Journey to Planar World

Ten party and two Raid Teams were formed, and the real strategy meeting was set for tomorrow.

In other words, tomorrow would determine whether Floor 1 of Aincrad could be cleared or not.

That night, Tolbana was livelier than ever.

The warm glow of the city's lights flickered, and the sounds of players' laughter and chatter filled the air.

This was the time when players typically returned to the city to unwind after a day of hunting monsters.

That day, many players gathered at a fancy restaurant, filling every available table, mentally and physically preparing for the big Raid tomorrow.

Not joining in the harmonious atmosphere, Charlie and Asuna sat in one corner of the restaurant.

"Finally showing yourself, Miguel."

"Huh?"

Asuna followed Charlie's gaze, startled by the appearance of a man in a black cloak who seemed to materialize out of thin air.

"Is he the other Savior you told me about?"

"Yes, you guessed right, Asuna."

Setting Asuna aside for a moment, Charlie stepped toward Miguel.

"How's your situation? Have you encountered the Abyssal Devourer?"

"Yes. It appeared once in the form of a woman."

"Really?"

It was just a casual question, and Charlie hadn't expected such an surprising answer from Miguel. He had assumed the other hadn't met the Abyssal Devourer either.

"Judging by your reaction, the Abyssal Devourer hasn't shown up on your side, has it? Well, that makes sense. It's an Assassin Type, so targeting weaker prey first is a normal choice."

There was a hidden bitterness in Miguel's voice, though he tried to mask it.

In fact, he had unlocked 40% of his template's power, Cid Kagenou. Unfortunately, he still couldn't use the ultimate technique—I Am Atomic—which frustrated him.

What Miguel didn't know was that Charlie could replicate I Am Atomic through Spirit Arts.

"Tell me about your experience."

"Sure."

There was no point in hiding such critical information. So, Miguel shared everything he knew with Charlie, including the incident in Tolbana and how the Assassin-Type Abyssal Devourer attacked Kirito within the city.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Ten minutes later.

Asuna covered her mouth, her face showing shock.

"Oh my god, attacking in a safe zone? That's terrifying…"

She was horrified after hearing Miguel's story.

The city was an absolute safe zone—that was basic common sense every player knew.

As a result, players let their guard down completely in the city, feeling safe from monster or player attacks. But that common sense didn't apply when an entity could bypass it!

"What a hassle… Our enemy is patient, waiting for us to drop our guard, and skilled at hiding. This is why I hate enemies lurking in the shadows—they're so cunning."

Imagining his stay in this world might last months or even years, Charlie felt a headache coming on.

(Next time, I swear I won't take a Quest like this again.)

"What's your plan?" Miguel asked.

With a serious expression, Charlie explained his strategy.

"I want to defeat the Floor Boss to clear SAO. Instead of letting things run their course, I'd rather intervene."

"I don't believe the Abyssal Devourer will just hide and watch SAO end peacefully. Besides, we don't have any other way to lure it out."

"…"

Miguel thought for a moment, then offered his help.

"Do you need my assistance?"

Shaking his head, Charlie declined the offer.

"No. I'm more than enough on my own."

With a wry smile, Miguel mocked himself.

"Of course. You don't need my help."

After some brief small talk and exchanging a few more words, Miguel left, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared, leaving Charlie and Asuna alone.

"Since the Abyssal Devourer can attack players in a safe zone, that means every player is in danger!"

Asuna voiced her concerns, her tone filled with anxiety.

If even the supposedly safe city could be breached, who was truly safe in Aincrad?

"No. The Abyssal Devourer's targets are you and Kirito. It won't care about other players." Charlie replied firmly, shaking his head.

According to the knowledge provided by Apocalypse when he and Miguel received the Quest, characters like Lisbeth and Silica weren't on the "heroine" list that needed protection.

That's why neither of them planned special protection for those two girls.

Their protection targets were clear: focus on Asuna and Kirito.

"Why do I have to go through all this…"

Asuna complained, her tone full of bitterness over the absurd situation she was in.

Being trapped in SAO was bad enough, but as if that weren't enough, her life was now being targeted by an entity from beyond the world that she didn't even understand.

"Trust me, Asuna. I'll protect you with all my strength."

"…"

Asuna didn't push Charlie's hand away this time. The warmth of his palm felt reassuring, a guarantee amidst the storm of uncertainty.

"Why do guys always pat girls on the head?" she grumbled softly.

"Let's go get the map to the Boss Room."

Charlie pretended not to hear Asuna's quiet complaint.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Normally, players had to stay cautious when heading to the labyrinth area, moving slowly and coordinating to avoid or defeat monsters. But this time, it was different.

With Charlie taking direct action, any monster blocking his path was attacked and reduced to countless polygon shards in mere seconds.

He didn't use Sword Skills like other players. He simply moved his hand, and bursts of fire, flashes of lightning, or blasts of ice would shoot out, obliterating every threat.

"Using magic in a world without magic… Charlie, you're even more of a cheat than the beta testers."

Watching Charlie unleash various elemental attacks, Asuna couldn't help but be amazed.

Compared to players who fought using Sword Skills with limited physical movements, Charlie's ability to attack monsters with pure magic was dazzling.

It was like comparing a poor farmer working hard with bare hands to a multinational tycoon who could move the world with a single command.

"It's Kayaba Akihiko's fault for not adding magic to SAO."

Shrugging, Charlie continued forward, effortlessly clearing the monsters.

(Maybe Charlie wasn't bragging. He really has the power to clear all hundred floors of Aincrad alone.)

Previously, Asuna had been skeptical of Charlie's claim that he could clear SAO single-handedly.

But after witnessing the boundless power he had just displayed, Asuna changed her mind.

Her initial faint hope had grown into strong confidence. Confidence that this death game might actually come to an end.