The Crimson Hunter. SAO X Reader. [DRAFT].

●Interlude: Alpha Memory No: 8774180

25 October 2024.
Hollow Area.
Erca-Tor Main Base.
*Aren POV*

The cyan blue marble hallways of the base were silent, even the several S-Gaurdsmen standing in front of each evenly spaced pillar had remained deadly silent, remaining compelety still, as if they were just simple red and golden statues. Shining in reflection to the pale moonlight gazing through the massive windows. Outside being a gigantic forest of beautiful fauna of various types and the most beautiful structures within the game of Sword Art Online. Yes, the Hollow Area was by far the most dangerous place in this world, but what it lacked in safety, it made up for it in beauty, and in the moments that were need, pure, peaceful silence like how it was at the current moment.

All was quiet. And all was peaceful.

Save for the slowly rising sounds of footsteps from the far end corner. Where the figure of Aren appeared, his black and red trenchcoat trailing behind him as he made a turn and began to walk across the second hallway. He knew exactly where he was going, and more importantly, why he was going there.

To face judgment.

Aren had always been a loyal figure to the cause he was born into, it was all he had known after all, from the very moment he could walk as an infant he was taught how to fight, and to understand the world around him through the eyes of his predecessors, the Legend and Leader of Grievence: Balour. Through his teachings he was taught to see the Multiverse as Grievence does.

As Chaos.

He had been taught to understand the former leader's ideals, to understand that the world and infintie worlds around him....were chaotic, uncivil, self-destructive, and lacking true control. He was raised to understand the values of the work he was destined to fufill, the legacy that followed him, that he needed to honour and continue. Understanding who he was and what he was destined for made him truly understand his place in the Multiverse, and that was that he was a harbinger of the Infinite's saving grace.

He knew that he was a man destined for greatness, a man that would be the one to truly purge the chaos surrounding him, the one to honour Balour's vision and create order in chaos, a chosen one, destined to save the infinite expanse of possibility from itself.

He had been loyal to his cause, he been loyal to his upbringing, and most of all, he had been loyal to Leader Percival, the man who had trained him and practically raised him to be who he was, and so he was entirely loyal to this man, and this man alone.

Until two days ago, where for the first time in the 27 years of his life, he had essentially broken that loyalty.

Granted, one could count his outbursts and ventings as a sign of disloyalty, or even his direct order to Elite Haku to defy Leader Percival's orders and kill Omega, but since those instances were never seen as an act of betrayal, it had never caught the attention of his mentor, as it was never carried out to the outcome Aren desired.

But what he had done with Elite Makoto however, could only, and ONLY be seen as an act of defiance to Leader Percival's vision for this world, and he had only himself to blame for it.

He knew what he had done, he knew that doing it would enrage him, but at that point....he didn't care, he only saw it as a way to earn his glory after it was stolen from him. He had felt that way ever since that day when Leader Percival had given the order to attack Omega and his guild, he was thrilled at first, excited even, at the prospect of finally meeting his true opponent in this war, a spirit of Alpha herself. Someone she could dedicate his cause to, and truly dominate this world as the first step to Grievence's revival.