Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 07

Summary
When a mysterious swordsman appears offering an unheard of 11-hit combo Original Sword Skill to whoever can best him, Asuna takes up the challenge. Only to find that Zekken is a girl and needs her help in more ways than both know.

Prologue
Lisbeth asks Asuna if she ever heard of Zekken. Asuna asks if Zekken is a new kind of equipment. Lisbeth tells her that Zekken is a swordsman who has nicknamed that solely on skill. Asuna, also an Undine healer, recieved the nickname «Beserk Healer» became curious about how someone would recieve the name Zekken.

Chapter 1
On New Aincrad's 22nd floor, winter season has arrived. With the arrival of the new patch that introduced Aincrad to ALfheim, Asuna had set her goal to return to the house she and Kirito once owned in SAO. Upon reclaiming their home Asuna took charge of interior decoration, and their home became a hotspot for visiting friends nearly everyday. In this particular instance it is nighttime in Alfheim, while only midday in reality. Asuna, Lyfa, Lisbeth, and Silica are gathered to do their homework for school, making use of Fulldive's practical functions. Though they are fighting to stay awake, since Kirito is in his corner, sleeping with Pina and Yui on a rocking chair, and seems to have a hypnotic effect on those around him. After discussing whether Kirito was unconsciously using magic to make them feel sleepy, Lisbeth brings up the topic of Zekken. Asuna being unaware since she some time in Kyoto, in a household without internet. her family consisting of a multitude of important people, and her cousins were in constant competition with each other. While they pitied her plight of being trapped in SAO Asuna, she was completely unfazed. Lisbeth snaps her back to the present and continues talking about Zekken. Zekken appeared a month ago and posted a notice on MMO Tomorrow, that was taken up by 30 players and all 30 we defeated. The reason for people taking up the challenge is the offered prize, an 11-hit OSS.

After hearing about the unbelievable prize she asked if Kirito took up the challenge, he along with Lyfa and Lisbeth all lost, yet Kirito said something to Zekken before losing and doesn't wants to tell them. Also after the duel he told Lisbeth that there wasn't any way that Zekken was a former SAO player, because Zekken would have most definitely recieved the Dual Blades skill instead of him.

Chapter 2
Upon waking up from FullDive, Asuna goes down for dinner with her mother, who informs her that she is recieving a in home tutor. Her mother disapproves of Asuna using the Amusphere to perform schoolwork, while Asuna argues the pros of using the FullDive to meet up. Her mother then tells her that she will be transfering schools next semester. Asuna then begs her mother to reconsider, but her mother shuts her down saying that the school is equivalent to an asylum. Her mother then brings up the topic of arranging her marriage, which Asuna is wholeheartedly against. Her mother then tells her "that boy" isn't suitable for her, saying that if she wanted to be happy she should marry so she is materially free. Asuna protests and finishes her dinner then leaves saying she would consider tranferring and asks if her mother despises the fact her parents were farmers. Her mother gets outraged and as Asuna runs away telling herself not to cry, and calls out Kirito's name for strength.

Chapter 3
Back in New Aincrad on the 24th floor in Panareze, Asuna and Kirito remember the first time that Kirito visited Asuna's house in Salemburg, to cook the Ragout Rabbit. They then talk about what they want to do with their amassed money, from buying Asuna's old house in Salemburg to reviving Agil's shop, with interest to the owner. Asuna then sets out to challenge Zekken, and Kirito tells her that Zekken is strong, but in an unusual way. Asuna is then called away by Liz to go see Zekken.

Upon arriving at the square, they see a challenger resign and give up. After weaving through the crowd, Asuna sees a young Imp swordswoman daring the next challenger. Expecting to see a burly man, Asuna then starts to interrogate Kirito on the real reason he lost. Zekken then asks for the next challenger and Asuna stands up to accept. After setting the rules of the duel, taking place on the ground. After Yuuki, Zekken's actual name, send the challenge Asuna agrees to total loss mode, and with that the high speed duel begins.

Asuna strikes first but Yuuki dodges skillfully and then counterattacks which Asuna tries to avoid, and realizes that Kirito didn't lose just because his opponent was a girl. After realizing Yuuki wasn't used to fighting other players, Asuna uses that to create an opening using the Boxing skill she picked up followed up with a four hit combo. Zekken is caught off guard initially but is able to see through the sword skill and then counters with her own 11-hit Original Sword Skill to end the duel.

Chapter 4
After Asuna was defeated by Yuuki in the duel, she was rudely interupted by her mother, who unplugged the Amusphere's power source. Asuna was angered by Kyouko's action and they got into a fight, disbuting over why she was so addicted to the Amusphere. After the arguement, Asuna was told to eat dinner, but she refused and Kyouko walked out of the room shaking her head in fustration and disappointment. When Kyouko left the room, Asuna felt the thrill and excitement from meeting Yuuki, so she got dressed and left the house with her mother asking where she was going. Asuna stopped in front a small park, where she reached for her cell phone to call Kirito, but then she had a fight with her feelings. If she called and met Kirito, she would have a emotion breakdown causing her to tell Kirito everything that had happened about the school transfer and how she isn't going to be able to go on ALO anymore. However, she decided to be strong even though she's weak in reality, just then snow began to fall.

Chapter 5
Asuna and the Sleeping Knights meet to hold a strategy meeting at the inn on the 27th floor, using her organizational skills as former sub-leader of the Knights of the Blood, Asuna assesses the team's battle strength. She assigns Yuuki, Jun and Tecchi as the CQC front, Taruken and Nora to the mid-range, Shiune and herself to support.