Thus, December arrived in its late stages with quite a bit of turbulence in various senses.
With the Death Gun incident thoroughly concluded and the state also paying attention to the existence of Laughing Coffin, Luo Zhen not only returned to ALO once again, but the group of friends were finally able to set their minds at ease and return once more to the game's clearing efforts.
Luo Zhen's return immediately stirred up quite a craze in ALO. Not only the members of Red Wings, but even the lords of the nine races came visiting one after another to confirm the news.
However, amidst the activities for the upcoming opening of New Aincrad, this craze was quickly covered over and replaced by a brand-new wave of excitement.
This craze was naturally the preparations targeting the soon-to-be-opened new floors.
For instance, the nine races and major guilds were gathering funds and equipment in order to pioneer the 21st Floor, and even purchasing information from former SAO players to confirm the types and attack patterns of the leveling-area monsters and leveling-ground bosses on the new floor.
For instance, people with designs on the floor-guardian boss of the 21st Floor were also making preparations, harboring delusions of seizing the clearing reward for this guardian boss ahead of everyone else.
Take another instance: there were those acting to gather the required money in order to purchase new equipment and items at the weapon and item shops within the upcoming new floor in pursuit of enhanced strength.
Under such conditions, whether in Aincrad or Alfheim, players were swarming everywhere in various leveling and labyrinth areas, clearing them bustlingly. It was simply impossible for a craze not to erupt.
Not even Red Wings could remain aloof from this trend, joining this craze. In order to achieve