for Monochrome Duet3/3 c42 Umbral
8 years. When I first found this fic in highschool, in the mid of chapter 20, I thought it was the best fanfiction i’ve ever read.
I followed updates religiously, but with time, life and college, and then work, I forgot about it. 6 years later, I recently started replaying the SAO Hollow Realization game on a whim, and remembered this fic fondly. I went to check on it - and found myself in for a surprise of another 22 chapters, which i went onto read over the course of several days, and after reading them all -
This is still the best fanfiction I’ve ever read. Every twist, turn, being on the edge of my seat during the zombie arc, to the fluff between Kirito and Kizmel and his party, to the climatic boss battles and combat scenes, there isnt a better fic out there. Thank you after all this time, for all the effort you’ve put into this fic - words cannot express my love for it and your craft. Godspeed.
8 years. When I first found this fic in highschool, in the mid of chapter 20, I thought it was the best fanfiction i’ve ever read.
I followed updates religiously, but with time, life and college, and then work, I forgot about it. 6 years later, I recently started replaying the SAO Hollow Realization game on a whim, and remembered this fic fondly. I went to check on it - and found myself in for a surprise of another 22 chapters, which i went onto read over the course of several days, and after reading them all -
This is still the best fanfiction I’ve ever read. Every twist, turn, being on the edge of my seat during the zombie arc, to the fluff between Kirito and Kizmel and his party, to the climatic boss battles and combat scenes, there isnt a better fic out there. Thank you after all this time, for all the effort you’ve put into this fic - words cannot express my love for it and your craft. Godspeed.
12/31/2024 c20 Church21
Their is so much to liek about this. So far its a pretty great story. Still font think Asuna should be so heavily fatured though. In cannon her and Kirito’s party split after the 1st floor boss so it really wasnt a big deal but in this version they stuck together and fought together for another 25 lvls i know it says she left him for a guild but really KOB hadn’t been formed yet so she just left him for Heathcliff. Dont get me wrong I appreciate he wasn’t a bitter little bitch about it but I think i’d have rather seen it have some impact on the situation. Kizmel showed up shortly after and hes for some dumb reason constantly worried about how Asuna will react to things. Like she would have lost the right to be mad about anything when she left the party. Just think it lessens the impact when even after leaving shes ether mentioned or featured in every paragraph for the rest pf the story. Also kind of think thd PK’ing blade is wasted on Kirito. Everytime laughing coffin shows up they let them leave with a quick kill ya later threat. I mean consequently they are responsiblefor every PK laughing coffin gets away with after that point because they are unwilling to act.
Their is so much to liek about this. So far its a pretty great story. Still font think Asuna should be so heavily fatured though. In cannon her and Kirito’s party split after the 1st floor boss so it really wasnt a big deal but in this version they stuck together and fought together for another 25 lvls i know it says she left him for a guild but really KOB hadn’t been formed yet so she just left him for Heathcliff. Dont get me wrong I appreciate he wasn’t a bitter little bitch about it but I think i’d have rather seen it have some impact on the situation. Kizmel showed up shortly after and hes for some dumb reason constantly worried about how Asuna will react to things. Like she would have lost the right to be mad about anything when she left the party. Just think it lessens the impact when even after leaving shes ether mentioned or featured in every paragraph for the rest pf the story. Also kind of think thd PK’ing blade is wasted on Kirito. Everytime laughing coffin shows up they let them leave with a quick kill ya later threat. I mean consequently they are responsiblefor every PK laughing coffin gets away with after that point because they are unwilling to act.
12/30/2024 c2 Church21
I expected something different from this story from the discription. Its an interesting premise for sure but i dont get the heavy asuna presence in the story. The discription says she left Kirito to join KOB and Kizmel would show up to be his new partner. Not saying Kirito should be a petty little bastard and go out of his way to mKe her misrible over it but I don’t understand why Kizmel shows up his first thought is to keep it Asuma; they aren’t dating or part of the same party so why would she have any right to be mad. It just seems to me Kirito is far to willing to explain himself all the time. Just tell everyone to mind their business and fuck off. He prides himself as being a solo player so he should act like it. If hes gonna be running around answering to Heirhcliff and Asuna anyway he might as well just join a guild
I expected something different from this story from the discription. Its an interesting premise for sure but i dont get the heavy asuna presence in the story. The discription says she left Kirito to join KOB and Kizmel would show up to be his new partner. Not saying Kirito should be a petty little bastard and go out of his way to mKe her misrible over it but I don’t understand why Kizmel shows up his first thought is to keep it Asuma; they aren’t dating or part of the same party so why would she have any right to be mad. It just seems to me Kirito is far to willing to explain himself all the time. Just tell everyone to mind their business and fuck off. He prides himself as being a solo player so he should act like it. If hes gonna be running around answering to Heirhcliff and Asuna anyway he might as well just join a guild
12/5/2024 c39 
2King of Picking Poisons
Lind is my favorite side character I think. I like that he has obviously been trying to do what he genuinely felt was right the whole story and at this point we can see he's matured. Idk what it is about him in particular, but I just genuinely enjoy it when he's engaging with the main cast in good faith. Him being friendly with them all makes me happy!
2King of Picking PoisonsLind is my favorite side character I think. I like that he has obviously been trying to do what he genuinely felt was right the whole story and at this point we can see he's matured. Idk what it is about him in particular, but I just genuinely enjoy it when he's engaging with the main cast in good faith. Him being friendly with them all makes me happy!
9/20/2024 c42 Pyroblade14
The hiatus is understandable, and well deserved, especially for the amount of time and effort you must have put into this. I have faith that you will do just as well in the next arc and however long you decide to keep this going, keep up the amazing work.
The hiatus is understandable, and well deserved, especially for the amount of time and effort you must have put into this. I have faith that you will do just as well in the next arc and however long you decide to keep this going, keep up the amazing work.
9/17/2024 c42 9Itack23
Excellent chapter to wrap the end of the Flying Castle. I totally agree that you stopped that chapter at the right place, the follow-up in the real world needed to be put apart.
Your project of a PDF version with a retrospective and the shout-outs and background details definitely interests me! I know for sure that I'll want to read this story again later on. As for distribution... well maybe with a Discord server? I don't really know how you could it either '
Thank you for the story so far! I'll need to check if I'm up to date in the other stories too (and need to read Liminality too, as I wanted to be fully caught up on the stories before begining it)
9Itack23Excellent chapter to wrap the end of the Flying Castle. I totally agree that you stopped that chapter at the right place, the follow-up in the real world needed to be put apart.
Your project of a PDF version with a retrospective and the shout-outs and background details definitely interests me! I know for sure that I'll want to read this story again later on. As for distribution... well maybe with a Discord server? I don't really know how you could it either '
Thank you for the story so far! I'll need to check if I'm up to date in the other stories too (and need to read Liminality too, as I wanted to be fully caught up on the stories before begining it)
9/16/2024 c41 Itack23
Wow...just woow...
At first I thought "Well, the fight begins well, they are well organized. The height battle against Dragon seems dangerous but it's okay"
*First death* It's okay, happens.
*First Big Healing Tree* OH F*CK
*DEATHS and second Big Tree* Hell no, this chaos...
*Dragon dies, Armageddon of meteors begins, Kayaba's buffed, Skeleton of the dragon resurrects, MANY deaths* Holy sh*t
And in the end, they went through all this and ended it all... Really this chapter gave me goose bump and captivated me!
Wow...just woow...
At first I thought "Well, the fight begins well, they are well organized. The height battle against Dragon seems dangerous but it's okay"
*First death* It's okay, happens.
*First Big Healing Tree* OH F*CK
*DEATHS and second Big Tree* Hell no, this chaos...
*Dragon dies, Armageddon of meteors begins, Kayaba's buffed, Skeleton of the dragon resurrects, MANY deaths* Holy sh*t
And in the end, they went through all this and ended it all... Really this chapter gave me goose bump and captivated me!
9/16/2024 c40 Itack23
Heeeey! o/
Been a long while, I've been quite busy this summer and begining of school year. I'm working half-time as a teacher for in pre-school (I think that's the word? Or kindergarten?). Impressive how a class of 27 2/3 years old can tire you out (meaning, exhaust you half to death). And the bugs I catch from don't help either (though I suppose my immune system will be stronger after a few months... I hope...)
Beautiful build up chapter to the final fight of this Aincrad! The 'Black Beaters' lmao x)
Heeeey! o/
Been a long while, I've been quite busy this summer and begining of school year. I'm working half-time as a teacher for in pre-school (I think that's the word? Or kindergarten?). Impressive how a class of 27 2/3 years old can tire you out (meaning, exhaust you half to death). And the bugs I catch from don't help either (though I suppose my immune system will be stronger after a few months... I hope...)
Beautiful build up chapter to the final fight of this Aincrad! The 'Black Beaters' lmao x)
9/12/2024 c42 6SevenTpercent
So much dedication to this fic, amazing.
By far my favourite SAO related fan work.
6SevenTpercentSo much dedication to this fic, amazing.
By far my favourite SAO related fan work.
8/28/2024 c42 HyperHypocrite
Are there any plans to reunite Kizmel with her mother? When Kayaba talked about making arrangements with the one person he truly trusts I expected for sure a “Hello Kizmel, I’m your mother” at the end there. It’s a cliche by now with how many times it’s happened in stories.
I’m honestly surprised no one else decided to share their real names like Rain and Philia (excited to see where Rain’s arc goes next), and it’s been a while since I touched canon but I’m pretty sure there was a plot of SAO players all being put into a single school together for the younger players to readjust to society so I’m excited to see how you handle that along with all of the real world parts, with Kizmel being Kirito’s partner I’m expecting a lot more of a focus on the real world than SAO canon since I doubt she’ll be as excited as Asuna to escape back into VR.
It’s been one hell of a story. Lind’s death at the end was saddening, the guy grew on you as the story goes and I’m throwing out the prediction right now of a double rescue with Klein having to save Griselda in the fairy arc. Looking forward to that pdf whenever you decide to release it and hope for your continued good health!
Are there any plans to reunite Kizmel with her mother? When Kayaba talked about making arrangements with the one person he truly trusts I expected for sure a “Hello Kizmel, I’m your mother” at the end there. It’s a cliche by now with how many times it’s happened in stories.
I’m honestly surprised no one else decided to share their real names like Rain and Philia (excited to see where Rain’s arc goes next), and it’s been a while since I touched canon but I’m pretty sure there was a plot of SAO players all being put into a single school together for the younger players to readjust to society so I’m excited to see how you handle that along with all of the real world parts, with Kizmel being Kirito’s partner I’m expecting a lot more of a focus on the real world than SAO canon since I doubt she’ll be as excited as Asuna to escape back into VR.
It’s been one hell of a story. Lind’s death at the end was saddening, the guy grew on you as the story goes and I’m throwing out the prediction right now of a double rescue with Klein having to save Griselda in the fairy arc. Looking forward to that pdf whenever you decide to release it and hope for your continued good health!
8/24/2024 c27 HyperHypocrite
Alright so second review, first let’s start with the positives, Kirito’s relationship with his party and friends are great. You’ve done an amazing job with the found family vibes, like another reviewer commented it’s not a harem but they all very clearly love each other and it’s bloody beautiful. Philia and Rain added that extra something to this story that I didn’t see coming when they were first introduced, I don’t know if that was something originally planned but if was a gamble on your part then you sir have most assuredly won the jackpot.
Next, I actually really liked the dual perspectives on the zombie floor; switching between Kirito’s and Klein’s party was nice in that we got to see events happening at the same time and their consequences on each other like seeing how the clearing group reacted from Klein’s POV when team Kirito disappeared on the train and Argo’s subsequent explanation (though I might be biased with this take since I like your Klein, including his timeskip dragon hunting mission where he ruminates on his change from an average salaryman). It’s probably my second favorite arc currently coming in behind the 51st beach floor; that one was my favorite because of how fun all the fights were combined with the relationship development not just between Kirito and Kizmel but with the entire party with them sharing their pasts before SAO and creating the foundational bonds for the party we now follow.
Finally, with Kizmel’s and Kirito’s relationship, for me personally their most romantic and heartwarming scene has to be them studying in bed together after they found the library. Like don’t me wrong the ending of the duet chapter was pure sappy happy time but there is just something so domestic and hopeful with the studying scene to prepare for when they return to the real world that made me smile even if it’s just a small little scene. I hope to see more of these little moments of them pushing each other to grow once we eventually escape Aincrad.
If there is one negative I do have it would be with the Elf missions, they’re a bit too meta I think is my problem with them? Like the most egregious case of this is probably the old elf sage quest followed by first entire questline with the 3 trials and the Water Temple from not!LoZ (not the water temple part specifically I actually liked that and more like everything around it; it’s just that the water temple is the most memorable part of the questline) and then there is the fact that we know or are at very least highly suspicious of the fact that Kayaba personally quick added these new quests that they end up feeling kind of off when compared to the other arcs. I didn’t have this feeling with the 51st floor quest to reforge the baneblade so if I had to put my finger on it, my problem would be when these elf quests take itself too seriously. The not!water temple and and beach floor didn’t take itself too seriously while the back alley old elf sage quest where the party got split up did. Though I guess it could be deliberate on your part to keep in theme of how SAO is slowly becoming their reality little by little?
Alright so second review, first let’s start with the positives, Kirito’s relationship with his party and friends are great. You’ve done an amazing job with the found family vibes, like another reviewer commented it’s not a harem but they all very clearly love each other and it’s bloody beautiful. Philia and Rain added that extra something to this story that I didn’t see coming when they were first introduced, I don’t know if that was something originally planned but if was a gamble on your part then you sir have most assuredly won the jackpot.
Next, I actually really liked the dual perspectives on the zombie floor; switching between Kirito’s and Klein’s party was nice in that we got to see events happening at the same time and their consequences on each other like seeing how the clearing group reacted from Klein’s POV when team Kirito disappeared on the train and Argo’s subsequent explanation (though I might be biased with this take since I like your Klein, including his timeskip dragon hunting mission where he ruminates on his change from an average salaryman). It’s probably my second favorite arc currently coming in behind the 51st beach floor; that one was my favorite because of how fun all the fights were combined with the relationship development not just between Kirito and Kizmel but with the entire party with them sharing their pasts before SAO and creating the foundational bonds for the party we now follow.
Finally, with Kizmel’s and Kirito’s relationship, for me personally their most romantic and heartwarming scene has to be them studying in bed together after they found the library. Like don’t me wrong the ending of the duet chapter was pure sappy happy time but there is just something so domestic and hopeful with the studying scene to prepare for when they return to the real world that made me smile even if it’s just a small little scene. I hope to see more of these little moments of them pushing each other to grow once we eventually escape Aincrad.
If there is one negative I do have it would be with the Elf missions, they’re a bit too meta I think is my problem with them? Like the most egregious case of this is probably the old elf sage quest followed by first entire questline with the 3 trials and the Water Temple from not!LoZ (not the water temple part specifically I actually liked that and more like everything around it; it’s just that the water temple is the most memorable part of the questline) and then there is the fact that we know or are at very least highly suspicious of the fact that Kayaba personally quick added these new quests that they end up feeling kind of off when compared to the other arcs. I didn’t have this feeling with the 51st floor quest to reforge the baneblade so if I had to put my finger on it, my problem would be when these elf quests take itself too seriously. The not!water temple and and beach floor didn’t take itself too seriously while the back alley old elf sage quest where the party got split up did. Though I guess it could be deliberate on your part to keep in theme of how SAO is slowly becoming their reality little by little?
8/14/2024 c42 Cha0sniper
Wait, why did I get an alert that this fic had updated again? Did you change this chapter or something? Or is just being screwy again?
Wait, why did I get an alert that this fic had updated again? Did you change this chapter or something? Or is just being screwy again?