Journey to Planar World

The Decaying Ruins on Aincrad’s 5th Floor felt damp and desolate. The scent of moss and dust filled the air, adding an ancient aura to the sprawling ruins.

”Huft… I see. This is indeed risky if done too often.”

Asuna let out a weary sigh. Her palms were filled with various sparkling gems and relic coins, radiating satisfaction from her hunt.

On the ground, hundreds of other relics they had collected were scattered, forming a small shimmering pile.

Standing in front of Asuna, Charlie observed the gems with a flat expression.

”I don’t get what’s so great about gems. To me, they’re just colorful shards of glass.”

”No woman dislikes gems.” Asuna retorted, as if it were an undeniable universal truth. ”But is it okay for us to take this many?”

”You’re too kind, Asuna. In a situation where everyone’s willing to do anything to survive, you still care about others. I kinda like that, you know.” Charlie paused, his gaze softening. ”One person’s kindness won’t change the whole world, but it can change the world of someone who receives it.”

”H-Huh… Why are you suddenly saying stuff like that?”

Caught off guard by Charlie’s sincere praise, Asuna quickly turned away, trying to hide the flush creeping up her cheeks from embarrassment.

As she turned back, her eyes caught something in the distance.

”Hey, Charlie, what’s that?”

”Hm?”

Charlie followed Asuna’s gaze. His eyes narrowed as he noticed strange cracks forming in empty space, as if the fabric of the dimension was tearing apart. He had a bad feeling about this.

(Could it be the Abyssal Devourer?)

The thought triggered high alertness in him. Without hesitation, Charlie stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Asuna, ready to face whatever emerged.

”Stay behind me, Asuna. Don’t act recklessly.”

”Don’t underestimate me, Charlie. I’m not the kind of woman who just gets protected.”

”Haiz, why are you so stubborn in a situation like this?”

As Charlie and Asuna bickered, not far from them, the spatial cracks grew larger, forming a pulsating dark portal that radiated a strange and terrifying aura.

*TAP!* *TAP!* *TAP!*

The sound of heavy footsteps abruptly silenced their argument. Seconds later, a horrifying figure stepped out of the portal.

It was a massive skeleton clad in tattered black robes that fluttered slowly, as if blown by an unseen wind. Its face was hollow and dark, marked only by two glowing red eyes that stood out, emanating a chilling aura. In its hand, it held a giant black scythe, its blade glinting sharply in the dim light of the ruins.

”Fatal Scythe…”

Asuna read the name of the Grim Reaper-type Monster Boss that appeared before them, her voice trembling with suppressed fear.

There was no other choice.

The level gap between them was too vast.

Asuna, currently at Level 17, was among the top-tier frontline players. However, Fatal Scythe was a Hidden Dungeon Boss located far below the Town of Beginnings on Aincrad’s 1st Floor, and its power was comparable to Floor Bosses on Floor 90 and above.

Clearly, Asuna felt an overwhelming level suppression, like the difference between heaven and earth. The terrifying aura emitted by Fatal Scythe was so heavy it made breathing difficult.

”…”

Unlike Asuna’s fearful reaction, Charlie remained calm, his expression unchanged.

To him, who had faced terrifying monsters in the Danmachi world, Fatal Scythe wasn’t much different from the Spartoi skeleton monsters he frequently obliterated in the Colosseum on Floor 37. He’d lost count of how many Spartoi he’d destroyed there.

(Just a false alarm, huh. I thought the Abyssal Devourer had lost patience and taken action. Turns out it’s just Kayaba Akihiko making a move against me. How disappointing.) He thought, slightly annoyed.

Fatal Scythe’s appearance didn’t surprise Charlie in the least. On the contrary, he had anticipated that Kayaba, SAO’s creator, would send something his way.

After all, the Floor Bosses from Floors 1 to 4 had been mysteriously defeated without any other players knowing. After so long, it was impossible for Kayaba not to be curious, right?

Charlie was certain Kayaba had used his Game Master privileges to observe his actions, defeating Floor Bosses in a single strike with an attack not programmed in the system. That must have sparked Kayaba’s suspicion, prompting him to investigate Charlie’s account to check for cheating programs.

What shocked Kayaba was that Charlie wasn’t on the registered list of ten thousand players. In other words, Charlie was an anomaly, like a virus that appeared out of nowhere.

So, Kayaba sent Fatal Scythe—not to kill Charlie, but to capture him.

”Charlie, let’s run! This monster is dangerous, way more dangerous than any Floor Boss you’ve faced. You don’t stand a chance.”

Asuna tugged at Charlie’s sleeve, her eyes filled with panic and fear.

”Asuna, you’re saying that because you don’t know how strong I am. Just watch how I take down this monster.”

Gently patting Asuna’s head, Charlie stepped forward, walking directly toward Fatal Scythe.

”Charlie!”

Asuna shouted, her voice brimming with worry, but Charlie ignored her.

*TAP!* *TAP!* *TAP!*

Charlie walked calmly, his hand outstretched. In an instant, a gleaming Steel Sword materialized through Spirit Art.

”GGRRRT…!”

Fatal Scythe let out a terrifying growl, as if its teeth were grinding. Its giant scythe swung with deadly speed, aiming to cleave Charlie in two.

*SWOOSH!*

But Charlie barely needed to move. The scythe’s blade, meant to bisect him, missed by a hair, slicing through empty air where he’d just stood.

His movements were so fast they seemed almost illusory. He didn’t dodge with a grand leap but merely shifted slightly, just enough to evade the scythe’s edge.

With his Six Eyes, there was no way Fatal Scythe could hit him!

”…?”

Fatal Scythe hadn’t expected its attack to miss.

*WHOOSH!*

That was the opening Charlie needed. He surged forward, his speed far beyond what Asuna’s eyes could follow.

His Steel Sword flashed—not just once, but in a series of rapid strikes invisible to the naked eye.

*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*

The blade danced through the air, slicing through Fatal Scythe’s tattered robes and leaving faint scratches on its massive skeletal bones.

”GAAA—…!!!”

Fatal Scythe roared, its glowing red eyes blazing with fury. It swung its scythe again, this time in a ferocious spin, trying to create a vortex of death around itself.

*WHOOSH!*

*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*

But Charlie was already gone. He appeared on the other side, closer, faster. His sword stabbed and slashed, weaving intricate patterns in the air that a monster like Fatal Scythe couldn’t follow.

*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*

Each of Charlie’s strikes hit its mark, leaving scars on the creature.