CHAPTER 24.1 - Quest And Rewards

"Answer me one question.." The quest maker sign changed into a question mark on the top of his head

"Yes?" Asuna said

"Why do you lend your strength to the cause of the people of Lyusula?" Asuna's answer can be the result of failing the quest and if it happens all the Dark Elves here in the castle will die "This is a long and deep war between Kales'Oh and Lyusula and yet you, an unrelated human, are desperate to help in our moments of crisis.." Yofilis is now looking directly into her eyes "Why is that?"

She was now thinking why are they keep helping them even though it can lead to their death?. Asuna bowed she was sure it is not because they choose the Dark Elves' side for the quest, she doesn't know what is the best answer, when she suddenly remembered Emilia's face and the other Elves that help them, even the Black-Smith dark elves that look like a villain. She smiled at this thought

"At first, there is no good reason but now.." She looks at him and smiled "Now it's different both I and Kirito-Kun love Knight Emilia and She loves the Dark Elves because of that we help you and it's also fun playing on the children here in the castle"

"I think.." Yofilis show a small smile for the first time "I shall take the truth of your words"

"Then, you'll help?" She said hoping for a positive response

"Come with me.." He stood up

"Thank you, sir!" She bowed but suddenly stopped "But, hmm what about your illness?"

"Oh? My ailment? That was a lie" Yofilis laugh "This scar of bear is the greatest shame of my life" He touched the scar on his face "I have hidden it from view, which my shame will not be passed down to the children." Yofilis grabbed his rapier "Let's go, then to where my soldiers and your friends are fighting" When they leave the office, Kouki came out on the darkest side of the room, he was there listening to their conversation

"Asuna, the lightning Flash.." Kouki smiled and sat on the table "That suits her very well, I can't wait to see you become the powerful swordswoman of SAO.." He looks at the double door where Asuna and Yofilis came out

Yofilis and Asuna entered the battle "No one got past!-" Kirito attack on of the Forest Elf "Asuna!"

"Sorry! Took longer than I thought!" Asuna said and hold her Farner rapier

"We're still holding up! How it did go?" Kirito ask while Asuna pointed to the entrance of the castle where Yofilis came out

"Soldiers of Lyusula! The future of our kingdom rests upon the battle!" Yofilis shouted

"The Viscount?! Why is he outside?" Emilia ask

"My Lord!" All the Dark elves soldiers turned their gaze on Yofilis

"For her majesty the Queen! For friends and family!" Yofilis encourage them "Stand again, and fight at my side!"

"What?!" The Forest Elves was shocked on the

"Let's go, Asuna! The counterattack begins!" Kirito said

"Yeah!" Asuna answer

"W-What's that?! Where's that power coming from?!" The Forest Elves was in fear just by looking at Asuna and Kirito, they feel overflowing power coming out to them

"Do not fear!" The Forest Elves commander said, "The introduction of one measly Lord does not overturn our superiority!" The commander shouted "Ready your weapons!"

"Here they come!" Kirito said the Forest Elves enforcement was about to attack

"Clear the way!" Yofilis commanded and they followed it. Yofilis charge them with flashing penetrator

"Flashing penetrator?!" Kkirito was shocked by the sudden attack coming from Yofilis "That's the highest level of thrusting skills! I've only ever seen it in promotional videos" He whispered "But that has to have a really long skill delay! Asuna! We've got depend on him!" Kirito said to Asuna

"Okay!"

"Curse you!" The Forest elves commander attack Yofilis "We've got the enemy leader's head! Now we've won"

"You sure about that?" Kirito blocked his attack

"What?!" The forest commander was in shock

"Don't forget about us" Kirito was smiling "Asuna you cover at that side!"

"Alright!" Sprints and attack the Forest elves on the other side

"Enough meddling out of my way!" The Forest commander attack Kirito again "Puny human boy!"

"I'm afraid that's not an option!" Kirito used his anneal blade again to block the attack again "I'm your opponent here!" The anneal blade was started cracking "The anneal blade's durability is nearly gone.."

"Argh! Boy, why does a human-like you fight for the Dark Elves?" The Forest commander asks, the war between the Forest and Dark elves has been going on for a long time but this is the first time humans have interfered with them

"Because I think the war between the Forest Elves and Dark Elves was wrong!"

"Nonsense! Since ancient times, the people of Kales'Oh have been locked in the endless bloodshed with the Dark Elves! And it is for the noble sake of freeing all life from floating prison!" The Forest Elves pushed his swords to Kirito even more "You're mine!!!"

"I can't get away in time, please hold out trusty blade!" Kirito look at his anneal blade and manage to push him away

"He withstood my strongest attack!" The commander was shocked. Asuna grabbed the opportunity and dash towards the commander and charge him with oblique and it hit the Forest Elves commander, he didn't expect the fast attack coming from her "Ugh!"

"Kirito-Kun!" Asuna backflip and runs on the other side "Switch!!" because of that the attention of the commander was on Asuna

"Now it's my turn!" Kirito sprints towards the commander "AHHHHH!!!" He charges him by the Vertical squire, and it becomes fragments

"He defeated the knight commander?" The forest Elves was in shock "Damn! Everyone retreat!" They came back to their boat and left the castle dock

"Kirito-Kun!" Asuna was running towards him

"Hey, you okay?" Kirito asks her

"I'm fine but your.." Asuna look at his anneal blade

"Yeah, looks like it's the end of its life, it did really well to last this long" Kirito looked at his anneal blade that now was completely damaged "Thank you"

"I'll go there and check for the messages from Argo-San," Asuna said, she received a message from Argo during the battle

"Sounds good"

"That was well done, Kirito" Emilia said

"Do you think this was the right thing to do?" Kirito asks her, he is not sure what will be going to happen in the future after he killed the Forest Elf commander Knight

"Hold your head, we would not have to overcome if it not because of you and that girl," Yofilis said. They bowed at him giving the respect

"We protected the castle and the sacred key, what more could we hope?" Emilia said

"Oh! Kirito-Kun! They've already left!" Asuna was panicking "For the floor Boss fight!"

"What?! Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow afternoon?" Kirito started to get pissed off

"They said they're starting early because they found the Boss chamber already!" Asuna was angry "Why those dirty!"

"Kirito, Asuna. Are you challenging the guardian of the pillar of the heavens?" Emilia ask

"Yes, we have to go, but we will right back!" Asuna said

"Why must you be so, what do humans call it? 'distant'? I'll join you" Emilia volunteer

"Hmm, I suppose I shall as well" Yofilis volunteers too while smiling

"What?!!!" Kirito and Asuna was shocked "This never happens during Beta testing, as far as I know, NPC's doesn't allow entering Boss chamber" Kirito was thinking

"Come, let's move," Emilia and Yofilis said and started walking on the gondola