The sun hung low over Aincrad's 49th floor, casting long shadows across the stone terraces of the capital city, Valisca. It was the kind of sunset that made the steel sky look almost human—warm, bleeding orange, as if even the game itself could feel the tension that hung heavy in the air.
Kirito stood at the edge of a balcony, his black coat fluttering in the cool wind. Below him, players moved through the streets, bartering, laughing, training… pretending they weren't trapped. He envied them, in a way. They still had the luxury of pretending.
He rested his hand on the hilt of Ea. The golden blade shimmered faintly even when sealed—its power never truly dormant. It was more than a weapon now; it was a part of him. Every hum of its power echoed the divine arrogance of Gilgamesh himself. Sometimes Kirito could almost hear that voice—the King of Heroes whispering from somewhere beyond, challenging him to wield the blade as a true monarch would.
"Are you content to swing me like a sword, boy? Or will you rule this false world as your kingdom?"
He never answered. He didn't need to. The answer was in every choice he made—to protect, not to dominate.
Behind him, footsteps echoed softly.
"Kirito."
Asuna's voice. Steady, warm, but tinged with the same exhaustion he felt. She joined him at the railing, her eyes catching the last light of the sunset.
"They said you took out the entire Cerberus Legion alone on Floor 48," she said quietly. "The whole thing was over in five minutes."
Kirito didn't turn around. "They were ambushing the advance party. I didn't have time to negotiate."
"That's not what people are saying," she murmured. "They're calling you the Golden Demon. The guy who wields treasures like a god."
He sighed. "Rumors make good armor for fear."
Asuna folded her arms. "But there's truth in every rumor. You are different now. You're stronger than anyone in Aincrad… maybe even than Kayaba."
He glanced sideways, a faint smile touching his lips. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It's not," she said softly, "unless that power starts changing you."
Her words lingered between them. The wind picked up, fluttering her hair as they stood in silence, the sounds of the city fading beneath the hum of the floating castle.
Suddenly, a deep tremor rippled through the ground—an unnatural quake. Kirito's instincts flared instantly.
"System event?" he muttered.
A massive crimson notification spread across the sky:
[ ⚠ SYSTEM ALERT: UNAUTHORIZED ENTITY DETECTED ON FLOOR 49
CODE NAME: 'ENKIDU']
Kirito's eyes widened. "Enkidu…?"
Asuna frowned. "You know that name?"
Kirito drew Ea. "Yeah. It's… connected to Gilgamesh."
Before she could ask more, the sky split open. Chains of pure gold descended from a rift, slamming into the streets below. Players screamed as the glowing tendrils coiled like serpents, binding everything they touched.
A figure emerged from the rift—tall, pale, with greenish-gold hair and eyes that glowed faintly. They wore ancient robes that shimmered like sunlight on water. Their voice carried through the air like a song.
"So this is the prison you've chosen, my friend… the cage you call a world."
Kirito's heartbeat quickened. He could feel the resonance—the same divine energy that flowed through Ea.
"Who are you?" he shouted, stepping forward.
The figure smiled. "I am Enkidu—the companion of Gilgamesh. And you… You carry his spirit's power. I have come to see whether you are worthy."
Chains shot forward, shattering the balcony. Kirito grabbed Asuna, leaping off the edge just before the golden bindings struck. They landed on the lower platform, stone cracking beneath the impact.
"Stay back," he said.
"Kirito—!"
But he was already moving. His eyes blazed gold, Ea pulsing with divine energy.
"You want to test me?" Kirito shouted, leveling the sword. "Then you'll see exactly what this 'imitation king' can do!"
The air screamed as Ea unsealed. Three rotating segments spun in perfect harmony, releasing a vortex of crimson energy.
"Enuma Elish!"
The unleashed blast tore through the chains, the shockwave rippling through the city. Enkidu crossed their arms, absorbing the impact with a faint smile.
"So you've learned to wield it… But tell me, do you understand the burden it carries?"
Kirito lunged, their blades clashing in an explosion of gold and red light. Each strike tore through the stone and air alike, their movements too fast for the watching players to follow.
The duel of divinity and humanity had begun.
But deep inside Kirito's mind, a whisper returned—Gilgamesh's voice, faint yet unmistakable.
"Do not falter, boy. For in this world of false gods and fragile dreams… only the true king decides what is real."
And for the first time, Kirito wondered—
Was he still fighting to escape Aincrad?
Or had he begun to rule it?