The skirt was based in black. At Asuna's suggestion, it had undergone several rounds of refinement; the hem that had initially been designed as a long skirt had been cut several times, and what finally appeared before them was a garment lightly adorned with white and lace trim. On top of that, Yimi had thoughtfully made black thigh-high socks to match.
Even if black emphasized a mature air, one could still imagine that the girl wearing it would absolutely display a youthful charm.
But this thing was in Kirito's hands, so he could not laugh.
Yimi's Custom-Made Dress for Kiriko: fashion item.
When paired with the hair accessory, it produces an effect. It does not replace original equipment, while increasing all equipment, including weapons, as well as external buff bonuses and debuff effects by 20%.
[Exclusive Skill: Frightening Monsters—Imitation] Attacks carry a 25% lifesteal effect.
Yimi's Custom-Made Hair Accessory for Kiriko: after equipping, hair becomes longer.
"..."
Why had even the form of address changed?
According to Asuna, this child had taken a very long time to make it, and Asuna had fought long and hard on reason before finally shifting Yimi's gaze away from leopard-print fabric.
No matter how he looked at it, he could only accept the goodwill in his heart. If Yimi liked it, wearing it in front of her once was not impossible. Coaxing a child meant putting aside face, after all. But having him wear it outside was rather hard on a person.
For the first few hours after SAO opened, the server had been full of handsome men and beautiful women. After all, in a Full Dive game, everyone wanted to look a little cooler; eldritch appearances were comparatively rare.
Then after Kayaba Akihiko gifted mirrors to the players, everyone turned back into their original appearances in reality. That had caused quite a few jokes, such as players who were originally beauties suddenly becoming men with little bellies and beards, while the dresses and stockings on their bodies had still not been changed.
Better seal it away.
Kirito's gaze was fixed on the words "25% lifesteal," and did not move away until he put it away.
Lifesteal appeared in many games, but in SAO, this game of blades and swords, means of recovery consisted only of one's basic health regeneration, potions, and crystals. No one had ever seen a lifesteal enhancement before.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that if this lifesteal effect were paired with Starburst Stream, which could cut out sixteen hits in one breath, he could even take certain floor bosses without special mechanics head-on by himself. He might even remain at full HP to the end.
Actually, if he made his hair a bit longer, perhaps no one would recognize him after he put it on?
"And then like this, it's done." Yimi sat on a chair taller than her legs, swinging her little feet as she taught Yui to make a bow.
"Done." Yui turned her face and showed the bow to Asuna.
"Mm, you made it very beautifully. Yimi-sensei taught very well too." Asuna hurriedly clapped, praising both girls at once.
The bow Yui made did not display any stats. It was only an ordinary bow that could be used as an ornament in the game.
Yimi lifted her head and proudly accepted the praise.
Yui blinked, then imitated her by lifting her head proudly too.
"Good girls." Asuna hugged them both.
If this life could keep going unchanged, she would already be satisfied.
A trace of worry flickered in Asuna's eyes, but she concealed it well and looked toward Kirito with a light smile. "Does the dress fit?"
"Ah... mm, it fits perfectly."
"Liar. You haven't worn it at all."
"Cough, cough. These stats are the strongest I've ever seen on any equipment. If the later stages don't have bosses with a Wound effect that lowers healing, using it to clear straight through smoothly wouldn't be difficult."
"Clear the game?" Asuna glanced at Yimi and Yui over there.
Perhaps because she had discovered Yui imitating her just now, Yimi raised her left hand, and Yui raised her left hand after her. Yimi spun in place, and Yui spun in place after her.
Yimi turned her back to Yui and swished the white tail behind her.
Yui puffed her little cheeks slightly.
Two little girls of unknown origin, suspected NPCs disabled by Kayaba Akihiko, looked to have a very good relationship.
"I know." Kirito's gaze dimmed too.
After this game was cleared, would the game still exist? If it did, could they still return here?
If so, what would happen to these two children?
But their bodies, lying in hospital beds all this time, definitely could not hold out forever. For one instant, they really did have the thought that it would be nice if they could live in this world forever.
Yimi's influence had already interfered with the entire Clearers, but Kayaba Akihiko still had not taken necessary measures even now. Had he considered from the beginning that people would develop such thoughts?
"Give to Papa." After playing with Yimi for a while, Yui ran to Kirito and lifted the bow in her hands high.
"Thank you, Yui... wait, why is what you're giving Papa a bow?"
...
Floor 65.
Even if they said they would slow down, with the support of various food buffs, everyone had still pushed their way here at speed.
The theme of Floor 65 was quite hateful, even directly striking back the confidence of the Clearers who had been flattening everything along the way.
In this game, every fifth-floor boss was a watershed. But the reason the Clearers' progress slowed here was not that.
The theme of Floor 65 was horror.
Horror games had always been a genre most people did not dare try. Ever since VR equipment appeared, aside from certain streamers who needed program effects, very few people dared seek out that kind of stimulation for themselves. And now this was Full Dive...
"Kayaba Akihiko, you son of a bitch!"
A party that considered itself fairly brave and had come to explore the Labyrinth turned around cursing and ran.
At the end of a room perfectly decorated to suggest people had lived there, there was a treasure chest. In such an obvious trap area, should one enter or not? After all, treasure chests were limited items; if they did not open it, once someone else opened it, they would not get anything.
They had thought that since there were many of them, even if there was a trap, they could handle it. But as they walked, the member at the very back suddenly heard footsteps coming from behind him too...
His mentality was frightened blank. How could he still have the reaction speed to handle traps? The key problem was that the monsters in this room would chase them out.
"Counterattack! Why are you running?" the guild leader tried to command his members back, but only a sparse two recovered their reason.
Just as he, responsible for covering the rear, was about to face the siege of every monster, a black one-handed sword swept past his ear and blocked the incoming attack for him.
The girl's footwork seemed somewhat disordered from nervousness. She was clearly very timid herself yet still insisted on saving people, and because of that, she was unfortunately struck by a ghost monster.
Even so, she still did not show the slightest fear. Her high-proficiency one-handed sword-skill flurry, combined with her scattered long hair and skirt hem, was like a beautiful dance leaping forth, instantly cutting down the offending ghost before her.
For a moment, the leader she had saved did not even notice that the HP bar she had lost earlier was visibly recovering under her attacks.
"I'll help you!" The leader hurriedly raised his shield and pressed forward with force, while also sneaking a glance at the girl's face.
Judging by that young appearance, she was probably only middle-school age. There was a trace of heroic spirit between her brows and eyes, and the way she dodged his gaze after their eyes met added a cuteness befitting her appearance.
"Boss!"
The members finally reacted, suppressing the fear in their hearts and counterattacking. But the leader, who should have been in charge of command, had placed all his attention on this girl.
"Are you one of the Clearers? How come I've never seen you before?"
Hearing his question, the girl blushed as if shy, did not answer, and ran away without looking back.
"..."
So cute.
"Boss, that girl ran in to open the treasure chest!" someone immediately tattled.
"Let her have it." Roger glared at him in disappointment. "After being scared like that, you still have the face to fight her for it?"