Kapitel 200: End of SAO
In the dimension where The Seed resided in Aincrad, Noah and Baalram watched the ongoing battle taking place in the outside world. For two months, the soldiers of the Vermilion Kingdom, under Noah's command, had been fighting against Baalram's demon army. Finally, after a long war, the Vermilion Kingdom achieved victory.
Despite his reluctance, Baalram had no choice but to swallow this bitter defeat, bound by the authority of Noah's contract. Not only had he failed to gain control of Aincrad, but he also lost nearly all of his demon forces. Baalram glared at Noah with hatred, but he could do nothing due to the binding nature of the contract, so even as his anger and resentment towards Noah burned fiercely, he could only concede to the ownership of Aincrad.
Not wanting to linger, Baalram departed with the remaining forces.
With Baalram's departure, the only ones left in that dimension were Noah and The Seed, which shimmered like a crystal, spinning gracefully. Noah contemplated Aincrad and The Seed. Although no decision had been made yet, it was clear that he would bring both of them into the dimensional ark alongside the real world of Sword Art Online (SAO).
After successfully gaining control of The Seed, Noah immediately took action to free the SAO players trapped within Aincrad. The entire world of Aincrad trembled as players realized they could log out. Without hesitation, they pressed the log-out button, and instantly, thousands of bright lights flared across every corner of Aincrad.
However, something strange occurred. The players who had passed through the light gate to return to the real world found themselves unable to log out. It was as if, upon stepping through that gate, they had become fully bound to Aincrad. Their original bodies, being cared for in various hospitals, suddenly vanished and transformed into points of light that then fused with their game characters. Now, their bodies had changed from mere data into flesh and blood, resembling their original selves.
This shocking transformation not only shook the players but also their families and the Japanese government. With the presence of various fantasy races emerging from the SAO players, Earth now resembled a magical and wondrous world. This incident created chaos within society, and news of this drastic change spread rapidly.
Suguha, who was tending to Kirito's body in the hospital, was stunned by what was happening. As Kirito's body transformed into points of light, waves of anxiety washed over her heart. In a panic, she quickly contacted her mother to inform her about the unusual situation. In the midst of confusion and dread, she struggled to comprehend what was truly occurring, while hope and fear intertwined within her.
Meanwhile, Kirito, who was in a military base, also felt the impact of this transformation. As the points of light began to enter his body, information suddenly flooded into his mind, as if The Seed was acting as a conduit conveying crucial news. Kirito paused for a moment, trying to process all the sudden information. Without wasting any time, he sprinted towards Saitama General Hospital, where his body was being treated. Anxiety haunted him; he worried that his family would think he was gone, and he felt a need to tell them the truth so they wouldn't worry.
As Kirito ran, images of Suguha and his family swirled in his mind. He remembered how worried they were when he was trapped in the dangerous game. Now, with everything happening, he didn't want them to feel deeper sorrow. He wanted them to know he was still alive, even though his identity had now changed.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Kirito saw a crowd of panicking people. Doctors and nurses appeared bewildered by the situation. Kirito leaped high and easily passed through the crowd, and as he stepped into the room where his body was being treated, he sensed Suguha's presence. When they met, their eyes locked in a silence filled with emotion. Suguha, momentarily surprised to see Kirito in the form of a Dark Elf, quickly realized the situation and, with tears in her eyes, ran to him and embraced him tightly.
"You... You're finally back!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling between joy and relief.
Kirito smiled, even though his heart was still racing from everything that had happened. "Sugu, I... I don't know how to explain this. But I'm still alive, and all of this... it happened because..."
They both tried to make sense of this unusual situation. Kirito explained how their bodies had transformed, how they were now bound to Aincrad. Suguha listened intently, though the panic within her still lingered.
"What does this mean, Nii-san? Will you be trapped here forever?" Suguha asked, her voice shaking.
Kirito shook his head. "It's not like that. Now that Aincrad has become another reality, all the NPCs and monsters have become real life, just like the players who passed through that light gate. Don't worry; we can still meet because that gate won't close; it has become a channel connecting both worlds."
Meanwhile, outside the hospital, news of this drastic change spread rapidly. The Japanese government was preparing to take action, trying to control the increasingly confusing situation. Fortunately, they had become accustomed to supernatural events since the demon invasion and the emergence of the Vermilion Kingdom from another world. The government quickly gathered former SAO players who had now transformed into various fantasy races, be it Elves, Dark Elves, Renards, Beastmen, or Dwarves.
After an investigation was conducted, they finally received the same response from the players: they were no longer human but had become another race and now resided in Aincrad.
The chaos outside the hospital was escalating. News of the SAO players' transformation spread rapidly. Amidst the crowd, former players who had now become various fantasy races, such as Elves, Dark Elves, Renards, Beastmen, and Dwarves, gathered together. They spoke passionately about how the powers that once existed only in the game had now become a part of them, especially among the teenagers. Every teenager has a fantasy of possessing superpowers, often referred to as Chuunibyou.
Chuunibyou is a colloquial term in Japanese used to describe early teenagers who have excessive delusions, desperately wanting to stand out, and who have convinced themselves that they possess hidden knowledge or secret abilities. This term translates to "middle school syndrome" (specifically, the second year of middle school). Given that most SAO players are teenagers, it's easy to imagine how excited they were to discover they now had real superpowers.
Among them, an Elf stood proudly. With his long silver hair and pointed ears, he drew an arrow from his back. "We have amazing powers now! We can protect this world from any threats that may come!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the crowd. He held a bow that had once only existed in the game, now feeling real and powerful in his grip.
A Beastman with a muscular frame and thick brown fur nodded in agreement. "That's right! We don't have to be afraid anymore! We can fight against demons and safeguard our world!" His deep, booming voice captured the attention of many. He kicked the ground enthusiastically, demonstrating his newfound physical strength.
Days passed since the transformation, and the outside world began to adapt to this new reality. The Japanese government, aided by the Vermilion Kingdom, finally managed to control the situation. They established special laws for the races formed by the SAO players.
Not all SAO players had a strong sense of justice like Kirito and the others. Consequently, some riots occurred but were easily quelled by the soldiers of the Vermilion Kingdom. Faced with the terrifying power of the Vermilion Kingdom, where every soldier possessed supernatural abilities, they could only obediently accept the new laws imposed upon them.
...
In a lively and colorful café, Kirito, Egil, Klein, Lisbeth, Sachi, Argo, and Yuuna gathered to celebrate their victory against the demons that had threatened their world. The atmosphere in the café was vibrant, filled with laughter and the cheerful sounds of various races enjoying their respective foods and drinks. Glittering lights adorned the ceiling, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.
Sachi, sitting close to Kirito, felt her heart racing. She watched as Kirito chatted with Egil and Klein, laughing freely and appearing incredibly happy. Sachi had always admired Kirito, not only for his prowess in battle but also for his friendly demeanor and attentiveness towards his friends. Every time Kirito smiled, it felt like the world around Sachi became brighter.
As Lisbeth and Argo debated over who made the best food, Sachi couldn't help but smile. She shifted her gaze back to Kirito, who looked so relaxed and comfortable amidst the crowd. In her heart, Sachi hoped to have a special moment with him, even though she knew Kirito was already close to Asuna.
"Hey, Sachi, why are you so quiet?" Lisbeth asked, noticing Sachi's focused gaze on Kirito. "You should join in the celebration! We've defeated the demons!"
Sachi smiled shyly, trying to hide her feelings. "Yeah, I'm happy. It's just… I've been thinking about how we can continue to protect this world together."
Klein, overhearing her, chimed in, "Don't worry, Sachi! This world will keep getting better, and many strong people will emerge. It's not just us who have gained powers; I've heard that governments around the world also have their own special forces made up of users with supernatural abilities."
"That's right, and there's the Vermilion Kingdom full of strong people who are helping us," Egil added.
Klein's and Egil's words made Sachi feel better.
After enjoying delicious food and refreshing drinks, they all stood up to toast.
"To friendship and our victory!" Yuuna exclaimed, raising her glass.
"To us!" everyone replied enthusiastically.
...
On the 100th floor of Aincrad, the Ruby Castle stood majestically, surrounded by lush gardens and enchanting fountains.
Its architecture combined classic and modern elements, with walls made of sparkling ruby-colored stone that glimmered in the sunlight. Inside, spacious rooms were adorned with beautiful paintings and valuable antique furnishings. The high ceilings were decorated with frescoes depicting mythological tales.
The grand impression was further enhanced by dramatic lighting, with crystal lamps hanging in every corner. Each corner of the castle held history and stories, making it a symbol of eternal power and beauty.
As Kirito and his friends celebrated their victory in the café, Noah appeared in the throne room of Ruby Castle, where he was welcomed by Kayaba Akihiko, who stood waiting as if he had anticipated Noah's arrival.
"Welcome, Vermilion," Kayaba said calmly, unfazed by Noah's power. "I knew you would come."
"I have an offer for you. I want you to work for me," Noah said, looking directly at Kayaba.
Kayaba furrowed his brow, but curiosity quickly emerged. "Work for you? What's in it for me?"
"I'll take you to see the wonders of other worlds," Noah replied confidently.
Kayaba paused for a moment, contemplating the offer. He had always been fascinated by fantasy, which is why he worked so hard to create floating castles even if only through the virtual world. Now that his dream had come true and he had nothing else engaging to pursue, he found Noah's proposal intriguing. "Exploring other worlds sounds interesting. I want to see floating castles in other realms."
"There are many floating castles in other worlds, each with its own uniqueness," Noah continued.
Finally, Kayaba nodded, agreeing to Noah's offer. "Alright, I will work for you."
....
Noah stepped back into the dimensional ark and reappeared in his villa. Inside, he found Asuna chatting and laughing with the other women. Their laughter filled the spacious and bright room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
When Asuna was first introduced to Noah's other lovers, a wave of nervousness washed over her. She could feel their curious gazes and worried about how they would accept her presence among them. Would they see her as a threat? Or would they completely ignore her?
However, as she approached and listened to their conversation, Asuna sensed something different. Stella, with her optimistic and straightforward personality, was the first to extend a hand of friendship. With a wide smile, she greeted Asuna, "Hi! I'm Stella. Nice to meet you!" Stella's cheerful voice alleviated some of the burdens in Asuna's heart.
The other women, who initially seemed graceful and strong, approached and introduced themselves one by one. Kanata, with his calm demeanor, smiled warmly and said, "Welcome, Asuna."
"We're all sisters here. You don't need to feel pressured," Euphemia said with a friendly smile.
As time passed, Asuna began to feel more comfortable. The conversation flowed smoothly, and they shared their experiences with one another. Asuna recounted how she met Noah and her feelings when she first learned about this larger world. The women listened enthusiastically, sharing their own stories.
Erica narrated her life as a knight and sorceress, along with the world she came from.
Meanwhile, Athena, with her graceful smile, shared tales of the myths of gods and myths that differed from those Asuna knew.
Esdeath introduced herself plainly, sharing her perspective on life.
Asuna felt that they truly had unique personalities and temperaments, but one thing was certain: they all loved Noah just as she did. After getting to know each other, she no longer felt like an outsider; she sensed the warmth and support from the women she had initially perceived as rivals.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein