I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

Mochizuki Kaede grabbed Asuna's wrist, his other hand already pulling out the teleportation crystal. In the instant the blue light flashed, he glimpsed outside the sanctuary—the pitch-black mist was re-condensing, the outline of the Grim Reaper's scythe faintly visible.

……

The bells of the starting town echoed gently.

Asuna stared at the amethyst necklace in Mochizuki Kaede's palm, sunlight refracting through the crystal to create a purple halo reminiscent of Kissmel's eyes: "This is..."

“When the system detected abnormal data, I completely separated Qizi’s program body from the system and formatted it…” Mochizuki Kaede’s fingertips gently stroked the crystal surface, “Now the complete soul program is preserved here.”

Asuna suddenly gripped his sleeve tightly: "If the game is completed and this world disappears as well, what will happen to Miss Kissmel?"

“I backed up her data in my NERvGear external memory as external storage.” Mochizuki Kaede held up the crystal to the sunlight, and the data inside flowed like a galaxy. “Although it will be a bit difficult to activate Kiss in the real world… there should still be a way.”

The fountain in the square gurgled, and several white doves flew overhead. Asuna suddenly reached out and pressed her hand against the amethyst, feeling its faint but firm pulse.

“Welcome back, Miss Qizmail,” she said softly.

The halo within the amethyst suddenly brightened for a moment, like the smiling eyes of the female knight.

……

Mochizuki Kaede and Asuna returned to the Dark Elf Royal City on the ninth floor to bid farewell to the Queen.

Upon learning that Mochizuki Kaede was about to embark on a long journey, the Queen personally gifted him a branch of the Black Sacred Tree as a token of gratitude for his saving of the royal city.

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Thank you to [Happy Lemon Pie], [Fierce and Cute TEL Doesn't Exist], and [Autumn Moon and Flowing Clouds] for the monthly tickets!

Chapter 140: The Traitor Nicholas

The branch of the Black Sacred Tree is a rare forging material.

This gift came at just the right time. Mochizuki Kaede's weapon, [Thunder Punisher], was completely destroyed in the fierce battle with the Holy Reaper. The blade, which was once wrapped in blue and white lightning, is now only half a broken piece and urgently needs to be reforged.

So they immediately set off for the blacksmith Lisbeth's workshop.

……

Inside the workshop, the furnace roared, illuminating the various forging tools on the walls.

Lisbeth was intently hammering a piece of reddish metal, the hammer striking rhythmically with a crisp sound.

Hearing the door open, she casually wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked up, and immediately saw Mochizuki Kaede and Asuna walk in.

Her eyes lit up instantly, and a surprised smile appeared on her face. She greeted them warmly, "Oh, what brings you all here?"

"The weapon needs to be repaired," Mochizuki Kaede said briefly.

Lisbeth patted her chest confidently and said, "Is it damaged? No problem, I'll fix it for you right away. When I, Lisbeth, take action, there's no weapon I can't repair!"

However, when she saw Mochizuki Kaede take the broken [Thunder Punisher] from her inventory, the blacksmith's hand suddenly froze in mid-air. The forging hammer crashed onto the workbench with a loud bang, sounding particularly jarring in the silent workshop.

"This..." Lisbeth's eyes widened, her voice trembling, "What kind of monster did you provoke? This sword shouldn't be damaged this badly!"

Asuna gave a helpless wry smile and slowly said, "We've encountered a troublesome monster... probably at the level of a level 90 boss."

“Nine, ninety floors?!” Lisbeth gasped, her gaze darting between Mochizuki Kaede and Asuna before finally sighing resignedly, “Oh well… you two always manage to encounter something extraordinary anyway.”

She turned her gaze back to the broken sword in Mochizuki Kaede's hand, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper: "However, I probably can't repair this level of damage; it's too bad. The blade is broken so severely that it's beyond the scope of repair."

Her tone was filled with deep apology, and her sincere demeanor made it impossible to blame her.

Mochizuki Kaede quickly waved his hand: "It's alright, I have new forging materials, it should be able to be repaired."

As he spoke, he took out a branch of the Black Saint Tree.

"This is—!" Lisbeth's voice suddenly rose: "A rare forging material!"

“A branch of the Black Sacred Tree.” Mochizuki Kaede gently placed the rare material on the workbench. “It should be enough to reforge the broken sword.”

Although Lisbeth was extremely curious about how Mochizuki Kaede had obtained this rare material, her immediate priority was to reforge the Thunder Blade for Mochizuki Kaede. Lisbeth took a deep breath, suppressing her shock, and began preparing for the forging process.

Under her control, the furnace fire grew ever more intense, the scorching flames licking the metal with a sizzling sound. Lisbeth swung her forging hammer, each strike carrying precise force, gradually fusing the branches of the Black Sacred Tree with the remains of the Thunder Punisher.

"Dang——dang——"

After a long and arduous forging process, when the final hammer fell, the entire longsword suddenly burst forth with dazzling lightning. The Lightning Punisher, having fused with the branches of the Black Sacred Tree, was finally reforged and upgraded.

Lisbeth slowly raised the entirely black sword with both hands. The blade shimmered with an eerie blue light, as if containing boundless lightning power; its edge was so sharp it could cut through the air.

“Weapon name: Thunder Abyss Judgment.” She murmured the name that appeared in the system. “This weapon is not yet recorded in the information shop’s roster, so it is unique.”

Lisbeth's voice carried a hint of pride and excitement as she looked at the weapon she had personally forged, her eyes filled with pride: "It belongs only to you, Mochizuki Kaede."

Mochizuki Kaede grasped the sword, feeling its weight was similar to the Earth Sword, yet it possessed a unique sense of agility and power. He swung it lightly, and a series of thunderous booms echoed in the air, as if thunder was roaring, or as if the sword was announcing its birth.

“It’s almost like…” Mochizuki Kaede stared at the lightning patterns flowing across the blade, “the embodiment of a storm.”

He looked up and gazed sincerely at Lisbeth: "Thank you, Lisbeth. Without you, this knife could not have been reborn."

Seeing the boy's radiant smile, Lisbeth's face instantly flushed red, like the sunset. She stole a glance at Asuna and found that Asuna was also smiling at her.

She snorted, trying to put on a serious expression, and said, "Wang Yuefeng, you're really worrying. You even managed to damage a rare weapon... Remember to come to me immediately if your equipment is damaged in the future. A sword is a swordsman's life. I... I don't want to see such an excellent swordsman like you in danger because of a weapon problem."

Although her voice carried a hint of reproach, it was mostly filled with concern and worry.

Mochizuki Kaede nodded solemnly: "I promise you."

"No, don't misunderstand!" Lisbeth hurriedly waved her hands, her cheeks still flushed. "I just want to beat this damn game as soon as possible!"

“Hmm.” Mochizuki Kaede gently stroked the scabbard of the [Thunder Abyss Judgment]: “I will use the weapon forged by Lisbeth to personally end this deadly game.”

“…Hmm.” Lisbeth finally whispered, “Good luck.”

After Mochizuki Kaede and Asuna left the workshop, sunlight shone on them.

Asuna turned her head to look at Mochizuki Kaede and asked, "Kaede, are you going back to the guild's front line of attack or continue searching for red-named players on your own?"

"...Let's go back to the guild, I miss everyone too."

Mochizuki Kaede's answer made Asuna's eyes light up instantly, as if they were sprinkled with starlight. She subtly curved the corners of her mouth into a smile, and her steps unconsciously became a little lighter.

……

December.

Aincrad was shrouded in the chill of winter.

A year has passed since the start of the death game, and as the second Christmas approaches, a strange rumor is circulating in the taverns and squares.

About a month ago, the NPCs on different floors suddenly began repeating the same words—at midnight on the "Osmanthus Moon" (i.e., December 24th). When the clock strikes twelve, exactly midnight, the legendary monster [Traitor Nicholas] will appear under a giant fir tree in a certain forest. It is said that defeating it will grant you the treasures filling the giant bag it carries.

This rumor even alarmed top guilds that usually focus solely on conquering the dungeon area. Whether it's a huge amount of Cor or rare equipment, both are crucial for the upcoming floor boss battles. Some jokingly remarked that this might be an unprecedented "Christmas gift" from SAO, a game known only for taking players' lives.

"He's just like Santa Claus from a fairy tale..." one player joked, but many more were secretly itching to get started. After all, in this death game, any opportunity to become stronger was worth fighting for.

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Thank you [Dagdrom] for the donation and monthly pass!

Chapter 141: Santa Claus

December 24th.

The thirty-fifth floor.

Lost in the forest.

Mochizuki Kaede walked slowly forward, gazing up at the night sky. Fine snowflakes drifted down, like delicate white butterflies, gently landing on his face. The cool touch was exactly like real snowflakes, giving him a fleeting illusion that he had lived in this SAO world since childhood.

"Christmas is just half an hour away, President."

A soft voice came from the right. The girl wore a large, snow-white hat, and her dark brown braids hung quietly over her shoulders. Against the backdrop of falling snow, she resembled a lily blooming serenely, even her breath carrying a tranquil air.

Mochizuki Kaede turned his head slightly to look at Yuna, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He could understand Yuna's feelings at that moment. After all, it was during the first Christmas after SAO's launch that Yuna joined their guild, [Golden Rule], at this special time. Back then, she had even played a beautiful Christmas carol for them. That melodious tune still echoed in Mochizuki Kaede's ears, remaining a cherished memory in his heart.

The girl to Wang Yuefeng's left was standing on tiptoe, looking around. Her playful twin ponytails swayed gently with her movements, and the full moon in her hand reflected the snow.

"Will Santa Claus really appear on this floor?" Silica asked, blinking her big eyes, her breath condensing into small wisps of mist in the cold air.

The "Santa Claus" she mentioned is none other than the recently much-discussed [Traitor Nicolas] among players. It is said that defeating this mysterious NPC can yield a huge amount of Corel or rare equipment.

However, no player has yet successfully found any trace of it.

“Argo’s intelligence should be accurate…” Mochizuki Kaede’s gaze fell on the petite figure at the front of the group. The hooded intelligence broker was nimbly leaving shallow footprints in the snow.

In fact, the information about [Traitor Nicholas] was largely thanks to Argo. He and Argo had established a good working relationship during their operations against red-named players. It was this relationship that led Argo, who was usually stingy with sharing information, to reveal the exact time and location of [Traitor Nicholas]'s appearance—of course, for a hefty sum of Cor.

—"The kill reward is a resurrection item."

Argo's words still echoed in Mochizuki Kaede's mind. This information shocked him. In the death game, the value of an item that could bring someone back from the dead was immeasurable. Having it meant providing his companions with an extra layer of insurance, an extra chance of survival.

Asuna walked beside Argo, her long chestnut hair cascading down like silk, the ends swaying gently with each step. The rapier, the Elven Sword, gleamed with an emerald sheen at her waist, perfectly complementing its owner's elegant demeanor. Snowflakes landed on her long eyelashes, making her amber eyes appear even clearer.

Beside her, Mitt's tall figure stood out. Her high purple ponytail was neatly tied back, the ends tracing sharp arcs in the cold wind with her alert movements. Her crimson eyes, like unsheathed blades, constantly scanned the surrounding shadowy trees. The massive scythe on her shoulder gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, perfectly matching its owner's aloof and elegant demeanor. Snowflakes landed on her tightly pursed lips, quickly melting away in her breath.

Mito officially became a member of the [Golden Rule] in November. At that time, Mochizuki Kaede was investigating the red-name guild, which only had Asuna, Silica, and Yuna in it. The reason Mito ultimately chose to join was perhaps just as Mochizuki Kaede had told her in front of the eighth floor boss room—with her there, Asuna and the others would be safer.

Looking at Mito's tense back, Mochizuki Kaede realized that this always aloof girl must have spent countless nights training alone, reflecting on why she had betrayed and abandoned her companions. And now, the image of her standing guard beside her companions, carrying a scythe, spoke volumes. This once proud girl had probably also experienced the loneliness of victory without anyone to share it with during her long solitary journey.

On the snow, their footprints stretched side by side into the depths of the forest, only to be gently covered by fresh snow.

Argo closed the semi-transparent system map, his gaze beneath his hood fixed on the center of the snowfield. An ancient, gigantic fir tree stood alone on the pure white wasteland, its snow-covered branches stretching towards the night sky like the arms of death. Within a hundred meters, not a blade of grass grew; only the blinding white snow reflected the cold moonlight, illuminating the area as if it were a forgotten graveyard.

“This is it, get ready,” Argo reminded them.

The members of the Golden Rule immediately entered battle mode. Mochizuki Kaede drew her Thunder Abyss Judgment, its blade shimmering with azure lightning patterns. Silica gripped the Crescent Moon Wheel tightly, her petite frame leaning slightly forward. Yuna's fingertips lightly caressed the strings of her lute, ready to unleash a battle hymn.

Asuna's chestnut hair fluttered in the cold wind. In her right hand she held a rapier shimmering with emerald light, while her left hand held aloft the Banner of Valor, which billowed in the biting wind. Mito's massive scythe drew a silver arc, and his crimson eyes gleamed with a predatory light in the night.

As the clock hands struck midnight, a clear, ethereal chime drifted in from nowhere. Mochizuki Kaede looked up; in the pitch-black night sky, two eerie blue streaks of light were rapidly approaching. Upon closer inspection, they were revealed to be a giant sled being towed by a grotesque monster.

The moment the sled swept past the top of the fir tree, a dark figure plummeted to the ground. Everyone instinctively took several steps back, the snow crunching harshly under their feet. The figure crashed heavily onto the snow, kicking up a cloud of snow.

As the snow fog dissipated, the monster that appeared took everyone's breath away. It was a deformed humanoid figure, easily three meters tall. Although it still retained a human appearance, its arms were abnormally long, and its hunched back caused its arms to almost drag on the snow. It walked unsteadily, as if it might fall at any moment. Its small red eyes glowed eerily in the shadow of its abnormally protruding forehead, like two burning embers. The lower half of its face was covered with gray, curly whiskers that even reached near its lower abdomen, swaying wildly with its movements.

The monster wears a red and white shirt and a matching conical hat, holds an axe in its right hand, and carries a large sack full of things in its left. The developers clearly intended this ugly version of Santa Claus to be comical, retaining the outline of holiday elements while distorting it into a nightmarish appearance.

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Thank you [Happy Lemon Pie] for the monthly pass!

Chapter 142: The Holy Crystal of Resurrection

Asuna's white boots sank deep into the snow, and the silver flagpole of the [Banner of Valor] clattered into the frozen ground with a graceful swing of her arm.

"Wow!"

A golden banner unfurled in the cold wind, its dazzling halo rippling outwards, instantly enveloping an area with a radius of twenty meters. The entire [Golden Rule] team was enveloped in a pale golden glow; within this banner-blessed domain, all members' abilities were significantly enhanced.

"Go!" Asuna shouted, and the blade of her elven sword shone with an emerald light. Her figure transformed into a streak of light, thrusting straight towards the heart of [Traitor Nicolas]! This thrust was as fast as a flash of light, and the sword technique's special effects left a meteor-like trajectory on the snow.

Yuna's slender fingers plucked rapidly across the lute strings, and a stirring melody pierced through the snowstorm. Each note transformed into tangible light patterns, wrapping around her companions like ribbons. Her large white hat trembled slightly in the aura released by the skill.

Just as Nicholas swung his blood-stained woodcutter's axe, aiming to strike Asuna—

"Drink!" Silica drew a silver arc with the crescent moon in her hand. With a crisp "clang," it struck the monster's axe-wielding wrist precisely, forcing it to stagger and deviate from its attack trajectory.

Mito's high-tied purple ponytail traced a sharp arc in the wind and snow, the scythe moving with life in her hand. Like Asuna [Flash], she was renowned in the frontline assault team for both her beauty and strength, and at this moment, she was hooking Nikolaus's ankle with her scythe. Mito used the momentum to spin, skillfully transforming the monster's forward momentum into a pulling force. With a chilling shout, the three-meter-tall behemoth was forcibly lifted off the ground.

Its enormous body crashed heavily onto the snow, stirring up a cloud of snow mist mixed with ice crystals.

"Beautiful!" Before Wang Yuefeng's exclamation had even faded, [Thunder Abyss Judgment] had already pierced the monster's rough skin with the force of thunder. A ghostly blue lightning bolt exploded on Nicholas's body, and the monster's painful roar shook the snow off the treetops. As the logging axe swept across, Wang Yuefeng had already taken a half-step back, his black trench coat billowing in the snowy wind.

Nikolas staggered, trying to stand, but Mit's giant scythe, its blade wreathed in dark purple skill effects, hurtled towards him. The scythe slammed into the monster's back, sending Nikolas staggering forward. Amidst the swirling snowflakes, the purple-haired girl brushed past Mochizuki Kaede, her hair brushing against his cheek as they exchanged a knowing glance.

"Don't stand there." Mitt's cool voice was laced with panting. As she spun around, her high ponytail swept across the back of Mochizuki Kaede's sword-wielding hand. The trajectory of the scythe's horizontal sweep perfectly intersected with the path of the lightning blade's thrust, forcing Nikolas to raise her axe to block. Sparks from the clash of metal illuminated her sweat-drenched profile, and her purplish-red eyes became even more captivating in the frenzy of battle.