Chapter Summaries

Chen Fan and his guild continued leveling as players advanced through the floors, but repeated deadly failures against the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS raised fears among the Strategy Group. The chapter ended with the raid becoming a dangerous hurdle after three consecutive failed attempts.

• Chen Fan established the Star Guild with his companions, and they leveled together after leaving the city.
• A level-three major guild defeated the second-floor BOSS without casualties and unlocked the third floor.
• Over four and a half months, Chen Fan reached level fifty-five while his companions reached levels in the mid-to-high forties.
• The Strategy Group suffered a near-wipe at the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS after one guild rushed into the raid while underleveled.
• Two more groups attempted the Floor 43 BOSS on the following days, and both failed, with players dying in each raid.

The Strategy Group discussed postponing the Floor 43 BOSS raid because the BOSS forced one player to fight it alone at low health. Asuna suggested that Chen Fan might be able to defeat it, and Agil agreed to contact him while the players resumed leveling.

• Diabel said the group should pause the raid and raise their levels after players died trying to defeat the Floor 43 BOSS.
• A guild leader explained that the BOSS retreated at one-fifth HP and allowed only one player into its second room.
• Asuna said Chen Fan might be able to handle the solo fight, surprising the other leaders.
• Agil and Diabel remembered Chen Fan, who had defeated the first-floor Labyrinth BOSS and saved Diabel.
• Asuna asked Agil to arrange a meeting with Chen Fan, and Agil agreed to send him a message.
• Diabel ended the meeting and told everyone to grind levels.

Chen Fan and his teammates continued leveling up and collected equipment before he visited Agil’s shop to sell their surplus gear. Agil paid him and explained that a shortage of equipment had been caused by the boss on the forty-third floor.

• Maru lured a group of level 50 Jungle Wine Apes into an ambush, and Chen Fan and his teammates defeated them.
• Maru complained about their equipment drops, while Chen Fan suggested selling their surplus gear and saving for a house.
• Chen Fan received Agil’s message asking him to bring more equipment to the shop, then spent the rest of the day leveling with his group.
• Chen Fan went to Agil’s shop on the twenty-seventh floor and traded their unused equipment for money.
• Agil said the equipment shortage was caused by the boss on the forty-third floor, and Chen Fan received a large payment.

Chen Fan learned that Asuna, the Blood Pledge Knights’ vice guild leader, had come to explain the high demand for equipment on Floor 43. Asuna greeted Chen Fan as someone she had met before, leaving him unable to recall their encounter while nearby players speculated about their relationship.

• Agil was astonished by the amount of equipment Chen Fan’s group had collected and asked where they leveled.
• Chen Fan said they leveled on the highest floor and asked Agil what had caused the equipment demand on Floor 43.
• Asuna arrived and offered to explain, drawing attention from the players around her.
• Agil told Chen Fan that he had met Asuna before, and she greeted him by name.
• Chen Fan failed to remember meeting Asuna as nearby players wondered about their relationship.

Asuna reunited with Chen Fan and asked for his help with the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS. After learning that the boss retreated to a room where only one player could fight it, Chen Fan heard why Asuna believed he might be able to defeat it alone.

• Asuna revealed herself to Chen Fan, and Agil reminded him that she had been his teammate during the Floor 1 BOSS raid.
• Agil brought Chen Fan and Asuna to his sitting room so they could talk privately.
• Asuna told Chen Fan that she had sought him out because she needed his help.
• Asuna explained that the Floor 43 BOSS retreated at one-fifth health into a room that admitted only one person, and no one had managed to defeat it alone.

Asuna asked Chen Fan to fight the 43rd-floor Labyrinth BOSS, and he agreed to bring his six-member Star Guild. The group planned to meet the next morning, and Chen Fan told his excited guildmates about the challenge.

• Asuna told Chen Fan that she had failed to reduce a BOSS's HP by one-tenth on her own, and Agil suggested Chen Fan test himself before facing one alone.
• Chen Fan agreed to fight the 43rd-floor BOSS and revealed that he was level 55, far above Asuna and Agil.
• Chen Fan said he would bring Star Guild, which Agil recognized as the first guild founded by players, and Asuna and Agil offered to join him.
• Asuna, Agil, and Chen Fan agreed that their eight-person group would challenge the BOSS the next day and arranged to meet at eight in the morning.
• Asuna sent Chen Fan a friend request before they teleported away, and Chen Fan later told Qi Tai and the other guild members about the coming BOSS fight.

Chen Fan brought Xing and the rest of his group to meet Asuna and Agil before the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS raid. Asuna took charge of preparing the team after learning their levels and equipment, and the chapter ended with her asking Chen Fan why he did not give her special treatment too.

• Chen Fan encouraged Xing and led the group to meet Asuna and Agil, where the others excitedly recognized Asuna.
• Asuna questioned Xing joining the raid, but Chen Fan, Qi Tai, Tie Xiong, and the others vouched for her combat ability.
• Asuna took command on the way to the labyrinth, explained the Floor 43 BOSS, and asked everyone about their levels and attributes.
• Asuna and Agil were stunned by the group's high levels and Xing's exceptional equipment, while Xing hid behind Chen Fan.
• Chen Fan said he had bought Xing 460 points of good equipment because she was a girl, prompting Asuna to ask why she did not get special treatment.

Chen Fan and his companions reached the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS room and entered to face a giant mantis. The group spread out as the BOSS prepared to attack, leaving Chen Fan in the middle to draw its aggro.

• Asuna admired Xing's fighting skill and comforted her when she saw her fear of the BOSS room.
• Chen Fan and the others reached the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS's doors, and Agil explained that he had seen players die to the BOSS before.
• Chen Fan pushed open the doors, and the group entered a dark, cave-like hall that lit up as torches ignited.
• A giant mantis with two enormous red scythes emerged from the cavern, stunning the group.
• Chen Fan teased Asuna about being afraid of snakes, and she insisted she was not scared.
• Agil warned that the BOSS was about to attack, and the others spread out while Chen Fan stood ready to draw its aggro.

Chen Fan led Asuna, Xing, Agil, and Qi Tai in a fierce assault on the Mantis BOSS, drawing its attacks while the others dealt damage. After the BOSS retreated into its inner cave with one-fifth of its HP remaining, Chen Fan prepared to enter alone and finish it off.

• Chen Fan charged the Mantis BOSS and told the others to circle behind it while he drew its aggro.
• Chen Fan dodged the BOSS's scythes and wounded its forelimbs as Asuna, Xing, Agil, and Qi Tai attacked from behind.
• The group rapidly reduced the BOSS's HP, and Qi Tai warned everyone when it reached three-fifths damage and began preparing to retreat.
• The BOSS unleashed an area attack, blew the group back with its wings, and burrowed into the inner cave at one-fifth HP.
• Agil explained that only one person could enter before the BOSS recovered, and Chen Fan reassured Xing and Asuna before going in alone.

Chen Fan defeated the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS in a risky one-on-one fight, unlocking Aincrad Floor 44. He and the others arrived on Floor 44, where Asuna scolded him for trading injuries with the BOSS and Agil suggested they celebrate over a meal.

• Chen Fan entered the BOSS room and fought the Floor 43 Labyrinth BOSS alone, trading damage until he emptied its HP bar.
• The BOSS shattered, and the system announced that players could enter Aincrad Floor 44.
• Players across Aincrad celebrated and wondered who had defeated the BOSS, while Diabel guessed that Asuna had asked Chen Fan to help.
• Chen Fan and seven others were teleported to Floor 44 after clearing its Labyrinth BOSS.
• Asuna reprimanded Chen Fan for fighting recklessly, and Agil invited the group to eat and celebrate.

Chen Fan agreed to help a lone survivor track down the players who had murdered his guildmates for their equipment. He headed to the Mysterious Forest, where the suspected party was already arguing.

• Asuna celebrated with Chen Fan and asked him to join the BOSS raiding team, but he declined while promising to help when needed.
• Chen Fan urged Asuna to slow the raids so players could prepare and avoid further deaths, and she agreed to ease her focus slightly.
• Asuna later asked why Chen Fan had formed a small guild and invited him to join hers, but he refused again.
• Over the next month, the raiders reached the 49th floor, while Asuna often leveled with Chen Fan's group on the highest floor.
• A lone survivor told Chen Fan that players had murdered everyone else in his guild for equipment, and Chen Fan agreed to pursue them.
• Chen Fan reached the 35th floor and hurried toward the Mysterious Forest, where five players were arguing.

Chen Fan rescued Silica from three gorillas after they killed her pet Bina, then told her that Bina could be revived at the Hill of Memories on the forty-fifth floor. He warned Silica that she had only three days to reach the revival item.

• Chen Fan followed Silica into the forest after she left in anger and found three gorillas attacking her.
• Bina shielded Silica from a gorilla's club and died, leaving behind a white feather.
• Chen Fan killed the three gorillas and told Silica she was safe.
• Silica discovered the feather was Bina's Heart, and Chen Fan explained that the Hill of Memories held an item that could revive pets.
• Chen Fan told Silica she had to revive Bina within three days.

Chen Fan gave Silica powerful equipment and promised to help her reach the forty-fifth floor so she could revive Bina. As Silica took him to a cake shop to thank him, someone called out to her.

• Silica despaired at the prospect of reaching the forty-fifth floor in three days, but Chen Fan offered to help her get there and improve her equipment.
• Chen Fan and Silica teleported to the twenty-seventh floor, where he gave her a valuable set of equipment that had originally been intended for Xing.
• Silica promised to return the equipment after reviving Bina, and Chen Fan told her she could keep it.
• Silica invited Chen Fan to a cake shop, but a voice called out, asking whether she had already returned.

Chen Fan defended Silica when her former teammate mocked her, then warned her about the dangers posed by hostile players in Sword Art Online. They parted for the night with Silica curious about Chen Fan’s identity and planning to ask him more the next day.

• A woman mocked Silica for losing Bina and doubted she could reach the Hill of Memories to revive her pet.
• Chen Fan claimed Silica could reach the Hill of Memories, bragged about the cost of her gear, and promised to buy her a better weapon.
• The woman watched Chen Fan and Silica leave and decided she would take their money and equipment.
• At a cheesecake shop, Silica thanked Chen Fan for standing up for her, and he cautioned her to be wary of players who attacked others.
• Silica went to bed still curious about Chen Fan and decided she would ask him more questions the next day.

Chen Fan took Silica to the Flower Garden to revive her pet, where they talked about the Strategy Group, Asuna, and Silica’s hopes of becoming stronger. Their conversation was interrupted when a monster grabbed Silica with vines.

• Chen Fan took Silica to train on the thirty-fifth floor while keeping an eye on the people watching him.
• Chen Fan brought Silica to the Flower Garden on the forty-fifth floor and headed toward the Hill of Memories to revive her pet.
• Silica asked Chen Fan about his Strategy Group experience and his meetings with Asuna.
• Two vines seized Silica, and a huge man-eating flower monster rose from the flowerbed as she called for Chen Fan’s help.

Chen Fan guided Silica to the Flower of Resurrection, which she collected to revive Bina. On the way back, Chen Fan stopped Silica near a stone bridge and called for someone hiding to come out.

• Chen Fan teased Silica after she defeated a monster, then continued teaching her how to fight as they traveled.
• Silica gained a level while they fought their way to the Flower of Resurrection.
• Silica picked the flower and said she would revive Bina after returning to town.
• Chen Fan gave Silica a Teleportation Crystal and told her to use it to escape danger.
• Near a stone bridge, Chen Fan stopped Silica and called out to whoever was hiding.

Chen Fan confronted Rosalia, the guild master of Titan’s Hand, after revealing that he had come to bring her to justice for attacking Silver Banner. Rosalia’s orange-named accomplices surrounded them, and Chen Fan prepared to face the group while Silica waited with a Teleportation Crystal.

• Rosalia emerged from hiding and demanded Chen Fan’s Soul Flower, money, and equipment.
• Chen Fan identified Rosalia as the leader of Titan’s Hand and explained that she lured players into ambushes without taking part in the attacks herself.
• Chen Fan revealed that he had come on behalf of Silver Banner’s guild master to imprison Rosalia for the deaths of four guild members.
• Rosalia summoned orange-named players from both sides of the bridge, while Silica urged Chen Fan to flee.
• Chen Fan told Silica to move away and keep her Teleportation Crystal ready, then drew his sword and approached Rosalia’s group.

Chen Fan confronted Rosalia and her group, whose attacks could not overcome his level and regeneration. After defeating them and threatening them with prison, he held a sword to Rosalia’s neck and said her player status would not stop him.

• Rosalia ordered her group to attack Chen Fan, but their blows barely affected him as his HP regenerated.
• Chen Fan explained that he was level 65, far above Rosalia’s group, and revealed that he had founded the guild leveling on the highest floor.
• Chen Fan gave Rosalia’s group a choice between going to prison and being killed, but Rosalia ordered her people to attack again.
• Chen Fan swiftly defeated the attackers and shattered their weapons, leaving them unwilling to resist.
• Rosalia threatened Chen Fan with her Green-named status, but he appeared beside her and pressed his sword to her neck.

Chen Fan apologized to Silica for using her as bait, explained his role in clearing floors, and helped her revive Bina before leaving. He returned to Floor 49 as the system announced the clearing of Floor 50, where he met Asuna and Agil.

• Rosalia dropped her spear in fear after Chen Fan dealt with the people who had attacked Silica.
• Chen Fan apologized to Silica for using her as bait, and she reassured him that she trusted him.
• Chen Fan told Silica about his guild and his raids on Floors 1 and 43, then urged her to level safely.
• Silica used the resurrection items to bring Bina back to life, and Chen Fan left for Floor 49.
• A system announcement reported that Floor 50 had been cleared, and Chen Fan met Agil and Asuna near the teleportation platform.

Chen Fan reunited with Asuna and Agil, told them how he had rescued Silica from an Orange Guild, and agreed to consider joining the labyrinth raids. After Agil and Asuna left, Asuna felt flustered by Chen Fan’s gaze.

• Asuna questioned Chen Fan about the girl he had equipped, and Chen Fan explained that he had rescued Silica.
• Chen Fan told Asuna and Agil that members of an Orange Guild had attacked players, and the three discussed the crimes and dangers in the game.
• Asuna scolded Chen Fan for confronting the guild alone and made him promise to consult her before taking similar risks.
• Asuna asked Chen Fan to join the labyrinth raids, and he said he would wait for now but bring his guild members if needed.
• Asuna and Agil left the restaurant, while Asuna felt embarrassed after noticing Chen Fan staring at her.