Hello everyone! I know it's been forever, but here I have an update for you! I am sorry that it has been a long time for updates but I have been working for finding a job and getting into a college, I'll do my best to get posts out! But now I'm working hard to get more updates out so that I can get to the raid! Anyway, do enjoy the read, sorry for lack of action in the story, I promise to excite with the raid!

Its been little less than a month sense this game has began... a large amount of players nearing 2000 have lost this game of death, 300 among them having been beta testers. This, now the first of the month of December, people still work to find and gain access to the next floor, but first, the boss...

(December 1st - Talbana Town - Bar)

"Are they really devising a raid meeting?" Hero asked as he looked at Luna, Celina, and Aaron. "I mean, are they seriously working out a raid meeting for the dungeon boss?"

"That's what I heard..." Luna said calmly. "Someone named Diabel is setting the meeting up."

"Should we go...?" Celina asked looking to the others.

"Go if you want, I'm not..." Aaron said with a sigh.

"Why not...?" Hero asked. "You of all people should be there, I'm certain you could lead the raid to a success,"

"That's just it, it wouldn't be a challenge to me," Aaron said with a sigh. "You've seen the news lay out, the player level average is around 10, I'm in the upper percentile, it's more of the fact that I could beat the raid, I want it to be more a challenge... I'm gonna hit it after the raid."

"Why do that...?" Luna asked confused. "I thought the floor bosses didn't respawn."

"I heard they do, but only a day or so after they get beaten, and that the next floors teleport gate needs to be active," Aaron said. "I also heard the boss may change their battle pattern,"

"So... You want to wait for it to be a better challenge?" Luna asked trying to come to sense of her friends choices.

"That's right," Aaron said standing and stretching.

"But that's dangerous..." Celina said with a worried tone. "What if something ends up happening...?"

"I don't plan on taking it on alone Celina, that'd be stupid, I sent out that the boss will respawn after a day and the gate is active, I'm pretty sure people won't be too keen on it but it'll be worth a challenge to gain their strengths and show their own might in being able to get stronger." Aaron said calmly. "I'm gonna head to the tower and grind,"

"You were already complaining about how you were too strong, what's the point in going back there now?" Luna asked.

"They haven't found the door yet, I am going to find it and send the info to whoever wants it." Aaron said with a sigh. "Plus I figured I'd try and find some good new gear,"

"Alright..." Hero said giving a nod. "I think I'm gonna check that meeting out."

"Okay, if you do go with the group I hope you'll consider coming down a floor and help me with my raid." Aaron said as he walks off.

"You're fully planning on helping him anyway aren't you Hero?" Luna asked.

"Yup, I'm not going to participate in the dungeon raid at all, not until I can go with Aaron at it," Hero said.

"You and Aaron are a lot like brothers, you know that Hero?" Celina said with a small giggle. As she stood up from her booth with Luna, Lilika accidently walked forward bumping into her. "I'm sorry!"

"No it's okay, I wasn't paying attention, don't worry about it," Lilika said trying to calm Celina before noticing Hero. "Oh hey Hero, been a small while,"

"Yeah it has, girls, this is that person I told you about earlier, this is Lilika," Hero said as he stood. "Lilika, these are two of my friends, they're Luna and Celina, they're both twins,"

"Appearance wise by their faces spare their eye color I can tell," Lilika said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, why're you both wearing helmets now?" Hero asked.

Both girls giggled to each other before taking their helmets off showing that Celina's hair was now a bright pink and laid out in curls and Luna's hair was now only shoulder length and was jet black.

"I see, you did say you were gonna get hair change," Hero said with a chuckle. "Your new styles suit you well, both of you."

"Thanks Hero," Celina said with a shy blush.

"I figured it'd set me well apart from her, now we both can have our individual lives here for while we can and not be mistaken for the other." Luna said calmly.

"You both look good, if Hero hadn't told me I never would have figured that you were twin sisters, sisters maybe, but not twins," Lilika said with a chuckle. "Hey Hero, you planning on being at the meeting tomorrow?"

"We were actually just talking about that and I was, but I don't think I'm gonna do the raid," Hero said calmly.

"Why not?" Lilika asked. "I mean I'm not either, but why wouldn't you? You're pretty strong."

"I know but it's just that I want to be able to hone my skills a bit more, our other friend is actually gonna try and do the raid again after it's completed, he says the boss will be back and be stronger," Hero said.

"Really? You know I may help you out there," Lilika said with a smile. "My Swift Strike could come in handy,"

"That it could," Hero said with a smile.

"Swift Strike? Is that a weapon or a skill?" Luna asked.

"A skill, I learned it while out in the tower with Hero a couple days back," Lilika said as she tapped the hilt of her sword. "Essentially I prepare a normal skill but after I perform it my attack powers right back up again and I can do it once more, so if I can use it once in a parry to stun my opponent I can do it once more to attack again,"

"Man that's cool! I wish I could do that!" Luna said happily and excitedly.

"It definitely sounds like you'd have a powerful attack to use." Celina said with a smile. "I'm sorry that we have to go but Luna and I were gonna go grind in the forest area a bit."

"It's alright girls, keep your gear prepped and ready and be safe," Hero said with a nod.

"We will," Luna said as she and Celina walked off.

"Any plans Hero?" Lilika asked.

"Not at the moment," Hero said with a shrug. "My only main plans this week is the meeting and the secondary raid,"

"Wanna go and grind with me then?" Lilika asked as she sent Hero a party invite.

"Sure thing partner," Hero said accepting the invite. "Where're we gonna go?"

"I was thinking of the tower, but I think the canyon would be good for now, what do you say?" Lilika asked.

"Sounds good." Hero said as the two took their leave of the tavern.

Plans of a raid and an assault and the boss of the first floor, but for now the players of Aincrad prepare and build their strengths in order to insure a victory where everyone can survive and carry on...

(First Floor Tower - 5th floor - 12:30 PM)

Deep within the tower the sounds of metal meeting metal can be heard echoing, among them are the steps of players and the different cries of the monsters, in a large room area Aaron is found calling out for more monsters to come his way. Greatly his calls are met with various sizes of hordes coming for him to do away with him, but within minutes he is able to cleave away his opponents but his health always ends up lower and lower than his last encounter.

Further off from the heavy attacking warrior, two players were off in the floors safe zone resting from a recent escape attempt.

One of the players was a 17 year old girl, she had long blond hair reaching to her middle back though it was tied back in a ponytail with a red ribbon, her eyes were a calm icy light blue color. Her armor at the moment consisted of a dark blue pair of pants, a black pair of shoes and a dark grey tank top, on her tank-top was her light chest armor, over all this was a dark grey cloak that covered a good part of her body, a hood was loosely on her head, around her waist was a pair of leather belts.

The other player was a 15 year old boy, he had gold eyes and forest green hair laying just over his ears, he was in a dark green shirt and a light pair of pants, his armor consisted of a white cloak that had light blue waves going along it, on his chest was a normal chest armor, at the back of his waist was a simple katana.

"Zero I'm so sorry..." the girl said with tears in her eyes.

"Katalina it's okay, don't worry, we just got swarmed a bit," Zero said with a sigh but branded a smile. "Honestly you getting out of there when you did was a good idea, your health got low and it showed we were really out matched."

"B-But..." Katalina said with a whimper and a sniffle. "I could have gotten you killed..."

"Don't worry, I'm a fast player and I know my ways around," Zero said calmly patting Katalina's back. "I'll protect you, we gotta get stronger if we want to get through here,"

"You're right..." Katalina said calmly trying to calm down. "Thank you Zero, I appreciate it,"

"No problem," Zero said with a smile. "A lot of Beta Testers just bailed and left these new players to their own devices and practically for dead... I'm not gonna do that... I owe it to these players to make sure they survive this and get back home"

"Everything okay Zero? You spaced out..." Katalina said as she stood up.

"Huh? Oh, yeah I'm alright, just thinking to myself," Zero said standing. "You doing okay now?"

"Yeah..." Katalina said with a small smile.

"You haven't healed yet..." Zero said as he put his hand on her shoulder, in a moment both glowed a light blue. Over a few minutes Zero's health bar began to decrease to about half while Katalina's came to full.

"I still don't know how you can do that..." Katalina said as she dug a health potion on. "Here... you healed me, let me heal you..."

"Thank you," Zero said as he took and drank the potion restoring his health. "So... neither of us have Return Crystals, so shall we start back down the tower...?"

"Yeah... I'm sorry I wasn't much help to you Zero... I know you wanted to help find the boss room for the meeting tomorrow..." Katalina said with a sigh.

"It's okay, we did our part, there's still others looking with Diabel," Zero said calmly.

The two started to walk off towards the safe zones exit but stopped when Aaron slowly walked in panting hard.

"Hey are you okay...?" Zero asked rushing over to Aaron helping him up.

"I-I'm fine..." Aaron said panting.

"You have barely 15% of your max health, you are not fine!" Zero said sternly sitting Aaron down in the safe zone. "Maybe I could just a little... his health is much greater than mine... maybe 50% will stabilize him enough..."

"Here mister... use this..." Katalina said giving Aaron a health potion.

"Thanks..." Aaron said with a sigh taking the potion and using it restoring his health to 25% before his Battle Health skill kicked in slowly healing him. "I got careless..."

"What're you doing here?" Zero asked.

"Looking for the boss gate, I appreciate your help but I must be going." Aaron said standing.

"Wait, how about we come along...?" Zero asked standing.

"No thanks..." Aaron said calmly.

"But... if there were more then we could find it faster..." Katalina said standing herself earning a quick look from Zero.

"I didn't figure she'd suggest that..." Zero said to himself. "She's right though, there are power in numbers,"

"Fine... I'm Aaron," Aaron said with a sigh as party invite came up from Zero. Letting out a sigh he accepted it. Quickly looking up out of the corner of his vision the other two appeared on his screen before turning to them. "Zero, Katalina,"

"That's right," Zero said calmly.

"It's nice to meet you Aaron," Katalina said calmly.

"Yeah, lets go," Aaron said leading the group to the next floors staircase.

For several hours the group climbed through the tower, occasionally stopping but usually for only a few minutes. Aaron pretty much led the whole thing but occasionally Katalina and Zero would cover and save him with quick and precise attacks. Zero using a reverse handed style was able to quickly block and parry before delivering a precise kill. Katalina would usually stay back only occasionally attacking, but whenever she did at a full health enemy they would instantly fall and die.

It wasn't very long before they ended up on the highest floor to the tower's dungeon.

"Shouldn't be long before we find the dungeon door... we've been all over this dungeon and there aren't anymore stairs..."

"Uh huh..." Aaron said barely listening while mapping the level. "Next turn up ahead."

"Hey Aaron... is everything okay...?" Katalina asked.

"Yeah... just... I want the raid to go well..." Aaron said with a sigh.

"Are you part of the search group like us?" Zero asked.

"No, I soloed here grinding my way," Aaron said.

"Then why are you looking for the door...?" Katalina asked.

"I found other groups completely lost, so I decided I'd find the door, I'm gonna send Diabel my map data afterwards, then the day after the raid I'm gonna run it again,"

"Why...?" Zero asked confused.

"Are you gonna run the raid?" Aaron asked stopping and turning to the both of them.

"No..." Zero said while Katalina shook her head.

"Then why continue? If you're not willing to test your might why try and go this far?" Aaron said sternly. "I'm running it again so that I can grow stronger."

"I see..." Zero said. "How does he know about the boss respawns...? It's only a solid rare occasion, most of us Beta's didn't bother going back... but it was still a possible means..."

"Aaron... you've helped us to find this boss... could we help you in your raid? We both work with fast attacks so we could help greatly..." Katalina asked.

"Yeah, let us properly repay you for helping us move forward," Zero asked.

Giving a smile, Aaron's form calmed. "Thank you, both of you, I appreciate your aid," Aaron looked back to the hall stepping towards the turn coming to see a giant door. "There it is,"

Both Katalina and Zero ran over to Aaron and smiled running to the door. "We found it!" Katalina said happily.

"We can keep moving forward!" Zero said.

"That's right," Aaron said finishing the map before sending it in a message to Diabel with notice that Zero and Katalina were the ones that found it. "Congrats, I probably couldn't have gotten here without either of you, this discovery is your own victory,"

"We couldn't have done it without you Aaron," Zero said calmly as a message from Aaron came up to both him and Katalina. "A friend request?"

"Yeah, if you both ever need help and I can, I'll be there," Aaron said calmly as he pulls out three Return Crystals giving one to each of them.

"heh, thanks, we don't have any," Zero said with a soft laugh as he took his and Katarina took hers after accepting Aaron's friend request.

"I figured, see you both around," Aaron said as he used his before the other two used theirs.

The First Floor boss has been found, and the friendship around Aaron grows. In the coming days the assault on the first floor boss will begin, but how well will it all go...?

Well I hope that you all enjoy this update! I'm still accepting any players, but only until the raid is posted, after that you have to ask me directly through a PM, also, if you could to any already sent players, could I get a low level armor and equipment form in case I do bring them in during low levels of the game so that their equipment still stands reasonable during the level. I'd greatly appreciate it, anyway, I do hope you enjoy this update and the rest of the coming story!

Also, I want your opinions, with Sword Art Online up into Sword Art Online II, and about to enter the Caliber ark if I'm correct (I watch the series with Japanese language and english subtitles and I look at posts to keep up with things), but anyway, there are many games after Sword Art Online was cleared, would you all like me to continue the story into ALO and GGO as their own stories or as continuations on this story in new Ark areas? I'd love your opinions. Anyway I hope you like the update and that you all will review, Thank you everyone! ^^