The Completed 'Sword Art Online' World...

Asuna and Yui exchanged a glance, finally snapping out of their daze. They rose together and went to Wu Yan's side.

"We..." Asuna hesitated before asking, "We should have cleared it, right?..."

Kayaba Akihiko closed his eyes, his white lab coat fluttering loudly in the fierce high-altitude wind. "The conditions for a complete clear have indeed been met..."

He swiped a hand through the air, and the main menu window of his personal interface appeared before him. "The remaining six thousand players collectively logged out five minutes ago and returned to the real world!"

Asuna slowly let out a breath, but her gaze remained fixed on Kayaba Akihiko. "Then why are we here? Shouldn't we have returned to the real world?..."

Kayaba Akihiko glanced at Asuna and said calmly, "You needn't worry. You have indeed cleared the game; that is an indisputable fact. I brought you here only because there are some things I wish to ask Yan-kun..."

Asuna and Yui's expressions tightened. They grabbed Wu Yan's hands and watched Kayaba Akihiko warily. Wu Yan also seemed somewhat surprised by Kayaba Akihiko's words, but unlike Asuna and Yui, he was not worried about what Kayaba Akihiko might do...

He patted their hands, signaling for them not to be nervous, before stepping forward and saying to Kayaba Akihiko, "I'm curious. For someone like me, who has had so little interaction with you, what could possibly trouble you?"

"Indeed, before Sword Art Online began, we did not even know of each other's existence. Even within Sword Art Online, the number of times we met could be counted on one hand..." Kayaba Akihiko remained as composed as ever, but his tone carried an inexplicable implication.

"Yet I have been watching you all along!"

Wu Yan was not surprised to hear that. Rather, considering