📖 Chapter 6 – The Climb Begins
1. The Celebration
The tavern on Floor 2 was bursting with life. For the first time since the death game began, laughter outnumbered sobs. Mugs clinked, loaves of bread vanished from tables faster than they could be baked, and someone even started a song.
"To the floor clearers!" a group of lower-level players shouted, raising mugs toward Neo's party.
Neo forced a smile and raised his own. The drink was sweet, almost too sweet. He felt their eyes on him—curiosity, awe, even fear. That black fire had left an impression.
At the corner of the room, Kirito and Asuna sat side by side, shoulders brushing, their eyes shining with the quiet thrill of survival.
Kiana plopped down across from Neo with two mugs. "Drink. You look like someone stole your dessert."
"I'm fine." He took the mug anyway. The foam hissed faintly, reminding him too much of the shadows still curling under his skin.
Himeko smirked from her seat. "Fine? You've been brooding since Illfang's fall. That's not fine—that's classic guilt."
Neo's grip on the mug tightened. "…It felt good. Cutting that siphon apart. Too good."
The table went quiet for a moment. Then Kiana reached over and flicked his forehead.
"Idiot. That's not guilt, that's power. The trick is why you use it. And right now, you used it to save everyone in this room."
The players around them erupted into another cheer. Neo let the noise wash over him, even as the hunger gnawed inside.
2. Quiet Conversations
Later that night, Neo slipped out into the streets of Floor 2. Lanterns burned low, casting long shadows.
He wasn't alone. Asuna trailed behind, still in her iron chestplate.
"You don't eat much, do you?" she asked softly.
Neo blinked. "…Excuse me?"
"You sat in front of food all night and barely touched it. Like you were forcing yourself to play along."
Neo gave a dry laugh. "Maybe I'm not as human as I look."
Asuna tilted her head, studying him. "Maybe. But… thank you. You saved Kirito. You saved all of us."
Her sincerity burned sharper than the shadows. Neo looked away, afraid his smile would crack.
3. The War Council
The next morning, the group gathered in the plaza. The sky above Aincrad was bright, artificial sunlight pouring down as if nothing had changed. But every player felt it—the rules had been rewritten.
System Notice:
New dungeons and altered spawn zones detected on multiple floors.
Zhongli unfurled a parchment-like map, glowing with geo-script. "If the transmigrator intends to harvest souls, then chaos is our enemy. We must establish order."
Tony crossed his arms. "Translation: we can't babysit two thousand panicking players floor by floor. We need a split."
Himeko smirked. "Finally, someone says it."
Neo stepped forward, his shadow stretching across the plaza stones. "We divide into three branches:
• Mainline Clearing Team — Kirito, Asuna, myself, and a rotating roster. Our job is to push floors and prevent bottlenecks.
• Support and Stabilization — Zhongli, Kiana, and Himeko. You'll keep morale steady, train new players, and prevent infighting.
• Recon and Countermeasure — Tony and the others scout anomalies, track the transmigrator's moves, and prepare contingencies."
The players around them murmured—fear, relief, admiration.
Kirito raised a brow. "Wait—you're putting me and Asuna on the front line?"
Neo nodded. "You two are the heart of this world. We can't replace that. I'll mentor you until you're ready to stand without me."
Asuna's eyes widened, but then she straightened, gripping her rapier. "Understood. Then we'll climb."
Kirito gave a wry smile. "Guess I can't argue. Just don't slow us down, Neo."
The group chuckled, tension breaking.
4. Shadows and Secrets
Before they dispersed, Neo lifted a hand.
"…One more thing. This all feels familiar. Like a twisted version of something from my world. In the Tensura stories, there's an event called the Harvest Festival—a Demon Lord's ascension. Souls are reaped, power grows, and the world itself trembles. That's what this transmigrator is imitating. But—"
He stopped himself. His chest tightened.
[Group Chat – Whisper]:
Neo → Core Members: "The system also told me something before. When I'm ready… I'll be sent on a personal mission. Ten thousand corrupt souls to purge. Politicians, criminals—people who made their worlds suffer. It's like… my own Harvest Festival. And I don't know if I'll come back the same."
Silence. Then—
Zhongli (whisper): "Then perhaps that is why you walk both paths. Hero and Demon Lord. Not one or the other—but balance."
Kiana (whisper): "Stop being scared alone. We'll make sure you come back. Every time."
Himeko (whisper): "…And if you don't, kid, I'll drag your ass back myself."
Neo closed the chat. For now, he just breathed. The hunger pulsed inside, but he could keep walking.
5. The Climb Begins
The plaza rang with determination. Players tightened straps, sharpened blades, and for the first time, believed Aincrad could be cleared.
Neo glanced at Kirito and Asuna, already sparring with practice swings. Their movements were clumsy, raw—but filled with potential.
He smirked. "Alright, rookies. Lesson one starts now. Try to hit me."
Asuna blinked. "Here? In the middle of the plaza?"
"Here. In front of everyone. Let them see the people who'll lead them to freedom."
The crowd stirred as Kirito lunged, blade flashing—only to be caught by Neo's shadow-forged hand.
The climb had begun.
To Be Continued…
Do you want me to ?
📖 Chapter 6 – The Climb Begins (Continued)
6. Campfire Bonds
The camp outside Floor 5's labyrinth glowed under the artificial starlight. Players sprawled around makeshift fires, armor stacked like towers beside them, their laughter carrying across the clearing.
Neo sat apart at first, sharpening his blade with a whetstone made of condensed shadow. His ears caught every word, though.
"Hey, Asuna!" Kiana leaned over from across the flames, smirking. "Tell me, do you and Kirito always sit that close, or is this just an Aincrad couple thing?"
Asuna nearly choked on her bread. "W-What? It's not—!"
Kirito froze mid-bite, ears reddening. "We're just… teammates."
"Teammates who blush every time your shoulders touch." Kiana sang, then winked at Neo. "See? Even boss-man noticed."
Neo raised an eyebrow, deadpan. "Don't drag me into your gossip."
The fire roared with laughter, even pulling a shy smile from Asuna.
On the far edge, Zhongli and Kirito shared a quieter conversation. The old archon's voice was calm, low like a rolling tide.
"You carry much on your shoulders, young swordsman. But weight shared is weight halved. Do not mistake solitude for strength."
Kirito's eyes darkened, but he nodded. "…I'll try. Thanks, old man."
Zhongli allowed himself the faintest smile. "You may call me Zhongli."
Across another fire, Himeko lifted a flask. "Oi, Neo. You're too quiet again. Thinking broody thoughts?"
Neo tilted his head. "Maybe."
"Well, cut it out. Drink." She tossed the flask, which he caught easily. "You're leading a pack of kids through hell. They need to see you're still human."
Neo hesitated… then took a long sip. The burn in his throat reminded him that yes, he was still human. For now.
7. The Fast Climb
Days blurred into battles. With strategy from the group chat and Neo's relentless drills, the raid party surged through the towers.
• Floor 5: Cleared within two days. Kirito perfected his dual-attack feints under Neo's shadow-guided sparring.
• Floor 6–9: Kiana and Himeko stabilized guilds, stopping faction wars before they broke out. Zhongli created geo-barriers to secure respawn zones, turning panic into order.
• Floor 10 Boss: A massive wyvern wreathed in blue flame. Asuna struck the killing blow, guided by Neo's whispered timing. The raid cheered her name louder than his, and he smiled—it was how it should be.
Each floor became easier, not because the enemies weakened, but because the players grew. Training camps turned greenhorns into fighters. Fear was replaced with rhythm, coordination, and trust.
But every soul saved only deepened Neo's unease. That dark hunger whispered louder each time he unleashed his skills. Every drop of black lightning or searing flame stirred the craving.
8. Midnight Reflection
On the balcony of an inn on Floor 12, Neo leaned against the railing, watching the false moonlight glimmer.
The group chat pinged.
[Private Chat]
• Neo → Core Members: "We're moving fast. Maybe too fast. What if the transmigrator is waiting higher up? What if I can't stop myself when the time comes?"
• Kiana: "Dummy. You'll stop yourself because we'll stop you first. You're not alone."
• Himeko: "Kid, you've got us breathing down your neck every step. If you lose control, we'll slap it back into you."
• Zhongli: "Balance is not restraint, but acceptance. You need not reject the shadow, Neo. Only direct it."
Neo closed the chat, breathing deep. Their words didn't silence the hunger, but they steadied him.
9. Rallying the Players
By the end of the second week, nearly 15 floors had been cleared. The plaza of Floor 16 was alive with banners, music, and a festival-like air. Players who once lived in fear now spoke of freedom.
Neo stood on the balcony overlooking them, Asuna and Kirito at his side.
"They're starting to believe," Asuna whispered, her eyes bright.
Neo nodded. "Belief is power. More dangerous than any blade."
Kirito glanced sideways at him. "So what do we do?"
Neo smirked faintly. "We climb faster. Before the transmigrator decides to harvest their hope instead."
The crowd below roared, raising weapons high as Neo lifted his hand. For the first time since entering this world, their unity felt unshakable.
10. Shadows Linger
Yet when the cheers faded and the players returned to their celebrations, Neo lingered. He stared up at the endless tower of Aincrad, its peak lost in the false stars.
The hunger pulsed inside him like a second heartbeat. For a terrifying moment, he imagined devouring all the souls below—power rushing in, filling the void.
He clenched his fist until his nails cut his palm.
"…Not yet. Not ever."
And deep above, unseen in the darkness, the transmigrator stirred. Their first counterstrike was already in motion.
To Be Continued…