So it has been a month since everyone was trapped in the game. It's also been awhile since Dusk had seen Kirito and the took me a whole month to get to the next town. Since, then people have been dying left and right. It's been… terrible.
Dusk, however, has mixed feeling about being stuck in this game. On one hand, she was glad that since she is stuck, she didn't have to deal with my parents. On the other hand, It sucked that she had to fight for her life every moment of the day.
Dusk sighed heavily on the though on what is happening. "At least I'm a higher level to survive then some players here." She thought. "I wonder if the others are here as well as walked into the town." So she decided to walk around the town and get some things like potions and other things. As well as getting herself something to eat. As she was walking gazed at her items, something that she hasn't done since she left the Town of Beginnings, and she has gotten some pretty decent items.
As she was walked, she began to eavesdrop on some conversations. One conversation in particular, actually. "You guys heard about the one group that found the boss room already." she heard some guy say.
"Really. I don't believe it. We definitely get out of the game faster." another said
When she heard that, she just paid it no mind. Then she saw people sitting in a coliseum.
"Wonder what's up?" Dusk thought. She decided to see exactly what was up. She stood behind a pillar to hear what's happening, and, when she peeked out, she saw both Kirito and Shadow.
"Okay, people! Now that everyone's here, let's get this meeting anyway, I want to thank everyone for coming. Good to see name is Diabel, and in this game, the job I rolled is knight! A group had already found the boss room." Diabel said
"So it is true." Dusk thought to herself as she munched on sandwich
"Dude, there's no job system in this game!" A guy yelled in the crowd.
"You guys want to hear this or not? Right, anyway here's the deal. Our party found the boss room at the top of the tower today. First, we need to defeat the boss and make it to Floor next step is we have to tell everyone waiting 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?! Okay, glad to hear you're 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. A typical party doesn't stand a chance against a floor need a raid group made up of multiple parties." Diabel said
Players walking around forming into parties. While players were forming parties, Dusk was able to see Kilen as well. Of course Shadow and Kirito are going to be a party, but she was surprised to see a girl in a red cloak and Faith follow them. Suddenly, Dusk has a funny idea. She decided to send a message to Kirito. When they received the message, he began to look around for Dusk like a madman. Then she sent another message to him, telling him to have them meet her at the pub to talk after the meeting. Then Dusk walked away, heading to the town pub. Hours passed as she sat and waited for them. Just as she was getting tired of waiting, she heard a voice call out.
"Long time no see." said Kirito, walking up. Standing next to him was Shadow, Faith, and the girl wearing red cloak.
"When did you get into town Dusk?" Shadow asked her as he sat across from Dusk with Faith and red-cloak girl, and Kirito sat Dusk.
"Yea it's been only a month since I saw you guys and I got into town around noon. So how's things going. I heard that a group found a boss room. I heard about when I got things. Do you guys know what group found it?" Dusk asked.
"I know who found it." red-cloak said said
Dusk looked at her. "What's your name."
"Asuna, and it was Ren's group." Asuna replied
"Dusk?" Kirito asked.
"Yea what's your question there bud." Dusk asked, sitting back in my seat.
"How did you know where we were? Also where were you?" asked Kirito asked.
"I was behind a pillar when I messaged you. It was freaking hilarious." She laughed remembered what happened earlier.
"No it wasn't funny Dusk!" Kirito yelled
Dusk started to laugh like mad. Honestly this is the first time she had laugh this hard in a very long time.
Shadow shook his head. "So when we beat this game I'm going to stay away for a while. Or I may be dead before I beat this I'm going to be alive I'm going to find another game to play. Or I'm going to see a therapist." Shadow said, leaning back in his seat.
"You are not going to die, Shadow. You are a good player." Dusk said
"Well you never know what's going to happen." Shadow replied.
"You'll never know when you're going to die. You may be alive one minute and then the next minute you're dead." Asuna agreed.
They all talked for another few hours, and all separated to get some rest. In that time, Dusk joined the party for the raid the next morning.
The next morning, as everyone prepared for the walk to the boss room, Dusk sat there quiet, not speaking to anyone.
The walk to the boss dungeon was a lengthy one. One of the bad parts of this game.
When we finally arrived, everyone stood around Divael in a semicircle.
He began to speak, but Shadow couldn't hear anything but the blood rushing in his ears.
Asuna nervously looked at him.
"Are you okay?" she whispered to Shadow.
He swallowed hard, and nodded. "I'll be fine. We just need to stick to the plan."
Asuna nodded. "Yea, we will be fine."
The doors opened, and we could see Illfang sitting in his throne. He rose to feet, and charged at us, spawning his Kobol minions to attack us.
"Charge!" Divael cried out, and they all charged forward with a great roar.
Shadow ran alongside Kibaou, and when he entered a bladelock with the minion, Shadow flipped over his head, activating Sonic Leap slaying the Kobol.
Shadow then retreated back to my party, and began to fight alongside Kirito and Dusk. Dusk had her sword drawn, with an angry snarl twisting her features. She then activated Rage Spike and drove her sword through three of the Kobols surrounding us.
When we cleared the Kobols, they all heard Illfang roar, and dropped his axe and shield. He then drew a-
Nodachi!?
"That's not a Talwar!" Faith shouted.
They watched in horror as Diavel ran at Illifang by himself, activating a skill they didn't recognize, and the look of horror on his face as he realized that Illfang wasn't holding the expected weapon, and he leaped into the air, using a completely different combo then he did in the beta.
Unsurprisingly, Divael was torn to shreds, but Shadow and Dusk could only feel a little remore. He was a beta tester, after all. They knew that, because they recognized him from the beta, and the selfish man was trying to get the Last Attack bonus.
Kirito ran over to Divael, and everyone seemed to freeze in place.
Shadow shook his head. "Come on!" He shouted, and charged forward, Dusk beside him. Behind them, they could hear the rest of the people coming out of their stupors, and run after Shadow and Dusk, yelling.
Dusk and Shadow attacked Illfang, as he swiped people aside left and right. After ducking a pretty severe swipe to our heads, Dusk spotted saw Kirito jump in, deflecting the strike. Then Asuna ran in, and attacked Illifang, who swiped at her, destroying her cape, leaving Kirito in obvious awe (was this the first time he saw her without her cape?) They continued this combo until Illfang got a pretty good shot on Kirito, throwing him back onto Asuna. They both landed on the floor, stunned, with Illfang towering over them, going in for a killing blow.
"No!" Dusk screamed, and she shot forward, with Faith and Shadow not too far behind. Before any of them could get there, however, Agil jumped in, parrying the strike, and knocking Illfang off balance.
Shadow caught up to Dusk, and together, they tackled Illfang, actually managing to knock him off his feet. Dusk began to repeatedly stab him, and Shadow leaped high into the air, focusing my energy to activate a sword skill. As he hovered in the air, he could see Illfang on his feet again, as Kirito and Dusk tore through it's sides. Their blades were halfway through Illfang when Shadow activated Vorpal Strike rocketing towards Illfang, slamming right into his head.
Illfang compressed inwards, and exploded into a ball of light. Shadow was unable to change the direction he was moving, so he slammed into the floor headfirst. As he lay there, dazed, Shadow could hear the cheers of the other players, then arguing, and he could see a faint white box above him.
"That's right I am a Beater. From now on, don't confuse me with the other testers." Kirito declared.
"What's going on?" Shadow struggled to his feet, and he could see Kibaou pointing directly into his face.
"What about this one? And the small one?" Kibaou shouted.
"They are all beaters!" someone shouted. Shadow looked over and saw Chasi glaring at me distrustfully. "I know that one! He's a beater too! And their friend!"
Shadow looked at Dusk, who was glaring dangerously into the crowd, holding a new sword, a red blade with a white X engraved into the blade, and then at Kirito, who had on a black jacket. He glanced at them. "Sorry guys."
Dusk shook her head. "It's unavoidable. Hell yea we are with him!" She shouted. "Shadow, Kirito, and I, we are all Beaters, and undoubtedly the strongest people in the game!"
In the meantime, Shadow was equipping his new item, the Anneal Coat, which was a gray and blue jacket with studs of metal on the on the shoulders and down the seams on the front. Shadow swung my blade in a circle, and inserted it into the sheath at his side.
"You guys will be lost without us." Shadow declared, and turned to leave, Dusk and Kirito following suit.
The three of them had walked up the stairs, which were the portal to the next floor, when Asuna stopped Kirito, and Ren stopped Dusk. Faith called out for Shadow.
"Hey, Dusk." Ren said, gazing at Dusk.
"Do I know you?" Dusk asked.
"What? Yes! We've seen each other multiple times this last month!"
Dusk shook her head. "Nope. Don't remember. Guess I didn't care, or you didn't catch my eye. Anyways, peace." She walked away.
"God Damn it, Dusk!"
"Shadow!" Faith called.
Shadow sighed, turned, and walked down to her. "What a nice friend you have there." He told her.
She sighed. "Ignore Chasi. You are welcomed among us. All of you are."
Shadow shook his head. "You know that isn't true, Faith." Shadow saw the names on the top of his HUD disappear, meaning someone had dissolved the party. "I have to go, Faith. I will see you around."
"Shadow!" She called out, and he hesitated. "Shadow, what about our group?"
"Faith… for your reputation, and Asuna's, it is probably for the best they you aren't seen around me."
"Shadow, I don't care about my reputation!"
"I do, Faith. Reputation will get you in a good guild, and it will help you survive. Faith, I will see you again, and soon, but as of right now…" He turned away. "I have to go. Farewell."
"Shadow!" She cried out, but he kept walking. At the top of the stairs, he went to his inventory, and, clicking Faith's name, Shadow sent a weapon to her, attaching it as a gift with a note. Shadow sent her his spare Anneal Blade, which was maxed out. It was much better then the weapon she was using, which was still the default sword at LV 6.
Shadow waited for her to accept the note, and he walked to Kirito and Dusk, who were waiting for me.
"What did Ren want?" Shadow asked Dusk.
She shook her head, her lips pursed. "Nothing useful." She answered shortly.
"You guys ready?" Kirito asked.
They both nodded, and Kirito, Shadow, and Dusk all walked out together.
Faith opened the letter, and saw, alongside the sword, a note saying
"You WILL Survive This World!"
