The rain had ceased, leaving behind a world bathed in "silver glow," where every leaf and rock reflected the faint light of 'Underworld.' The humidity still held the aroma of wet earth and fresh grass, "as if the very earth had just awakened from a long slumber."
Then…
**¡SHWOOOOSH!**
A clean cut sliced through the night, dispersing the clouds as if torn by an invisible blade. The wind whistled "like a sword being drawn," moving with millimeter precision. Kirito advanced through the air, feeling the flow of the wind brush against his virtual skin, a cold but familiar caress.
**BRIIIIIN**.
His crystal energy wings, tinted with an ethereal black, "vibrated with a harmonic tone," generating a faint buzz, "almost musical," a gentle echo that seemed to fade among the stars.
Below him, 'Underworld' stretched out like a vast territory in shadows, but its illuminated cities, driven by technological advancements, highlighted its beauty, breaking the darkness with flashes of light. It was a transformed reality, a world over which he once reigned.
(-"I barely see any changes since the last time I left...")
The thought floated in his mind seriously. Since he had embarked on his journey, the land beneath his feet remained intact. "The cities were the same, the technology seemed unchanging, the lights of civilization were the same as those he left with Asuna."
But then, another thought emerged.
—"The year 550… of the galactic calendar. The exact date we left… or when I tried to do so with Asuna."
The number floated in his mind "like a lost echo in time," loaded with meaning.
The theory had a certainty of "95%," but the other "5%" hinted at a disturbing possibility: that the world had stagnated, trapped in the shadows of a war, in the lethargy of a conflict that would have halted its progress.
—"Haaaah..."
Kirito exhaled slowly.
The wind gathered the sigh, dissipating it among the clouds like a wandering thought.
(-"I don't believe it... If there had been war, there would be signs. Aftermath of battles in the territories of the Four Empires I've been passing through.")
He dismissed the idea with logic and sensibility. 'Underworld remained illuminated, intact... advancing, with or without him.'
—"Sshhh..."
Kirito inhaled deeply, filling his virtual lungs with fresh air.
He had changed, yes. But not because of war. 'He had evolved on his own.'
—"So, I can say I'm at a very close date... no more than one to three years difference."
His intelligence and experience, honed by constant observation, allowed him to accurately analyze the 'rapid progress of this world.' By seeing with his own eyes how the cities had grown, how the technology had consolidated without interruption, he could arrive at a more than accurate conclusion.
He had traveled more than halfway to the 'Central Cathedral,' advancing through the skies with the speed of a stealthy hunter. The distance was still considerable: 'hundreds of kilometers,' but his body glided with the lightness of the wind.
(-"Flying is indeed convenient...")
The idea surfaced in his mind with an almost ironic tone. Compared to his previous journey, the change was overwhelming. 'The first time, alongside Eugeo, it had taken them months to arrive,' traversing forests, villages, and facing challenges that still burned in his memory.
Now, the same journey was reduced to mere moments. 'There were no obstacles. There were no difficult paths. Just the void and the thrust of his crystalline wings.'
But beyond the speed, there was another advantage.
From this height, he could 'observe the evolution of Underworld with a clarity he would never have had if he were still walking on the ground.'
Feeling the fullness of this power in the world of 'Underworld,' 'his ethereal wings expanded' with a slight boost.
**¡FWOOOOSH!**
With a 'fluid flap' of his Ethereal wings, 'he ascended rapidly,' approaching the dense layer of clouds floating above him. 'He broke through them completely,' his figure merging with the vapor as the cold air brushed against his virtual skin.
For a moment, everything became 'fog and void,' until he finally emerged 'on the other side,' leaving behind the ethereal barrier.
The clouds were now 'beneath him,' and Kirito remained 'flying parallel' to the dense layer that stretched like an ocean suspended in the sky. 'A white mantle, soft and seemingly impenetrable.'
Maintaining the same flying speed, 'he extended his right hand.'
He brushed the vapor layer with his fingers.
**Sssshhh...**
The sound was barely perceptible, an ethereal whisper as his virtual skin parted the floating mist. **The clouds opened like calm waters**, slowly dispersing with his touch.
For a moment, he felt how the condensed air slipped between his fingers, cold, ephemeral, 'like a memory on the brink of oblivion.'
—"If the inhabitants of this world saw me doing this..."
He murmured, his voice fading with the current of air.
The clouds reacted to his touch, 'dispersing with each slight movement,' just like water receiving the brush of a solitary navigator.
For a moment, 'the sensation reminded him of the ocean at the edge of Underworld.' But this was not the sea… 'it was the sky turned into a floating realm.'
—"I would seem freer than anyone..."
But the thought lasted little.
With a slight gesture, 'he stopped touching them and continued moving forward.'
—"But in reality... I'm just a prisoner."
—"One sentenced to death... while being innocent."
Leaving the floating layer of clouds behind, Kirito lifted his gaze toward his next target.
But there were no more clouds to cross.
Only an 'infinite sky,' covered by stars that shone like jewels scattered in the vastness.
His 'sapphire blue' eyes instinctively fixed on a particular point.
As if in one of those lights, he could find the world he helped build.
Admina.
A planet that had similar conditions to this one, with a stable atmosphere and ecosystems that could be adapted for survival.
Now he couldn't see it. Not from here.
But 'he knew it was there,' in some corner of the cosmos, 'beyond the familiar constellations,' beyond the limit of the sky he once believed absolute.
He tried to imagine it.
If the star map traced by the first 'Integrity Pilots' was accurate, Admina 'should not be too far away.' Judging by the initial calculations, its position should be located in the same trajectory as the bluish nebula he could now faintly distinguish on the horizon.
—"There... beyond that glow."
The colony was not just an extension of 'Underworld,' Cardina, but 'its next evolution,' the first step toward something greater.
It had begun with just a few ships, with a mission that 'seemed more a dream than a reality.' But they succeeded. They conquered the vastness of space. 'They survived, grew... and built their own world.'
—"No matter how far it is... I know it is there. And I know that, somehow, I still carry a part of that world with me."
—"Haaaah..."
Kirito exhaled, feeling the weight of the distance and time.
The wind gathered his sigh, carrying it beyond the stars.
He knew that 'Underworld' would have achieved this sooner or later. 'They would have found their way into space on their own,' only it would have taken much longer, much more effort.
But his presence, that of Asuna, and those who supported them, 'accelerated the journey.' They gave the necessary push to reach what once seemed impossible.
The first ships of mechanical dragons, the interstellar routes... all of that would have eventually existed. But without the knowledge he shared and without the challenges he faced, 'Underworld' would still be looking at the sky, dreaming of the possibility, instead of having turned it into reality.
(-"And the battles...")
He still remembered the war in the void, the confrontation against 'creatures he never imagined,' beings whose bodies obeyed no human logic. 'The horrors of the abyss,' unknown entities that threatened to destroy the first colony before it could even be established.
He clenched his fists.
He had fought, 'but he had not been alone.' Asuna, the Integrity Pilots, the first explorers... each of them had been 'part of the victory.' Without them, without that unity, Admina would have been just an idea, **not a home.**
—the Integrity Pilots...
Focusing again on that name as he continued to fly, he couldn't help but smile ironically, as he was the creator of this new unit and was now hiding from their presence.
As for the ancient 'Integrity Knights,' who patrolled the skies riding dragons, they were eventually replaced by this new order: 'the Integrity Pilots.'
They did not soar through the skies on living creatures. 'They flew through space,' protecting the expansion of 'Underworld' with their advanced ships, the 'mechanical dragons,' patrolling the border between their civilization and the unknown.
Their vehicles represented the pinnacle of digital engineering. They were capable of leaving the atmosphere and venturing into the vastness of the cosmos, navigating where few had dreamed of reaching.
They were developed to monitor the outer borders, exploring space and ensuring the expansion of digital civilization.
However, their role went beyond exploration.
The 'Integrity Pilots' also had the mission of bringing 'supplies and goods to the Dark Territory,' ensuring the stability of its inhabitants. Despite the peace achieved, conditions in that place were 'more hostile,' with less fertile lands and limited resources. To avoid the resentment caused by unequal prosperity, it became necessary to maintain a constant flow of goods and technology, ensuring that both sides of the world 'grew together, without conflict.'
Therefore, 'the mechanical dragons not only explored,' but also 'carried the future on their wings,' maintaining the balance between two civilizations that were once at war.
—"If it weren't for the fact that I don't want to be discovered, I would have already reached the Cathedral..."
Kirito couldn't alter the security system he had helped build himself.
—"My speed is limited to avoid drawing attention."
At the beginning of his journey, he thought about just entering without further ado, without worrying about discretion. But soon he realized that would cause a 'tremendous uproar' throughout 'Underworld' and bring more problems than benefits.
So he opted for the safe route: 'to enter stealthily.'
At that very moment...
**¡WHOOOSH-KRAK!**
The sound hit him without warning, interrupting his deep thoughts... And it was followed by a second sound that alarmed him even more.
**¡KRRRRSHHH!**
A **crash**, sharp, piercing.
**¡WHUUUUUM!**
The air 'vibrated,' resonating like a heartbeat in the void.
**¡VRRRR-KSHHH!**
A 'metallic thunder' tore through the sky, a mechanical roar that ripped the atmosphere like a sharp blade.
The air 'compressed' for a moment, then expanded with an invisible wave that shook every particle suspended in the dawn.
Kirito felt the pressure in his chest, a 'dull echo' that spread through his bones as a warning signal.
**¡VRRRUUUHH**
The wind 'changed its flow,' swirling in erratic patterns due to the intensity of the vibration, while a 'supersonic whistle' cut through the horizon like an invisible arrow.
Then, for a moment, the world seemed to 'stop.'
The air hung suspended for an instant, as if the night itself awaited in silence.
Only the 'residual sound' remained, fading into the darkness like a final warning before the danger passed.
It was the echo of something crossing the skies at impossible speed.
A 'supersonic roar' tore through the air, leaving behind a barely perceptible shockwave, but powerful enough to cause a slight vibration in the surroundings.
Kirito 'tensed his jaw,' feeling how the sound reverberated in his chest like a dry thud.
The flow of the wind 'changed abruptly,' swirling with irregular turbulence as the mechanical roar continued to resonate.
—"No... It's not a dragon..."
He couldn't deny it.
The guardian dragons patrolled with fluid and silent movements. 'This was different.'
He knew exactly what that sound meant.
A 'mechanical dragon ship.'
It was coming toward him.
**¡WHUUUUUM!**
Without wasting time, he 'closed his wings' and 'dropped' in a dive, feeling the air hit his face with intensity. 'He adjusted his speed precisely,' not too fast to generate noise, but enough to disappear from the line of sight before being detected.
As he descended, the 'atmospheric pressure felt different,' as if the ship were affecting the balance of the air around it.
The shadow of the night still covered him, but he couldn't take any risks.
He adjusted his trajectory, 'descending toward a nearby rocky formation.' 'There, among irregular cracks and deep shadows,' he slipped, pressing his back against the cold stone.
Barely a second later.
**¡KRRRRSHHH!**
'The crash shook the air again.'
**¡VRRRR-KSHHH!**
The ship 'passed just where he had been flying.'
Fast. Precise. 'Searching for something.'
Kirito 'remained motionless.'
**¡WHUUUUUM!**
'Listening to the sound fade away' until it finally disappeared into the distance.
—"Haaaaaah."
Only then did he 'exhale.'
—"Pfffhhhhh..."
And released the air with relief.
His chest rose and fell slowly, dissipating the trace of tension still left in his muscles.
The feeling of 'having dodged danger' spread through his body like an electric shock.
His pulse was still quickened, but the certainty of his strategy returned him to control.
And he allowed himself a brief thought.
(-"If I hadn't acted quickly, this would have been a problem...")
He silently congratulated himself. The caution he had chosen from the beginning 'had saved him from unnecessary detection.'
—"I can't make mistakes now. Too much is at stake."
Now, with the reassurance that the ship was no longer nearby, 'he extended his wings again.'
**¡SHWOOOOSH!**
But this time, his flight 'was more powerful.'
More determined.
Now, he was closer to his destination.
And he wouldn't make mistakes.
The stars above seemed to silently observe his decision.
And in the distance, the wind still murmured the echo of his escape.
(*****)
**¡FWWWWSSHH!**
Kirito, with a 'controlled but firm acceleration of flight,' was about to reach the Cathedral when the horizon began to transform.
The sun had not yet risen, but the deep black of night 'was slowly fading,' giving way to a faint blue glow in the firmament.
Kirito squinted.
—"Haaaah."
His exhalation was lost in the cold air of dawn.
But the shadow that had protected him throughout the journey began to dissipate.
The wind slightly changed its flow, creating a gentle turbulence that 'brushed against his skin.' As he ascended, the contrast between the darkness and dawn became more noticeable, as if the sky were tearing the night with its first lights.
Below, the outlines of the mountains and structures began to reveal themselves among the shadows. 'The soft lights of dawn drew diffuse lines over the world,' indicating that the time of invisibility was coming to an end.
The air had a different weight now. 'It was no longer the refuge of stealth, but the warning that he must move with precision.'
The good news was that the Central Cathedral 'could now be clearly distinguished' in the distance.
Those first lights of dawn began to reveal the immense structure that dominated the horizon. 'At a glance, he estimated that he had less than twenty kilometers left before entering the direct patrol area.'
If he was going to move undetected, 'he had to do it now.'
He couldn't rely on the night for much longer. 'The mantle of shadows that had served him up to this point would soon disappear completely.'
But he wasn't going to enter alone.
He knew there were guardians. 'And he knew exactly who they were.'
'Dragons.'
Although the 'Integrity Pilots' replaced the 'Integrity Knights,' the dragons were not completely discarded.
They still patrolled the nearby territories, protecting cities and settlements with their speed and natural strength. Their presence remained essential for terrestrial defense.
—"The dragons still soar through the skies, although now they are different. Their function has changed, but their presence is still needed."
*(They are my opportunity to enter the Cathedral...)*
Kirito **smiled** slightly at the thought.
If the dragons were still there, 'he could use that knowledge to his advantage.'
The dawn was robbing him of cover. 'But he had a plan to reach the Cathedral undetected.'
He knew who was watching these skies. 'And he knew exactly who he was looking for.'
He had not left his flight path to chance.
Before losing his title as 'Star King,' he had 'personally assigned' the patrol routes for the dragons to protect the surroundings of the Cathedral.
'That was his advantage.'
He didn't need to speculate. 'He remembered exactly' the surveillance patterns, the flight times, and the key positions. Years ago, he had made decisions that now gave him the confidence that he would find those he was looking for.
—"There they are..."
Kirito said, murmuring with a smile that had widened at his accuracy. Looking at the two 'familiar figures,' he observed them soaring through the air currents with precision, their wings spreading smoothly as they patrolled the surroundings of the Cathedral.
Their movements were calculated, meticulous. 'They did not merely protect the place; they dominated the sky with imposing elegance.'
Their scales 'shone under the dim light of dawn,' reflecting silver and dark tones with an unmistakable glow.
Kirito felt a spark of satisfaction course through his chest.
It was just as he had expected.
It was not luck.
It was not coincidence.
It was decision.
(-"Amayori... Takiguri...")
Their names resonated in his mind.
He had sought them out... And he had found them.
The two dragons who were once the faithful companions of Alice and Bercouli. 'The same ones he saved from death in that battle against Gabriel,' when the power of Sólus rejuvenated them, granting them a second chance in this world.
Now, they were 'guardians of the sky,' watchers of security, silent protectors of Underworld.
(-"I must not rejoice too much.")
Kirito reminded himself that there was still a challenge left. 'They had to cooperate with him.'
But he was not part of that world.
Not yet.
**Sshhhh...**
The air 'whispered' with a faint sound.
It was not a crash.
Not even a sound perceptible to humans.
Just a 'subtle variation in the current,' a slight displacement of air that, for anyone, would have gone unnoticed.
But not for them.
Both dragons 'sharpened their ears,' detecting the anomaly with the precision of predators on alert.
It was not a loud sound.
It was not a threat.
It was an alteration in the wind.
Their instinct reacted before their reasoning.
**¡FWWWOOOOSH—SHHHK!**
'Immediate turn.'
Their bodies 'tightened,' tensing at the detection of the interruption. 'The membranes of their wings creaked with a controlled adjustment,' spreading with calculated firmness as they turned.
And then 'they saw him.'
An 'intruder' floating in their territory.
A being 'who could fly like them.'
**Wheeeooow**.
The air 'whistled' under the sudden increase in speed.
**¡FWWWWWSSSH!**
The currents 'broke' in their path, generating a sharp murmur that resonated only among those who dominated the sky.
The shadows of their bodies 'expanded,' closing the distance to him like predators in full hunt.
**-"¡RRRAAAWWWRR!"**
**-"¡RRRAAAWWWRR!"**
And when they were close enough, **they raised their voices**.
The sound was not just roars.
It was a warning.
A decree.
'A test of authority.'
Kirito 'felt the vibration run down his back' and stopped, floating in the void about twenty meters from them.
The air around him tensed, as if the sky itself 'awaited the outcome.'
Without moving.
Without defending himself.
Without attacking.
Then, in a 'firm and controlled gesture,' 'he raised both hands,' palms open toward the dragons.
It was not submission.
It was a demonstration of trust.
A signal that he posed no threat.
His posture was 'calm, calculated,' with his body relaxed and his gaze fixed on them.
He knew that they 'did not need riders.'
They were intelligent. Analytical.
'And now they were evaluating him.'
Amayori's deep blue eyes 'narrowed,' her snout lifting slightly as she sniffed the air.
Takiguri 'inhaled deeply,' as if trying to decipher what was before him.
"...".
For an instant, there was 'silence.'
Then, 'understanding hit them.'
Both of their pupils dilated slightly. Their bodies 'stopped tensing.'
**-"¡RRUUOOHH!"**
**-"¡RRUUOOHH!"**
Their roars 'were no longer warnings.'
The excitement in their voices 'was impossible to ignore.'
The dragons 'analyzed him with keen eyes,' scanning every detail of his presence.
His posture.
His expression.
And finally, 'his eyes.'
Sapphire blue.
The color was not the same as before.
But they 'did not waver.'
It was him.
Although the color of his eyes was not as they remembered, 'they recognized him without needing to focus on that detail.'
It was not a detail that changed what they saw in him.
They recognized him beyond appearance.
Years and centuries of mutual recognition 'transcended any physical change.'
It was not a matter of color.
It was a matter of essence.
In that instant, 'they accepted him.'
—"Haaaah."
Kirito 'exhaled slowly,' feeling how the tension in his chest faded as he recognized the dragons' sound of approval.
**Hhhhhshhh… wshhh...**
Without further doubts, 'they approached,' aligning their flight with Kirito's with the same precision as before, as if they had never been separated.
**Whooosh… whummph...**
The wind 'molded' to their presence, the currents adjusting to the new formation in the sky.
Kirito 'kept his hands open,' still floating in wait.
Then, 'when Amayori descended low enough, he tilted his right hand and placed it on her forehead,' feeling the warmth of her scales beneath his skin.
Takiguri did the same on the other side, slowly lowering his head, allowing Kirito 'to rest his left hand on him as well.'
For an instant, the sky seemed to 'hold its breath.'
From above, the scene was an improbable image.
A human, tiny in comparison, floating between 'two colossal guardians' whose silhouettes stretched like majestic shadows on the horizon.
From below, it would be even stranger.
The dragons' wings 'drew enormous shapes in the sky,' and in their center, a solitary figure, like a lost point among the immensity of the skies and the creatures escorting him.
But in this space, there was no doubt.
There was no fear.
Only 'recognition.'
Only 'bond.'
The dragons 'had closed their eyes for a brief moment,' acknowledging the connection they still shared with the young swordsman.
Then, a faint sound, almost imperceptible, 'rose from their throats.'
**-"Rrrrrrhh..."**
**-"Rrrrrrhh..."**
A 'gentle purr,' deep and resonant, like a vibration in the air.
It was not a roar.
It was not a growl.
It was an 'echo of satisfaction,' a sound that not many had heard before—the song of dragons when they felt at peace.
Kirito 'smiled slightly,' feeling the warmth of the bond still intact.
The dragons 'had closed their eyes for a brief moment,' recognizing the connection they still shared with the young swordsman.
When they opened them again, 'their ears moved subtly,' leaning toward him, showing that they were listening attentively.
Kirito smiled weakly, although his gaze reflected the urgency of his situation.
—"I need you."
His voice was soft, but 'laden with meaning.'
The air seemed to stop for a moment.
The dragons 'listened.'
And they 'understood.'
Kirito 'inhaled deeply,' trying to convey everything in those words.
—"I can't let myself be detected. Not yet."
His eyes 'wandered through the sky,' as if searching for refuge among the clouds.
The tips of Amayori's ears 'leaned forward.'
Takiguri 'adjusted the direction of his flight,' as if silently processing the request.
Kirito continued.
—"I've returned... but there are still things I must do. There are truths I must uncover. I don't want anyone to know. I don't want anyone to see me."
His palm 'slid gently over Amayori's scales,' reinforcing the bond they still shared.
The contact was warm, tangible, an echo of mutual trust.
The dragons 'did not question.'
They did not need lengthy explanations.
They 'understood the weight of Kirito's decisions.'
**Swishhh...**
Takiguri 'nodded gently,' his wings generating a faint murmur in the air as they rose.
**Hhsss… Ffffshhh...**
Amayori 'exhaled a faint vapor,' as if approving his request.
The response 'needed no words.'
It was enough.
—"Haaah..."
Kirito 'exhaled with relief,' feeling the weight of uncertainty decrease as he saw the cooperation of Amayori and Takiguri. In that instant, he knew he was not alone. 'They understood him. They accepted him. They would protect him.'
He smiled a little.
—"Thank you... both of you."
Without wasting time, 'he pronounced the command.'
(Reflection Override: Adaptive Light Cloak.)
A faint glow coursed through his body. 'His silhouette began to slowly fade,' merging with the tones of the dragons' scales. 'It was not absolute invisibility,' but an advanced optical adjustment that manipulated light refraction, making his presence blend with the immediate environment.
But he still needed a point of total coverage.
Kirito 'quickly assessed the position of both.' Amayori, with her silver scales, reflected light more intensely, which could make any anomaly noticeable in the air.
Takiguri, on the other hand, had dark scales, absorbing light instead of reflecting it. 'If he hid alongside him, his silhouette would be even less perceptible.'
The choice was clear.
Kirito positioned himself precisely on Takiguri's back, fitting his posture against the texture of his scales so that any external observer could not distinguish him.
The dragons felt his presence, a barely perceptible change in weight on Takiguri's body.
**Swoosh… Hwshhh...**
Without needing an order, 'they continued their patrol as if nothing had happened.'
There was no hesitation.
There were no interruptions.
Kirito spoke in a low tone, ensuring that only they could hear him.
—"Patrol for as long as you need."
He knew that their surveillance routine would not last much longer. 'The night and dawn were their domain,' but at dawn, they returned to the territory.
Without making almost any noise, they continued their patrol, 'maintaining the pace, simulating that everything was normal.'
They did not have to rush.
They did not have to alter their flight.
Just continue with their duty.
'And take him with them without raising suspicions.'
(-"One step at a time... One step at a time and with certainty.")
Kirito thought as he 'closed his eyes for a moment,' letting his breath synchronize with the rhythm of the flight.
**Hhhhhsshh...**
The wind caressed his face with a light, 'almost imperceptible' breeze, while his body remained in perfect sync with Takiguri.
Closer to the Cathedral.
Closer to his goal.