"LET'S FINISH THIS!!! QUINELLA!!!!" Kirito brandished the Night Sky Sword and the broken Master Sword.. lunging forward, both the broken blade and the black blade glowing with light.. even in it's injured state.. the Master Sword was still determined to fight..

"So I see!! Cardinal!! You'd use the last of your power to help this boy!?" Quinella exclaimed. "Well it will mean nothing I say.. NOTHING!! I am the goddess of the world!! All are merely toys to be under MY control!!"

Kirito's eyes flashed as he launched himself at Quinella, stabbing the broken Master Sword forward with a Vorpal Strike.

"HA!! YOU THINK A BROKEN BLADE WILL HARM ME!!!?" Quinella cried out.. thrusting a hand out... imbibing it with golden light..

But the Master Sword suddenly let out a tremendous light.. exploding with power.. as the broken blade began to grow.. regenerating.. until.. a whole and unbroken blade stood in it's place.

"WHAT!? IT HEALED ITSELF!!?" Quinella stopped the Master Sword in it's tracks with her power as the blade stabbed into her great light.

As this happened, Kirito let out a great yell and swung the Night Sky Sword down in a great cleaving slash across Quinella's chest.

Quinella fell back, crying out with outraged shock and pain.. as blood spewed out.

"H-HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS!?" Quinella roared. "I get it.. Cardinal is empowering your blades with the will to cut me!!"

"Cardinal didn't do that.." Kirito said. "She did it.."

Kirito nodded at the Master Sword in his left hand.

"A sword that can think for itself.. ridiculous!" said Quinella.

"That's what I thought at first." said Kirito. "But then.. I figured a little something out about programs.. they evolve.. and that's just what the Master Sword did.. it's been evolving this entire time.."

"Even if you're right.." said Quinella, holding out a hand, and gathering power in her palm. "That won't be enough to defeat me!!!"

"Actually!!!" Kirito roared. "THE EVOLUTION'S WHAT I'M COUNTING ON!!!"

Kirito pointed the Night Sky Sword at Quinella. "SYSTEM CALL: ARMAMENT FULL CONTROL ART, BRANCH OF THE GIGAS CEDAR!!!"

A massive ginormous black set of branches made of black energy grew out of the Night Sky Sword.. smashing into Quinella's powerful blast.. as Kirito pushed with all his might against Quinella's attack, he raised the Master Sword, then crossed it with his black blade.

"I'm counting on you!" Kirito growled. "Please.. do this for her! For Mikoto!"

The Master Sword obliged. "Protect her Kirito.. protect my master.. I trust in you.."

And the Master Sword.. merged with the Night Sky Sword..

There was an incredible explosion of black light.. as in Kirito's vision... he saw the words: You Created The Night Skyward Sword.

In his hand he held the Master Sword.. however.. it's blade was pitch black.. as well as it's hilt.. and it's cross guard's wings were spread out more.. and the originally yellow jewel near the hilt was now bright white.

Kirito held the Night Skyward Sword up high, yelling as a tremendous power shot down from the clouds and enveloped the pitch black blade.

"BLACK SKYWARD STRIKE!!!

Kirito slashed the sword forward.. and an immense black energy blast swept out like an amplified swing. (Getsuga Tenshou! XD)

Quinella, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, crossed her arms together as the tremendous blast smashed into her arms.. leaving deep bleeding cuts.

"You.. managed to injure me!?" Quinella said incredulously.

"Cardinal still has some access to the system!!" Kirito growled. "And right now.. she's putting in all her power and strength to help me beat you!!"

Quinella screamed with rage. "THAT DAMN CARDINAL!!! WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST DIE WHEN SHE APPEARED THAT DAY!?"

Quinella threw out a powerful white light blast... but suddenly..

A large black shield infused green lines of code moving across it.. like a data stream.. appeared in front of Kirito, blocking the blast.. the shield attached to a long black tendril, flowing out of the shoulder of Viral Railgun.

Viral Railgun floated up into the air, looking exhausted as she reformed her arm. Her right knee was gone.. but she didn't seem to care... as green lightning exploded around her..

"VIRAL APOCALYPSE!!!" Mikoto thrust both her data energy wrapped arms into the sky.. and immediately, a ginormous green sphere of lightning slammed down on Quinella, forcing her into the ground, rupturing the floor.

With that final attack finished.. Viral Railgun's glowing eyes dimmed.. and she returned to human form.. falling to the floor.

"Thank you.. Mikoto!" Kirito said as he held out his left hand... and the River Spirit flew from where it was stuck in the wall.. and into Kirito's own hand.

Kirito crossed both blades together. "Star Burst STREAM!!!"

One strike... two strikes... three strikes.. Kirito didn't stop.. he executed the entire combo without fail.. Quinella coughed up more blood with each strike's hit..

He was doing this for Eugeo.. for Mikoto.. for Sinon.. Yuniko... Yuuki.. even those two strangers who had the kindness to help people they didn't know.. he was also doing this for Asuna.. so that he would live to see her again!!

Finally.. Kirito stabbed both blades through Quinella's chest...

Everything was quiet.. as Quinella stared at the two swords protruding from her. "You.. defeated a god.."

"You're no god." Kirito whispered. "Those who think themselves gods.. are merely humans with big toys that fail to see the bigger picture.."

Quinella looked at Mikoto, who lay unconscious behind Kirito. "Are you two lovers?"

"No.. she is my sister." said Kirito. "She's always been my sister."

"Hmph.. how.. stupid.. the wages of love are always... death.." Quinella rasped.. before she hung her head... dead..

Kirito fell back.. as Quinella's body tumbled to the floor.. and the Master Sword popped right out of the Night Sky Sword, as it diffused and clattered to the floor as well..

Kirito fell to his knees.. all around him.. were his unconscious friends..

"Somebody..." Kirito moaned. "Get us a doctor.."

_____________________________________

Mikoto opened her eyes... feeling so tired.. that she wanted just to go back to sleep for another million years.. she turned her head.. and looked around.

She was tucked under the covers in a soft bed at the Sword Academy's infirmary. Sitting next to the bed.. was Stella.. who looked absolutely overjoyed to see her mentor awaken.

"S-sempai!!" Stella stammered clutching Mikoto's hand. "Oh thank goodness!!"

"Was it all a dream?" Mikoto muttered. "Being fugitives.. Quinella... Arita-san and Kuroyukihime-sempai? All of it?"

"It was real Misaka-sempai." said Stella. "You've been asleep for 5 days.. w-we were afraid you might not wake.. and we were making plans to move you back to Rulid Village!"

"Kiri... Kirito.." Mikoto said with great effort. "Where's... Kirito?"

"He's in the main cafeteria, discussing things with Alice.. but.."

Mikoto was already sitting up.. she attempted to get off of the bed... only to stumble into her Valet's arms.. her legs.. felt odd..

She looked down.. to see a simple wooden prosthetic with a metal holder in the place of where her knee used to be, right below her joint.. which was at least still intact.

"Oh.." Mikoto said, feeling queasy just looking at it. "A-at least it's just my avatar right?...r-right?"

"Careful now.." said Stella. "H-hey! Somebody give me a hand please!"

Tieze and Ronye entered the room, and together, the three girls held Mikoto and helped her get used to walking slowly into the hall with her prosthetic.

"That's the trick Misaka-san." said Tieze gently. "You're getting the hang of it.."

As they neared the door of the cafeteria.. Mikoto could hear voices.

"So.. all the Integrity Knights are currently working together rebuild some kind of order now that Quinella's gone.. we may have been created under false pretenses, but we at least can still be of good service to the people.. I mean.. if it ain't broke right?"

Alice's voice spoke out. "Yes.. I feel the same way, but I wish to go on an administrative leave back to my village first.. I have not been with my family and friends for 7 years.. and I must ensure that my childhood friends rest their bodies after their terrible ordeal.. Sinon will come along of course.."

"The Dark Mind.." Kirito's voice was heard now. "I never thought such a world would exist.. a place where all the dark thoughts of every living thing become a physical entity.. Sinon was practically crying when she told me what she saw there.."

"The Viros will be gathering soon with their armada.. we must be prepa-" Alice stopped mid-sentence as the door opened.. and Mikoto entered.. helped by the Valets.

An Integrity Knight Mikoto didn't recognize, dressed in silver armor with long black hair was standing there.. he must have been the first voice.. seated at once of the tables.. was Kirito and Alice.

Alice smiled with relief. "Mikoto.. we thought you'd never wake.."

Mikoto just stared expressionlessly and dimly at Kirito. "Kirito.. where's Eugeo.. sleeping in again?"

"M-Mikoto!" said Kirito with surprise. "Eugeo is.. he's.. you saw what happened!"

"Hahaha." said Mikoto sarcastically, the extreme denial plain in her mind.. her brain desperate to cling to that denial. "I know he's just faking.. come on Eugeo.. stop with the pranks, I know you're hiding in here!"

Alice and Kirito looked at each other with extreme concern as Tieze, Ronye, and Stella shifted nervously.

"E-Eugeo's going to walk through that door any moment now.." stammered Mikoto, sweat running down her face. "H-he's going to come through that door, say good morning.. and then we'll all celebrate defeating that idiot Quinella together... heheheh... heh.. heh.."

"Mikoto." said Kirito gently. "Eugeo is dea-"

"HE'S NOT DEAD!!!" Mikoto cried out.. tears gushing out of her eyes. "I-IF HE WERE DEAD!!! TH-THEN IT WOULD BE ALL MY FAULT!!! B-BECAUSE I FOUGHT HIM!!! I WEAKENED HIM WITH MY BLADE!!! H-HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY IF THAT HADN'T HAPPENED!!!"

Mikoto wrenched herself out of Tieze, Ronye and Stella's grip.. lightning raging out of her bangs as she fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "S-So don't tell me he's dead!!! H-He's going to.. walk through that door!! A-and... LOOK THERE HE IS NOW!!"

The door opened.. to show Silver Crow and Sinon both carrying folded blankets.

"Oh.. I was just wondering where you wanted to put.. these..." Silver Crow's words slowed to a halt.. as he saw the terrible scene before him.

"Oh... damn it.." Mikoto sobbed burying her face in her hands. "Damn it.."

Sinon knelt down and gently held Mikoto in her arms.. letting Mikoto sob into her chest. "Shhh.. it's okay.. we're all here.."

"No.. we're not all here.." Mikoto sobbed, her face buried in Sinon's chest. "We're missing one.. we'll always be missing one.."

_____________________________________________

When Selka woke up the next morning and went out to feed the barn animals, she could hardly believe what she was seeing.. the carriage that was being pulled in from the distance by the Pyroclastic Fiend Scaldera..

Tame Scaldera.. as Kirito liked to call him.. had been the result of what was believed to be a glitch in the system, when one day, Mikoto used an Armament Full Control Art.. and when she called out Scaldera... she mixed up the words by accident.. and instead created a very tame version of Scaldera who was not eager to get into fights.. and wouldn't disappear after 3 minutes.. plus.. thanks to his lack of aggression, his body was dimmed down to the temperature of a smoldering cooled fireplace.. only glowing about as bright as a heat lamp... and rarely causing fires.

So for 12 months, before the incident with Quinella, the flaming six limbed molten boulder monster would sleep in the giant fireplace of the academy's kitchen.. and occasionally help pull the carriages of higher class nobles..

Now.. Tame Scaldera pulled the vehicle that was bringing it's passengers home..

Yuniko was at the reigns.. a ham sandwich stuffed in her grumpy mouth as she guided the giant rock flame beast along the path. "Come on Scaldy.. a little further and maybe we'll feed ya some lava rocks."

"Scccrreeee.." Tame Scaldera rumbled serenely.

"Yuniko!" Selka cried out as the carriage came to a halt right outside the village gate. "You're.. back!?"

"Yep." said Yuniko. "I'm sure you've heard the news by now.. about the damn priestess in Zattaria?"

"It's been a slight bit of chaos." said Selka. "The neighborhood youngsters have been stealing from the vendors because they now think they can do anything.. but.. we should be able to restore some order before long.. why have you returned?"

"For a long spite of vacation." said Yuniko. "And I didn't just bring my beautiful face back.."

From the back of the caravan.. Alice emerged.. dressed in a black dress and simple white apron, still wearing her eye patch as she smiled at the stunned Selka.

"Nee... Nee-san.." Selka cried out.. running into the arms of her big sister and hugging her tightly.

"I'm home." said Alice.

As Selka hugged her sister.. Kirito emerged from the back of the carriage with Sinon, the two of them supporting Mikoto, still not used to walking on her prosthetic leg. They were all wearing ordinary farm-hand clothing now.. no longer dressed for battle.. On Sinon's back.. she held several packs which had their remaining weapons bundled there.. The Master Sword, The River Spirit Sword, The Night Sky Sword, The Blue Rose Sword, Majora's Sniper, and the recovered Silent Assassin as well as Lunaria's Bow.

Sinon settled down the pack and smiled at Selka too. "Please.. could you find a safe place for these?"

Selka nodded, and as she made to take the pack, she looked around. "Where's Eugeo?"

Mikoto choked..and Kirito rubbed her back comfortingly. "He.. didn't make it.."

Selka's eyes widened.. and she looked down. "Oh.."

Selka noticed Mikoto's prosthetic. "Oh my! Don't worry Misaka-san.. we'll get you some accommodations to help you with that!"

"I don't need accommodations.." Mikoto muttered indifferently, her eyes dim and dark. "Just... let me die.."

The air was silent as Mikoto spoke these words.. neither caring if she meant it or not.. as if all her hopes and will had just been blown into nothing..

Sinon sighed. "She's.. had a rough time.. Come on Mikoto.. why don't I help you get to a bed kay?"

"...." Mikoto didn't answer.. she just continued to look dimly down at the ground..

Nox poked her furry head out of the caravan. "She's.. not in any state to talk much. Just do it.. I'll look after her.."

Sinon tried to hold back the tears she was about to let out as she helped Mikoto walk into the village.

"She's.. not the same person I remember.." Selka whispered.

"She's been broken.. in both body and spirit." said Alice. "But I hope to change that.. with a bit of quiet and rest.. she'll have what she needs to recuperate here."

Kirito nodded. " If it hadn't been for her guiding me on.. I probably would have ended up just like her.. I get caught up in my guilt plenty of times... but.. I can't blame her either.."

Alice patted Selka on the head. "Come.. I think I would like to see father now.. I imagine my absence hasn't been pleasant on him.."

End of Book 5

Stay tuned for Epilogue and Book 6: Alicization Invading.