America Player (SAO)

Chapter 2

The First Boss

Imtomzizle: Thank you for that, It was what I was going for. Glad your enjoying it.

Shifting Aura: Glad you think that, hope you like it.

Traveling with Kirito wasn't bad, not really. I figured traveling with a stranger would be awkward and quiet. But as it turns out, Kirito could be as quiet as I could be. Sure, we didn't walk about and just be dead silent, I think that would have been creepy.

Sure, we talked, but mostly, he showed me the ropes around this game. Sure, given time I would've been able to figure it out myself, but with my life on line, I was taking this shortcut.

I gotten points, level ups and was getting better and better. Me and Kirito could even call each other friends. We got along pretty well.

I ran forward, gripping my sword hilt tighter and using my sword skill to skewer a wolf, rolling forward and slicing behind me, pivoting on my right foot to stab the last wolf in the head, only for it to dodge and forcing me to tumble to the right, stabbing it in the side as it gave out a last howl.

I panted a bit on reflex, grinning to myself as I was getting better. It has been a month since Akihiko Kayaba's annoucement. Kirito was helping me train. I walked over and opened my menu, collecting the XP.

"You're getting better."

I turned to look at Kirito, who was smiling. I attached my sword across my back so the hilt was at my left shoulder. I rubbed the back of my neck, smiling back. "Yeah, well, we've been going at it for a month now. You have any plans yet?"

He nodded his head as we walked out of the forest. "Yeah, I heard a group is meeting to get together to defeat the final boss. I think we should go, we won't be able to defeat him on our own."

I nodded back. "Sounds like a good plan."

We were back in the village we were staying for a good three weeks, since it was a safe zone. Basically what Kirito would do in the beginning was fight beside me, showing me what he did in the beta test. He saved my neck a couple of times and I even helped him some too. Anyone could make a mistake after all.

Well, after I got the hand of it, he would watch me fight and then tell me what I did wrong. While he was talking about the game, he was very talkative. I didn't mind becuase usually what he had to say would help in the long run. As I fought, sometimes he needed to jump in.

A month later and my skills were going up. We even completed a couple of quests. At this point to make it easier, we both were in a party. I had a feeling soon we were going to split. He seemed like the high defintion of a solo player. Sure, I liked going solo, but I could work with some people if I had to.

I looked at Kirito, who was lost in thought. I called slightly. "Hey Kirito?"

He jumped a little and raised an eyebrow at me. "Yeah?"

"When is the meeting?"

His eyebrows furrowed and then he said. "Tomorrow, in the morning."

I nodded, stretching my arms over my head with a groan. "Great, let's grab something to eat and then sleep, if you want."

Kirito smiled. "That sounds like a good idea, come on."

I followed him as we got the bread we usually did and he took out the jar of cream we had gotten from a quest a week ago. He used his finger to spread it across the bread and I did the same. I smiled to myself as I bit into it. The bread was hard, but the cream made the bread soften and taste sweeter.

After eating, we waved each other goodbye and went in our seperate rooms we already paid in col. They were right next to each other. We weren't going to share a room. I knew we were friends, but that would just be too awkward. Sure, if we couldn't spare the col, we would just share it and deal, but we hunted a good deal of monsters, so we were good.

I went in my room and yawned. My room had a twin sized bed, a small dresser/table beside it and a table in the middle of the room. The showers, bathroom and kitchen was downstairs. Changing into looser clothing I had in my storage on my Menu, I went to sleep.

/ / / / / /

It was early morning when Kirito woke me up. After eating, we went to the area that Kirito said they were meeting at. I think the thing that troubled me most was that in the month we've been here, 2,000 people died. I mean, I get people do stupid things, but don't they get that this game is real. That once your HP reaches zero, that it means you die.

It freaked me out that 2,000 people are dead. Most of them must of been teens. Though I did find it weird that older people played this game.

"...Dani! Dani!"

I was pulled to the right suddenly and I gasped, looking to see Kirito looking at me with a confused look. "Hey, you there?"

I felt myself blush in embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking. What's up?"

Kirito's eyebrows furrowed. "We're almost there and you almost ran into that pole."

I felt myself redden in more embarrassment. "Oh, uh..."

Kirito laughed in amusement and I huffed, shoving his shoulder. "Oh, shut up. Didn't you say we were-dammit, stop laughing!"

He stopped after a moment, still grinning a little. I shook my head and saw a group of teens walking somewhere. I followed them. I Kirito come after me. "Hey, I'm sorry, alright."

I shrugged, chuckling myself. "It's fine. I guess I'm a little lost in thought."

He nodded. "Yeah, just be careful. You don't want to do that at the wrong time."

I nodded too. "Yeah I get it, thanks though."

We followed the others into this area with a platform in the middle with a guy with blue hair standing there. People were scattered on the stone steps around and above the blue haired guy. They looked like stone bleachers from a gym back in America.

I sat with Kirito toward the middle, but farther from anyone else. The guy with the blue hair clapped his hands. "Okay, everyone, let's get this meeting started. So anyway, I want to thank everyone for coming. Good to see you. My name is Diabel in this game and job I hold in Knight."

I rolled my eyes at the snickering. "Dude, there's no job system in this game."

It might of been funny before, but since this became a death game, not so much.

Everyone started talking and Diabel said. "You guys want to hear this or not?"

They got quiet and Diabel looked at us seriously. "Right, anyway, here's the deal. Our party found the boss room at the top of the tower today."

The crowd was shocked and I leaned forward interested. He actually has somethng. When people pull meeting like this with rumors, you can never tell if they're telling the truth or not.

Diabel said loudly. "First, we need to defeat the boss and make it to Floor 2. The next step is, we have to tell everyone in the Town of Beginnings that it is possible to beat this game. Fact is, it's our duty as the most capable players here. Do you agree or not?"

People were clapping and whistling. I smiled to myself, when you got people like that taking leadership positions, it doesn't seem so hopeless to get out of here. I won't give up, but when you think about the possibility of getting out, it's a huge downer. Kirito was smiling too.

"Okay glad to hear your all with me on this. Now, let's figure out how we're going to beat the boss. First off, we'll team up into parties of six."

I stiffened and looked at Kirito. He had the same panicked eyes that I knew I did. I was okay with working with Kirito, I knew him for a month. These other people look like that they know each other.

Diabel said. "Normal parties won't stand a chance against a real boss."

I twitched at that and then looked around. I suddenly grinned and smacked Kirito's shoulder with the back of my hand. "Hey, look!"

Someone was sitting by themselves, with a cloaked hood over their head. I got up and walked over to them while for some reason Kirito scooted over quickly. Kirito sat next to the person while I sat on the step above them. Kirito asked. "You got left out too, huh?"

I guess we were left out, no one came over to us or anything like that.

"Not even, I wasn't left out. It's just everyone seems like their already friends, like you two."

So she was a girl. Her voice was too high for a man. The mirrors Kayaba left us exposed us to that. I then remembered she said something.

I pointed a thumb at Kirito. "I just met him a month ago, you want to be in our party?"

Kirito nodded his head. "Yeah, what do you say?"

The person turned their head and Kirito said. "You heard what the person said, we can't take the boss on our own. Plus, it would only be for this fight."

I curiously wondered if that would be the same for me and Kirito.

The person in front of us gave us a curt nod.

Since I was already in a party with Kirito, he opened his menu for her to be invited, I didn't need to. Though when she excepted the invite, a warning screen came out of my menu, showing another person was in my party. I accepted it and looked up to see their HP bar's name. Asuna. Is that a boy or girl name?

Diabel said. "Now, that everyone's teamed up-"

"Hold on a sec!"

I looked up at the angry voice and saw a guy jump down from the top and hop down the steps, landing below, next to Diabel. I muttered. "What's up with him?"

He had reddish-brown hair and some armor on his chest, with a sword across his back. His back was facing us at the moment. He said. "My name's Kibou, got that? Before we take on the boss, I want to get something off my chest. We all know about the 2,000 people who died so far, yeah? Well, some of you need to apologize to them right now."

I glared at him. What is he going on about? Diabel said. "Kibou, I think I know who's your referring to. You mean the one's who are ex-beta testers, right?"

I glared more, really? I glanced at Kirito, he was staring at the two down there.

Kibou shouted. "Of course I mean them! The day this stupid ass game started, just up and vanished, right? They left all us beginners. They snagged all the good hunting spots. And they grabbed all the easy quests too! They were the only one's getting stronger here! This whole time they ignored us like we're nothing. Hell, I'll bet there's some of them here! Come on out, beta testers! We should make them apologize to us and make them give out their money and items they got. They can't expect the party to trust them, when they don't trust us. Why should we?"

I glared at the guy talking like he knew nothing. Kirito did help me and offered to help Klein. I bet there are other beta testers who did the same thing. Plus, Kirito was my friend. I could whatever Kibou was saying, was bothering him by the look on his face. He didn't know what he was talking about. I could also be the guilty party here since I was getting help from Kirito.

Another thing, I might have been quiet, but I didn't like others downing my friends and Kirito was that. I was about to stand up, but Kirito yanked on my shoulder, pushing me back down in my seat. I sent a look at him and whispered. "What?"

Kirito whispered back. "Don't draw attention to yourself. Sit down."

I whispered angrily. "He's a bastard, I don't want to listen to him. Your not-"

He pressed tighter on my shoulder to make sure I wouldn't stand up, then let go, sending me another look to keep quiet. I glared at the loud mouthed idiot in front of us, but gave Kirito a nod. It wouldn't be good if Kibou make them angry and I showed that Kirito was indeed a beta tester.

"Can I say something?"

I snapped my head up to look at the tall and bald, black guy who called. He stood up and walked toward the front. He said to Kibou, but everyone could hear him. "Hey, my name's Agil. Kibou, right? I want to make sure I'm on the same page. You say the ex-beta testers should pay for the rookie's death because they didn't help them and you want them to apologize and give up their winnings. Did I leave anything out?"

Kibou snapped. "No, you didn't."

Agil was reaching for something at his side and I saw a small brown book. I blinked, that was the book I found in my storage. It gave all sorts of helpful information.

Agil said. "This is in the items storage for free. It's a guidebook. You got it, didn't you?"

Kibou replied. "Sure, I got one. So, what about it?"

Agil replied back. "You know who was handing these out, the ex-beta testers."

I blinked back in shock, that was something I didn't know. The others around me were in shock. It made sense, only someone who played the game before would have information like that.

Agil held up the book. "Alright now, listen up. Everyone had excess to this information. Even so, lots of players still died. I didn't come here to point fingers at anyone. I'm here because I want to learn from those players deaths. I'm here because I want to find out how we're going to beat the boss."

Agil turned toward Kibou and thankfully he sat down. I understand he said all that, he hated and feared being stuck in this game and he wanted someone or something to blame. But we can't all be against one another if we want to get out, more so the people who have the most knowledge.

Diabel took the attention back to himself. "Okay, can we get back to the meeting now? For info on the boss, it's all in here, the latest issue of the Guidebook you just heard about."

Diabel opened it and said. "According to the book, it says the boss's name is Illfang the Colbolt Lord. Also, he'll be surrounded by his minions, the Ruin Colbolt Sentinals. Illfang carries an axe and buckler, he had four health bars and when the last one turns red he switches to a curved sword type weapon called a Talwar. It shows his patterns of attack too. That's it for the briefing. Money will be divided equally for everyone. The party that defeats the boss, gets the XP. And whoever gets the item, gets to keep it, any objections?"

I leaned back on my hands. Wow, that new update really helps. We can move up and get to Floor 2. I grinned at the thought. Everyone around me was talking.

"Good, we leave tomorrow at 10 am in the morning."

Everyone else started spreading out. I turned my head. "Hey, Asuna-where'd Asuna go?"

Kirito told me. "Asuna went that way."

I looked over to where he was pointing only to see Asuna's cloaked back disappear. "You want to look for her later."

Kirito stood up. "Sure, fine by me. C'mon." He held out a hand and I grabbed it, pulling myself up.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / /

It was late at night and me and Kirito were looking for Asuna. It was Kirito's idea and I didn't really care. I said. "Hey, why don't we seperate? We'll find her faster."

He nodded his head. "Good idea, I'll go this way."

I went in the opposite direction he did. I actually ran into Agil. I had to look up to see him. He looked down at me. "Hello, I saw you at the meeting. I'm Agil."

I nodded my head. "Yeah, I'm Dani, nice to meet you in person."

I held out a hand with a half smile and he shook mine, his hand was way bigger. He let go and I opened my mouth to say something, but a message popped up. "Uh, sorry, I..."

Agil smiled. "Don't worry about it, I'll see you tomorrow."

He walked off and I opened it, by clicking on it. It was a message from Kirito.

Dani, I just talked to Asuna, but she going to her own room. You don't have to look for her anymore. I'm going to mine, see you tomorrow.

Kirito

I closed it and decided to would go to sleep, I didn't want to be tired for tomorrow. I went to my room in the Inn and got some sleep.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Me and Kirito met up with Asuna after we woke up. It was weird not having to clean up like I would in the real world. I bought us each a breakfast sandwich. Asuna muttered. "Thank you."

Kirito said the same thing and looking curiously at the place we usually buy bread. I shook my head. "No."

Kirito blinked and tried to look innocent. "What?"

I raised an eyebrow. "We're not eating any more bread, I think I'll be sick of plain bread for life."

Asuna and Kirito both laughed at that. Though Kirito's was slightly teasing and Asuna sounded like our conversation amused her. We saw some of the other players from the meeting so we decided to follow them to the meeting point. It was early still, only about 9:30 am as my menu told me.

We we going through the forest and Kirito was talking about the plan for the three of us to kill the boss. Well, helping everyone else.

Kirito then said. "Let's go through this again. We're the back up. So our targets are going to be the bosses minons, the Ruin Kolbold Sentinals."

I felt myself look at him in annoyance, how many times does he have to go over a plan? Asuna nodded. "I know."

Kirito went on. "I'll use a sword skill to knock their weapons up and out of the way. When I do, switch and jump in. Dani, your our back up, either switch with us or just help out."

I nodded my head. "Sounds good."

Asuna asked, confused. "What's a switch?"

My head snapped to her's in surprise. "What? You don't know what it is?"

She shook her head, a frown on her lips. I shared a look with Kirito. He looked surprised himself. He asked/demanded. "Is this the first time you even been in a party?"

As she agreed with what he said, he slumping over. I chuckled. "You really got bad luck on plaining this for the first time"

Now, by looking at the way she acts, I don't think she's a gamer. Think about it, the first or so one you play turns out to be a death game. That has to be the worst luck. I patted Kirito on the soldier. "Come on, let's hurry up before we loose everyone."

I noticed we fell back from everyone else. We both caught up Asuna and the others.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / /

We were in the tower, in front of the door where the boss would be. I stood next to Kirito and Asuna as Diabel stood in front of everyone else. His sword was in front of him. Almost everyone from the meeting was here.

Diabel said loudly. "Listen up, everyone. I only got one thing to say to you. Let's win. Come on!"

He opened the doors and they creaked slowly. I walked forward a bit and saw Diabel walk forward. It was empty and I was confused. Until I saw a huge red mass. I walked down the long hallway, people in front of me and behind me. I flinched as the room changed color, splashes of random colors on the walls.

A huge red mass from before that had to be Illfang jumped down, huge with an axe and purple loincloth around his middle. A bright blue light shone and his minions showed up. There were three of them and they were in front of Illfang. I reached behind me, grabbed the hilt with my right hand, a slight scraping coming from the scabbard and steal.

I clenched my fist tightly around the hilt, feeling a nervous pit in my stomach. I had to do this, we had to beat this death game. With a new determined mind set, I was ready.

Diabel game out orders for the differnet squads. Diabel looked over at us. "Squads E, D and F keep those minions off of us!"

I gave a sharp nod and Kirito shouted. "You got it!"

My eyes widened in shock when Asuna dispatched a minion easily. "...She's good."

Kirito looked just as suprised as I was. I ran behind Asuna, attacking the minion that went to attack her from behind. Kirito didn't notice until I was running. I activated my sword skill, cutting the thing in half.

I looked and shouted. "Kirito, watch out!"

He was paying attention though and killed it easily. I smiled to myself, this is amazing. It's thrilling...I don't know how to explain it. I heard a roar and spun on my heel, Illfang was on his last health bar. Now, it's going to switch to a talwar.

I stayed tense as it threw up it's weapons. Diabel came running. "Stand back, I got it!"

I blinked in shock. "What is he doing?"

Kirito shook his head. "I don't know, I thought the plan was for everyone in the group to surround it."

Suddenly Kirito shouted. "It's no good, get out of there."

I snapped my head around, cutting through the minion Kirito was fighting since he was distracted by Diabel. "What is it? Kirito, answer me, dammit!"

I watched horrified as Diabel was cut down by Illfang. I stumbled back a step in shock. Illfang roared. Kirito ran after the fallen leader, but I stayed where I was. I was circling all around Illfang, but I couldn't find an opening that wouldn't get me killed. I heard a shattering sound that made me jump away from Illfang and for a moment shut my eyes tightly, doing my best to drive away the stinging I knew to be tears.

I never saw a human-a player die in this game. Only animals, mimi bosses and NPC's. I whiped a hand across my eyes to clear my vision. I couldn't start crying, we needed to defeat this guy.

I clenched my fist tighter on the hilt, my knuckles white.

Kirito stood up and I slid to his left and Asuna came to his right.

Asuna said. "I'll go too."

I nodded. "You can count me in."

"Okay. We'll hit him just like we did the minions!"

We ran forward. I activated my sword skill, striking his blade and then skidding to the right, dodging a fatal blow. Kirito did the same thing. Kirito moved, calling to Asuna. "Switch!"

I circled as she attacked, looking for an opening. Illfang went to slash her. I and Kirito shouted. "Asuna!"

I sighed in relief as only her cloak was hit to show a girl with long ornage like hair and eyes. I ran to the right, opposite her. I called, a sudden plan hitting me. "You attack from the back!"

I turned to the front, using the skill and attacking at his side, the same time Asuna hit his back. He was still alive. KIrito shouted. "He's coming back!"

The three of us ran forward. My eyes widened in horror as Kirito was hit. Asuna caught him and I ran behind Asuna talking the fall. I coughed and they both got off. I quickly looked at Kirito's health bar and saw it still in the green, but it shrunk down a good amount.

I raised my sword at Illfang above us, but I was still on my back. I let out a harsh laugh as Agil saved us and pushed it back.

Agil grinned at us. "We can hold this bastard back until you health's back up."

I nodded. "My health's fine."

I jumped up, hearing Asuna call. "Wait."

I turned toward the fight. "Sorry, gotta go." I ran after the others, joining in on the fight. I attacked downward, but he blocked, forcing me to back up or be slashed.

I covered my head as he jumped, pushing the other players back.I saw Kirito knock it down.

Kiroto ran forward. "Asuna, Dani. Help me beat this sucker, one last attack!"

I shouted, running forward. "Got it!"

Asuna yelled something simular. Asuna blocked while I hit a solid attack on his side. I ducked down when I heard Kirito scream loudly from behind me. He slashed it around the middle, making it roar in defeat and die.

I grinned as I saw the Congradulations above us. For a moment I raised my hands and cheered with everyone. We did it, we beat the first boss and I helped. I saw Kirito on one knee on the ground, panting. I was breathing heavy too, but he looked worse.

I looked around for Asuna and saw her walking forward with Agil. I walked with them to him. I saw he got the bonus. Asuna said. "Nice job."

Agil nodded. "That was some fine swordsmanship, we owe the win to you."

I grinned some more. "Yeah, real badass."

Kirito smiled slightly and then he frowned a bit, shaking his head. "No, I-"

The other players were cheering his on. I smiled to myself, now we have Floor 2.

"Stop cheering!"

I frowned at Kibou's voice, whatever he wants to say it can't be good. I still kept my sword in my hand.

Kibou said, voice thick on emotion. "Why'd you do it, huh? Why'd you let Diabel die?!"

My eyes snapped to his. What?!

Kirito repeated. "Let him die?"

Kibou shouted. "That's what I said! Admit it, you knew the technice the boss was gonna use. You could've told us! Then Diabel would've stood a chance. He wouldn't of had to die."

I shook my head, pointing my sword slightly. "That's the most idiotic thing I've heard. People die in this game, dammit! 2,000 if you haven't forgotten! Diabel rushed in, it's no one's fault!"

My shyness around people disappeared when I was defending a friend.

One guy shouted. "What do you know? You're with him, I know how he knew. He's a Beta Tester! He knew the bosses attack patterns! He knew, but he kept it from us! And I bet he's not the only beta tester here! You, you defended him! You're one!"

I shook my head, feeling angry. "No, I'm not! I just defending him because your ideas are bullshit and anyone with a brain shouldn't listen to you."

He was glaring at me in a way that showed he was about ready to brawl with me. I adjusted my sword better as the crowd muttered back and forth.

I felt a small hand on my shoulder and saw Asuna there, looking at me worriedly. "Be calm."

I shook my head a bit, glaring some more, but back up. Agil was doing the same with other players.

Suddenly my shoulders tensed as I heard a creepy, mocking laugh that sounded like Kirito. His laughed went on for a moment and said, his voice rougher. "So, you guys think I used to be a beta tester. It's not cool to put me in the same class as those noobs."

I frowned, what's he trying to pull?

Kibou shouted. "What'd you say?!"

"You heard me, one of the thousand people who scored a slot in SAO beta were rookies. They were so green they didn't even know how to level up. Hell, even you guys were better then they were. But me, I'm nothing like those guys, man. During the beta, I made it to floors that were higher than any of the other testers. That's a fact. I knew about the boss cause I fought tons of monsters with way more sword skills with higher floors. I know a bunch of other things too, more than you can imagine, more than any info broker."

I was frozen in shock at the dark amused smirk on his face. There had to be something. I've known Kirito for a month and once I make friends, well, it hard for me not to be friends with them. I don't believe Kirito would, I mean...

I shook my head sharply. I mumbled. "What the hell?"

Kibou said. "If that's true, your worse than a beta tester, your a goddamn cheater, that's what you are!"

People started yelling and I slid my sword behind me, my hands free.

"He's not a beta tester, he's a beater!"

I just can't believe this, he's my friend. People just don't have attitude changes in a minute. I doesn't happen.

Kirito said arrogantly. "A beater, that's good. I like it. Okay, you can call me a beater. Just don't confuse me with those beta testers anymore." He used his menu to put on a ankle length black coat.

I raised an eyebrow, still confused. What was the point of that?

Kirito walked off, going up the stairs, about to leave. I shook myself out of the shock and followed Asuna, who followed Kirito. I then realized something. Kibou starting shit, the confusion, Kirito acting like some type of bad guy. I almost slapped a hand to my forehead, why didn't I see it before? What Kirito just pulled was a stereotypical bad guy move from a movie or game.

So, he's doing this as an excuse because he wants to go solo or he's being a matyr? Whatever it is, he's still my friend, but I also don't want to throw his plan out the window. He must of did it for a reason.

Asuna called. "Wait."

Kirito stopped. Asuna said. "When we were fighting the boss, you called me by my name."

"I wasn't trying to be rude. Did I mess up the pronunciation?"

"How'd you ever know it?"

I almost stumbled, staring at Asuna with disbelief.

Kirito explained it to her and she saw his name.

She sounded it out, saying his name. Asuna laughed. "I'm so dumb, it was there the whole time, I never knew."

"You can become powerful here on our own. But if the day comes when someone you trust asks you to join a guild, don't turn it down. Because they're limits to what a solo player can do."

"But your solo."

He dissolved our party. I spoke up, my voice quiet. "Kirito, I don't know the exact reason did that scene, but...your still my friend. I trust you."

His shoulders tensed. "Thank you, you too should find a guild, your getting stronger, use what I taught you."

With those parting words, Kirito walked off. People were moving away and leaving. Asuna asked me. "So, what are you going to do, now?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know, go solo for a while, maybe meet a guild. Try my best to help beat this damn game."

Asuna eyes locked on mine. "So, your leaving and going solo, like Kirito?"

I smirked a bit, letting out a laugh, shaking my head. "I guess, though I won't have beater on my shoulders. Here."

I opened my menu and Dissolved our party. I rolled my shoulders and Asuna asked me before I could leave. "Is there a way for me to see you or something like that if I wanted to?"

I shrugged. "I could you to my friends list if you want."

She gave me a nod and I sighed to myself, request for her to be my friend, which she excepted.

As I left I noticed something from my friends list.

Kirito didn't remove himself from mine.

/ / / / / / /

The next day I got ready to go Floor 2, I was going to beat this game, I wouldn't let it beat me or kill me without a fight.

That took a bit longer than I expected. It was because think about all the stuff I had to do IRL along with slight writers block.

Thank you for the favorites and follows.