Sword Art Online Volume 16 – Alicization Exploding Chapter 18 – War of the Underworld 40 He held no recollection of their faces, but they were likely guards from the common folk rather than knights, judging from their equipment grade. What seemed out of place was the metallic chair pushed by the dark brown haired girl. A black-haired youth sat upon the chair, furnished with four wheels instead of legs, with his head hung down. Renri’s eyes were drawn towards his face. Approximately twenty? Not only was his frame horribly thin, his right arm was also missing from where his shoulder ended. He could only consider him weaker than the girls from a single glance. However, Renri understood at once that the two longswords held tightly by the young man’s left arm— commanding tremendous presence despite their sheaths—were divine instruments, possibly ranked higher than the Twin Edged Wings. How could it be? Even if he ignored how he was sanctioned to own those, it still required physical strength on the level of integrity knights to have them on one’s lap like that. However, the youth who blankly stared into space could hardly possess such strength. He thought to that point before it seemed the girls noticed Renri cowering in the darkness, freezing up after drawing sharp breaths. It took surprisingly little time before the red-haired girl reached out towards her sword’s grip with her right hand. Renri spoke hoarsely before she drew. “I’m not your enemy… sorry for frightening you. Mind if I stand? I’ll show you my hands.” “…Go on.” Waiting until the girl stiffly responded, Renri gently rose. After taking one, two steps forward with both hands raised, the afterglow from the roof’s hole lit up his armor of the highest grade an the divine instrument on both sides of his waist. The girl curtly gulped and straightened up in a hurry.