Am I the only one streaming Sword Art Online on the entire internet?

Sorin bent down and stood in front of him. If it were him in the past, he probably would have finished him off without even thinking. But he was clear about one thing: these Integrity Knights, given the right circumstances, would not be enemies. This was something Cardinal had told him later, and judging from the second phase of the Interferer's mission, this conclusion could indeed be drawn.

So it was time to play the conman again. But unlike Sativa, he didn't expect to be easily fooled by a bunch of sweet talk.

"If we can just plant a seed in his heart, that should be enough." Thinking this, he coughed lightly and then stared into the dragon knight's eyes.

"Do you remember...your name? Who are you, I mean...after setting aside your identity as an Integrity Knight, can you still remember yourself?"

I. The Vanishing Light

"Excluding my identity as an Integrity Knight? Impossible. I was born an Integrity Knight."

The dragon knight shook his head, firmly denying it. He seemed to have lost all will to fight, looking at Sorin with a detached yet helpless gaze, then sighed.

"Several Integrity Knights are waiting for you in the 'Great Corridor of Light' on the fiftieth floor of the Grand Cathedral. Their orders are not to capture you alive, but to eliminate you on the spot. If you were to confront them head-on like you just did, you would definitely be killed in an instant."

"Heh, let's not even talk about whether having a few more idiots will actually kill me... Is it appropriate for someone of your status to say this? You're revealing information about our friendly forces to the enemy."

Sorin showed a hint of disdain upon hearing his words. However, after he finished speaking, the dragon knight did not immediately refute him, but instead exuded an aura that resembled a smile.

"I failed to fulfill Lord Adminnisdorette's orders... So what awaits me is the confiscation of my armor and artifacts, which serve as proof of my knighthood, and the indefinite freezing punishment... Before I suffer such humiliation, you may end my destiny with your own hands."

After he finished speaking, he saw Eugeo behind Sorin looking at him with a surprised expression, and then he explained.

“There is no need for hesitation. You... defeated me with fair and square swordsmanship. I am the Integrity Knight—Desolbard Synthesis Simon.”

Eugeo's eyes widened the moment he heard the name, staring at the defenseless dragon knight. Sorin, on the other hand, fell into deep thought.

"So... you know you won't get any good treatment if you go back alive, so you're just letting us be the bad guys, collect this head, and level up in the process? That's a good idea."

After calmly finishing speaking, Sorin turned his head in confusion to look at Eugeo, whose eyes had somehow become filled with bitterness and resentment.

"Well... little brother, what's going on here? It seems like you two know each other."

In fact, Sorin's guess was correct. Moreover, Eugeo's relationship with this seventh knight, who called himself Desolbard, was more than just a simple acquaintance. That's right, he was the knight who kidnapped Alice eight years ago.

"You want me to help you end your destiny? You say this... is a fair and square duel?"

Eugeo opened his parched mouth and forcefully placed the sword against his neck, his voice changing from a whisper to an almost roaring howl:

"Eleven years old! The guy who chained up an eleven-year-old girl... and carried her away hanging from a dragon... what right does he have to say such things now!"

He wasn't just gesturing. In fact, after saying those words, he had already raised the Blue Rose high. Without a doubt, this strike would splatter blood five steps ahead. However, a sharp pain stopped his right hand's movement. The pain wasn't in his right eye; after all, he was no longer bound by that supreme rule.

The pain came from a secluded and hidden corner of his heart, as if someone was desperately trying to stop Eugeo.

"Why are you stopping me... Sorin! Help me..."

He felt as if he were caught in an emotional vortex that could evaporate all rationality, and could only turn to his most trusted partner, with whom he spent every day, for help. However, Sorin said nothing and made no move to do anything; he simply looked at Desolbard once more.

“I’m not the kind of noble knight who would attack someone who can’t fight back… I’m capable of doing that. I just want to verify some things. Your memories have been erased, haven’t they, Desolbard, if I’m not mistaken.”

"..."

Desol fell silent. Even though he hadn't moved at all when Eugeo had a sword to his neck, he suddenly unfastened his helmet after a moment.

The grotesque helmet seemed to split open, falling to the ground with a thud. Before Eugeo and Sorin appeared a face that looked to be around forty years old, with an incredibly resolute expression.

“You’re right. Tie up a young girl and take her away on a dragon? I don’t remember ever doing such a thing.”

"I...I don't remember? It's only been eight years?"

Eugeo muttered to himself blankly, his right hand unconsciously relaxing. Sorin, on the other hand, wore an "I knew it" expression, seemingly not too surprised by Desol's statement.

"So your memories were indeed erased. Including the memories before and after the whole incident. You are an Integrity Knight guarding the northern border of Nolancalus, right?"

He was waiting for Desol's response, because he still needed to give Eugeo an explanation. But to his disbelief, Desol suddenly looked up and stared directly into his eyes, a gaze that felt both strange and familiar.

It might sound contradictory, but it's true. They felt unfamiliar because they weren't the resolute eyes of a knight he'd previously known, yet familiar because… seeing those eyes suddenly reminded him of his daughter, the little angel, Ivy.

“Go to the top floor. No one will stop you now. There's a very urgent situation, and we need you… Wake up, Dad, Ivy misses you.”

It seemed incredibly incongruous for Dessol to utter those words from his body, but Sorin couldn't dwell on that anymore. He looked at Dessol (or rather, Ivyhin?) with disbelief, and then witnessed a scene that made everyone cringe.

Desol vanished. Right before him. He transformed into a white ray of light, soaring towards the horizon, instantly becoming a tiny speck of light. And after him, Eugeo also vanished, without even a chance to say goodbye—he too transformed into a ray of light and flew towards the nearest window.

Sorin suddenly panicked. He stood up and chased Eugeo to the window, looking out. In his vision, the sky was filled with white light, surging from all over the world and transferring here like fireflies. They seemed to gather in this central cathedral before flying straight up into the sky, disappearing in an instant as mere specks of light. The remaining lights repeated this process, from Dissol's disappearance to the complete absence of light in the sky… all within less than two minutes.

"Looks like I have to do something. Head to the top floor... seems like there's something there that can wake me up?"

II. Yaoguang Evacuation Plan

Five minutes ago, in the middle floor area of ​​Oceanturtle, in Shigemura's office.

At this moment, Ivy and Vector are hiding in this dark little room where the power has been turned off. Of course, Yuna, who said she was going to support them, met them on the way and was persuaded to return to the safe Second SIL Room and the Light Cube area.

"Let's keep putting them in the back. Guard Dad's scuba cabin, and put the first SIL chamber in their hands."

Ivy drew a few lines on the ground, creating a rough map of the area using an electronic holographic image visible only to her and Vector, and then marked several points on it.

"Release the First SIL Chamber? But if that happens... they should be able to use the equipment there to enter the Underworld. You're planning to fight them electronically?" Vector asked incredulously. "If they dare to launch such an intrusion, they should have accompanying electronic warfare specialists and equipment. Don't tell me you're planning to send me to take that guy out."

“No. It can’t be helped. Ivy also wants to fight them head-on, but the reinforcements Ivy applied for haven’t made a move yet,” Ivy said frustratedly. “If you have any better ideas, please bring them up. We don’t have much time.”

"I do have an idea, but I don't know how likely it is to come true. They're here for the artificial intelligence here, and those AIs live in the Underworld. So we just need to temporarily relocate those AIs elsewhere, and then they will naturally choose to enter the now empty Underworld."

Vector pondered for a moment, then offered a proposal that seemed utterly absurd. On the surface, the plan appeared flawless, even a cleverly implemented scorched-earth strategy. However…

"But where are you going to store all this AI data? There are tens of thousands of hard drives that can hold so much AI. Can you create one for Vivi?"

Ivy quickly realized the illogical aspect of this. However, just as she uttered those words, Vector pulled out a large box, about a meter square, from somewhere and placed it in front of her.

"Wait, where did you hide this thing? Why hasn't Ivy seen it all this time...?"

“It’s a secret~” Vector interrupted Ivy’s question, then explained with a serious expression, “The original purpose of this thing was to store something called a mind map. I forgot the exact storage capacity, but it’s definitely enough. If you think this plan is reliable, I’ll go back to the second SIL room to operate it.”

Ivy was completely bewildered by Vector's claims. She nodded, thinking that she had no other choice at the moment, so she could only agree to Vector's plan.

"Although it doesn't sound very scientific, I'll trust you this time. What does Ivy need to do?"

"Keep an eye on the surveillance footage. Once they enter the first SIL room, lock the door immediately. I reinforced the walls there with steel plates beforehand, so it won't be easy to open them in a short time. Next, you need to go into the Underworld and tell Mr. Mo to wait at the very top of the Central Cathedral. He might be given a new administrator account later... a very high-end one."

"Wait, why are we putting the battle in that world?"

“Because that’s where we truly belong. This maritime research institute is no longer our home turf.” Vector explained, as if anticipating Ivy’s doubts. “Having Mr. Mo switch accounts on the top floor and then brain-dead them is the simplest way to solve the problem. However… to achieve this, Mr. Mo might need to be a bit ruthless.”

"This is a plan that sounds riddled with flaws... but it's the only way we can do it. You can go ahead now."

Ivy sighed, then felt herself being embraced in a particularly warm hug.

"Vivi?"

"It's nothing... Don't put too much pressure on yourself. After all, everyone has already done their best. Good luck, I'm off now."

Vector gently stroked Ivy's fur, patted her shoulder, and then turned and ran away. Ivy watched Vector disappear into the distance, her previously confused eyes softening with determination. Of course, what she was still wondering was... where had the Disruptor team, who had supposedly arrived at Oceanurtle, gone?

————Emergency exit on the lower level of Oceananturtle————

"The order from the employer: Blank tells us to stay put and not rush to their rear, but wait for them to enter the first SIL room in the middle level. Although I don't know why such a strange order came about, we need to stop now."

The disruptor suddenly stopped running and was then knocked off her feet by the scarecrow, which couldn't stop in time. She gave the scarecrow a reproachful look, sent a "stop" signal to the hunter and executioner ahead, and then uttered the words above.

"Stand by and wait? But if that's the case... can that little guy in the lone mage squad hold out?"

The hunter turned his head in confusion, then pulled the executioner back to face the disruptor and asked.

"According to him, he came up with a more reliable battle plan, so he made a last-minute change. Although I have serious doubts about which one is more reliable, this one or the one we originally drafted, since it's the employer's order... let's stop."

“It sounds like you heard his plan, whether it was complete or partial.” Scarecrow pushed aside the interferer, leaned against the wall to steady himself, and felt the faint tremors coming from all directions. He continued, “From what I know of Blank, his plans often seem particularly crazy and full of a desperate gamble, but he always manages to prove himself right in hindsight.”

“That’s true, but… you’ll see if you look at the plan he sent.” The disruptor sighed and then sent a docx file to the other three. “I’m not sure what he’s worried about, but he’s chosen to open the battlefield in a different location.”

"Another location?" *3

"That's right. I know a little about the inside story of this incident. His plan was to have [codename: protagonist]... well, this should be Mr. Mo Yulan... repel them in the virtual world and defend this research virtual world. That way, their plan wouldn't be able to succeed, and they would probably be forced to retreat in the end. That's probably his plan."

“But there’s one more thing to remember. Never try to guess Blank’s plans; you’ll never know what he’s thinking.” After listening to the Interferer’s explanation, the Hunter added expressionlessly, “I’m starting to get curious about how things will develop. But… shouldn’t we really notify Zero?”

III. Knights and Emperors

Even though Shino is usually very composed, she was starting to lose her composure. Despite the heavy resistance, the entire Gabriel squad suffered relatively few casualties and quickly advanced to Shigemura Tetsuya's office... which was the floor below where Mo Yulan had entered the fully stealthy area.

That was a set of test machines; according to Higa Ken, these machines could connect to the Underworld. In other words, this should have been a crucial location, or at least a defensive node. But it seems Vector and Ivyson simply gave it up.

After eliminating some traps, Gabriel and the others entered the first SIL room without any trouble. During this time, Sinon briefly saw the figures of Ivy and Vector a few times, symbolically fired a few shots, and then received a signal.

The signal was simple: she was to break away. She glanced around, and then, when no one was looking, pretended to step forward to remove a trap (in fact, there was an EDD there), and then left the group.

Of course, Gabriel did notice Sinon, but he didn't take it seriously. However, when he led his men into the First SIL Room, something unexpected happened—they were locked inside.

To be precise, the door to the first SIL room suddenly closed as the last person entered, plunging the entire room into complete darkness.

“Fu…”

The next syllable was drowned out by the loud thud of sturdy tactical boots kicking against the steel wall. Vasak, now seemingly unsatisfied with just a few kicks, finally stopped his raucous cursing after crushing what appeared to be a candy box left behind by RATH technicians some time earlier.

He gathered his long, wavy black hair, a testament to his Hispanic heritage, and rudely walked to the front of the control panel, grabbing a man standing there by the chest with one hand.

The young man he captured was unusually thin, wearing oversized metal-framed glasses, and was the only non-combatant in the group. In fact, he was an unofficial hired hacker named Crete… which wasn't his real name either, just like Vasak.

“I can repeat myself as many times as I want. Listen carefully, this console is locked as tight as a pile of shit. With the laptops we brought, you could work your way up until you die and still not be able to unlock it.”

"Who's talking to you about that, four-eyed guy! Didn't you say we got locked on because our raid took too long?" Vasak yelled back, his face full of displeasure. Then he glanced at the other team members behind him and asked, "Where's that shorty with the sniper rifle?"

"I don't know either. But it's a good thing he's gone; you'll understand in a bit."

Gabriel gave a cryptic reply, but Vasak didn't bother with him. He pointed at the hacker and started ranting again.

"You bastard, you were trembling behind me during the battle, yet you've got quite the nerve to talk back!"

"You two stop for a second and say less," Gabriel quickly stepped in, trying to smooth things over. "There's no time to assign blame now. The fact is we're trapped here; we need to think about our next move."

"What about future actions? Gabriel, it's pointless now that the most important control system is locked down. That ultimate target, that thing called the Light Cube Cluster, is still behind that iron wall, isn't it?"

“So we either break through this wall, or… In any case, the Self-Defense Forces won’t stay put forever. Either they send someone specifically for a raid, or someone else comes. Those who stopped us just now didn’t look like Self-Defense Force personnel.” Gabriel glanced at his watch as he said this, then continued, “Very good. Let’s check the current situation first. It’s 2:47 PM Japan Standard Time. More than an hour has passed since we entered. We’re currently in the main control room of Oceanurtle. Although we successfully captured the target facility, we failed to capture the RATH technicians, and the system here is locked. The next objective is to take over the secondary control room… Brig, can we cut through the reinforced walls or doors?”

"We're having a bit of a problem... These guys seem to be using special steel plates that they got from the US. With just our portable cutting machine... we can't finish them within 24 hours."