I'd laugh if now that the school books have been found players of certain ages are getting the ho work they missed.

Everything Fuurinkazan was really well done, and I really did feel sorry for Sachi during some parts. I also loved how you weaved in the Schmitt story here with your own flair. The way that the Kuze/Schmitt dynamic worked out was something of a surprise, and it definitely added a lot of spice to the showdown and, I hope, to the coming chapters in form of the two non-Schmitt characters. If that's something you're working on, I'm certainly looking forward to it.

The whole revenant/doppler thing would be such a horrifying thing to go through after everything else in SAO. In that regard, the final notice there from Argo was also very fitting. I'm not usually a fan of that sort of thing, but I think it worked really well to convey the feelings of the clearers in a way that made sense as part of your story. It also touches on one thing which I've thought about quite a bit in the SAO universe, which is the lack of communication between top players and the rest of Aincrad.

I do have to say that this arc felt a little drawn out, though, and I think that was largely because of the start. It felt that there were quite a lot of mostly inconsequential 'checkpoints' to go through before the final showdown. I realize this was to build tension, but because of the multiple perspective thing going on, it just ends up being a little overbearing. That's not to say it was bad; in fact, I enjoyed most of it. After typing this out, I read the AN at the bottom, and it seems you basically already identified all of this on your own. Oh well.

I apologize for taking so long to review, again. Now that said, this story just continues to intrigue me and make me carve more. There are so many questions still left unanswered. For example what is this place that is apart and yet inseperable from Aincard? Perhaps a way for Kizmel to survive the annihilation of SAO? Well, maybe but since in the game lore it appears to be a pretty dreadful place I'd say that there is more to it then that.

Anyway, gotta say, I completely forgot about the fact that Kizmel would need to know about modern technology and society if she wishes to interact with it in a manner that won't leave everyone wondering if she is an actual alien... which she is in some way I suppose. That said I also wonder what kind of interaction this will be for Kizmel. I doubt that Kayaba prepared a fitting android body for her to upload into. So it seems she will be constricted to the digital realm for the time being. Though given Kiritos attachment to Aincrad I doubt he'd mind... though he did ask the hard question "Who am I?" sounds easy to answer but isn't.

Though given that Kizmel had her own identity crisis I think she'd be able to relate to that problem, and perhaps even offer advice. If not on how to reach an answer then how to be at peace with yourself. I'll see soon enough, and I very much looking forward to it.

Another excellent chapter with good character interactions and worldbuilding.

I see what you meant with Klein ending up playing a big role similar to Argo earlier on. Klein is, of course, true best girl, so it's always good to see him actively doing something rather than just fading into the background as a generic good guy.

Really good job on this chapter. Having the chapter start differently than other chapters was a nice touch, too, and the ending was solid (no pun intended). Kirito duelling Asuna was, of course, over the top, but appropriately so given how he always acts. I was also glad to see Asuna's off-ness being addressed. Too often do plot points like that fade to black.

Gee I wonder what the heavy inspiration for this chapter was.

It seems that the time away from Kirito hasn’t been good for Asuna.

Still, a first kiss! That’s something. Lovely story so far. I think you handled Kizmel’s transition to player very well, courtesy of Argo. It was necessary to have a character there to help her out with some of the finer points, so well done with that.

You know one of my favorite thing in this fic is your writing of Klein. I don't think most people understand that for all his goffiness and the humor he brings, Klein is reliable Bro and adult. You show it clearly in this fic and I love it.

One of the best written stories I’ve seen. I can’t wait to read the next chapter. I hope you come back and continue this well written epic!

Definitely a solid start. I like the idea, and the flow of the writing is similar to sao progressive, at least so far. I look forward to continuing it.

This story is great really, I hope you are ok during this pandemic. Take care. :)

Great like always

love this chapter! thank you

Hmmmm… What is Kizmel? I know that it's not exactly a new question, so to speak, but her seeing a city from the 'real world' in the mirror gets me thinking. Was simply an illusion? Everyone else saw their perceived 'home' and so the system granted her a glimpse of the outside world? Without any reason? Not likely. With my having just recently watched Alicization, the idea of fluctlights gets me thinking. What if Kizmel wasn't so much an original fluctlight, and 'original' AI, so much as she was one created by 'photo-copying' a human consciousness - preferably a young one - and then placing it within the vessal of 'Kizmel'. It would mean that while Kizmel view her childhood home as home, perhaps a more dominant human subconscious overrode that idea, and forced the mirror to show said original consciousnesses 'home'? It would mean that perhaps, Kizmel exists 'outside', in the real world, but it wouldn't be our 'Kizmel'. Whoever it was, would clay from which out beloved dark elf was formed, and nothing more. A downright tragedy for Kirito, should he be unable to save Kizmel from the mass deletion for some reason; though for all that is good in the world, PLEASE do not be planning to make that the case. Such a tragedy would absolutely destroy me.

Also! Minor thought, the idea of Kayaba being the one pulling all the strings for the Dark Elf plot and such has been heavily pushed, and a small - probably dumb - part of my mind wonders... Well, what if it ISN'T him. Though, who would it BE if it were not? Just a throw away thought.

Also! Kirito saw Aincrad. Boy oh boy, if the boy wasn't dramatized in the canon, he definitely is gonna be struggling now. He's like some kind of King Arthur - Arturia, if you will, because Fate is awesome - in the making, with his Holy Sword, and his - if not literal, than symbolic - leadership of the war against the PKers. He's becoming more and more rooted in his self-image of 'Black Swordsman, Husband of Kizmel, Warrior' and less and less rooted in 'Kazuto Kirigaya' every single day. I'm not surprised he doesn't want to go back, to be honest. He's essentially built his identity on 'Kirito', so to him, Kazuto might as well be dead. The mirror only solidifies that conflict within him, as even if he were to return to the 'real world' - and yes, I've noticed how you tend to italicize that, and it makes me wonder sometimes - he might never 'return' to being 'Kazuto'. Not like he did in canon. I see this Kirito, unlike his canon counterpart, being MORE than willing to gut a piece of scum like Sugou if he had to; not to say I could ever see him using lethal force as anything more than an absolute last resort, but still.

Also! The set up for the war against POH. The Holy War of Aincrad. The thing which I'm almost certain you are setting up to leave some of the most prominent psychological marks on Kirito down the line. What will his kill count be by the end of it, I wonder. What will he lose through the fighting? If not a comrade, than perhaps a part of himself? Another piece of 'Kazuto' that he has to release to make room for the hardened, warrior 'Kirito'? Many thoughts, many ideas, and many things I can't wait to see; whether things go the way I think they might or not, eh, still going to be an awesome story.

Also! The Echo. The amount of plot lines you have being perused simultaneously is absolutely MONSTEROUS, and I applaud you for that, omg. LC, Echo, climbing the tower, Kirito and Kizmel's relationship, the continued growth of the side characters, the continued world building, the philosophy, the politics of the guilds - and the players as a whole - it's just... Goodness, I respect the hell out of you my friend, just know that ;}

Anyway, I think that will be all out of me. Keep up the good work! Stay safe, and stay healthy!
In love, Erebus

Well, Kirito's vision was a punch to the gut. Along with his question to Kizmel. Rain's vision with her seeing Nanairo grown up asks even more questions of what is going on. Her mirror scene was interesting. I'm curious how that will come into play with the upcoming raid on laughing coffin Too many questions. Thank you for sharing. I swear every chapter is so long and yet never long enough.