I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

On November 2, 2024, sunlight shone on the team as they finally reached the 11th floor, the [Ruby Palace], after overcoming countless hardships. This floor, like a temple shining with the light of hope, meant that for all the players still struggling to survive in Aincrad, their hope was now just one final step away.

When Mochizuki Kaede pushed open the guild door, she found Asuna and the others sitting together, including Lisbeth, who was usually busy with forging. Their lively discussion echoed in the spacious hall.

"What's wrong with you guys?" Mochizuki Kaede asked curiously.

“Once we reach the hundredth floor, we’ll immediately face the final battle! This is a crucial moment that will determine the fate of all players…” Lisbeth said, “We are discussing a rest plan before the final battle.”

Asuna twirled the ends of her chestnut hair with her slender fingers: "It's rare that everyone agrees; we want to relax a bit before the final battle."

Silica rested her chin on her hands, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: "It would be nice to have some fun with everyone once in a while; I feel like it would create some amazing memories."

Mite nodded: "Although I want to conquer it as soon as possible... I do need to adjust my state."

"Regardless of the outcome, this will be our last time in Aincrad," Yuna added softly.

Felia stood by the window, the sunlight gilding her short, apricot-yellow hair: "Only after a full rest can everyone be in top condition to face the final boss."

Mochizuki Kaede looked around at everyone and said in agreement, "Indeed, if casualties occur due to a hasty response, it would be putting the cart before the horse."

“Well…” Yui walked to the center of the group, her white dress swaying gently, “Now that Daddy has agreed, where should we go to play?”

Stoleya suddenly peeked out from behind Mochizuki Kaede, her short, light purple hair brushing against his cheek: "Let's go soak in the hot springs!"

Her crimson eyes swept over the crowd, finally settling on Mochizuki Kaede.

Asuna's eyes lit up: "Great! It's been so long since I've been to a hot spring. Soaking in a hot spring can relax the body and mind and also enhance the relationship between everyone."

She looked at the others and asked, "What do you all think?"

Lisbeth stroked her chin: "I have no objection..."

“I’m fine with going anywhere. But what about Mochizuki Kaede if it’s a hot spring?” Mito’s gaze drifted towards Mochizuki Kaede. “He’s the only boy there…”

The air was suddenly quiet.

Mochizuki Kaede coughed lightly: "I can't possibly go with you all."

Yuna also realized, "Ah...right, that is indeed a problem."

Silica lowered her head in disappointment: "If Brother Feng doesn't go, then the trip together will lose its meaning."

Yui tilted her head and asked, "Huh? Why can't Daddy go?"

“This…” Mochizuki Kaede ruffled Yui’s hair, unsure how to explain.

“I think it’s okay if Brother Feng comes along too,” Silica said, mustering her courage, though her ears were secretly turning red.

Lisbeth twisted her fingers in frustration: "If we don't go to the hot springs, I can't think of a better place right now..."

Mitt blinked, a hint of shyness appearing on her cool face: "I think it doesn't matter, um... Mochizuki Kaede is fine too..."

Felia blushed slightly, lowered her head, and whispered, "I... I agree too! Although I'll be shy going together... but compared to that, I'll feel even more lonely without Mochizuki Kaede!"

"It seems this is a consensus among everyone," Yuna said with a gentle smile.

Asuna walked up to Mochizuki Kaede, her amber eyes looking directly at him: "Let's go, Kaede. Let's leave behind more memories of this world together."

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Mochizuki Kaede's usually composed face as he coughed lightly, "If everyone agrees..."

"Let's go then!" Stoleya cheered as she pushed open the door, letting the early winter sunlight stream into the hall.

……

The open-air hot spring in the valley was shrouded in a thin mist, and the distant snow-capped peaks gleamed golden in the sunlight. Mochizuki Kaede sat alone in the hot spring in the rocky area, his strong arms resting on the edge of the pool. Water droplets slid down his silver hair, paused briefly at his collarbone, and then flowed into the water.

"As a result, I'm the only one who got quarantined in such a far place... Although being surrounded by everyone is also quite a headache."

He murmured to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips. The sounds of girls playing drifted from afar, adding a touch of life to the quiet valley.

Amidst the rising steam, Mochizuki Kaede looked up at the azure sky: "This should be the last time I soak in the hot springs. After that, the final boss battle awaits us. I wonder what kind of battle that will be..."

"Everyone must be feeling uneasy too..." Wang Yuefeng thought to himself. Even he felt the same way. After two years of life-and-death battles and the sacrifice of tens of thousands of players, he was also afraid of failing at this crucial point.

The water gently caressed his chest, like his unspoken worries. Even he, known for his composure, felt a ripple of unease deep within as the final battle approached. But when he recalled the smiles of his comrades, those anxieties vanished like morning mist.

“We will definitely be able to completely conquer the game,” he whispered to the sky. “Let’s all return to the real world.”

"Xiao Feng!" Asuna's voice suddenly came.

Mochizuki Kaede turned her head and saw a chestnut-haired girl wrapped in a plain white bath towel walking out of the steam. The heat from the hot spring still condensed into tiny water droplets at the ends of her hair, gently dripping down and spreading faint damp marks on her fair neck. Her skin, which had just been immersed in the hot spring, was flushed with a peach-like pink from the steam, even the tips of her ears were tinged with a thin layer of red.

"I'm sorry to leave you here alone..." Her voice was apologetic.

Mochizuki Kaede smiled and shook her head: "It's alright, you guys enjoy yourselves. It's a rare opportunity to relax like this."

“Actually, we’ve discussed it…” She knelt by the pool, her amber eyes reflecting the light, “Everyone hopes you can come along.”

Mochizuki Kaede paused slightly, then hesitated before saying, "But..."

“If we exclude Xiaofeng,” Asuna suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek, her fingertips still warm from the hot spring, “then no one can truly be happy.”

The girl's gentle tone was like being enveloped in hot spring water, and her intimate touch brought warmth over him. Mochizuki felt a warm emotion ripple from the bottom of his heart, gently spreading through his chest.

Before Mochizuki Kaede could speak, Asuna grabbed his wrist: "Stop dawdling, come here now."

"Wait..." Wang Yuefeng was helplessly pulled up, water droplets rolling down his muscular physique. He quickly grabbed a towel from the shore and wrapped it around his waist. "At least let me..."

Asuna turned to look at him and suddenly burst out laughing.

Mochizuki Kaede shook her head, a smile unconsciously playing on her lips. Yes, these final moments should be spent with her important companions. Whether victory or destruction awaits them tomorrow, the warmth of this moment will become an eternal memory.

In the misty air, the girls' laughter grew closer. He was pulled along by Asuna, step by step, towards that place filled with joyful sounds.

Chapter 214: The Girls' Hot Spring

"Okay, we're here."

Asuna released Mochizuki Kaede's hand, and in the misty steam, the girls' silhouettes were faintly visible. Mochizuki Kaede subconsciously looked away, the reflection of the hot spring water illuminating the boy's face.

"Uh, that..." His gaze had nowhere to go but to the wooden basin floating on the water.

With a splash, Stoleya suddenly stood up from the water, water droplets sliding down her alluring curves. The bath towel, soaked in the hot spring water, clung to her body, outlining her breathtaking silhouette. Two small black moles on her left breast peeked faintly from the rising steam, adding to her allure.

"Welcome to the world of girls~" she said with a sly smile, leaning forward deliberately, her ample bosom wrapped in a bath towel almost touching Mochizuki Kaede's arm.

Mitt immediately sank into the water, only half of his face remaining above the surface. His purplish-red eyes flickered above the water's surface, and his clear, cold voice trembled slightly: "Wang... Wang Yuefeng, you... you shouldn't have any ulterior motives, right?"

"No, I didn't." Mochizuki Kaede quickly denied.

Lisbeth coughed lightly: "I'm still a little nervous..."

"Hmm..." Felia ruffled her short, apricot-yellow hair, her sky-blue eyes glancing quickly at Mochizuki Kaede before immediately looking away. Her entire face was as red as a ripe apple. "Once we actually soak together, my face feels like it's on fire..."

"Brother Feng!" Silica walked over cheerfully, her small, delicate body creating ripples on the surface of the spring.

Yui clapped her hands: "Welcome, Daddy! It's definitely better when Daddy's here!"

Her innocent smile eased the atmosphere considerably.

Mochizuki Kaede smiled wryly and looked around: "Hmm... I can't relax at all."

Before him lay a vast expanse of white skin, from Asuna's long, beautiful legs to Strea's impressive bust; every part made him unsure where to place his gaze.

Lisbeth suddenly splashed water in his face: "What are you pretending to be so serious for!"

She laughed loudly, "Being surrounded by so many beautiful girls while soaking in the hot spring, you must be overjoyed, right? We've made you so happy, you absolutely have to take the hundredth floor!"

"Of course!" Mochizuki Kaede wiped the water droplets from his face, his voice regaining its usual calmness.

Just then, Stoleya suddenly took his right arm. Mochizuki Kaede felt something soft press against him, the snow-white cleavage wrapped in a bath towel was so close, rising and falling slightly with each breath.

"Mochizuki Kaede~" She leaned close to her ear, her warm breath brushing against it, "Want to see my naked body? Just pull back your towel~ I promise I won't resist~"

"Strora!" Asuna immediately grabbed Mochizuki Kaede's left arm, her amber eyes wide open. "What are you doing!"

Stoleya blinked innocently: "I was just expressing what he was thinking~"

She pulled Mochizuki Kaede forcefully toward her: "Isn't that right, Mochizuki Kaede?"

Asuna tried to pull back, but she was no match for Streaea's superhuman strength. The water surface was rippled by the three of them.

"Asuna, I'm here to help you!" Mito suddenly swam over, her purple hair spreading out in the water. Blushing, she grabbed Asuna's hand, and the two of them fought against Streaea together.

Mochizuki Kaede was sandwiched between them, his arms stretched into a straight line. The hot spring water covered his chest, but it couldn't extinguish the burning heat on his face. He could clearly feel the soft touch of the girls on either side of him, and his nostrils were filled with their fragrance.

Lisbeth and Felia watched in stunned silence, wanting to join in but too shy to reach out. Yuna and Silica sat on the edge of the rock, Silica muttering to herself, "I'd better not get in the way..."

Yui excitedly splashed water, shouting, "Go! Go!"

"Xiao Feng, come over here!" Asuna and Mitsuki worked together, splashing water everywhere.

"Mochizuki Kaede clearly wants to be with me~" Stoleya retorted, her bath towel slipping down a bit more with her movements, revealing an even more alluring view.

Mochizuki Kaede felt like the rope in a tug-of-war, and said with a wry smile, "You guys calm down first..."

Before she could finish speaking, Strea suddenly let go. Asuna and Mito were caught off guard, and the three of them fell backward together. With a loud "splash," water splashed two meters high.

When Mochizuki Kaede struggled to sit up in the water, the sight before him made him freeze instantly—

Asuna's bath towel was completely spread out, her long chestnut hair clinging wetly to her snow-white skin. Although the two were already intimately close, this open display in front of others still made the tips of her ears blush instantly.

Mitt's situation was even more dire. Her long, purple hair clung to her body, soaked through, and her pale skin took on a faint pink hue from the hot spring. Her pupils contracted sharply, and her usually calm and composed expression completely crumbled. She frantically tried to grab something to cover herself, but only stirred up more water.

"Wang Yuefeng! Don't look!" Mitt's voice almost changed as she suddenly sank into the water, only her eyes, filled with shame and indignation, visible above the surface. Her slender arms were tightly wrapped around her chest, her knuckles white from the force.

Asuna, on the other hand, was much more composed, reaching out to scoop up the bath towel floating on the water.

Stoleya laughed so hard she almost fell over: "Hahaha, this is what happens when you go against me~"

Mochizuki Kaede quickly turned around, meeting the shocked gazes of Philia and Lisbeth. The two girls' eyes involuntarily shifted downwards, then they simultaneously let out a short scream, covering their eyes with their hands, but their fingers were clearly wide open.

"I...I didn't see anything!" Lisbeth stammered, her voice trembling with panic. Philia, on the other hand, was speechless, a blush creeping onto her face.

Looking at the reaction below, Mochizuki Kaede noticed that although a towel was tied around her waist, her erection was still visible through the towel.

Stoleya took the opportunity to walk over and poked Mochizuki Kaede's back with a mischievous grin: "How was it? Did you get a good look at me?"

"This was an accident..." Mochizuki Kaede sighed, rubbing her forehead.

At this moment, Asuna and Mito had already wrapped themselves in their bath towels again, and the two men approached Strea with murderous intent.

"Be prepared!" Asuna grabbed Strea's waist, while Mito grabbed her legs.

"Wait! What are you doing—ah!" Stoleya screamed as the two tossed her high into the air.

"Splash!" A huge splash of water soaked everyone.

The farce eventually ended with Stoleya apologizing.

Exhausted, everyone leaned against the edge of the hot spring, gazing at the sky in silence. In the rising steam, Mochizuki Kaede suddenly spoke:

"It's so great to have come this far with everyone."

“Yes,” Asuna smiled, “It left us with wonderful memories before the final battle…”

Mite nodded, agreeing with what Mochizuki Kaede and Asuna had said.

Silica's voice was soft: "It feels like a dream, it feels like just yesterday when I first met Brother Feng..."

“I remember what I looked like when I first joined the guild,” Yuna added with a smile.

"Next comes taking down the final boss." Philia's eyes revealed a resolute determination.

“I’ll take care of all your equipment,” Lisbeth patted her chest. “I’ll make sure you’re in top condition for the battle.”

"Thanks," Mochizuki Kaede said with a smile.

Stoleya leaned against the rock and said quietly, "I will cheer for you with Yui."

Since encountering the Knights of the Blood Oath in the labyrinth area, her privileges seem to have been restricted by the system, and now she is just an ordinary girl like Yui.

Mochizuki Kaede looked around at each of her companions' faces, the hot spring water gently enveloping her body: "Then let's enjoy this moment."

A gentle breeze wafted through the hot spring, carrying a faint floral fragrance. The final battle on the hundredth floor was imminent, but at this moment, everyone was immersed in a rare tranquility. In the misty steam, the girls' laughter echoed softly like the clear chimes of wind chimes.

Chapter 215: The Incarnation of Radius

November 5, 2024, the 11th floor of Aincrad.

The Crimson Palace stands majestically amidst the clouds, like a crimson sword piercing the sky. Its spiraling spires refract the sunlight with a magnificent glow, as if the entire structure were carved from the purest rubies. This palace, symbolizing the final challenge of SAO, now silently awaits the arrival of the warriors.

After three days of meticulous preparation, everyone finally ushered in the moment of the final battle.