"Let me in.." Alice said to the guard.

The man nodded and opened the cell doors.

The 5 prisoners.. Kirito, Eugeo, Sinon, Mikoto, and Yuniko were being held in separate cells.. Kirito and Eugeo in one, Sinon and Mikoto in another, and Yuniko in a heavily guarded cell all to herself.

Alice walked into the cell, where Sinon was cradling the still unconscious Mikoto.

"The cathedral has ordered that I take her." said Alice indifferently to Sinon.

"You can take her when Hell freezes over." Sinon spat.. glaring at Alice.

Alice glared at Sinon. "If you do not unhand her.. I will be forced to take aggressive measures.

"Go ahead." said Sinon. "I'll die before you take her."

Alice thrust out a foot and kicked Sinon into the wall with colossal force, cracking the stone.

Alice picked up Mikoto and slung her over her shoulder. "You criminals can be so aggravating."

"RRRAAHHHHH!!!" Sinon screamed and launched herself at Alice, wrapping her arms around her shoulders from behind, trying to throw her to the ground.

"DAMN YOU!!" Alice roared, easily shaking Sinon off, but not before Sinon grabbed Mikoto and held her tightly in her arms.. curling up on the floor protectively.

"Let go.." Alice growled, drawing her sword.

"Go ahead and cut me.." Sinon growled, only hugging Mikoto tighter. "You'll have to pull her from my cold.. dead.. hands.."

"JUST LET GO!!" Alice growled, kicking Sinon. She began repeatidly kicking Sinon over and over.. Sinon's body soon began to drip blood, and more blood soon dripped out of her mouth.. but she still did not let go..

It went on for 15 minutes.. and still, the bloodied Sinon did not let go..

Alice stopped.. panting and sweating. "What.. kind of stubbornness is in that thick head of yours?"

"Enough.." Sinon gasped. "Enough to never quit.."

"It would appear so." said Alice, drawing her blade and bringing it to Sinon's neck. "It appears I will have to kill you anyways.."

Right as the sword was about to lop off Sinon's head.. a dark shadowy tendril grabbed the sword and stopped it's stroke..

Dusk phased out of the wall, silently.. shaking his head at Alice.

"Hmmm? You need her alive as well?" said Alice.

Dusk nodded.. and phased back into the wall.

Alice sighed and sheathed her blade. "I'll be back with food... until then.. try and wake her up so she can actually eat.. "

Alice left the cell, calling out to the guard. "Get a medic in there.. before the blue haired one bleeds to death.."

The cell doors shut with a clang.. and for a minute there was silence.. then, Yuniko's voice came from the cell next door. "They gone?"

"I... I think so.." Sinon called out.

"Sounds like they were rough on you." Kirito called out from the cell on the other side. "Are you okay?"

"Barely.." Sinon said. "I'm bleeding. But I'll live."

"It appears as if we're in a pickle alright." said Eugeo. "Who knew that they would turn to such an elaborate setup? Just what is it they want with Mikoto-chan?"

"I don't know.." said Kirito. "I mean.. I can make a few wild guesses. But one thing's for sure.. we need to escape.. all of us.."

"And I think I might be able to do just that." said Yuniko. "You can tell that Thevos is pretty dim when it comes to studying Viros Symbiotes.."

"What do you mean?" Sinon asked.

"Well.. it's simple." said Yuniko. "Because these Viros all consider Viros Symbiosis an abomination.. they banned all information on it.. and as a result.. the law abiding ones all became completely ignorant about it... these special restraints they have on me.. this puny program strainer.. is nothing if I gather enough energy..."

"Y-you'll be able to escape!?" said Eugeo with incredulity.

"Well yeah." said Yuniko. "Tempo's been inside me.. gathering energy for the past day... I'll be able to break out in about an hour or so.. but.. it's not going to mean much if Mikoto is asleep and you three don't have your weapons.. which is why we have Yuuki of course."

"She's okay!?" Sinon said worriedly. "But.. I figured since they managed to get Mikoto.. that they must have captured Yuuki too.."

"She wouldn't be captured that easily. " said Kirito. "If there's anybody that can take on the Integrity Knights and escape, it's her.. I think the thing I'm worried most about is the fact that Mikoto still hasn't woken up.."

Everyone went silent at this.. they had tried everything.. and yet, the Stacia Windows had indicated to Sinon that nothing was wrong with Mikoto.. this time portal that Thevos had mentioned.. was Mikoto's consciousness really stuck in some future limbo?

"She keeps muttering in her sleep." Sinon whispered.. stroking her cousin's hair. "Strange things too.. about a Crow .. or something.. and a Bell.."

"It could be what she's seeing in the future." Eugeo suggested. "If what Thevos said was true... then her mind and body are both still connected.. just in different times and probably locations.. an ethereal tether that sends information between each other."

"That makes even more sense." said Kirito. "But.. if only her consciousness is gone.. then the question is.. where is she.. and when is she? And how can she be there without a body?"

"I know." said Eugeo. "It's ultimately pretty confusing.."

"Well.." said Yuniko. "I think the best thing to do right now.. is figure out where we can go after we escape so that we don't end up getting caught all over again.. Kapeesh?"

"Ka.. what?" said Eugeo.

"It's Italian!" said Yuniko. "It means.. do you understand!"

"I.. do understand.. but what is Italian?" Eugeo asked.

"Right.. Underworld.. no other languages.." Yuniko muttered.

Eugeo went silent for a moment. "I'm.. sorry Sinon."

"What are you apologizing to me for?" Sinon murmured.

"Alice hurt you.." Eugeo said. "I-it wasn't her.. it was..."

Eugeo's voice broke.

"I get it.." Sinon said.

To have spent years working to be a swordsman.. to find Alice.. it was what they had come here for.. to find Alice.. to do everything they could to find her.. and now they had found her.. only to find her as an enemy...and to top it off.. to discover that the meaning of Integrity Knight was all a lie...

"I don't know.." Eugeo muttered. "If I can even find the strength to move on any more.. the reason I became a Swordsman.. was to find Alice.. but now.. all that.. all that is just shattered in front of me.."

"Shattered?" Yuniko growled. "OH SHUT YOUR BLEEDIN' HEART UP!!!"

"E-EH!?" Eugeo stammered.

"LISTEN HERE EUGEO YOU SELF LOATHING PRICK!!!" Yuniko roared. "So you find out Alice is serving a freakin' dictator priestess!! Big Deal!! You know.. what MIKOTO Would say right now!?"

"She.. she would want to go save her..." Eugeo said.

"Yeah.. she would.." Yuniko growled "SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!? Yuuki's already waiting for my cue outside!!"

"W-wait.." said Eugeo. "You said there would be an hour before-"

"I LIED!!" Yuniko roared. "Just wanted to address the freakin' elephant in the room first ya big cry baby!!! LET'S GO TEMPO!!!"

"Yes ma'am.. right away.."

"BOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!!" A giant plasma burst blasted the prison bars right off Yuniko's cell as Scarlet Rain walked out holstering the pistol to her side..

She blasted apart the bars for the other cells as well.. and as everyone came out of the cells, Sinon staggering and carrying Mikoto in her arms.. Scarlet Rain seemed to give Eugeo a blazing glare. "So.. are you going to keep hiding under a rock and blaming yourself!? OR ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE YOUR GOD FRIGGIN' ALICE!?"

Eugeo took a deep breath. "Let's go.."

"GOOD ANSWER!!!" Scarlet Rain pointed her pistol at the wall.. and there was an explosion as she blasted a hole straight into the wall.. revealing the cathedral garden outside..

Alice.. who hadn't left yet whirled around, staring at the giant hole. "YOU!!"

"ahhhh.. maybe should have waited a little.." Scarlet Rain muttered.

"You dare!?" Alice roared, drawing her blade.. before she could make another move however, Yuuki spiraled out of the air, and her blade slammed into Alice's golden one.. creating sparks and shockwaves.

"Sorry.." Yuuki said. "But you're not getting past me.. "

"Out of the way!" Alice moved her blade with extreme skill, matching Yuuki stroke for stroke with her ability. But Yuuki was like an iron wall where her blade was concerned, not even letting a slight stroke of Alice's blade make it through.

"KIRITO!! EUGEO!!!" Yuuki flipped back through the air, and threw out four swords belted to her side.. Kirito caught the Master Sword and his black sword in each hand, while Eugeo caught his Blue Rose Sword.. and took the River Spirit sword too, belting it to his side.

Kirito looked at the Master Sword in his left hand. "Look.. I know you and I don't work together often.. but for Mikoto we're going to have to put our heads together.."

The Master Sword seemed to grow a little warmer in Kirito's grip, and he nodded at everyone else. "HURRY! WE NEED TO CLIMB TO THE TOP!! That's the best bet we have right now!!"

"AMAYORI!!!" Alice called out as she continued to battle Yuuki. "STOP THEM!!"

There was a roar.. and the cathedral walls were blown apart as a massive silver dragon with triangular scales tore through..

Amayori looked down and growled at the puny humans.. opening his jaws and preparing to fire an energy blast.

"OH NO WAY IN HELL YA GIANT GECKO!!" Scarlet Rain's massive Immovable Fortress exploded into being.. it's tremendous size nearly taking up the entire indoor cathedral gardens..

"Wh-what in Stacia's name.." Alice said with bewilderment.

The giant fortress fired all it's weapons upon the dragon.. it's missiles creating massive fire clouds upon contact with the beast.

The dragon grunted irritably and powered through the macros fire, slamming into the giant fortress and pushing it through the other side of the cathedral wall.. chomping it's jaws down on the giant gun barrels on the side of the fortress.

"YUNIKO!!" Sinon yelled.

"GO!!!" Scarlet Rain roared as she fell through the wall in her massive fortress. "I've got this!! JUST GO!!!"

Eugeo grabbed Sinon's arm. "Come on.. we can't stay here!! Mikoto's in no condition to fight, and neither are you!! COME ON!!"

"LOOK OUT!!" Sinon screamed, pointing at an armored figure with launching out from a ledge and swinging it's sword down at Kirito.

Kirito crossed the Master Sword and the black sword together, blocking the blow in a sharp shockwave.

The man had polished silver armor, and a beautiful rugged handsome face with pale purple hair. He smiled at Kirito as he pushed his blade against his. "I am Eldrie Synthesis 31.. I greet you Kirito.. I have faced your mentor Soriliena Serlut in the Four Empires Tournament.. the tournament I won to become an Integrity Knight... and I must say.. I have looked forward to facing the apprentice of the woman who gave me a duel like I've never had.."

Kirito's eyes flashed and he moved the two swords around with incredible skill and speed, only to have Eldrie easily block and power through each strike..

Blades whirled around like flashing pale stars, sparks flew like flames in the dark as Kirito attempted to use every ounce of his skill to attack Eldrie.

Eugeo joined the fight quickly, running forward with his Blue Rose Sword, tagging in with Kirito, the two of them maneuvering the three blades in a masterful performance.

But Eldrie's skill was greater then any other.. His blade suddenly glowed with great light as he chanted a quick Sacred Art that was faster then any could hear. The blade glowed red as he used the enhanced blade to slam Kirito and Eugeo aside.

"Dual Blades." said Eldrie. "Not a bad skill to have. I've only ever seen it once.. in that girl Mikoto Misaka.. I always figured it was because of Ashley Rowena's unusual teaching style.. but now I see.. it was something born of your invented Aincrad Style.."

Eldrie laughed and readied his blade. "I thought that you fools would never escape.. but now I see, I cannot just enjoy the garden's roses with a glass of wine as I planned tonight.. come.. I shall fight you some before returning you to your cells.."

Kirito glared at Eldrie and readied both blades. "You're going to regret that.."

Both he and Eugeo dashed at Eldrie again.. and once more their blades clashed in great frenzied blows.. speed turning to greater speed as both friends boosted their skills as high as they could.

Eugeo launched upwards and came down at Eldrie with a Sonic Leap, which Eldrie dodged by jumping back, right as Kirito came in with a Vorpal Strike with his black blade..

Eldrie parried aside the Vorpal Strike with an easy swing, but as he did so, The Master Sword came swinging upwards in a Snake Bite combo.

The attack slashed across Eldrie's armor in burning light.. much to Eldrie's surprise.

"The Holy Sword!!" Eldrie growled. "The one belonging to Misaka.. that's what you're wielding!?"

"STAR BURST STREAM!!!" Kirito roared.. both his blades burning with great blue light.. as he began his multi-hit combo.. at first.. it seemed like it was going to fail...as the black sword was not capable of multihit combos beyond 4.. but.. as soon as Kirito's fourth strike with the black blade hit.. the Master Sword shuddered.. and the black blade suddenly became calm.. and executed a fifth strike without interference..

Kirito grinned, knowing what just happened.. and continued the vicious combo.. knocking Eldrie back several meters with the final strike.

Eldrie looked at Kirito with amazement. "This... isn't possible.."

"ISN'T IT!!?" Eugeo roared, coming at Eldrie from behind, his blade glowing bright. "ARMAMENT FULL CONTROL ART!! FREEZE ELDRIE!!"

A giant blast of freezing air exploded from the Blue Rose Sword, just barely missing Eldrie as he ducked out of the way.. chunks of ice encasing the area where the sword's Armament Full Control Art had hit.

Right as Eldrie dodged, Kirito came dashing in, whirling the two blades together in a dancing web of holy steel and black beauty.

Eldrie parried the attacks.. looking rather serious now. "You are irritating me to no end..."

"BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!" The walls of the cathedral shook as the silver dragon rampaged through, pinning the giant Immovable Fortress beneath it's talons.

"Y-Yuniko!" Eugeo roared. "NO!!"

Eugeo ran at the dragon.. yelling out a battle cry.

"DON'T BE RASH EUGEO!!" Kirito yelled. "GET BACK!!!!"

Within the mass of circuits and armor.. Scarlet Rain could barely feel her consciousness.. she could already feel the dragon tearing through... so... this was how it ended huh?

"Well.. dying in the past.." Scarelt Rain muttered. "What a way to go.. I guess there are worse ways to die.."

"Are you insane..?"

Scarlet Rain looked to her side.. standing in the darkness was Mikoto, looking light hearted with that stupid grin she always had when she was teasing Yuniko.

"Really? Dying? Is that actually your style?" said Mikoto. "I'm not so sure about that.."

"Oh shut up..." Yuniko muttered. "You're my mule.. you're not allowed to tell me what my style is.."

"Well.. whose going to be around to tell me what to do if you're gone?"

She was right.. she was Mikoto's master in teaching the ways of the Viros Symbiotes.. and now.. that she was gone.. would be able to teach her? Who?

Who would be there.. to make sure that Mikoto could still wear that idiotic smile on her face.. for days to come.. no.. years..?

Yuniko.. she wanted to see her smile like that.. she wanted her to keep smiling like that.. for Mikoto to smile.. no matter how irritating it felt to see the warmth of that expression..

It was her dream.. to make sure that smile.. spread to everyone.

"I'm.. not dying yet.. NOT NOW!!" Yuniko roared. "IT AIN'T MY STYLE YA JERK!!!!"

Scarlet Rain's voice screamed out from within the fortress.. "SYMBIONT ASSAULT!! LEVEL TWO!!!!"

Giant mechanical explosions rippled throughout the massive fortress.. massive mecha legs grew out of the bottom.. with large booster thrusters arming the entire leg.. and two massive arms burning with energy in their mechanical sinews clanked out of the side of the now mobile fortress.

The giant mecha punched Amayori in the bottom of the jaw.. and in a boom the dragon was thrown out of the cathedral high into the sky.

"Y-Yuniko..!?" Eugeo stammered.

"Unbelievable!" Kirito exclaimed.

"My dream.. is to make sure.. that Mikoto spreads that smile she has.." Scarlet Rain growled as the giant mecha fortress. "And I'll give my life for that cause.. Kirito.. Eugeo.. Sinon.. Yuuki.. you four.. need to help me make that dream real!!!"

The massive mobile fortress pounded a fist into a hand and it's thrusters exploded with flames. "GO!! TAKE OUT THAT QUINELLA JERK!!! I'll finish things up here!!!"

The mecha blasted out into the sky.. full body tackling Amayori before grabbing the dragon's tail in both hands, and throwing it down at the city below with a boom.

Missles of uncountable number then fired down at the dragon...ripping a fissure straight through Zattaria.

"Damn it!!" Alice growled, She slammed Yuuki's blade aside and turned to look at Eldrie. "Finish it now Eldrie!! This is getting out of hand!!"

"Right!" Eldrie bore his blade.. but right before he could strike.. Kirito launched himself into the air.. sheathing the Master Sword and as he did, the black sword grew in length.. becoming a two handed sword instantaneously as Kirito manage to gather the blade in both hands.

"WHIRLING CURRENT!!!!"

Using the powerful combo taught to him by Sortiliena Serlut.. Kirito whirled his blade around down in a twister fashion, creating a massive cyclone as he came bashing down upon Eldrie, breaking the Integrity Knight's blade.

Kirito threw his black blade into the air as it returned to normal length, drawing the Master Sword with his other hand. his eyes flashing with determination. "SYSTEM CALL: ARMAMENT FULL CONTROL ART!! ANCIENT AUTOMATON KOLOKTOS!!!!

Koloktos exploded into being in a burst of rainbow light.. swinging down it's six ginormous blades at Eldrie.

Eldrie, looking absolutely bewildered at this monster golden boss, managed to leap out of the way only just in time as Koloktos landed with it's six scimitars, creating a giant shockwave of rubble as it landed.

Koloktos turned to charge at both Eldrie and Alice at the same time.. giant steaming clouds of darkness bursting out of the chimney on it's head.

"Bye bye!!" Yuuki said with a wink as she activated her fairy wings and soared into the air. Leaving Alice to face the charging boss monster.

"Not good NOT GOOD!" Eldrie yelled as Koloktos bore down on the both of them.

"Amayori." said Alice.

On cue.. the dragon slammed it's claws into Koloktos.. breaking the boss into pieces and shattering it's parts across the garden.

"I have permission to reduce their life by 70 percent." said Alice. "But I think at this point.. I think I will have no choice but to go beyond that.. Amayori! defeat them!"