Warning: Some expressions may be unsettling to certain readers. Please proceed with caution.
"Sorry, Asuna. It took over two months to get here…" Hachiman said.
"No, I always believed you'd come," Asuna replied.
Yui emerged from hiding, flitting around Asuna. "Mama! We finally found you!"
"Yui-chan… It's really you. I'm so happy," Asuna said, tearing up.
"Thanks to this place running on a copy of SAO's server," Kirito noted.
"Yeah," Hachiman agreed. "Sugou probably couldn't build it from scratch."
Their gazes shifted to Sugou, who stood frozen, oblivious to Hachiman's jab.
"Hey, Komachi, come here," Hachiman called. "He's a hollow shell now. No threat."
"Got it!" Komachi chirped, casually passing Sugou and joining them. She beamed at Asuna. "I'm Komachi, Hachiman's sister! Your future sister-in-law! Nice to meet you!"
"My sister…" Asuna, who only had a brother, hugged Komachi tightly. "Hachiman-kun, thank you for giving me such a cute sister!"
"Uh, yeah," Hachiman stammered.
"Whoa, passionate big sis!" Komachi giggled.
"Guess Asuna's thrilled," Kirito laughed.
The four chatted warmly, but Hachiman, sensing it was time to settle things, faced Sugou. "Time to deal with him. Honestly, we could crush him easily now."
Sugou flinched, eyeing Hachiman warily.
"But unlike him, I don't enjoy abusing power," Hachiman said. "So, what if we give him a chance? A one-on-one against the four of us. Pain Absorber at zero—nobody likes pain, right?"
"Zero's the most painful, isn't it?" Kirito asked.
"Nah, zero sounds low. Must be fine," Hachiman shrugged.
"Works for me," Kirito said.
"Sounds good," Asuna agreed.
"No objections!" Komachi chimed.
They nodded in unison.
"Damage reduction at 99%," Hachiman added. "Lets us… ahem, attack freely. Full reduction kills the tension."
More nods.
"Anything else?" Hachiman asked.
"Let him keep his weapon," Kirito said. "I want a real fight."
"Yeah, new world god, right? Should be a challenge," Hachiman smirked.
"Did he say 'new world'?" Asuna wondered.
"Something like that," Kirito shrugged.
"As the angelic Komachi," Komachi said, "if he beats any one of us, maybe we let him go."
"Nice one, Komachi," Hachiman said. "Hear that, Sugou? Thank my saintly sister."
"By the way," Kirito added, "he said he'd assault Asuna in her hospital room before fleeing."
"What? This flower-brained god thought Asuna was unguarded?" Hachiman scoffed.
"Her room's crawling with police waiting for her to wake," Asuna said.
"Of course," Hachiman said.
"Feels like SAO all over again," Asuna smiled.
"That's Hachiman for you," Kirito grinned.
"Big brother's always doing stuff like this, huh?" Komachi teased.
"Don't flatter me too much, Komachi," Hachiman said, embarrassed.
"Komachi-chan, my Hachiman-kun's amazing!" Asuna gushed.
"I'm gonna hear this every day…" Komachi sighed.
"With the police waiting, let's get started," Kirito said.
"Right. Order: Komachi, Asuna, Kirito, me. Cool?" Hachiman asked.
They agreed. Komachi approached Sugou, lightly slapping his cheeks. "Hey, you listening? Let's start."
Sugou snapped back, glaring with bloodshot eyes. "With maxed skills and the ultimate weapon, you brats think you can mock me?!"
"God's fired up, big brother!" Komachi said.
"Settings are set. Go whenever," Hachiman replied.
"Then I'll take you on first, mighty god," Komachi said, readying her weapon.
Sugou raised [Excalibur] and swung at Komachi. "Die!"
"Huh? Who're you attacking? I'm already behind you," Komachi taunted.
Sugou screamed as Komachi struck his back repeatedly, the pain overwhelming with Pain Absorber at zero.
"Ugyaaah!" Sugou wailed.
"What's with the dramatics? Pain Absorber's at zero," Hachiman teased.
"Zero…?" Sugou gasped.
"Yeah, I said so. No pain, right? And 99% damage reduction," Hachiman said. "Oh, and your HP won't hit zero, so no logging out. Keep fighting."
"God, stand up, or I'll attack again," Komachi warned.
"Damn you!" Sugou swung wildly, but Komachi was gone.
"Do you ever learn? Not even watching my moves?" Komachi chided. "You made this game but never played it. With your skills and weapon, you should at least graze me."
She slashed his back again.
"Ugyaaah!" Sugou collapsed, refusing to rise.
Komachi grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up. "I'm nice, so I'll stop here. But a guy who can only move like that doesn't get to call himself a god, you scum."
She slashed a cross on his face.
"Gaaah!" Sugou clutched his face, rolling in agony.
Komachi walked back, ignoring him. Hachiman stared, stunned. "Komachi, when did you learn to talk like that? It's kinda scary."
"Just acting, big brother!" Komachi giggled. "Though I was pissed at what he did to big sis."
"Got it…" Hachiman said.
"Big sis's turn!" Komachi said. "Brother, get her a weapon."
"Right." Hachiman summoned a rapier and handed it to Asuna.
Asuna tested it, swinging lightly. "Feels like old times. Probably the same SAO skills."
"Yep," Hachiman said. "Round two, go."
Asuna faced Sugou, who shakily stood, eyeing her fearfully.
"Scared of me after all you did?" Asuna said. "Just a pathetic man who can only force himself on women with power."
Enraged, Sugou swung, but pain shot through him, stopping his attack.
"Aaaah!" he screamed.
Asuna relentlessly thrust, precise and controlled, not letting him fall. "A novice who can't read swordplay dares call himself the strongest? What kind of joke is that? Anyone lose to you?"
With a final thrust, she knocked him back.
"That's it," Asuna said. "Your turn, Kirito-kun."
"Alright," Kirito said, stepping forward. He raised Sugou and muttered, "One arm's enough."
With blinding speed, Kirito severed Sugou's left arm. Sugou's scream was incoherent as he grasped at the missing limb, collapsing again.
"You're nothing without your so-called ultimate magic," Kirito said, turning away.
"That was quick," Hachiman remarked.
"Too weak," Kirito said. "If I went all out, his HP would hit zero even with 99% reduction, and you'd miss your turn. I'm satisfied."
"Cool. My turn," Hachiman said, approaching Sugou.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
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