The day Kirito vanished, the world itself seemed to flicker.
Floor 5's weather cycle froze mid-update — clouds hung motionless in the sky, and the sun dimmed to a faint, eerie gold. Monsters stopped spawning for nearly an hour, as if the code that governed Aincrad was waiting… watching.
And then the whispers began again.
"The Black Swordsman's gone."
"No logout trace, no death ping — nothing."
"Did Kayaba erase him?"
No one had an answer.
Only one player refused to believe he was gone.
[Knights of the Blood Headquarters — Floor 4, Windvale Citadel]
Asuna's hands trembled slightly as she slammed the meeting room door open. The guild officers turned toward her — anxious faces lit by the glow of the interface screens hovering above the table.
"Status report," she demanded.
An analyst spoke first, voice nervous.
"We've scanned every known dungeon and frontier zone. Kirito's icon disappeared from the player map at 23:47 last night — right after teleporting to the Throne Gate Ruins. No return signal since."
"That's impossible," Klein muttered. "Even if he blocked tracking, the system should still show his last coordinates."
"It doesn't," Argo said grimly. "It's like the game stopped recognizing him as a player."
Silence fell.
Asuna closed her eyes, remembering his last words.
"If the throne calls me again… don't follow."
She whispered, "I promised."
But promises didn't matter when her heart told her he was in danger.
She opened her eyes again, voice sharp and commanding.
"I'm breaking that promise."
"Asuna—" Argo began, but Asuna cut her off.
"If he's trapped in the system, he's alone. And if this 'Throne Protocol' is rewriting the game, then it's not just him in danger — it's everyone."
She turned toward the group. "We're forming a rescue party. I want the best frontliners, data scouts, and code analysts. We move within the hour."
[Floor 5 — The Shattered Plains]
The air shimmered like heat on metal.
The plains that once bustled with monsters were empty now — only remnants of battle remained: cracks in the digital ground, swords half-buried in golden dust, and fragments of code floating like embers.
Argo crouched, brushing her fingers through the dirt.
"Golden corruption traces… same wavelength as before."
"So this is where he disappeared," Klein muttered, gripping his katana.
"No," Asuna said softly. "This is where the system erased him."
Ahead of them loomed the Throne Gate Ruins — an enormous cathedral of fractured marble and digital vines, its doors sealed by chains of light. Strange symbols pulsed across the gates, and from within came faint whispers — not of voices, but commands.
[Royal Protocol Active]
[Trial of Dominion Initialized]
Argo frowned. "Looks like the system's running something… not player-generated."
"Then that's where he is," Asuna said, stepping forward.
But before she could touch the gate, the ground split open.
A tremor rippled through the plains.
From the cracks rose towering figures — humanoid knights of gold and shadow, their armor marked with ancient script. Each carried massive blades forged from code itself. Their eyes glowed red as the system's voice echoed through the ruins:
[Warning: Unauthorized Entry Detected.]
[Sanction: Eradicate Intruders.]
The Knights of the Blood raised their weapons instinctively.
"Everyone, defensive formation!" Asuna shouted, drawing her rapier.
The guardians charged — their movements inhumanly fast. The ground shattered beneath their steps.
Asuna met the first one head-on. Her blade flashed like lightning, striking at the gaps in its armor — but instead of sparks, her strike was absorbed.
"Their data's rewriting itself mid-combat!" Argo shouted.
Klein slashed across another's chest, but his weapon passed through harmlessly.
"What the hell are these things!?"
"System defense units," Asuna said, eyes narrowing. "Kirito triggered something big — and it doesn't want anyone reaching him."
The battle raged across the plains — bursts of steel and code lighting the dusk.
Asuna fought like a tempest, every motion precise, fluid, unstoppable. She darted through enemy ranks, her rapier striking weak points the system didn't account for. Yet for every guardian that fell, two more emerged.
Argo's traps detonated in blinding flashes. Klein cut through code residue with raw fury. But still, the gate remained closed, pulsing brighter and brighter.
"We'll be overrun!" Klein yelled.
"Then we break through!" Asuna shouted, raising her sword. "All units — focus fire on the seal!"
The frontliners unleashed everything they had — sword skills, elemental attacks, even rare crystals. The gate's light flared — cracks spreading through the divine seal.
Then, with a thunderous sound, it shattered.
A surge of golden wind blasted outward, knocking everyone back. When the light faded, the gate stood open — revealing a vast hall of gold beyond.
Asuna staggered forward. "Kirito…"
Inside the Throne Gate
The interior was breathtaking — an infinite hall lined with pillars of light, stretching into eternity. In the center stood a massive throne, woven from thousands of swords, and on it sat Kirito.
He looked peaceful — too peaceful. His eyes were closed, his hand resting on the hilt of Elucidator. Golden light flowed around him like a living aura, and the Gate of Babylon shimmered faintly behind the throne.
"Kirito!" Asuna ran forward — but as soon as she crossed the threshold, a wave of pressure threw her back.
The air rippled. The system's voice echoed again.
[Royal Trial in Progress: The Heir must remain undisturbed.]
[Interference detected.]
[Deploying Defense Protocol: The Golden Warden.]
A new figure emerged from the golden mist — taller than any human, armored in divine light, wielding a blade made of pure data.
Its voice was calm, almost gentle.
"The Heir sleeps. Those who seek him shall face extinction."
Argo whispered, "It's… a boss unit. But it's not listed anywhere in the database."
"We're not leaving without him!" Asuna shouted, raising her rapier again.
Battle in the Throne Hall
The fight was unlike any before. The Warden moved like a reflection of Kirito himself — agile, elegant, merciless. Every slash emitted shockwaves that fractured the floor.
Asuna dodged narrowly, feeling the heat of each strike graze her skin. Klein and Argo flanked from both sides, but their blades only chipped the Warden's armor.
"Its defense is off the charts!" Klein grunted.
"Then we'll find the weak point!" Asuna said, charging forward.
She used Linear — her rapier piercing through the golden storm — and struck the Warden's chest. The armor cracked slightly, revealing glowing runes beneath.
Argo's eyes widened. "That's its data core!"
Asuna and Klein struck together — a synchronized combo that shattered the runes. The Warden froze, then let out a roar of static before disintegrating into light.
The hall fell silent again.
Asuna rushed to Kirito's side.
She knelt before him, gripping his hand. "Kirito, wake up… please…"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, faintly, his fingers twitched. His eyes opened — not the warm brown she remembered, but radiant gold, glowing like fire.
"Asuna…" he whispered.
She smiled in relief — until she saw the distant look in his gaze.
"Where… am I?"
"You're in the ruins. We came to find you."
He blinked, as though her words were far away. Then, softly, he said:
"The throne called me. I answered."
Behind him, the Gate shimmered — no longer chaotic, but alive, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"The world… it speaks to me now. I can hear every line of code, every soul trapped here. I know what Aincrad truly is."
"Then tell me," Asuna said.
He looked at her — and for the first time, she saw something both magnificent and terrifying in his eyes.
"It's not a cage," he said. "It's a kingdom — waiting for its King to rise."
Asuna's breath caught. "Kirito…"
The throne behind him began to glow brighter, flooding the hall with golden light.
"But I didn't bring you here to see that," he said softly. "I brought you here so you'd understand — what I have to become to save everyone."
Asuna reached for him, but the golden aura surged outward, forcing her back.
"Kirito, stop! You're not alone in this!"
His voice echoed — layered, distorted, divine.
"Then stand aside, Asuna of the Blood. The King must ascend."
The light engulfed the chamber, swallowing everything.