When the light finally faded, everyone realized they were standing on a vast open plain. The scent of fresh grass drifted on the wind, and the blades of grass swayed like rippling waves beneath the endless sky.
"What's going on here?! A scene transition? Why did the boss room turn into an endless prairie?" Members of the Knights of the Blood immediately began murmuring among themselves.
Heathcliff looked toward the Crystal Guild. The entire guild had already formed a circular defensive formation, alert and ready. Each member held a weapon in one hand and a status-cleansing potion in the other—kept close to their lips, prepared to drink it at any moment.
"With a map this huge, how are we supposed to find the boss?"
"Exactly! Even if we spread out, we'd be too small to spot in this giant field!" The Knights of the Blood continued to grumble.
Heathcliff walked toward Kurumi, who stood at the center of her guild's formation, protected by her members. "Guildmaster of the Crystal Guild," he said calmly, "do you have any suggestions for handling this situation?"
Kurumi twirled a lock of her flaxen hair between her fingers, her deep crimson eyes silently studying Heathcliff before she blinked and replied, "First, there's no need to waste stamina searching a map this size. If I'm right, the boss will come to us."
"Second, organize your men and stay combat-ready at all times. We don't know how the monsters will appear—will they fall from the sky? Burst from underground? Or spawn directly beside us?"
"Third, check your supplies again. Judging by the setup, this may turn into a war of attrition."
Heathcliff was silent for a moment before pulling out a recording crystal and activating it. The gem floated upward, glowing faintly as it began to capture the scene from above.
"What are you doing?" Kurumi asked, tilting her head curiously.
"After hearing your assessment, I can't shake the feeling that survival odds are low," Heathcliff replied gravely. "I intend to record this battle and transmit it to all players—so they'll remember the lesson learned here." With that heavy statement, he turned back to his team to begin reorganizing them.
"Ugh... what's that supposed to mean? Is he trying to expose me? I'm not that strange! Just... a little stronger than most," Kurumi muttered, twisting her hair faster between her fingers, completely unable to guess Heathcliff's true intentions.
Awoooo! A distant howl echoed—then another, closer. Within moments, countless wolves appeared across the plains. The grey mass rolled forward like storm clouds, swallowing the horizon. In an instant, everyone's faces paled. The sheer number of enemies—tens of thousands—turned the air to despair. Hundreds against thousands... death's shadow loomed over them all.
"All units, switch to backup gear to prevent durability loss! Rotate defense in two waves for endurance! Conserve your combo skills—prepare for a prolonged engagement!" Kurumi's rapid-fire commands rang out as she bit her thumbnail anxiously. What is Heathcliff's plan? Does he intend to wipe everyone out?
The members of the Crystal Guild quickly accessed their system menus, changing their equipped gear. Though the guild uniforms hid most visual changes, their weapons visibly downgraded by one tier.
Awoooo! The howls of the wolves sounded like a death knell. The entire field erupted into chaos as the endless horde surged forward like a flood. The oppressive momentum pressed on every player's chest like a scythe at their throats.
"Die! Die! DIE!" The hysterical screams of panic began. The immense pressure shattered many players' nerves, and several members of the Knights of the Blood broke ranks, attacking the wolves wildly—slashing them to glowing fragments.
"Idiots! Calm down! Hold the line!" Asuna's voice rose in alarm. The Knights' rash behavior was suicidal—against such overwhelming numbers, reckless offense was certain death.
"Haha... hahahaha..." A deranged laugh echoed nearby. Asuna's golden eyes narrowed sharply—those players who had killed wolves were now smiling twistedly. Something inside them had snapped.
"Asuna, it's no use," Kurumi said quietly. "We can't save them anymore. Not even I could. Their minds... have already broken." She gazed toward the collapsing front lines of the Knights of the Blood, her heart heavy with quiet sorrow.
This boss stage had clearly been tampered with by Heathcliff. Yet he had still brought hundreds of people into the fight. Had he already decided these players were as good as dead? How pitiful.
"Kimi-nee!" Asuna's golden eyes turned toward Kurumi. Her sharp intuition caught it—Kurumi's pupils were trembling ever so slightly.
No way... Kimi-nee is anxious? A shock rippled through Asuna's heart like a storm at sea.
Kurumi had always been confident and composed, leading everyone to conquer floor after floor of the labyrinth. Her supreme confidence shone like the light of the sun, illuminating every member of the Crystal Guild.
Everyone in the guild believed that Kimi-nee's words could make anything possible—that her guidance alone could lead them through any trial. To them, Kimi-nee was the sun itself.
"Kimi-nee," Asuna said softly, reaching out to grasp Kurumi's hand. Her beautiful face carried a serene, gentle smile.
Kimi-nee's hand... it's stiff. So she really is uneasy. For so long, everyone had trusted her without question, relying on her completely. Because she was so capable, so dazzling—it was only natural to depend on her.
But who had ever noticed the burden she carried? Who had ever seen her fear, or understood her exhaustion? Because she was extraordinary, everyone unconsciously pushed their troubles onto her, seeking her strength and comfort. Yet—who had ever offered warmth to her in return? No one. Because she was the sun, they thought she needed no warmth. But that was just arrogance.
Kimi-nee... you've worked so hard, haven't you?
"Kimi-nee, look at everyone," Asuna said, guiding her gaze toward the Crystal Guild's defense line.
The guild members were split into two groups. One held the front line, calm and steady, repelling waves of wolves with discipline and precision. The other sat within the defensive ring, observing the wolves' movements—analyzing, strategizing, even studying the Knights of the Blood's deteriorating formation.
"Even in this desperate situation, no one has lost hope. They face enemies outnumbering us a hundredfold without fear. And that's all because you exist, Kimi-nee. You're everyone's sun. Because of you, our sky will never darken. You are our sun goddess—our Apollo."
Asuna clasped Kurumi's hands more tightly, her grip gentle yet firm, hoping to convey a small spark of warmth. Kimi-nee, you burn too bright for others to approach. But even if my warmth is tiny, I want to share it with you. It's all I can offer... even if you never need it, I still want to give it to you.
"Heh~ To think my little sister is the one comforting me. As a big sister, that's quite the disgrace." Kurumi withdrew her hand, then gently cupped Asuna's cheek. Her skin was soft and smooth as jade—Kurumi couldn't help but stroke it lightly.
"Kimi-nee..." Asuna gasped shyly, lowering her head as her face flushed crimson. W-what's happening?! Why did the atmosphere suddenly turn like this?!
"So kind... If only Asuna were my girlfriend," Kurumi teased, pinching Asuna's small chin playfully. The words left Asuna frozen, her face red enough to steam as she nearly fainted.
Kurumi released her hand, and after a long, embarrassed pause, Asuna finally managed to regain her composure. Kurumi then spoke softly, "Asuna, do you know why the sun always shines without rest?"
Asuna looked at her in confusion, shaking her head.
"It's to hide the darkness within itself," Kurumi said quietly. "Light and shadow are one. When the sun loses its radiance, sunspots appear—dark voids that devour everything."
"Darkness of the sun?" Asuna repeated, puzzled. What does she mean? Is she saying even she feels fear... or uncertainty?
Kurumi tilted her head slightly, thinking for a moment before continuing. "Actually, that darkness isn't truly evil—it's simply blindness. The sun's spots don't directly harm anyone, but they trigger changes in the world... and those changes can destroy humanity."
Asuna was completely lost. She had no idea what Kurumi was trying to say.
In truth, Kurumi's meaning was simple: Don't worry. Your big sister will never lose her light. The monsters and this game can't destroy you—but if I lose my light, then the darkness will swallow you all.
The words nearly escaped her lips, but she stopped herself. Instead, she spoke poetically—because she remembered who she truly was. Not a sun goddess, perhaps, but still divine in her own way. If she lost her light, wouldn't the result be the same? She didn't wish to harm humanity, yet humans might die from losing the light of their god.
Such a tragedy could never be allowed. As the Goddess of Time, she would maintain her divine dignity and express it with grace—metaphorically, beautifully, as only she could.
Of course, Asuna completely misunderstood her meaning. To her, it sounded like abstract nonsense—something about sunspots and devouring darkness. Ah... literary types are impossible, she thought. Would it kill her to just say things plainly?