Chapter 217: Chapter 216: The Gap Between First and Second Was No Longer Negligible. It Was a Canyon.

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Who would have thought that Shiori-sensei could write hot-blooded battle sequences with such intensity?

Of course, the purpose of this Chapter extended far beyond mere action. By staking his life to save Asuna, Kirito finally managed to bypass the emotional defenses of this gentle yet resilient girl, prompting her to truly open her heart to him.

The scene following the battle, where Asuna collapsed into Kirito’s arms and sobbed out her fears after he regained consciousness, might be considered a cliché trope from an analytical perspective.

However, the issue was that the characterization of both Kirito and Asuna had been so masterfully established that the emotional payoff felt earned. When the moment finally arrived, the readers felt genuine excitement in their chests.

Ah... Asuna is just too cute for words.

Furthermore, because Asuna had fallen completely for the protagonist and expressed her desire to party up with him permanently, they faced an obstacle in the form of Heathcliff, the Commander of the Knights of the Blood. He issued a challenge. If Kirito could defeat him in a one-on-one duel, he would allow Kirito to take the guild’s Vice-Commander with him.

The Chapter concluded at an agonizingly tense moment, right before the duel began. After finishing the pages, Ruri offered a faint, strained smile and took a deep breath, whispering to herself.

"Don’t get angry. You’re used to this, aren’t you? If you get frustrated, you’re just falling into Shiori’s trap."

However, just a few minutes later, her composure shattered.

"How can I not be angry?! Would it have killed you to write an extra words and just finish the duel in this issue?" the woman’s frustrated voice echoed through the apartment.

This Chapter could arguably be called the first truly iconic legendary scene of Sword Art Online. The debut of Kirito’s Starburst Stream was the exact moment in the original world where countless fans had fallen irrevocably in love with the series.

Similarly, in the light novel industry of this world, the release of this Chapter set the entire reader base ablaze.

If it had been mere words, it might not have possessed such overwhelming evocative power. But when combined with Shizuru-sensei’s breathtaking illustrations, the impact was on a completely different level.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! This Chapter actually got my blood pumping!"

"Starburst Stream is just too cool! Honestly, seeing this makes me want to dive into a VRMMO right now."

"Too bad we can only watch the protagonist play it. Damn you, Shiori-sensei, for teasing us like this."

"Forget modern games. After reading this, I have zero interest in reality. I spend half my day dreaming about entering SAO just to kick Kirito out of the way and steal Asuna for myself."

"Haha, good luck with that. You’d probably trip on the first flight of stairs, trigger a fall-damage check, and die instantly."

"I can’t sleep! I need the next Chapter of SAO right now! I need to know what happens in the duel!"

"Shiori-sensei is the undisputed master of the cliffhanger. He cuts it right there and now I have to suffer for a whole week." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"The romantic development between Asuna and Kirito was handled so well in this Chapter. It felt natural, without any of the awkwardness you see in other novels. When I read from Kirito’s perspective, I truly feel like I’m experiencing the meeting and bonding with Asuna myself."

"I’m already practicing my dual-wielding poses in the mirror, imagining I’m using Starburst Stream to win Asuna’s heart."

"Am I the only one who wants to see the Guild Commander absolutely wreck Kirito and take Asuna back? I love this novel, but as a fan of tragic drama, this romance is killing me. Is there any hope for some heartbreak?"

As the night deepened, the discussion surrounding the latest Chapter fermented. On Haruto’s social media and the Kiyozawa Library forums, the topics became increasingly heated and eccentric. Meanwhile, behind the scenes at the Kiyozawa offices, the internal reader polls for Sword Art Online were showing a performance that shattered all previous records.

The following morning, at the Kiyozawa headquarters...

Ms. Hime had received some early internal leaks and arrived at the office ahead of schedule, waiting for the final results to be certified.

Across the hall, Reina’s agent approached her to chat.

Since Reina’s new series was currently benefiting from a bundled marketing campaign alongside Sword Art Online and Shiori, the cooperation of Ms. Hime, as the primary manager of the Shiori brand, was essential. The agent’s easy-going attitude toward the collaboration had significantly improved the office atmosphere.

"I have a strong feeling that in this issue, Sword Art Online has a massive chance of taking the top spot," the agent remarked.

She was an exceptionally professional woman herself, radiating a gentle warmth.

"We’ll see. Nothing is certain until the final count is in," Ms. Hime replied.

She held the same conviction, but she maintained a humble front.

Last week, the gap between Sword Art Online and the reigning champion, Crimson Abyss, had shrunk to a negligible amount.

Even though the author and agent of Crimson Abyss had mobilized every resource at their disposal to protect their number-one ranking, the tide was simply too powerful to hold back. Sword Art Online’s momentum in the market was a force of nature. The publisher’s marketing was merely adding fuel to a fire that was already consuming the industry. The reigning champion’s struggle was valiant, but ultimately futile.

"I have to hand it to you, Hime. Your eye for talent is unparalleled. Even though Shiori-sensei refused a long-term exclusive contract, he’s still loyal to the house. It proves that for a man of character, emotional ties are far more effective than legal ones," the agent said with a smile.

"You haven’t done so bad yourself! Reina’s potential is undeniable. Each of her works is objectively better than the last, and she’s still in the ascending phase of her career. She might not match Shiori’s numbers right now, but who knows where she’ll be in five or ten years? She’s young and determined; I don’t think she’ll stay in Haruto’s shadow forever. Signing her was a brilliant move on your part," Ms. Hime replied, returning the compliment.

Nearby in the main office hall, Ms. Sato listened to their conversation with a bitter taste in her mouth.

Back when the newcomer awards concluded, she had been the very first person the company sent to recruit Haruto and Reina.

However, her insistence on a long exclusive contract had been flatly rejected by both creators. She had planned to play the long game by ignoring them for a few months, letting them realize the harsh reality of the industry until they came crawling back.

She never expected them to find other partners within the same company. Now, Reina’s new work had successfully launched in Kiyozawa magazine.

Haruto was even more impressive; he was on the verge of conquering the entire magazine.

If you asked that agent how she felt, the answer was pure frustration. Sword Art Online was a gold mine, and the commission for its representative would have been astronomical. By trying to squeeze out every drop of profit, she had ended up losing the most valuable assets in the building. Yet, she had to maintain a mask of indifference, chatting and laughing with her colleagues as if her heart weren’t filled with regret.

At 9:00 AM, the official reader rankings for the latest issue of Kiyozawa Library were released. Agents and editors across different floors of the building scrambled to check the data.

1. Sword Art Online: 2,751,234 votes (Rank: 1)

2. Crimson Abyss: 1,532,144 votes (Rank: 2)

...

3. Absolute Realm: 231,451 votes (Rank: 7)

...

4. Seasonal Series: 12,435 votes (Rank: Last)

Ms. Hime and Reina’s agent both broke into spontaneous smiles the moment they saw the list.

The rival agent, however, kept her expression carefully neutral.

Back at the villa, Haruto and Reina were both waiting for the news of their rankings. Almost simultaneously, their phones rang as their agents called with the results.

"Seventh place? For a debut? ...Oh, I see. So seventh in the flagship Kiyozawa magazine is considered an exceptionally strong start for a new serialization?" Reina nodded, her voice soft and composed as she spoke to her agent.

"Is that so? Number one, huh..." Haruto let out a breath and a small smile touched his lips. He set his phone down and caught Reina’s gaze.

"Congratulations," Reina said after a brief pause.

Her face was a mix of competitiveness and a genuinely supportive smile.

Whether it was a coincidence or fate, the very issue where Haruto’s Sword Art Online finally claimed the throne was the same issue where Reina’s new novel began.

This detail was immediately picked up by the fans the moment the results were made public. After all, the publisher had been marketing them as the genius girl chasing the prodigy Shiori.

With Haruto reaching the summit, the narrative for the fans was now set in stone.

If Reina truly wanted to follow in his footsteps, she had to take the number one spot.