"Thank you."
In the many days that followed, Feng Chen never again let Bella appear before him in human form. Every time Bella took human form, he would remember that day.
"You're afraid."
The System, which had remained silent for a long time, saw through him as always.
To Feng Chen, fear was a very unfamiliar emotion. During the thirteen dark years of his past, he had tasted nearly every kind of darkness in the world.
Fear should have ceased to exist long ago. So why? Why...?
This fear, which had long since lost all meaning to him, had only appeared once before.
That was when Yae Sakura had detoxified him.
And now he was afraid to see Bella, because he knew this emotion was the same as what he had felt that time with Yae Sakura.
"Perhaps."
Bella's strength had been restricted by the Collapse. In SAO, if he wanted Bella to use her full strength, he had to let her take human form.
In dragon form, Bella's maximum level was only 60. In SAO, she might be able to make it to around the fifty-fifth floor, but without letting her fight in human form, it was completely impossible to reach any higher.
"I'm going to take a look around the Labyrinth Area."
After leaving those words behind, Feng Chen entered the Labyrinth Area once again.
On the fiftieth floor, half of SAO had already been cleared. The hope of leaving this world was right before their eyes.
When Kirito originally revealed that he possessed a [Unique Skill], he had not belonged to any guild, so Heathcliff had asked Kirito to join one. But now Kirito was with [St. Freya]. Heathcliff might not try to poach him, but he would definitely come to test Kirito.
In truth, Feng Chen