When they came out of the secret door, both Kiritsu and Chu Yue were promoted by one level. And Xing, who was not at a high level, has been promoted three levels in a row.

However, no matter who it is, there is no joy after the upgrade. Because, in this battle, three people lost their lives.

And Yuki, who was supposed to lose his life, has been holding Kirito's arm since the end of the battle, and he hasn't let go until now.

Chu Yue and Yuki talked, but Yuki didn't respond, and only nodded to Kirito's when Kiritto comforted Yukito.

was originally a little courageous, but after this incident, what will become of it? Chu Yue was a little interested in this.

After all, in the original work, Yuki died in this incident.

"What's next?" Chu Yue asked Kirito.

"First...... Let's go back...... "Kirito is also having a hard time right now. Although they were saved, the other three were gone forever......

"Okay." Chu Yue nodded, didn't mention the agreed matter, just said, "If you still need help, come to me at any time." I'm also on the twentieth floor. ”

"Hmm." Kirito nodded his head in thanks.

The three of them returned to the twentieth floor together and came to the activity room of the Black Cat Group on a moonlit night.

"There's also an activity room." Chu Yue sat down and said casually.

"It's rented." Kirito said, "Originally, ......"

Saying this, Kirito stopped talking.

Originally, there would be an activity room belonging to the guild today, but I didn't expect such a situation to occur.

"Mourning, Kirito." Chu Yue comforted Kirito again.

"Hmm......" Although he responded like this, Kirito's face did not improve at all.

"I found out when I was in a team." Chu Yue said, "Kirito, you, have hidden your rank in front of them, right?" ”

"Hmm." Kirito nodded, "Before...... There have been cases where my level was too high to be accepted by my friends, so I used an item that could change the level display to a custom one before meeting everyone. ”

"That's a nice prop." Chu Yue said, "Wouldn't it be scary if it was changed to the highest level? ”

"It's just scary." Kirito's eyes were a little wandering and said, "The actual attributes are still the same." ”

At this time, Xing's arm holding Chu Yue hugged it tighter.

Seeing such luck, Chu Yue said, "You are really, it is very hard to hide." ”

"......" Kirito did not speak.

It was fast to the afternoon.

During this period, Chu Yue stopped talking, and just stayed in the room. Yuki still holds Kirito's arm, but sometimes he suddenly cries. And Kirito's expression has never relaxed.,Only occasionally try to smile when comforting Yuki.。

Outside, the setting sun has stained the sky fiery red.

"Then again...... Chu Yue suddenly said, "When will your president come back?" ”

As soon as he heard this, he looked at Kirito.

Kirito gritted his teeth and stood up sharply.

"Let's go find Keita." Kirito said.

"Hmm......" Yuki nodded.

"Let's go." Chu Yue said.

On the edge of the 20th floor, there are few people here, and you can see the beautiful sunset.

And this is the place where the black cat group on a moonlit night agreed to meet again.

Keita was already waiting here, still holding a string of keys with six pinned to it.

Keita, who had no idea what was going on, waited leisurely, leaning against the wall, humming a song.

Chu Yue saw this person from a distance and felt that he should not be involved in this matter, so he stopped in the distance.

Looking at the back of Kirito and Yuki walking past together, Chu Yue suddenly thought, is it right to give the resurrection prop to Kirito at that time?

Letting Kirito save only one person really reduces Kirito's guilt?

Seeing Kirito and Yuki coming over, Keita immediately greeted him with a smile: "Kirito! Luck! You're coming! ”

"......" Kirito and Yuki didn't speak.

"What's wrong?" Keita saw Kirito Yuki's expression, and his original smile disappeared.

"Kai, Kaitai ......"

"What about the others?" Keita immediately asked, "What about Sasamaru, Tetsuo, and Dakar?" ”

"They...... They...... ...... dead," Kirito tried his best to say this.

Keita showed an expression of disbelief, but he still forced a smile and said, "Okay, just kidding...... Kirito, fortunately, you must be joking with me! ”

“……”

"Tell me! This is not true!! Kirito! Luck! Keita was a little crazy, "Tell me, you're kidding!" Hurry up and tell me you're kidding me!! ”

"After you left, we went to the labyrinth on the twenty-seventh floor......" Kirito began to tell Keita the ins and outs of the whole thing.

After explaining without emotion, Kirito said, "If it weren't for Chu Yue's right to have the 'Resurrection Cornerstone', even Yuki would ...... it."

After listening to Kirito's words, Keita was speechless.

After a while, Keita slashed open the system menu bar, didn't know what to do, then turned around, walked to the guardrail at the very edge of the twentieth floor, and jumped down.

By the time Kirito and Yuki realized what Keita was going to do, it was too late.

Keita jumped off Ayn Grant and was reduced to pieces in the clouds.

Seeing Chu Yue here, she sighed and turned to leave.

Even though he was still alive, Keita chose to commit suicide. In this case, Yuki and Kirito will be elected to blame themselves.

However, in this case, it makes Kirito less lonely.

Chu Yue left, and Kirita and Yuki didn't go to find Chu Yue again.

This night, although they still slept together, Kirito and Yuki didn't fall asleep.

The next day, Kiriwa and Yuki found out that Keita's operation before committing suicide was to transfer the guild leader of the Black Cat Regiment on a moonlit night to Kirito, and at the same time, put the key to the guild base in the guild warehouse.

As the guild leader, you have the right to use the guild warehouse directly.

Kirito takes the key out of the guild's warehouse and goes with Yuki to the guild's new base.

It's just that this base is now only used by Kirito and Yuki.

At this time, Yuki told Kirito that she had already discovered Kirito's true rank, which is why Yuki had to be with Kirito every night: the sense of security Kiritto brought her.

There was no need for Kirito to hide his level anymore, and he went to the high-level floor to level up with luck.

In order to divert the grief of the death of the guild members, Kirito took Yuki to go through crazy leveling. The next time Chu Yue saw Kirito, he found that Kirito had surpassed him by a full seven levels! It can be seen how crazy Kirito's leveling is.

Chu Yue's side, after leaving Kirito, resumed his solo career.

It's just that it's no longer the time for one person to be able to defeat the boss of the defending layer, and now no matter which layer it is, the strategy team must fight cooperatively.

The so-called strategy group,In fact, it's not a fixed organization.,As long as you're fighting at the forefront of the battle.,People who participate in the battle with the boss of the defending layer,You can say that you're a member of the strategy group.。

Therefore, whether it is Chu Yue, Kirito, or Asuna now, they will always meet in the battle of the boss of the defending layer.

In addition to these three people, there are many other familiar faces.

For example, Kirito's good friend when he first entered the game, Klein.

For example, the giant axe warrior and the black Wu Ke, who is also a weapons dealer, is Achill.

December 1, 2023, Boss Room on the 48th floor.

The Guardian boss let out one last howl, and then fell to the ground, exploding into silver-blue shards.

"It worked!" There was a burst of cheers from the crowd who had come to fight.

SAO has been more than a year, and by now, the people in the strategy group have long been familiar with the strategy method of the BOSS, and it is not like before that killing a BOSS will kill people.

Now, the strategy group has a dedicated BOSS data analysis, strategy formulation, and battle planning. With such a well-established plan, there will be no more players dying when they kill the defending boss.

It is for this reason that players are becoming more and more hopeful about the future.

Kiriwa and Yukiya finally came out of the shadow of pain. Although fortunately I still don't dare to participate in the battle of the boss of the defense layer, I don't have to need Kirito's protection all the time when I usually level up with Kirito.

It's just that the usual leveling battles can't hone the player's skills and skills like boss battles. If you want to talk about the strength of the player, fortunately it is still very weak.

Well, but this is a big improvement for that timid luck.

Just finished the forty-eighth floor, and as usual, a large number of players poured into the forty-ninth floor.

Chu Yue was the same, in the main city of the forty-ninth floor, Mu Keen was on a mission.

"This store actually sells rare armor parts and materials, but at this price......" Chu Yue muttered to herself as she walked out of a store.

However, not long after walking, Chu Yue stopped.

Looking left and right, Chu Yue found that he had already walked to Mu Keen's street. Because of the sudden influx of players, there are now a lot of players on the streets.

However, it wasn't this that Chu Yue noticed.

After continuing to walk a few steps, Chu Yue suddenly turned around and ran to the entrance of the alley that she had just passed.

However, there was no one in the alley.

"Did you run away...... Chu Yue said.

Just now, there should be people in this small alley. And this person is the one who started to follow Chu Yue after Chu Yue just left the store.

I was stalked!

If it weren't for the SAO world, this kind of person who was tracking him with some purpose would definitely be noticed by Chu Yue early in the morning.

However, in the SAO world, everything is a data-based world, and Chu Yue was able to find out that someone was following him, also because Chu Yue had a high-level [Seeking Enemy] skill.

But......

To be able to escape under Chu Yue's [Seeking Enemy], the other party should not be an ordinary player......

I'm afraid it's a professional stalker player.

Since the boss battle on the first floor, I haven't offended any players again, and the things on the first floor have long been forgotten, who will track you at this time, or ask a professional tracking player to track you?

Frowning, Chu Yue turned around and continued to walk ahead.

Not long after continuing walking, I met an acquaintance.

"Good evening! Chu Yue! Asuna said to Chu Yue.

"Good evening, Asuna." Chu Yue smiled at Asuna, "Congratulations, it seems that you have been promoted in the guild recently, right?" ”

"Where, they are all companions of the strategy group, what do you say about promotion." Asuna smiled, "Is Kirito still the same as before?" ”

"Of course." Chu Yue said, "I'm not the same as Kirito, the man who has already started a family." ”

"Huh?! Kiriwa and Yuki have ......"

"Although they haven't officially gotten married in the game yet, they sleep together every night and have a shared inventory, so what's the difference between getting married." Chu Yue said.

"Hmm......" Asuna paused, and then said with some embarrassment, "I just know that Kiriwa and Yuki have arrived...... It's so close. ”

"Actually, it's been ...... a long time ago" Chu Yue didn't finish speaking, and suddenly turned his head.

Unfortunately, he still couldn't see the player who was following him, and only saw a flash of long red hair behind a chest.

At least I knew that this person was redheaded. Chu Yue said in her heart.

"What's wrong, Chu Yue?" Asuna asked.

"It's fine." Chu Yue smiled and said, "I maybe, provoked someone...... Like, being followed. ”

"What?! Is there such a thing? Chu Yue didn't expect that Asuna was even more excited than herself.

"Well, well, calm down, calm down." Chu Yue said comforting Asuna.

"Although Chu Yue, you are just a character who is easy to offend people...... Asuna said.

"Hey......" Chu Yue wanted to complain.

"But Chu Yue, you've always been a true lone player......," Asuna continued.

"Not like Kirito." Chu Yue answered.

"I don't think I will offend anyone." Asuna said.

"Hmm." Chu Yue nodded, and suddenly became serious, "And the other party is a professional stalking player, I haven't caught him twice, I'm afraid the other party is not simple." ”

Asuna nodded and asked Chu Yue, "Do you need help?" ”

"No, you don't." Chu Yue said, "I want to see who this person who is following me is. Moreover, Asuna, you are now a high-ranking member of the Blood Alliance Knights, and it is not good to be too close to me as a lone player. ”

As soon as she heard Chu Yue say this, Asuna was immediately unhappy and said, "Then who said that we were companions in the first place?" ”

"That's all...... How long ago was it......" Chu Yue Khan.

"How long ago was you said it by Chu Yue!" Asuna tapped Chu Yue's head lightly with a hand knife, "I've helped with this matter!" ”

"Hmm......" Looking at Asuna's fighting spirit, Chu Yue said helplessly: "Okay...... How many levels of [Enemy Seeker] are yours? ”

Although Asuna said that she must help Chu Yue, it must also be a personal contribution, and it is impossible to use the resources of the Blood Alliance Knights.

Although there is one more person, Chu Yue and Asuna are in the light, and the stalker is in the dark, and if they want to find the stalker, where is it so easy.

Chu Yue and Asuna walked around the street, but they didn't feel anyone following them again.

"Why don't you do it today?" Chu Yue said to Asuna, "Maybe he was discovered twice by me, and I know that we are vigilant enough, so I will give up today." ”

"Well, that's the way it goes." Asuna nodded.

"Then I'll go back." Chu Yue said, "Bye-bye." ”

"Hmm." Asuna said, "Be careful on the road, and tell me if you find anything new!" ”

"Hmm...... Well! Chu Yue finally nodded.

After separating from Asuna, Chu Yue muttered to herself: "Why do you think Asuna is more enthusiastic than me...... Could it be ......?"

When Chu Yue was guessing, she suddenly felt that the tracker had appeared again!

The tracker's [Concealment] level is indeed very high, but unfortunately, it was still discovered by Chu Yue.

However, this time, Chu Yue did not turn back immediately, but pretended that nothing had happened and continued to walk forward.

When passing by a corner, Chu Yue casually put a small stone on the ground, but the stone was too small to be seen without looking carefully.

Turning the corner, Chu Yue walked for a while, and then stood still.

As Chu Yue expected, the other party hid around the corner and secretly observed Chu Yue.

Chu Yue had been standing there for almost a minute, and she hadn't moved.

The tracker looked at Chu Yue, who was not moving, and suddenly thought: Chu Yue did not move, but found himself!

The tracker didn't hesitate to turn around and run, but unfortunately, as soon as he ran away, he bumped into a person.

Not expecting to hit anyone, the tracker fell directly to the ground.

"Good evening, red-haired ...... Little girl. Chu Yue stood in front of this tracker.

To Chu Yue's surprise, this person turned out to be a woman.

"What are you talking about?" And the tracker didn't look like he was found at all, but pointed at Chu Yue and scolded: "You are blind! How to walk! Knock me down and lose money! ”

But Chu Yue also changed her expression in an instant, as if she had really bumped into someone, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to turn back suddenly, and I will lose money......"

The tracker probably didn't expect Chu Yue to really lose money, so he was stunned for a while, but when he saw what Chu Yue took out of the inventory, he immediately turned around and prepared to run away.

What Chu Yue took out of the inventory was a rare item in SAO: Bundle Immortal Suo.

In general, towns are safe zones, and players will not enter a battle state in the safe zone except for dueling with each other.

However, the Bundle is a special case, when used in towns, it does not allow the attacked player to enter the fight, but it does put the attacked player into a shackled state.

It's not a combat bondage, and although it's time-limited, it's enough to stop someone from escaping.

With Chu Yue's use, the bundle of immortal ropes automatically flew to the red-haired girl and tied the girl.

"Miss Stalker, I think we can have a good talk." Chu Yue walked over slowly.

"You tied up the girl, you pervert!"

"If you don't run, how can I tie you up?" Chu Yue walked up to the tied girl, squatted down and said, "I think it's better for you to be obedient." ”

"Hey, hey." The red-haired girl smiled at Chu Yue, and then suddenly burst into a burst of purple smoke.

In the midst of the smoke, Chu Yue jumped out one by one, but quickly reacted that something was wrong and broke into the purple smoke again.

Sure enough, there was only a bundle of immortal ropes on the ground. Because the Rope is a one-time item, it now explodes into silver-blue shards after losing the target.

The smoke grenade has teleported...... Rare items too!

"Sure enough, it's professional." Chu Yue said, "But, hehehe......"

Ayn Grant, Forty-sixth Floor, Ant Valley.

Several men in black cloaks sat on a high ground in the valley, waiting.

These players are very conspicuous, not because of the black cloak, but because the name on each of their heads is bright red.

Seeing the red-haired girl coming over, he said to the people, "It's really not an easy errand. ”

"You're done?" Said a man in a black cloak.

"Nope." The red-haired girl said, "I'm here to step back from the mission." ”

"Quitting the mission?" The man said, "Can't even you track him?" ”

"No, if I'm serious, this task can be done." "But it's too risky. I don't want to take that risk. ”

"I see......"

"Well, that's it, I'll go first." After the red-haired girl finished speaking, she prepared to turn and leave.

"You can come back from the mission, but ......," said the black cloak again, "you can't leave the tail behind, can you?" ”

The red-haired girl was stunned for a moment, but reacted immediately.

"I didn't expect that after playing with eagles all my life, I was finally pecked blind by eagles...... "" said the red-haired girl, "come out, what else is there to hide." ”

Chu Yue walked out from behind a boulder in the valley, "I'm just passing by, you go on, go on." ”

"Well, forget it." Several men in black cloaks jumped down from the high ground one after another, saying, "Since everyone is here, we have to find another way." ”

"Hey, boss, why don't you even solve that girl together!" Another black-cloaked cloaked said, "She's useless anyway!" ”

"You ......!" The red-haired girl suddenly became vigilant.

"You're the smiling bush guys, aren't you?" Chu Yue took a few steps forward and walked in front of the red-haired girl and said.

These people all have the mark of a black "smiling coffin" on their hands.

"Yes." The man called the Boss said, "If you know us, you should know why we're tracking you, right?" ”

"Have I been bounted?" Chu Yue said, "Is it convenient to ask who is offering me a reward?" ”

"That's not going to work, it's going to affect our reputation." Said the boss of the smiling coffin.

"That's ...... That's a pity. Chu Yue said, and suddenly turned around and said, "That's right! ”

The red-haired girl, who was about to run away, suddenly stopped, but immediately ran away with a whoosh.

"......" Chu Yue suddenly sweated, this girl is too ......

"Ahh It's a shame to run away with one. The man who said he was going to kill the red-haired girl said again.

"Can I ask a question before I fight?" Chu Yue pulled out his sword and said.

"Of course." The boss of the smiling coffin also took out his short knife and said.

"What's that girl's name?" Chu Yue asked.

"Her name is Lingyin." The boss of the smiling coffin said, "It's a professional tracker." Like you, a solo player. ”

"Well, understood, thanks."

"You're welcome......" After the boss of the smiling coffin finished speaking, the others behind him had already rushed towards Chu Yue together.