The sun barely broke through the mist that clung to the plains outside the Town of Beginnings. Kirito moved through the fog, sword strapped across his back, eyes scanning every movement, every flicker of light, every anomaly. The higher floors had become merciless, and even the smallest error could be fatal.
Beside him, Asuna matched his pace, her sword glinting faintly in the gray light. They had grown silent companions, reading each other's movements with almost instinctive precision. Words were unnecessary — survival demanded focus, and the duo had long learned that distractions were deadly.
The news of Kirito's exploits had spread like wildfire. Players whispered his name in towns, forests, and dungeons. Some spoke in awe; others in fear.
> "The Black Swordsman is unstoppable!"
"He predicts attacks before they happen — it's unnatural!"
"Don't cross him… or he might not save you."
The notoriety brought both respect and caution. Kirito had noticed it in the eyes of those they saved during small dungeon raids. People stepped aside for him, allowing him to dictate the flow of combat. He did not relish it. Every step forward felt heavier, every life he touched a potential responsibility he could not abandon.
They entered a dense forest known to harbor high-level monsters — the kind that could kill an unprepared player within seconds. Kirito's vision flared almost immediately, showing multiple outcomes:
> A wolf pack ambush on the left, timing precise.
A wandering goblin traps the rear, spear aimed at Asuna.
Fallen tree blocking escape — optional path through rocks.
He moved first, intercepting the wolf pack before it could strike. The attack was fluid, each movement precise, guided by the visions that danced behind his eyes. Asuna followed seamlessly, her strikes amplified by his predictions.
A pair of players in the distance watched in awe as Kirito deflected a fatal blow meant for them. Their expressions were a mixture of gratitude and fear — fear of the man who could seemingly bend fate itself.
As the forest thinned, a low rumble echoed. A mini-boss emerged — a towering wyvern with scales the color of storm clouds and eyes like molten gold. Its wings blotted out the light as it roared, shaking the trees.
Kirito stopped. His visions expanded, overlaying the battlefield with ghostly flashes of what could happen:
> Left wing swipe — hits two players.
Tail lash — strikes the healer behind the group.
Fire breath — trajectory unpredictable, may block exit path.
He inhaled sharply. This is beyond normal patterns. The system is testing me.
He activated Precognition (Tier II), and the world split into multiple possibilities. Every flinch, swing, and dodge was visible before it happened. He guided Asuna and the others like a phantom conductor, redirecting attacks, creating openings, and minimizing casualties.
The wyvern's attack pattern shifted unexpectedly, forcing Kirito to adapt instantly. His mind raced through dozens of possible outcomes simultaneously. In one flash, he saw the healer about to be incinerated. In another, a player would die from the tail whip. Only one sequence led to victory with no deaths.
He moved, faster than thought, positioning Asuna, blocking attacks, and striking with surgical precision. Every motion was a choice of life or death, guided by the fractured threads of the future.
With a final, precise strike, Kirito's blade pierced the wyvern's heart. Its roar echoed, then dissolved into shards of light, leaving the forest eerily silent.
The surviving players stared at him, eyes wide. "How… how did you—"
Kirito sheathed his sword. "I saw it coming. That's all."
But he could see it now, even after the battle: the eyes of the players around him. Respect, awe, fear, and dependence all mingled. He was no longer just a player — he was a shadow looming over the battlefield, a force apart from them.
Asuna placed a hand on his shoulder. "You push yourself too far," she said softly. "Even with your skill, you can't carry everyone alone."
"I know," he replied, voice distant. "But if I don't… they die. I can't let that happen."
Her eyes softened. "Then let us fight with you. Not just behind you, but beside you. You don't have to see everything alone."
Kirito looked at her, then at the other players who were watching him with a mixture of hope and fear. For the first time, he realized the truth: his power isolated him, but it also gave him a chance to protect people in ways no one else could.
Word of the wyvern's defeat reached the first-floor guilds. Messages arrived in the towns: invitations, warnings, challenges. Some guild leaders wanted him in their ranks. Others simply wanted to test him, curious if the Black Swordsman's abilities were legend or reality.
Kirito read the messages quietly. Joining a guild could offer resources, allies, and protection — but it would also strip him of his freedom, bind him to strategies and politics, and expose his secret ability.
He looked to Asuna. "What do you think?"
She studied him, thoughtful. "The higher floors are going to get worse. Bosses, guilds, other players… the stronger you are, the more danger you'll attract. You'll need allies — even if you don't want them."
Kirito nodded slowly. "Then we move forward. Carefully. We fight. And we survive. One floor at a time."
That night, atop the cliffs overlooking the plains, Kirito and Asuna trained silently under the moon. His blade struck with the precision of Future Sight, anticipating Asuna's every move, while she countered, forcing him to adapt in real time. Every strike, every block, every feint strengthened the bond between them — a partnership forged in battle, respect, and shared survival.
The shadows stretched long across the land. Aincrad's higher floors were waiting. New bosses, new threats, and new players who would challenge them.
Kirito's eyes glinted faintly in the moonlight — sharp, calculating, and aware of every possibility.
> The Black Swordsman had become more than a name.
He was a shadow in the current of fate, a guardian against the relentless tide of death.
And the rising shadow would soon be felt across every floor of Aincrad.