SWORD ART ONLINE (SAO)

Chapter: 12 Moving Forward

The morning sun bathed the landscape of Aincrad's 50th floor in a soft, golden hue as Kirito and The Moonlight Black Cats gathered in the town square. Today was special; they were about to attempt something that would bring a sense of closure to one of their members. Silica, standing in the middle of the group, nervously fidgeted with the item in her hand. It was the revival item they had worked so hard to acquire—the item that would bring her beloved Pina back to life.

"Are you ready?" Kirito asked gently, his voice steady as he placed a reassuring hand on Silica's shoulder.

Silica nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear. With a deep breath, she activated the item. A bright light enveloped the area, and for a moment, everything was silent. Then, as the light faded, a familiar blue-feathered creature materialized in front of Silica. Pina had returned.

"Pina!" Silica cried, dropping to her knees as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. The tiny dragon chirped happily, nuzzling its face against Silica's. The rest of the guild gathered around her, offering their congratulations and sharing in her happiness. After everything they had been through, this small victory felt monumental.

"I'm so glad you're back," Silica whispered to Pina, holding it close. She then turned to the group, her smile radiant. "Thank you, everyone. I... I want to rejoin the guild. If you'll have me."

Keita stepped forward, nodding with a warm smile. "Of course, Silica. We're stronger together."

As the days went by, the guild's focus shifted back to the goal of leveling up. Keita, always thinking ahead, approached Kirito with a request. "Kirito, we need to get everyone to level 60. Can you help us with that?"

Kirito, understanding the importance of this, agreed without hesitation. "Leave it to me. We'll get there together."

And so, the training began. They set up their base on the 50th floor and began a rigorous regimen of hunting, questing, and battling. Kirito pushed them hard, knowing that the higher floors would only get more dangerous. But amidst the grinding and battling, there were moments of camaraderie, laughter, and growth.

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling week, Kirito decided to take a day off. He wandered through the bustling city streets of the 57th floor, enjoying the rare moment of peace. The marketplace was lively, filled with the chatter of players bartering for goods and the clinking of swords from the blacksmiths' forges. Kirito's stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since morning. He spotted a small restaurant tucked away on a side street and made his way towards it.

But before he could step inside, a scream echoed from the city center. Kirito's instincts kicked in, and he sprinted toward the source of the commotion. As he arrived, he saw a horrifying sight—a player hanging by a rope from a building, a sword driven through his chest. The man's HP plummeted to zero, and his body dissipated into data fragments. Kirito froze, his mind racing. No one should be able to die in a safe zone.

In the corner of his eye, Kirito noticed a figure darting away, moving swiftly across the rooftops. Without a second thought, Kirito gave chase, his feet pounding against the stone as he leaped from one roof to the next. The figure moved quickly, but Kirito was relentless. Then, as the figure's cloak caught the wind, it flipped up, revealing the face beneath it. Just as Kirito thought he might catch up, the figure used a rare teleportation item, disappearing in a flash of light.

Kirito skidded to a halt, frustrated that he had lost the trail. As he returned to the scene of the crime, his breath caught in his throat. The man who had been killed was very much alive. "What the...?" Kirito muttered, his mind reeling. Could this be some trick? His thoughts immediately turned to Sasamaru's supposed death. If this man had faked his death, could Sasamaru have done the same?