The newly opened dessert shop on the West Street, "Sweet Hive," lived up to its name; the shop was small, the decor was cozy, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of honey, cream, and baked flour.
Artoria and her two companions chose a window seat, ordered a signature "Virtual Honey Cake," and three cups of herbal tea.
The cake was served quickly; the golden cake body was fluffy and soft, drizzled with crystal-clear honey syrup, and topped with a small pinch of virtual, edible gold leaf, making it look excellent.
The three of them enjoyed their afternoon tea leisurely, as if the hustle and bustle outside the window and the tense atmosphere of the strategy meeting were isolated by this small, sweet space.
Ellie used a small silver fork to cut a piece of cake and put it in her mouth, her eyes immediately squinting into crescents of happiness: "Wow! So sweet! So fluffy! Even though it's virtual, the simulation of the texture and taste is amazing! It's even better than what many cake shops make in reality!"
"The sweetness is moderate, the honey aroma is natural, and the moisture of the cake body is well-controlled." Minerva also savored it carefully and gave a professional evaluation, "The'sensory simulation' technology of this World truly spares no effort in its investment in enjoyment-oriented experiences."
Artoria slowly sipped the warm herbal tea with a faint scent of lavender, her gaze passing through the glass window, looking towards the central plaza visible in the distance.
Although she couldn't hear the specific sounds, she could see that the crowd was still gathered there, and Diabel seemed to be continuing with personnel screening and tactical arrangements.
The tension in the air, mixed with hope, anxiety, and a faint trace of the smell of blood, could be vaguely felt even here.
"I don't know how they are preparing." Ellie also glanced at the plaza direction and said in a low voice, "They are going to fight the boss tomorrow. Is the information released by Mr. Diabel really enough? That second phase where it turns red sounds so scary."
"Information is just the foundation." Artoria put down her teacup and said calmly, "The real test lies in on-the-spot adaptability, the decisiveness of command, and... whether all participants can overcome their fear, strictly execute tactics, and reduce casualties to a minimum. Especially on this kind of battlefield where 'death' is real."
She recalled that in the original work, the First Floor strategy battle paid a heavy price precisely because of Diabel's death and the subsequent command chaos, and it was only barely cleared by relying on Kirito's sudden outburst of "Dual Blades" and the desperate fighting of the remaining players in the strategy group.
Now, Diabel had released the key information about the second phase in advance, which undoubtedly greatly increased the chances of winning.
But under the butterfly effect, who could guarantee that everything would develop according to the "script"? Perhaps there would be new variables, or perhaps the sacrifices would be even more tragic.
"Should we... go see it?" Ellie asked with some hesitation, "Tomorrow?"
Minerva looked at Artoria, waiting for her decision.
As "vacationers," going to watch a real BOSS battle where lives were at stake seemed a bit too "exciting" or even "cruel."
But on the other hand, this was a major node in the main plot of this World, and as "observers," it seemed they shouldn't miss it either.
Artoria pondered for a moment and shook her head: "No, we are not going to the front line."
"Eh?" Ellie was a little surprised.
"That is a battlefield, a place of life-and-death struggle." Artoria's eyes were clear and calm.
"We are not warriors, not strategists; we are 'vacationing' travelers. We can observe the operation of this World, record the stories that happen, and even provide small help within our capabilities and without violating our principles."
"But stepping directly into the battlefield, as a bystander, to 'appreciate' or 'witness' the desperate struggle of others, no matter how reasonable the excuse, is a disrespect to those who bet their lives, and it will also stain our own 'vacation' with unnecessary heaviness."
She paused and added: "Besides, we have 'Teleport Crystals' that allow us to escape safely at any time. If we were on the battlefield and saw someone in a desperate situation, it would be hard for us to just stand by."
"And once we use abilities that transcend the rules of this game to intervene, no matter how small, it could trigger unpredictable chain reactions, or even interfere with the natural progression of this World, violating our original intention of 'observing without excessive interference'."
Minerva nodded in agreement: "Ling is right. We can learn about the battle situation through other means. Starting Town will definitely leave behind liaison personnel, and the result of the battle will also be conveyed through system announcements as soon as possible."
"We just need to wait for the news. As for the cruelty of witnessing it with our own eyes... sometimes, keeping a proper distance is both a respect for others and a protection for our own hearts."
Ellie nodded thoughtfully: "I understand. Then what shall we do tomorrow? Continue wandering around the town? Or go explore other places?"
"Hmm, tomorrow we..." Just as Artoria was about to plan, suddenly, an extremely grand and highly penetrating system announcement sound rang out without warning, echoing through every corner of the First Floor of Aincrad!
Whether they were players in Starting Town, players leveling up in the wild, exploring in dungeons, or even resting in private rooms, they all received this announcement simultaneously:
[System Announcement: The First Floor floor boss 'Illfang the Kobold Lord' has been defeated by a player team! Repeat, the First Floor floor boss 'Illfang the Kobold Lord' has been defeated by a player team!]
[Strategy completion time: 5th day of SAO launch, 16:47 PM.]
[Leader of the clearing team: Diabel.]
[Main members of the clearing team:... a long scrolling list...]
[The teleport gate from the First Floor to the Second Floor has been opened, located at the Starting Town central plaza teleport gate monument.]
[All players receive the first-clear reward: a small increase in experience points, 1000 currency, and the title 'Pioneer'.]
[Thank you to all players who contributed to the strategy. The road to freedom has opened its first door. We wish you all good luck in your martial endeavors.]
The announcement was broadcast three times in a row. Every time, it struck every player's heart like a heavy hammer.
Defeated? Really... defeated?! The First Floor... was cleared?!
The "Sweet Hive" fell into instant silence; all the players enjoying desserts froze, their forks suspended in mid-air, mouths slightly open, their faces filled with unbelievable shock.
On the street outside the window, the original hustle and bustle seemed to have been pressed with a pause button, and immediately, a tsunami-like roar mixed with ecstasy, crying, and shouting erupted!
"We succeeded! We succeeded!"
"Long live Diabel! Long live the strategy group!"
"Cleared! The First Floor is cleared! We can really get out!"
"Great! Great! Wuwuwu..."
The emotion of ecstasy was like an explosive Impact, instantly sweeping through the entire Starting Town and rapidly spreading to the further leveling areas.
Players hugged each other, crying and laughing, shouting at the sky, and pounding the walls (virtual ones)... The fear, despair, and helplessness suppressed for five days turned into the purest and most intense catharsis at this moment!
Hope, the true light of hope, shone into this death cage so clearly for the first time!
Artoria, Minerva, and Ellie were also stunned, their teacups and forks frozen in mid-air.
Succeeded? So fast? It's only the afternoon!
According to the original work, the First Floor strategy battle should have taken place on the second day after the meeting was held, which is the sixth day of the server launch, and the battle process was tragic, with Diabel dying in action.
But now, on the afternoon of the day the meeting was held, the BOSS was already taken down?
And the announcement clearly mentioned that the leader was Diabel, and listed a long list of contributors, which means... Diabel survived?
Was it the effect of the information? Was it the improvement of tactics? Or was it because of the indirect influence of a large number of "traveler" variables, which led to changes in the overall strength or mentality of the players, contributing to an earlier and smoother strategy?
Regardless, this is a huge, unexpected piece of good news for everyone!
This means that the players of this World, relying on their own strength, successfully took the first step toward freedom just five days after the game launch and only four days after it became a death game!
This will undoubtedly greatly boost the morale of all survivors, proving that this death game is not completely invincible, and that unity and courage can indeed create miracles!
"Great!" Ellie was the first to react, her little face flushed with excitement, almost jumping up from her chair, "They really did it! Mr. Diabel is fine! The First Floor is cleared! Master, Miss Minerva, we..."
Her words were drowned out by even more intense cheers from outside the window before she could finish.
Seeing the street, the crowd began to surge toward the central plaza like a tide, wanting to witness with their own eyes the opening of the teleport gate to the Second Floor, and to welcome the triumphant warriors.
"Indeed... unexpected." Minerva let out a soft sigh of relief, a glimmer of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. "It seems the intelligence shared by Mr. Diabel and the strategies organized in advance played a decisive role. The unity and courage of the players were also more resilient than we anticipated. This is... a very good start."
Artoria didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth slowly lifted into a genuine and warm arc. Yes, this was excellent news. It wasn't just because of the hope brought by clearing the level, but because it proved that even in this cruel death game, human courage, wisdom, and unity could still shine brightly and change established "tragedies." The survival of Diabel would undoubtedly greatly alter the direction of subsequent raids and the internal atmosphere among the players.
"Let's..." Artoria stood up and looked out the window at the seething crowd and the brilliant blue light starting to shine from the direction of the plaza, representing the activation of the Teleport Gate. "Let's go to the plaza to take a look, too. Not to the front lines, but to... share this joy and witness this historic moment."
"Yeah!" Allie nodded vigorously.
Minerva also smiled and stood up.
The three of them paid the bill, left the dessert shop, and followed the flow of people toward the central plaza. The streets had already turned into an ocean of joy; strangers were high-fiving, hugging, and congratulating each other, their faces beaming with long-lost, heartfelt smiles. The gloom of death seemed to have been largely dispelled by this sudden victory.
Arriving at the central plaza, it was already packed tight. Everyone's gaze was focused on the massive Teleport Gate monument in the center of the plaza. At this moment, above the several small rings around the base of the monument that originally only led to various parts of the First Floor, a much larger, more brilliant, and constantly rotating deep blue vortex had appeared! The vortex was filled with starlight, as if connecting to another World—that was the Teleport Gate leading to the Second Floor of Aincrad!
In front of the monument, a small area had been spontaneously cleared. Standing there were dozens of players covered in blood, their armor damaged, many bearing visible wounds, yet their eyes were exceptionally bright and their backs straight. They were the warriors who had just returned from the bloody battle in the BOSS room, the heroes of the First Floor raid!
Standing at the very front was none other than Diabel. His silver armor was covered in deep scratches and charred marks, his chest piece even had a noticeable dent, and his blue cloak was torn in several places. His face showed fatigue, but his eyes burned with an unprecedented flame of hope and majesty. He leaned on his longsword with his right hand, while his left was supported by a female player who looked equally disheveled but had a determined expression; he had clearly suffered serious injuries in the battle. Yet, he stood there like a banner, like a monument, accepting the reverent, grateful, and fanatical gazes of the countless players around him.
Behind him were the other members of the raid group. Artoria's gaze swept quickly, spotting Egil, Klein, and Lisbeth! Although they were also covered in wounds—Egil's shield was missing a corner, Klein's spear was broken in half, and Lisbeth looked pale, seemingly having exhausted her MP—they were all alive, supporting each other, their faces showing the relief of having survived and the excitement of participating in making history. She also saw Asuna, the girl with chestnut short hair. She seemed to have participated in the battle as well; there were a few cuts on her archer's leather armor and a streak of blood on her cheek, but her back was straight, her eyes sharp, and her hand gripping the bow was steady. Compared to the players around her who were so excited they seemed almost beside themselves, she appeared exceptionally calm and composed.
Of course, she also saw the black-clad boy—Kirito. He stood alone on the edge of the raid group, still in that inconspicuous black leather coat, head lowered, his bangs obscuring his eyes. He didn't seem to have many injuries, but his breathing was somewhat ragged, and his hand gripping the sword hilt trembled slightly—not from fear, but more like the exhaustion after some intense exertion. He seemed out of place with the surrounding celebration, immersed alone in thoughts or emotions known only to himself.
"Diabel!" "Hero!" "Thank you!" "Long live! Long live!" The deafening cheers, expressions of gratitude, and cries hit the plaza like a tsunami. Many players bowed deeply toward Diabel and the raid group, and some, overcome with emotion, even knelt on the ground, weeping with joy.
Diabel raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. Although his voice carried a weary rasp, it clearly reached throughout the plaza: "Everyone! We! Did it!"
Another even more intense round of cheers erupted.
"This is not my victory alone! It is the victory of every warrior here! It is the path paved by the lives of our fallen comrades! It is the collective victory of all of us players who refuse to submit and have the courage to fight!" Diabel's voice grew impassioned as he pointed to the blue vortex behind him leading to the Second Floor. "Look! The road to freedom is already unfolding beneath our feet! This proves that Akihiko Kayaba's cage is not unbreakable! This proves that as long as we unite as one and press forward bravely, we will eventually clear all 100 floors and reclaim our freedom and our lives!"
"Today, we have taken the first step! In the future, there are still 99 tough battles to fight! People will still sacrifice, and we will face even sterner challenges! But—" He looked around, his gaze sweeping over every face—some excited, some crying, some filled with hope—"we have already proven that we can do it! So, do not stop your steps! Do not let this temporary victory go to your heads! Let us wipe away our tears, bandage our wounds, learn from our experience, and then, toward the Second Floor, continue to advance!"
"For survival! For freedom! For all the comrades trapped here! Advance!"
"Advance!!" A unified, earth-shaking roar erupted in the plaza. At this moment, all players, whether they were Beta Testers or ordinary players, regardless of their strength or any grudges they held, were tightly united in this moment by the joy of victory and the hope of freedom!
The three of them stood on the periphery of the crowd, quietly watching this seething scene. Allie's eyes were also slightly moist; she squeezed Artoria's and Minerva's hands tightly and whispered, "They... are really amazing. Mr. Diabel is really cool..."
"Mhm, true leadership qualities," Minerva commented softly. "It's not just about strength, but also the ability to step up at critical moments, take responsibility, unite people's hearts, and... actually lead everyone to victory. After this battle, his prestige among the players will reach its peak. This is a huge boon for future raids."
Artoria nodded, but her gaze turned again to the black figure standing alone on the edge. Kirito seemed to lift his head, glanced at Diabel, who was surrounded by the crowd and shining brilliantly, then looked at the vortex leading to the Second Floor, and then, silently and quietly, turned, squeezed out of the crowd, and walked toward the outside of the plaza. His back, set against the sunset glow and the surrounding revelry, appeared even more lonely, yet also seemed... to have lost a bit of that heavy, self-enclosed gloom from before.
Perhaps witnessing and participating in a victory achieved by collective strength rather than relying solely on individual "Beta Tester" abilities or "special skills" was a catalyst for change and relief for him? After all, in the original story, it was precisely because of Diabel's sacrifice and the chaos of subsequent raids that he was pushed step by step onto the path of the "Beta Tester's Shame" and the "Solo Player." But now, history had changed.
"Let's go," Artoria withdrew her gaze and said to Minerva and Allie, "The show is over, it's time to continue our 'vacation.' The First Floor has been cleared, and many new areas and gameplay features should open up. For example... the scenery of the Second Floor, I wonder what it's like?"
"Oh, right! We can go to the Second Floor and play!" Allie's eyes lit up, instantly switching back from the emotional state to vacation mode. "I heard the Second Floor has a 'Grasslands and Valleys' theme, with lots of beautiful waterfalls and river valleys! We can go for a picnic! And we can try out the new monsters on the Second Floor!"
"Mhm, no rush. Let's rest well and celebrate today," Artoria smiled. "Tonight, let's go to the 'Golden Oak' for a good meal to celebrate the warriors of this World for achieving their first victory, and also to celebrate that our vacation... has entered a new phase."
The three of them smiled at each other, walked away hand-in-hand from the still-seething and noisy plaza, and merged into the gradually lighting up, hopeful, and vibrant lights of the Starting Town.
They were travelers, passersby, and observers and recorders of this grand survival epic.
But at this moment, they also felt heartfelt joy for the victory achieved by the "protagonists" and "warriors" of this World.
Because the light of hope can always illuminate more places, including their special "SAO vacation," which was moving along leisurely in the intertwining of hope and despair.
The raid on the First Floor was cleared by the players themselves.
This is very good.
Their vacation has therefore become even more worth looking forward to.
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