When it came to Klein's attempts to get close to his sister, Kirito remained vigilant and resolute. His outright rejection left Klein slumped over the table in disappointment. Neither Kirito nor Daniel Davis offered any consolation—they were used to Klein's antics, knowing he'd recover quickly. Sure enough, as soon as Agil brought out the food, Klein perked up and joined the conversation.
The group's focus soon shifted to the latest update of Alfheim Online, which included the return of Aincrad. Agil's wife had decided to join him in exploring the recreated floating castle. Of course, this time, it was no longer a death game.
Not only were former SAO players returning, but many new players, curious about the infamous death game, had joined as well. Former SAO survivors were determined to reach the 100th floor this time.
Without the fear of death or the need for overly cautious strategies, it was certain that the castle would be conquered much faster than before.
---
"I think your ninja game is way too hard! You actually have to use hand signs to perform ninjutsu!" Klein started complaining about the ninja game, currently in beta testing. Daniel had gifted beta access to Kirito, his sister, and Klein, among others.
"It's just the beta," Daniel replied with a chuckle. "Didn't you always see yourself as a samurai? The game has a samurai class, you know."
"I just wanted to try being a ninja."
"I think it's fun," Kirito interjected. True to form, he had quickly mastered the hand signs required for ninjutsu.
"Not everyone's like you!" Klein grumbled enviously. In Alfheim Online, Kirito was among the top ten players on the World Tree leaderboard.
This wasn't just impressive—it had also helped Kirito gain the attention of various in-game beauties, from cat fairies to wind spirits.
Meanwhile, Klein had little luck with women. Daniel could only sympathize. Klein had chosen the wrong person to compare himself to. Whether in terms of looks, skill, or charm, Kirito was leagues ahead. Around Kirito, Klein could only fade into the background.
---
"Red Queen's performance has significantly improved," Daniel noted. After modifications by Kayaba Akihiko, Red Queen was now far more powerful, particularly in data processing and system support. Even Stark's technology lagged slightly behind in this area, not due to Stark's lack of brilliance but because his focus remained firmly on his Iron Man suits.
In the Marvel universe, quantum research was most advanced under Hank Pym. However, his obsession with rescuing his wife trapped in the quantum realm left him with little time for pursuits like quantum computing.
The upgrades to Red Queen greatly enhanced the precision of Daniel's Iron Man suits. Systems control made a world of difference in performance. Consider Anton Vanko's clunky drones from Iron Man 2, which couldn't even navigate a turn without crashing into each other. In contrast, suits controlled by J.A.R.V.I.S. during the Mandarin conflict in Iron Man 3 operated with unmatched fluidity.
---
"So this is the Shimmer Project. Think Kirito will end up working for them? And will Alice ever come into existence?" Daniel mused as he delved into the Shimmer Project while learning from Kayaba and playing games with Asuna. He had a deeper understanding of the project's technology and its implications.
The Shimmer Project aimed to create bottom-up artificial intelligence—AI that started from scratch and learned incrementally, much like humans. This stood in stark contrast to Yui's top-down creation, which was born fully formed by processing human emotions in SAO.
Although Daniel's presence had toned down Kirito's heroics, he still caught Kikuoka's eye. It was plausible that Kirito could one day be drawn into the world of the Shimmer Project.
As for Alice, Daniel wasn't particularly concerned. Her creation in the original story was largely a product of coincidence and required a tremendous amount of time. With Yui already around, there was no pressing need for another AI of her kind.
Daniel didn't place much faith in the Shimmer Project, especially since it harbored numerous covert operatives. Nevertheless, he left a mark on the project's systems, ensuring that he could influence events if Alice were ever born.
---
"Those players are fast!" News reached Daniel and Asuna that the 22nd floor of the new Aincrad had already been cleared. Thanks to Yui monitoring the progress, they were among the first to hear about it. The couple promptly headed to the 22nd floor and repurchased the forest cabin they had once called home.
The new Aincrad was nearly identical to its death-game predecessor, both having been created by Kayaba. This time, Kayaba and Rinko entered the game together, determined to address the regrets of the past. The 100th-floor boss was still Kayaba—but now as an NPC created by the system.
---
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Asuna's voice was soft as she sat beside Daniel in the forest cabin, the familiar decor evoking memories of their past.
"That's right. There's nothing urgent left to do here," Daniel replied. After Asuna was officially discharged from the hospital, Daniel had revealed most of his secrets to her.
Though the revelations led to a two-day cold war, they eventually returned to their usual dynamic, thanks in large part to Yui. The couple made a promise: they would revisit their future once Asuna entered university. As Asuna was still a high school student, their relationship remained platonic in the real world—though things were different in the game.
---
Before departing, Daniel gave Asuna a chakra training regimen, a spatial ring, and a protective artifact in the form of nano armor. Asuna was astonished by the spatial ring's capabilities.
"Take care," she said, initially wanting to accompany Daniel to other worlds but reconsidering after hearing about their dangers.
"Don't worry. I value my life too much to take unnecessary risks. I'll visit regularly, and I'll leave a shadow clone to keep you company."
Before leaving, they hosted a farewell party in Alfheim Online's Aerial Garden. Even the Konno sisters joined, free from the stigma they faced in real life. Though the sisters could now interact with people normally, their illness and the associated stigma kept them from revealing their condition to most.
---
After finishing business in the Sword Art Online world, Daniel traveled to the Naruto world. He left the Naruto immersive game's promotion to Nagato and his team.
At the Hidden Rain Village, a holographic duel was underway. Inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh!, Daniel had created a card game based on Naruto.
"In this turn, I sacrifice three Jonin to summon the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju! I also activate the spell card Great Forest, increasing his attack power by 1,000 points. Watch as the First Hokage unleashes True Several Thousand Hands!"
Kiba Inuzuka, playing against Shikamaru Nara, was on the verge of victory. However, just as Hashirama's attack was about to hit, Shikamaru calmly flipped a face-down card—a spell card depicting an eye.
"I activate Dreamscape! This turn's attack is nullified," Shikamaru said, his calm demeanor causing Kiba to end his turn in frustration.
"My turn. I sacrifice three Jonin to summon the Sage of Six Paths!" Shikamaru declared, placing his trump card.
"How did you get that card?" Kiba exclaimed.
"Luck," Shikamaru replied, launching his attack with a smirk.
The card game was wildly popular, with players spending money to draw their desired cards. To boost sales, Daniel employed strategies from his previous life, offering multiple versions of popular characters like Kakashi—Jonin Kakashi, Sharingan Kakashi, and Hatake Kakashi, among others. Legendary figures like Madara and Hashirama had even more variations.
The rarest card, the Sage of Six Paths, remained unique. Shikamaru was indeed a lucky draw.
---
After ensuring stability in the Naruto world, Daniel moved on to the Qin Shi world.
"The Qin war machine is mobilizing against Wei and Zhao simultaneously," he noted. Historically, Qin had conquered the six states one by one. But with Daniel's assistance, they now aimed to strike two states at once.
Under the leadership of the Wang family against Wei and the Meng family against Zhao, Qin had gained a decisive edge.
Renowned general Li Mu of Zhao, often regarded as invincible, had been sidelined by corrupt ministers bought by Qin. Deprived of command, Li Mu was powerless to resist Zhao's decline.
"Flooding Daliang again? Truly a masterstroke by Wang Jian and his son," Daniel remarked. Rather than launching a costly assault on the heavily fortified Wei capital, the Wang family opted to breach the Yellow River and flood the city—a tactic maximizing victory with minimal losses.
While Wei and Zhao faced Qin's onslaught, the remaining states—Yan, Qi, and Chu—stood by, offering no assistance.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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