Half a year later, on the 20th floor, Sunlit Forest, filled with baobab trees and intense sunlight.
Somewhere in the Sunlit Forest, two mantis monsters, with blood-red pupils, snarled at the petite human girl who had trespassed into their territory.
Sagiri held a long sword with both hands, her eyes fixed on the mantis monsters' imposing figures and their scythes as tall as a person. She swallowed hard, her gaze filled with fear. Her body trembled, and she instinctively stepped back, attempting to flee.
"Roar."
The two mantis monsters leaped simultaneously, their scythes slicing through the air with a chilling glint that promised to cleave a large tree in two.
Sagiri, terrified, squeezed her eyes shut and raised her long sword defensively.
"Sigh."
Just as the scythes were about to strike Sagiri, a light sigh echoed.
In the next instant, a streak of blood-red sword light flashed and vanished.
The next second, the mantis monsters' arms were severed from their bodies. They flew backward, crashing to the ground with piercing, agonized screams.
Ling Feng stood beside Sagiri, a blood-red long sword in his hand, still in the posture of having just drawn it.
"To fear before battle is to court death."
Hearing Ling Feng's voice, Sagiri quickly hid behind him, trembling.
Ling Feng sighed softly, glancing at the mantis monsters that were now lunging at them again. His long sword glowed with a red light, and he swung it once.
In an instant, the two mantis monsters turned to dust.
Ling Feng sheathed his sword and turned to face Sagiri, who was still trembling. He shook his head.
"Didn't you say you wanted to become stronger? You're this scared of just two mantis monsters?"
"You're not afraid of monsters smaller than you, but you're terrified of these two that are twice your size?"
"And you only dare to fight one-on-one, not one-on-many. You're level 40, your gear is far superior to theirs. What are you afraid of?"
"Even when facing those stronger than you, you must not be timid. To lose your nerve before the fight is to invite death."
"You must overcome your fear."
Sagiri remained silent, head bowed, as Ling Feng lectured her.
Seeing her dejected state, Ling Feng sighed. He couldn't force her, and turned to leave.
"Let's go, back to the inn."
"Wait."
Sagiri reached out and grabbed Ling Feng's sleeve, her eyes filled with stubborn determination.
"Let me try again. I can do it."
Ling Feng looked at Sagiri, seeing her bite her lip, resolute.
Though his expression remained calm, Ling Feng was inwardly pleased; her spirit of perseverance was worth encouraging.
"Alright, let's go."
The two wandered around and soon encountered two more mantis monsters.
This time, Sagiri took a deep breath before Ling Feng could speak and walked step by step towards the mantis monsters.
The mantis monsters quickly noticed the intruder, let out a roar, and initiated the attack.
Sagiri bit her lower lip, her gaze firm. Although her body still trembled slightly, she did not take a single step back this time.
"I can do it!"
Sagiri faced the two mantis monsters as they leaped to attack.
The best way to confront fear is to face it directly and then conquer it.
Her sword flashed with blue light. Following Ling Feng's earlier instructions, Sagiri took a step forward, initiating a sonic strike.
Her sword pierced one mantis monster, but simultaneously, the monster's scythe struck her, sending her flying.
Sagiri rolled on the ground. Before she could recover, she felt a shadow fall over her as the other mantis monster swung its scythe twice.
"No!"
Sagiri stood up, roaring, and swung her sword, exchanging blows with the mantis monster.
A few seconds later, Sagiri's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
The mantis monster before her had already dissolved into energy fragments.
Ling Feng nodded and walked to Sagiri's side, extending a hand.
"Get up. You've taken the hardest step. Let's go back and rest."
Sagiri did not take his hand but slowly climbed to her feet.
"No, let's continue. I must become stronger, strong enough to help you. I don't want to be a burden anymore."
Seeing Sagiri's stubbornness, Ling Feng smiled and nodded.
...
Half a year later, Christmas Eve.
On the 49th floor, the town of "Miu Zhen."
It was Christmas, and the streets were bustling with people, all joyful and radiating happiness.
Though still trapped in a death game, the survivors had gradually grown accustomed to this life over the past year.
Two figures in cloaks sat on a park bench, appearing out of place.
One of them listlessly gazed at the sky, counting the falling snowflakes.
The other held a drawing book, sketching and doodling.
He occasionally lifted his head to look at the girls sitting on other benches, like a pervert.
"Hehehe... so much material."
"Sagiri, can you be normal? When you enter drawing mode, you act like a perverted creep. It's creepy."
"Hehehe... such good figures, gotta draw them."
In drawing mode, Sagiri was completely absorbed in her art, and Ling Feng's words were like air, unheard.
Seeing that Sagiri was ignoring him, Ling Feng sighed and leaned back on the bench, opening his equipment tab.
He was used to it. For the past year, Sagiri had been like a boy; she'd want to draw whenever she saw an attractive woman.
It had even made him doubt his own gender at times.
A female player getting more excited about beautiful women than him, while Ling Feng only glanced at them, uninterested.
There were very few high-profile female players in SAO, and most of them were far inferior to Sagiri, Tu Shan Hong Hong, and Ke Qing.
He just couldn't get interested.
"Eh."
Sagiri pouted discontentedly, inwardly calling Ling Feng a blockhead, so unromantic.
"Sigh, alright. Since that's the case, let's relax for a day."
Ling Feng nodded helplessly. He had been grinding monsters and leveling up for the past two months, and it was indeed time to relax.
The two walked along the path through the flower sea, a gentle breeze carrying blossoms.
Watching the scene, Ling Feng's face broke into a genuine smile.
He realized this was the first time he had stayed on the 47th floor for so long.
This flower sea was unlike anything on Earth; he had to appreciate it.
"Ling Feng, you're from the mainland, right?"
As they walked, Sagiri suddenly asked.
"Yes, sort of."
Ling Feng nodded. He had been surprised to learn that the world's Nihon was a province of HX.
"So, where in Nihon do you live now?"
Sagiri asked casually.
"Umm, that..."
"Tell me."
"Probably Akihabara."
"Akihabara? That's not far from where I live!"
Sagiri was extremely excited. She had been worried Ling Feng might live too far away.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she smiled and proposed,
"After we clear this death game, let's meet up."
"This... I'm afraid that won't be possible."
Ling Feng stopped, his gaze evasive, as he said with difficulty.
He was a transmigrator, and once the game was cleared, he would leave.
Sagiri had hinted at her feelings for him many times, but he had deliberately pretended not to notice, avoiding the issue.
He was worried that his departure in the future might have a significant impact on Sagiri, perhaps leading to a lonely old age.
"After the game is cleared, are you going back to the mainland?"
"Yes."
Since Sagiri had given him a reason, he continued.
"I understand."
Sagiri lowered her head and said quietly. From Ling Feng's perspective, Sagiri bit her lower lip, as if making a difficult decision.
As they walked, they reached the end of the path, a flower sea of seven colors.
Upon arriving, Sagiri stopped, turned her back to Ling Feng, and opened her storage.
Ling Feng looked at Sagiri's actions with some confusion.