I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

Mochizuki Kaede then recounted in detail the physical discomfort she experienced in the 40th-floor anthill, including the chest pain that felt like her soul was collapsing, and the fact that she found no abnormal debuffs after checking her status bar.

After hearing this, Argo picked up her spoon again, scooped out a little cake and put it in her mouth, a thoughtful look in her eyes. She chewed the cake gently, and after a moment she slowly said, "If there is no abnormal debuff in your status bar, it may really be a system malfunction... However, such things are rare."

Wang Yuefeng frowned and pressed further, "Have there ever been players like me?"

Argo shook his head slightly, then said, "There are similar cases. For example, when SAO first launched, players were trapped in this virtual world and couldn't get out. Then for a few days, players walking on the street would suddenly faint. However, that was because when their bodies were urgently transferred to the hospital in the real world, there was a brief disruption in the data transmission between the system and reality, which caused this situation."

"You mean, my situation might be related to the real world?" Mochizuki Kaede frowned.

Argo put the last piece of cake into her mouth, cream smeared on the corner of her lips: "Assuming there is absolutely no system malfunction, this possibility does exist."

She licked the spoon: "After all, our current consciousness is essentially maintained by devices in the real world."

Mochizuki Kaede sighed helplessly: "In the real world, I can't interfere. Even if something happens over there, there's nothing I can do."

Seeing this, Argo gently patted his shoulder, the gesture carrying a reassuring meaning: "It's okay, you're fine now, aren't you? Maybe it's just the system acting up occasionally."

Even after leaving the dessert shop, this unease lingered in Mochizuki Kaede's mind. He repeatedly checked his status bar, feeling that this matter wouldn't be resolved so easily. But with no further clues at the moment, he could only put the matter aside for the time being.

A few days later, Mochizuki Kaede arrived at the Dark Elf King's City on the ninth floor.

Today is the day he and Kizmare have agreed to reunite.

In the distance, the outline of the Dark Elf capital was faintly visible in the gray sky, but it was no longer the scene he remembered. Several parts of the capital were damaged. The once magnificent city walls were now covered with charred marks. Many buildings within the city had also collapsed, with bricks and stones scattered all over the ground, creating a scene of utter devastation.

A bad feeling welled up in Wang Yuefeng's heart, and he quickened his pace to the city gate.

"stop!"

Two crossed elven spears blocked the way.

The dark elves guarding the area had a wary purple flame flickering in their eyes. Their brand-new armor was covered with scratches from battle, and dark stains remained on their shoulder blades.

"Martial law is in effect in the royal city. No one other than our kind is allowed to enter." The head guard's voice was icy, and the tip of his spear trembled slightly, ready to strike at any moment.

Mochizuki Kaede stopped and took out the obsidian badge, a token given to him by the Dark Elf Queen on the day of his wedding to Kissmael, engraved with the royal crest and his name.

Upon seeing the token, the dark elf soldiers' hostility lessened slightly, but they remained highly vigilant.

A soldier stepped forward, took the badge, and carefully examined its patterns and symbols. After confirming that it was genuine, he looked up and said, "So you are Her Majesty's distinguished guest. However, the city is under heavy security now, so please be careful."

Mochizuki Kaede's gaze swept over the scorch marks on the city wall: "What happened here? Why did the royal city become like this?"

The dark elf soldier sighed, "A few days ago, the fallen elves led their army to attack the city. They came with great force and were numerous. We dark elves fought back fiercely and managed to withstand their attack. But the royal city was still devastated, and many people sacrificed their lives in the battle."

"Where is Kissmael?" Mochizuki Kaede asked. "Where is your royal guard, Kissmael?"

The air seemed to freeze. The guard's Adam's apple bobbed as he avoided Mochizuki Kaede's gaze: "Lord Kissmel... in the battle against the fallen elf general Norza..."

He didn't finish speaking. But Mochizuki Kaede had already understood that look in his eyes—a look unique to a soldier delivering bad news, a look that was a mixture of grief and respect.

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Thank you to [Happy Lemon Pie] and [Creating Miracles] for the monthly tickets!

Chapter 134: PoH

—Kizmare was killed.

The guard's words struck Mochizuki Kaede's temple like a heavy hammer. He paused slightly as fragments of memories of fighting alongside Kissmare exploded in his mind: her flowing purple hair under the moonlight, the tenderness in her purple eyes at the wedding, her silhouette standing before the city gate at their last parting... These images played out in his mind like a movie, like a precise scalpel dissecting his calm facade.

"This is impossible……"

He heard his own hoarse voice floating in the air, sounding so unfamiliar that it didn't seem to come from his own throat.

Mochizuki stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought for a long time. It wasn't until the dark elf soldiers reminded him that he could enter the city that he seemed to awaken from a dream, and quickly headed towards the palace. Along the way, Kismer's smile, her heroic figure, and the vows they had made kept flashing through his mind. Those memories surged like a tide, wave after wave crashing against his heart.

The outline of the royal palace gradually came into view, and a cold glint flashed in Wang Yuefeng's gray eyes. If it was true, he wanted to confirm it with his own eyes. If it was a lie, he wanted to personally sever the source of the rumor. In any case, he needed a definite answer.

Inside the royal palace, the Dark Elf Queen sat on her obsidian throne, her face looking somewhat haggard.

She gazed at Wangyue Feng, who stood in the hall.

"My condolences, warrior." The Queen's voice was low and hoarse. "Kizmare was worthy of the name of the Royal Guard. She defended the honor of the capital with her life."

Mochizuki Kaede did not answer, but simply stared silently at her feet.

After leaving the palace, Mochizuki Kaede headed towards Kissmel's room. This room had once been their bridal chamber, a testament to their marriage. But now, he was all alone.

The moment he pushed open the door, a familiar scent wafted towards him. The room was still neatly arranged, lacking the flashy style often associated with young girls; everything was simple and practical. On the desk were some books and documents, which Kissmel usually used for studying and handling affairs. The blankets on the bed were neatly made, as if she had only left temporarily and would return at any moment.

Mochizuki Kaede slowly entered the room, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible. He walked to the bedside and gently lay down. The bed seemed to carry the delicate scent of bay leaves, a faint, refreshing fragrance that stirred a strange sense of warmth within him. He couldn't tell if it was his imagination or the scent that was naturally present on the bed. Closing his eyes, he felt as if Kissmel was beside him, gently holding him and softly comforting him.

Suddenly, Mochizuki Kaede recalled the pain in his heart and soul he had felt a few days ago. He had never understood where that pain came from, but now he finally understood. It turned out that he and Kismer had signed a soul contract with the old sage, which was why their souls resonated. At the moment of Kismer's sacrifice, her pain and her reluctance to leave were completely transmitted to him through this invisible bond.

Mochizuki Kaede slowly pulled open the drawer of his desk, his fingertips touching a leather-bound diary. The cover bore the name "Kizmel" in gold lettering. He turned the pages, each turn feeling like touching a precious, long-sealed memory.

"Today I went to the Eastern Forest with Maple."

The handwriting on the first page is neat and tidy, with a unique delicacy.

"The scenery there was so beautiful. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, like a golden veil covering the earth. We walked hand in hand along the forest path, occasionally hearing the cheerful songs of birds. Feng held my hand tightly, and at that moment, I felt like the happiest person in the world."

Mochizuki Kaede's fingertips gently traced the pages, as if he could see the sunlight of that day through the words. He remembered that forest, remembered the way Kissmael's purple hair fluttered in the breeze, remembered how her violet eyes were filled with gentle smiles when she turned to smile at him.

He continued to flip backwards.

"—Feng slept in again today. Humans are such strange creatures; they're so strong, yet they always want to sleep five more minutes. When I pulled off his blanket, he actually retaliated with a pillow. We wrestled like two little kids, finally falling onto the carpet together. His silver hair spread out on the deep red carpet, like moonlight, and this association made me suddenly kiss him. Feng looked so cute when he froze."

The diary entries gradually shifted from daily life to battles.

"I fought another battle with the fallen elves today. I'm a little tired, but it's all worth it to protect my people."

"The city's defenses need to be strengthened. Norza's troops have been active recently, so we must prepare in advance."

Each page records her life, her battles, and her longing.

Turning to the back, the handwriting in the diary began to become somewhat hurried, with even a few pages containing hastily written battle records.

"...If you don't come back this time, I hope you won't be sad."

In the last few pages, her handwriting became exceptionally careful, as if she deliberately slowed down to write down her thoughts stroke by stroke.

"Feng, I am so lucky to have met you. Every day I spent with you was the most precious time in my long life. On the day we became husband and wife, looking at your face, I thought to myself, if elves really have an afterlife, I hope I can meet you again."

"When I learned that you did not belong to this world, I had a premonition that you would leave me and return to that world, so I thought I would give you this diary when you left."

"Your future holds countless possibilities. So please keep moving forward and don't stop."

"...But if you can, look up at the starry sky from time to time. In the legends of the elves, every elf is a star, and I will continue to watch over you from there."

"You will always love me, Kismael."

Mochizuki Kaede closed the diary and pressed it tightly against her chest, as if she could feel the lingering warmth of her lover.

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The Fallen Elf Camp.

Inside the camp, Norza sat at a table, reviewing a document in his hands. He was clad in black and red composite armor, and beneath his menacing black mask, two curved, sharp horns gleamed with a metallic sheen.

Just then, the curtain of the camp was gently lifted, and a man in a black cloak walked in, followed by several attendants also dressed in black cloaks. These people were members of the human organization [Smiling Coffin], which had cooperated with the Fallen Elves. The man in the black cloak leading them was none other than PoH, the leader of [Smiling Coffin]. In Norza's eyes, PoH was powerful and a force to be reckoned with.

PoH played a crucial role in the Fallen Elves' successful approach to the Dark Elf city. During the previous siege, a female royal guard knight from the Dark Elf faction perished at the hands of his demonic sword, [Friend-Slaying Butcher], capable of piercing heavy armor.

PoH walked up to Norza, a slight smile playing on his lips, and asked, "General, when shall we attack the city?"

Norza raised his head, his gaze falling on PoH through the gap in his mask: "We'll attack the city today. Have everyone assemble later."

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Thank you [Happy Lemon Pie] for the monthly pass!

Chapter 135: Patheticly Defeated

The Dark Elf capital, once an impregnable fortress, is now facing an unprecedented crisis.

Norza led his fallen elf army, surging in like a black tide.

Norza, the fallen elf general, was tall and imposing, exuding a chilling aura of violence. The serrated longsword in his hand gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

"Vulnerable."

A cruel smile curved his lips beneath the Norza mask as he raised his hand and cleaved aside a dark elf soldier blocking his path.

However, for the dark elf soldiers, the real nightmare was the ten shadowy figures darting across the battlefield—the red-named players of [Smiling Coffin]. Like hungry wolves infiltrating a flock of sheep, they displayed an overwhelming disparity in strength in this lower level of the ninth floor.

“What a boring hunt~” PoH’s voice was particularly clear amidst the screams.

The demonic sword in his hand, [Friend-Slaying Butcher], traced purplish-black paths, and with each flash, a dark elf guard fell. The "thud" of the blade piercing through heavy armor mingled with the laughter of the players, creating a symphony of death on the battlefield.

A dark elf knight commander roared and charged at PoH, only to be easily dodged by the opponent. With a backhand flick of the magic sword, the knight commander's head flew high into the air, his face still frozen in a furious expression.

“The 17th.” PoH licked his lips. Their level was far higher than these opponents on the ninth floor. On this battlefield, it was a complete stomp on noobs.

He swiftly killed another dark elf soldier who charged at him: "Can't you NPCs give us a little surprise?"

Just as the situation on the battlefield was turning in one direction and the dark elf soldiers were retreating in defeat, a bolt of lightning suddenly swept across the battlefield.

He was a human, his silver hair fluttering in the wind. In one hand he gripped a lightning blade, its surface crackling with blue electricity. In the other, he held a greatsword, its blade heavy and sharp. The youth moved through the battlefield as if it were empty, his target clearly locked onto Norza, the fallen elf general.

"It's you!" Norza immediately noticed the human, his serrated longsword humming.

The shameful memories of the fourth lake fortress flooded back; if it weren't for the sudden appearance of this human, the fallen elves could have almost taken over Yofel City.

Mochizuki Kaede's grey eyes turned to Norza, and the lightning on his thunder blade surged. The distance between the two closed in an instant, and the sparks from their clashing weapons were exceptionally dazzling.

"clang--!"

The serrated longsword clashed with the lightning blade, and Norza was forced back three steps. He was horrified to discover that this human was even stronger than when they last fought.

"Protect the general!"

Several elite fallen elves rushed forward, only to be cleaved in two by Mochizuki Maple's greatsword in the blink of an eye. Norza seized the opportunity to adjust his stance, and the runes on his serrated longsword suddenly glowed with a blood-red light—this was his ultimate move, [Blood Fang Slash].

However, Mochizuki Kaede was even faster.

The lightning blade traced an arc, easily tearing through Norza's armor. Just as the blade was about to touch his chest—

"Ding!"

A purplish-black demonic sword suddenly blocked the lightning blade. PoH appeared beside Norza without anyone noticing; his face was obscured by a black cloak, but his voice was filled with excitement:

"Oh my, it's been a long time, President of [Golden Rule], or rather... Silver Asura."

This voice was all too familiar to Mochizuki Kaede. The moment Kladier called out "Chairman," that voice was etched deeply into his mind.

“【The Smiling Coffin】…” Mochizuki Kaede’s eyes sharpened. “I’ve finally found you.”

PoH thrust his demonic sword, [Friend-Slaying Butcher], forward, using the force to retreat several steps. At the same time, he raised his hand and waved it, his voice full of amusement and provocation: "Have some fun with our [Silver Asura], everyone."

Before the words had even faded completely, ten dark figures swept in from all directions like ghosts, instantly surrounding Wang Yuefeng. The battle erupted at that moment!

Three red-named players attacked simultaneously—

On the left, a dual-wielder leaped into the air, his two short swords slashing at Mochizuki Kaede's neck.

On the right, the heavy axe warrior charged forward, his axe blade sweeping across his waist and abdomen with a whooshing sound.

From the front, the spear thrust forward, its tip gleaming coldly as it aimed straight for his throat!

Mochizuki Kaede's gaze remained unchanged.

"Shh!"

With his right hand, the Thunder Punisher, he slashed diagonally, deflecting the twin swords in a burst of lightning. At the same time, his left hand, the Earth Sword, thrust forward, forcefully repelling the heavy axe warrior's attack. Meanwhile, the spearman's thrust was dodged by Wang Yuefeng, the spear tip grazing his silver hair and missing its mark.

However, the real killer move is behind it all—

An assassin who had been lying in wait suddenly sprang from the shadows, his dagger aimed straight for the back of the heart!

At the same moment, PoH's demonic sword, "Friend-Slaying Butcher," slashed diagonally from the side, the purplish-black mist on its blade seemingly capable of corroding everything.