lives. There is much your informants don't know about these next few floors. You know what I do about your leader...he knows this just as well as me."

Though Kirito unable to move a great deal, he shifted. Was he able to know what he thought as well? No, this had to be a coincidence; but how did he come to the same conclusion?

"Don't worry, the paralysis is almost through. With its absence, so will mine come. I'll tell you this though. You need much more info if you are going to defeat these upcoming bosses. If you have the time, there are many places to meet. Go to the Town of Beginnings and head to the first place you would go to relax. If I know you well enough, I know where you'll go and I'll be there soon enough. After, you must leave me to my work and advancements." His pace sped, "If you do not come then be prepared for unexpected troubles within the next 20 floors."

The clock hit zero and Kirito was released from the player-induced paralysis. Sword still drawn, he turned around and took a defensive position. The man was nowhere to be found. It was like he planned this to happen, or maybe he was supposed to target someone else? Either way, he was sure he had met the rogue and knew he needed more info. If this was surely the man who soloed the boss, he had important information. Kirito sheathed his sword and started to head back towards the social area. Night was falling and he needed to get indoors. This was the start of something new and he would have to heed the call.

*Back at the KOB headquarters while Kirito was out*

"What was that about? He just got up and left!" Michiko said astounded at what just happened.

"The description of the man you guys are talking about must have been the one he saw earlier." Asuna pointed out.

"Saw earlier? As in face to face?" Heathcliff became interested.

"Well...no. He described him as a black silhouette moving across the tree tops close to our cabin. With speed unlike any other, he barely even bent the branches. He told me that he thought it was you for a second, but your weapons didn't match the one that he saw." Asuna turned to Michiko.

"Well, I am pretty fast, but I ain't as tall as him."

"I should go find him. I don't want him doing something drastic. Leader, since there is nothing to do but wait again, I'll take my leave and go looking for Kirito."

"Very well, you may take some guild members to scout the floors faster if you need to." Heathcliff said with a smile. "I need to talk to Michiko for a bit."

Asuna left the room. The large doors shut again with a loud thud that could be heard throughout the building. Silence fell upon the room again, with Michiko and Heathcliff sitting on the end of the long table.

"Okay, I need everyone out of this room. There is a small conference between the two if us here. I would like privacy."

"Why don't YOU get out?" One of the informants snickered.

With one glance, Heathcliff sent them away. The doors opened and closed again. The thud echoed throughout the room like the ring of a bell. Finally, it settled down again and the two looked at each other.

"What. The. HELL are you doing here Michiko, didn't I tell you this wasn't something that you should be doing?!"

"Yea, but since when do sisters ever listen? I haven't died, have I?" She stared at her brother with annoyance.

"You're gonna ruin your life! I can't use my admin-"

"I'm not leaving even if you made me." Michiko interrupted. "I put myself into this game knowing what would happen. Now, I will log myself out. I'm 16 for crying out loud! You can't control me forever just because mom and dad are gone!!!"

"Michiko, you know that's not it. I'm just trying to protect you is all, but you just threw yourself under the bus. You know exactly well what I have to do don't you?"

"All a petty excuse to live your dream before committing suicide. Why would you leave me like that?!" Michiko started to tear.

"Listen, I-"

"No, I've heard just about enough from you! You haven't changed even when your dream became a reality. You don't care about seeing your sister one last time. You just want to leave me without a goodbye!!!" Michiko turned around and took out her teleportation crystal.

"NO! MICHIKO WAIT!"

Michiko teleported without a second glance back. She didn't care where she went, as long as it was away from him. She ended up on the 22nd floor. She darted towards the forest, anxiously trying to get away from the social space.

Slowing her pace and finally sitting on a rock, Michiko started to cry. How could he be so heartless? I just wanted to have one last experience with him, my brother. Michiko kept thinking about him. She couldn't understand his reasoning for anything. Maybe because of their age difference? No, they got along great when she was young. She couldn't place her finger on a valid reason.

The sky turned to a bright orange and pink as the sun was on e again setting. Michiko didn't care about the time, she had nowhere to go. Suddenly, she heard voices in the distance. She quickly wiped her tears, stifled her cries, and hid behind the rock. She listened to what the voices were saying, yet they sounded oddly familiar.

"You know how worried I was about you? It almost made me sick!" One of the voices stated. Michiko could tell that this was female.

"Hey, sometimes I have an epiphany alright? I had an idea, but at least I met the guy! I gotta go meet him near the town of beginnings tomorrow, he's willing to share information and I'm not letting this go by without a thought." This voice was definitely male, but the two sounded familiar.

"Yea, you know how that goes though? Heathcliff won't let you go easily."

That's it, it was Asuna and Kirito! She knew she remember those voices somewhere, but what was their reason for coming here? Were they looking for her too? She looked over the rock and followed their path with her eyes.

Not far off in the distance, a cabin stood. Made out of large logs, its sat on top of a cliff that overlooked the whole lake. Michiko looked onward to see the lake's water shimmering in the sunset's light. Flickers of orange light seemed to jump off the water and in every direction. It was beautiful. She didn't want to stay out anymore, all she could think about is sitting next to a fire and curling up in a blanket. She started down the hillside to the path to the lakeside cabin.

Kirito heard a rustling nearby and stopped in his tracks, hand slowly moving to the hilt of his sword.

"We're not here for trouble, come out and show yourself." He shouted in the distance.

"Hey, relax, I told you that I don't bite didn't I?" Michiko half-smiled.

"Michiko? What are you doing here?" Asuna said startled.

"Eh, I don't necessarily have a 'home' here. I thought it would be a waste of Col just because I wouldn't be there much. If I needed a place, I would go to an inn. But..." She stopped hesitantly.

"But I-"

"Hey, you don't have to explain that much. We were just heading home but if you don't have a place, you're more than welcome to stay with us." Kirito interrupted Michiko.

"You sure? I don't wanna cause any trouble with you guys..."

"Yea, what are friends for?" Asuna said, winking to Michiko. "Come, I'll make you something warm to drink. Kirito can start the fire."

"Thanks guys...I owe ya one."

The three headed inside just as the sun set over the horizon. It was night now and there was a lot to happen within the next couple of days. For now, they waited out the midnight hours with much needed sleep. Rest was something so precious to them now and they'd need it for what was to come.