-373- Thanks to someone

The 74th floor, Labyrinth Area.

At the other end of the grassland, there stood a massive tower-like structure made of reddish-brown sandstone.

It had been exactly eleven days since the players had discovered the labyrinth area. Of course both Asuna and Rozen were not newcomers and knew their way around this place.

Therefore, the two of them proceeded without any significant stops, heading straight into the tower of the labyrinth.

Due to the passage of a considerable amount of time, the elite forces of the Aincrad Liberation Force seemed to have already entered the labyrinth area.

They were out of sight, but what caught Rozen and Asuna's attention was Kuradeel, who was pacing anxiously and irritably at the entrance to the tower. Upon Rozen and Asuna's arrival, he managed to enter their line of sight.

Of course, Rozen and Asuna paid no attention to this scene, nor did they have any intention of confronting Kuradeel directly. Instead, they relied on their "Hiding" skill to stealthily enter the labyrinth area.

Upon entering the labyrinth area, Rozen and Asuna noticed that the monsters on one of the paths were relatively sparse.

This was evidence that someone had recently passed through and defeated most of the monsters.

However, Rozen and Asuna couldn't confirm if this was the work of the Aincrad Liberation Army. Without the "Searching" skill, they couldn't deduce much. So, they continued along the path leading upwards.

After about thirty minutes, they finally found the elite forces of the Aincrad Liberation Force on a labyrinth path.

At that moment, this elite force was engaged in a battle with a skeletal swordsman.

The creature stood over two meters tall, its body reduced to just bones, emitting a blue phosphorescent glow. It wielded a straight sword and had a round metal shield equipped – a monster known as a "Demonic Servent."

Despite its lack of muscle, this monster had extraordinary strength. Not only could it provide remarkable defense with its shield alone, but it could also use sword skills with the "One-Handed Sword", making it a formidable opponent.

Rozen was indifferent to facing such a creature, but Asuna, in a one-on-one situation, could deal with it, although it wouldn't be easy.

In this situation, a group of twelve top players should have easily handled this monster. However, the Aincrad Liberation Force was struggling against it.

Rozen and Asuna hid in the shadows, watching this unfold. They quickly realized what had caused this predicament.

"They've exhausted themselves too much..." Asuna murmured quietly.

Upon closer inspection, all the Aincrad Liberation Force players battling the Demonic Servent were holding their weapons with one hand while gasping for air.

Their movements were relatively sluggish, sweat was flowing from their helmets, and even their hands and feet seemed less agile. It was as if the weapons in their hands weighed much heavier than usual, and they were clearly pushing themselves too hard.

As Rozen had anticipated and as Asuna had pointed out, these players had expended too much energy and accumulated considerable fatigue, making the battle extremely challenging.

Don't assume that the players' physical bodies in SAO were merely virtual. In theory, regardless of how intense the activity was, their real-world bodies shouldn't have felt fatigue in this world, and thus, they shouldn't have experienced a sense of tiredness.

However, remember that in this world, all their sensations, including "fatigue," were directly transmitted to their brains through the NerveGear.

Even though their bodies in this world were different from the real world, players still experienced fatigue in various ways, primarily related to their energy, physical strength, and the weight of their equipment. Even the highest-level players couldn't completely avoid fatigue.

The elite forces of the Aincrad Liberation Force were gradually accumulating fatigue during the intense battles at the front lines. Due to their lack of experience in frontline combat, their stamina had been almost completely depleted.

However, Kobatz continued to roar.

"Don't let the enemy escape! Surround it! Surround it!"

Just like how the exhaustion of his subordinates went unnoticed, Kobatz only shouted angrily, appearing quite insistent and infuriating.

Rozen turned his head and asked Asuna, "Can I go over there and cut him?"

"No!"

"Then can I have Saichou or Hanachou fly over and paralyze him?"

"No!"

"Then can I..."

"No!!"

As Rozen proposed one idea after another, Asuna responded with increasing exasperation.

"Tch..."

Rozen gave a unsatisfied sound and made Asuna's expression even more helpless.

Despite being exceptionally resourceful and clever during clearing and displaying remarkable capabilities, Rozen had maintained an impeccable record of not no casualties. He was a miraculous and incredible man.

However, in casual moments, he had this childish side that made Asuna feel utterly helpless.

Rozen wondered what was on Asuna's mind as he kept his eyes on the chaotic battle ahead and voiced his thoughts.

"If the so-called Aincrad Liberation Force's elite force is like this, I really don't understand why that guy Kibaou is so determined to return to the front lines and fight."

That was Rozen's only thought on the matter.

However, Asuna remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"...I can somewhat understand Mr. Kibaou's feelings," Asuna said softly, her head lowered. "As long as we spend one more day in this world, whether it's our family, friends, or loved ones, they could leave us. Our real-world lives are crumbling, and even when we sleep, we keep dreaming of our former world. In that case, your heart can't help but focus on one thought: to clear this game as soon as possible, no matter what it takes."

Asuna's words were like a self-confession, leaving Rozen momentarily speechless.

Hearing these words from Asuna felt incredibly heartfelt.

But...

"Aren't you different now?" Rozen said. "You shouldn't be having dreams about the old world anymore, right?"

Upon hearing this, Asuna surprisingly didn't reply. Instead, she turned her head to look directly at Rozen.

For some reason, Rozen felt a sense of unease, almost as if he couldn't meet Asuna's gaze.

Because at this moment, the emotions in Asuna's eyes made Rozen's heart race.

In this situation, Asuna finally spoke.

"That's also thanks to someone."

With an unprecedentedly gentle smile, Asuna uttered those words.

"Thanks to someone who told me, 'Don't waste the things you brought from the real world. You should smile more often from now on.'"

This statement left Rozen in stunned silence as he turned to look at Asuna.