Dark's Party has found the fifth floor boss door, how will they handle this unexpected event?

Chapter 8 Online

"Dark are you absolutely sure that the fifth floor boss is through this door?" Sienna asked.

"If you don't trust me, then look at Rocky." He was growling with his teeth bared, he knew something was in there "That should be proof enough. What should be done now?"

Lea spoke "I don't think we are a match for it ourselves. We had trouble with the Guardian just now."

"That is true...but if we leave it might be discovered before we set up a group and all our planing would be wasted."

Just then I heard other voices coming. I turned to the doorway we came through and 5 people came in wearing the white armor of The Knights Of The Blood Oath. They noticed us and came up to us.

The one in charged asked me "Why are you here?"

I answered "We found this place and we decided to see what was here."

"How long have you been here for?"

"Why should I continue to answer your foolish questions?"

He seemed a little annoyed "You do realize I am a member of The-"

"I am aware of what guild you are from, but that doesn't give you permission to suddenly start asking people questions and expect them to give you answers."

"You are denying to answer our questions then?"

"I will answer only the questions I chose too."

"Fine. Have you found anything that we should know about?"

"There is something around here, But you should be able to feel it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Beyond this door is the boss."

"The boss of the fifth floor is through here?"

"Yes, it is."

The one in charge looked at the ones behind him "We have to go and report this."

"So, you are going to take credit for our find." I said flatly.

"If you tell us who you are we can tell our guild, not that it makes much difference, we're only on the fifth floor."

"You're right, it doesn't make much difference, but what if I tell you, I'm not just going to stay put and let your guild take credit for killing every boss. By the time and your guild arrive back, this boss will be defeated."

The whole group in front of me looks surprised "Are you saying you are going to defeat this boss with only your three member party?"

"We have four, including the wolf."

"That doesn't matter, you will all quickly be defeated!"

I smirk a little "Then fight with us. Then we might be able to beat it."

"We're only a scouting party! If we were to disobey our mission and fight with you, then we could be kicked from the guild, for not following orders!"

"All right go back and tell them then."

He doesn't move, and starts to think. After a moment he says "Fine...we can't let players go straight into death. We'll come with you."

"But sir we were ordered to-" One of the other started

"I know what we were ordered, but we can't let them risk their lives."

I smile to myself thinking, he doesn't care if we die, he only wants some credit of beating the boss.

I turn to Sienna "Can I see the guide book for a moment?"

"Um, Sure. Here you go." She hands me the book and I flip through it until I find the spot I want.

"The boss pages. The boss is known as Dragoon, The Dungeon Ruler. When you first fight him he will stay on the ground, once at half life it will start to fly." I close the book "That's all I need to know."

The leader of the scouting group looked at me "That's hardly anything! You only know the name and what happens when it reaches half health!"

"That's more then enough, besides I'm sure you'll fill me in if needed." I turn towards the boss door and push it open.

"I will not fill you-"

"Quiet. We are entering a boss area." I walk in first, followed by Sienna, Rocky, Lea and the guild members, in that order. We enter a open roofed big round room. We walk into the middle and nothing appears.

"Is nothing here?" Just then a large shadow comes over us, I look up and see a huge figure coming down "Everyone move!" I move out of the shadow and so does everyone else. The figure hit the ground, making a cloud of dust, I looked up and when the dust cleared, A giant Rainbow scaled dragon stood in front of me. It had four half bars and just like the guide book had said, on the health bars it read Dragoon The Dungeon Ruler.

"Prepare yourselves!" I was right in front of me, Lea and Rocky were on the left of it, Sienna on the right and the Blood Oath members were scattered around it. I already had my sword and shield ready. It looked around, Let out a loud roar and it attacked

I avoided the sharp clawed foot that was coming down towards me, but it's claws wouldn't the only thing it could attack with, it was also using it's tail to attack anyone behind it. Lea was shooting it from afar, Sienna was moving in quick you an attack then moving back and all the member of the guild, who were equipped with bow and swords were shooting it, arrow didn't do much to it. Attack from close front or behind there is a chance you will b e hit, attack from a distance not much of a chance to be hit. The only safe place to attack from close is the side...until it turns and attacks you. I move to it's side and try to slash it but it's scales are too hard. I get an idea and I roll under it and stab into it's underbelly, my sword enters it's flesh. It let's out a roar and I move from under it.

"It's weak point is the underbelly, aim for there if you can!" It spun to me and tried to grab me in it's jaws, I moved and then stabbed the sword into it's upper mouth, It roared again and swung it's claws at me, I defended but it hit my sword and shield away from me. I ran and grabbed them before it could hit me again, I looked at it's health, 2 in a half bars already, we could really win this. I ran towards it and rolled under it, but this time instead of stabbing it and rolling away, I stabbed it and pulled the sword across it's stomach and then moved. It let out another roar and then start flapping it wings make a lot of wind and hitting us all back.

I got up and saw it, now that it was flying, it was not going to be easy to hit.

"It's taken to the air, aim for the underbelly with your bows!" Me and Sienna were almost useless against flying enemies, we had no ranged weapons, we only used our blades. Sienna must have had a plan because she ran to the five guild members and told them something then to Lea and told her. The arrows stopped going for the underbelly and start for the unscaled wings, Of course! Hitting the wings enough would bring it down. Dragoon didn't seem to like that because it flapped it wings in a enraged way, creating wind going in all directions, we were all thrown around a bit. I sat up and saw Lea and Sienna were together, Rocky was near 4 members of the guild and I was near the leader. Dragoon was charging up a blast.

"Hey, what's that?" I asked the group leader.

"Oh-no! That's it's Rainbow Fury! It ignores all items that give defence, it hits and still does a lot of damage!"

"Who is it aiming at." I followed the way it was facing, it was aimed at Lea and Sienna! They were just sitting up, by the time they noticed it would be too late. I got to my feet and ran towards them. They turned and saw it an they knew they wouldn't be able to dodge of Sienna covered Lea with her body. Dragoon shot the rainbow colored beam and I managed to get in the way just in time, using my arms to guard a bit as it hit me. Sienna looked up surprised.

"Dark what are you doing?"

"Y-you two move now!"

"But Dark-"

"Now! I can't hold it much longer!"

She nodded and she grabbed Lea and moved. Now I had to get out of the blast quickly. I tried to move and I instantly lost my balance and the blast took me through the air and smashed me into a wall, completely covering me and hiding me from view.

The Rainbow Fury, disappeared and I took one step from the wall and collapsed. The pain was to intense to even move, my whole body burned in pain. I saw a lot of my skin was seriously burned.

"Dark!" Sienna ran up to me.

"Are you okay?" Lea also came up to me

"Don't let it attack us again! Keep it busy!" Sienna ordered the guild group "Dark, are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine..." I saw my health bar drain to just above 0.

"You're lying to us when we can see your health..." Lea pointed out.

"Yes...I am."

"Why did you get in the way?" Sienna asked

"I was protecting you, I w-wasn't going to let you be hit by that m-move..."

"You protected us...but look at yourself."

"M-my choice...I decided to b-bring you two here to fight it."

"But you can hardly move now..."

I rise my hand slowly, despite the pain and I open my inventory and take out a potion and I slowly take it."

"If you are hoping that will stop the pain, it won't. Wounds from boss monsters don't heal from only a potion."

"I s-still need hp." I say finishing the potion. I look and see Dragoon is taken down another bar. I grip my sword and slowly struggle to my feet.

"Dark, What are you doing!?"

"I-I'm finishing this. E-even though i-it's a monster it tries to h-hurt you two. I can allow that!" I take a few stumbling steps forward.

"Dark stop!" Lea said grabbing my arm."

"Lea...let go." She slowly did. I focused energy into my sword as I told another step forward.

"You're in no condition to fight Dark!" Sienna said coming up to me. I ignored her and watched Dragoon. As soon as it had an opening I attacked "Cutting Edge!" I shot the wave and it hit it directly on it's underbelly and it fell to the floor and burst. It was defeated! We all got a level up message appear in front of us, I tapped the okay button and then another message appeared, the reward for defeating the boss, I didn't even look, I just hit the okay button.

The leader of the guild group looked at me "You're up after that attack? That should have kept you down for a while."

"Trust me...I'm not going to be standing for much longer."

"Dark, was it? You saved two teammates and defeated a floor boss really weakened. That's an amazing feat."

"My name...is DarkBlade...and thanks." I fall to my knees and then flat on to the floor.

Sienna, Lea and Rocky ran up to Dark's body.

"DarkBlade that's his name. The one that saved his teammates and still won against the boss." The group leader said "You can go to the next floor we have to report back to the guild. Good luck." They left out the other way.

Lea and Sienna managed to lift Dark up enough and went towards the sixth floor.

A day had passed and players had arrived on the sixth floor. Sienna stood by the window watching people walk around.

"People arrived quickly."

Lea nodded "they are eager to beat the game and leave this world."

"Yeah, it makes sense...I just wish Dark would awake soon, although even if he did his wounds would keep him down for a bit."

Lea smiled a little "Wounds never seem to keep him down."

"I consider it a gift of endurance." Lea and Sienna turned and saw Dark was awake.

"Are you all right now?" Sienna asked

"I'm fine." I went to sit up and pain shot through my body "Or...not."

"Dark, I have a question for you. Why did you think you had to protect us? I made sure I had Lea protected."

"And you? You were going to take the full force of the attack. There is a difference between us. We are both swords users, but what is the main difference between us?"

"Well, I'm faster then you."

"Exactly, you use skill points on speed, I used mine on other things...including health. Do you see what I mean?"

"...You have more health then me...and you almost died from it, which means if I got hit..."

"You would have died. I knew I had the most health so I knew I had to take the hit." I managed to sit up now, the pain faded a little.

"So you jumped in the way knowing we wouldn't survive the attack?"

"Pretty much...I knew it ignored defence items so it was about health."

"I see..."

Lea changed the subject "Dark, what item did you get for beating the boss?"

"Oh yeah, I never did check." I opened my menu and went into my inventory "Looks like it's a Dragon Scale cloak, when fighting a dragon, their breath attacks have no stat effects on you and you take 25% less damage from them. Sounds good, if I fight a dragon again." I was about to close the menu when something caught my eye "That's new too." I tapped the item "Dragon's Rage. A weapon, a sabre. It bestows a skill when equipped. I get a lot of these, the skill is Flame Whip. Adds 20 to attack and gives me a 50% resistance to fire."

"Killing a boss gives really good items." Lea said

"It gives an advantage but you can live without them." Sienna said.

"I agree with you there Sienna."

For the next hour in a half we talked about mostly useless stuff, and the pain had faded more. I stood up and noticed the pain was just a mild annoyance now.

"Let's go and look around the town for a bit."

The town we are in is surrounded by waterfalls on two sides, and many people are watching them, despite the running water of the falls, it's actually quite peaceful. As I look around I notice people looking at me, I think it's because my burned arms can easily be seen, that is until a tall guy in white armor sees me and motions me to come closer. I obey with Lea, Sienna and Rocky behind me.

"You look like the one, they described." I got on guard a little because every time I heard that I got attacked, by a pk-er... He must have noticed because he said "I'm not a person to fear, I'm the leader of The Knights Of The Blood Oath, Most of our members call me by a nickname, Sire, but my name is Takumi."

"What would the leader of the strongest guild want with me?"

"Just to clear things up you are DarkBlade, correct?"

"Yes, I am."

"My scouting party reported to me yesterday, and they told me that they fought the fifth floor boss alongside you, is that correct?"

"Yes. We fought it together."

"Did you protect your two allies behind you with your own body when the boss used it's breath attack?"

I looked at him a little irritated "Yes. How else would I have gotten these burns?"

"So I was right about what the marks were. Anyway, your name has already started going around, people know the name DarkBlade, because even weakened from protecting your allies, you still beat the boss...Also I heard your name before when I was shopping on the first floor and the shopkeeper said something about you beating the level 10 boss lizard at level 5."

"That was a while ago...not that I really changed my armor since I beat it, but it was still about 2 months ago."

He nodded "To the main point of why I wanted to meet you in person. I have an offer for you."

"If that offer doesn't include my party, I am not interested."

"It does. I am inviting you to stay with my guild for a bit at the front lines, and if I deem you all as suitable warriors, you might be able to join the guild. So what do you say?"

I quickly spin around and look at my party "What do you two..." I paused a moment and looked at Rocky "And you, think about this offer?"

"On the front lines...that would put us in more danger." Lea pointed out.

"But we would also gain more experience and we would be able see the bosses."

"What's with you and bosses. Anyway, it seems like Sienna wants to, Lea, your choice now."

She thinks a moment then smiles "Let's do it."

I turn back to Takumi "We accept your offer."

He smiles "Great, We'll go and see the guild and you can introduce yourselves."

We follow him to a large building and we walk inside, and are instantly greeted by many suits of this guild's armor, every member has one on.

"Hey Sire, about time you returned!" A drunk man said "Who are them kids with you?"

"You'll find out soon." He responded, walking to the front of the room, us following.

"Everyone! Can I have your attention up here for a moment?"

The room almost instantly quieted down.

"Thank you." He cleared his throat "As you all know, no one from our guild, or from any guild is responsible for beating the fifth floor boss, but I have bought the one that did here!" He gestured to me and I was greeted by laughter.

"Yeah right! Like a kid like him could really win!" One person said.

"That's a good one sire!"

I walked forward on the stage and opened my inventory, equipping my Dragon Scale Cloak and my Dragon's Rage, and at the same time revealing my arms to show the burns. Everyone quieted down as I did that and some seemed a little embarrassed.

"Now can you introduce yourselves to us, starting with the one who defeated the boss."

"I am DarkBlade."

Lea walked up "I am Lea, and this is my tamed beast Rocky."

Sienna walked up "I am Sienna." She said in a rather bored sounding tone.

We moves back and Takumi starts talking again.

I whisper to Sienna "You sounded bored."

She whispered back "I don't like these public speakings...I would rather be doing something active."

"You are too full of energy."

"So, is anyone against this idea?" Takumi asked finishing.

Nobody said anything "Then it's settled." He walked over to us "I'm just warning you three right now. Some of the members might challenge you to a fight, it's up to you if you decide to accept or not." Then he walked over to a female member and started talking to her.

"Nice of him to warn us I guess..." I say

Sienna laughed a little "I think me and Lea are safe Dark. We were the ones you had to protect remember? You're the one that, even in a weakened state beat the boss." She said in a mocking tone.

"So, I'll get challenged a bit, I can decline if I want too."

"Are you going to decline my challenge?" I hear a voice say behind me, I turn and I see a man in about his twenties is there, I see a katana blade in it's sheath attached to his side.

"You're a swordsmen too. I'll accept yours I guess."

"Great. Follow me." In the middle of the room was an arena and that's where we went.

"What are the rules for this battle?" I ask

"First strike wins?"

"First strike? Okay, sounds good." A timer appears above us and it counts down from 60 giving us time to prepare. We both wait as the timer goes down. As soon as it hits 0 he runs towards me and tries to stab me, as soon as I stop that attack, he moves quickly and attacks again and I barely block it, he keeps doing this and he keeps getting close to hitting me, finally I make a move and swing my sword at him and he avoids it.

"You're a speed based sword fighter." I point out

"Caught on pretty quick."

"To be honest I want this to be quick so..." My sword goes on fire "Flame Whip!" I swing my sword in front of me, and the fire shots off the sword and hits him right out of the arena "Oops...didn't mean to do that. But, I win."

He stands up "I didn't expect anything like that..."

"Neither did I, I just used the skill for the first time"

Another older man came up "You're pretty strong but what about your allies? I mean you had to protect them didn't you? So that means they can't be any stronger then you."

I was about to say something when Sienna spoke up "He only protected us, because he had the most hp and could take the hit. Let's see if you are as strong as you think!" She challenged him.

"You're challenging me?" He started laughing "Fine, if you really want to lose that badly." He went into the arena and so did Sienna. The swordsmen I just beat said "Sorry to say this, but I don't think she has a chance against him, he's one of our most powerful warriors."

"Does he concentrate on power mostly?"

"Yeah."

"She'll be fine then." Before he could ask me anything else the battle began.

Sienna didn't move right away, but the man ran at her with a battle axe, ready to strike. As soon as he got close she moved and kicked him in the stomach. The swordsmen beside me looked shocked.

"She's faster then you. I fought her once, so I can block your attacks easily."

"And you managed to beat her?"

I shook my head, smiling remembering what happened "She knocked me down and had her sword at my neck...I don't think I won that one."

"So...you lost to her...shouldn't she be the leader then?"

"That was before, and she's a higher level then me anyways."

"That doesn't change the fact that-" He got cut off from a bang from the arena, the man was down and he had banged his head pretty hard and he was knocked out.

I smile at her "Quick like always I see."

"I don't like people that act tough." She said flatly.

Some other people challenged me, some Sienna and some even challenged Lea and Rocky. We accepted some of the challenges, as people saw other get defeated they changed their minds. In total between all of us, we defeated about half the guild. Takumi watched the fights and when no one challenged us anymore he spoke up.

"These three people and one monster defeated half of the strongest guild by themselves...What does that tell you?"

"They underestimated us at first." Sienna pointed out.

"That's worse, they underestimated their opponents." He said

"It looks bad for their leader." I say, walking up a bit.

"Are you calling me weak Dark?"

"No, I was just saying that's another bad thing about them being taken out."

"That is another reason, you all have to train harder!"

After Takumi lectured his guild we returned to the inn.

"That guild doesn't seem as strong as I had heard." I said

"It was a disappointment, they'll considered the strongest guild?"

"It is a little disappointing but we only fought half of them. What do you think Lea." I look over and see she was already asleep on the bed "Oh...never mind."

"Anyway, we should get some rest too." Sienna said "Good night, Dark."

"Night, Sienna."

She went back to her room and I stayed awake for a while, thinking. Being with the guild, will make it harder for Demise to get close to me, and maybe even impossible. I always think about that guild whenever I'm the only one awake. I'll have to do something about them soon, or it could get worse.

I went to the couch and lied down. I fell into a restless sleep.

The next morning I awoke and once again, I was the first one awake it seemed. I heard someone knock on my door, it wasn't Sienna because she messages me before she comes "Who is it?" I call out.

"I'm a messenger from The Knight Of The Blood Oath. The sixth floor boss door has been found, at the bottom of the biggest waterfall hidden behind the falling water. Takumi wants you three there by 10am."

I checked my watch 8:13am "I'm sure we will be there earlier then that."

"Okay. I'll take my leave now." I heard footsteps going down the hall. A message appeared "Are you up?" from Sienna, I sent her a response and waited for her to come here. The door open after a moment and she walked in.

"So, what are we doing today?"

"A messenger came, the sixth boss door has been found, we need to be at it by 10am."

"Are we even prepared for it?"

"We have to be." I walk over to Lea "Lea, wake up." I gently shake her, and she slowly awakes.

"Is something wrong?" She asked

"No, I just think you need to make sure you are prepared, we are going to fight the sixth boss today."

She sat up "What time?"

"We have to be at the meeting place by 10am."

"Okay."

"I'm going out for a bit, you two can stay here, or go and buy a some armor or weapons or whatever." I look over at Sienna "You might need a new weapon, you have used that same one ever since we met."

"This sword isn't weak, it gets stronger with me."

"A sword that grows stronger with the user? How did you get that weapon."

I saw her expression darken a little and saw she was a little upset "You know, what Sienna, just pretend I never asked. Anyway, I'm going now." I left the inn and went into town. I still had to get something done me and Lea have been trying to do for a while, get the ring she has analyzed and my small red crystal as well, we have to find out what they do. I asked a few people, in stores, just walking around, but I could find no one who could analyze them. I sat on a bench, trying to think about what to do about this crystal and ring. A man that looked to be about 50 stopped in front of me.

"Dark...I hear you are trying to get items analyzed."

"...How do you know my name?"

"Everyone has heard your name. Do you want me to try and analyzed the items?"

"Sure, no one else could." I tossed them to him. He looked at them both for a few seconds.

"Well that was easy."

I look at him surprised "You figured it out?"

"Yup. This ring doesn't do much, it's only useful for an archer and by your look you are a swordsmen, the ring gives an archer a 5% chance to shoot a flaming arrow from their bow."

"Okay. The crystal?"

"The Berserker Gem. It has two uses, it can be used as an enchantment item and put into a weapon or armor, if that is the case, when the user gets angry their next attack will destroy anything in their way, but the user must be extremely angry."

"What about the other use?"

"You can crush it in your hand and it will break, giving you a massive amount of strength, speed, defence and health, but you will go berserk and attack friend and foe alike."

"So, I should never break it."

"It only lasts for a bit."

"Okay. How much do I owe you for that."

"Don't worry about it."

I open my inventory and put the two items away "Are you-" He was gone, I looked around...odd. I checked my watch and saw it had gotten to 9:30. I ran back to the inn and Lea, Rocky and Sienna were waiting for me.

"Sorry, I'm late. We have to hurry now."

We arrived at the boss door and the whole group was already there, but it wasn't quite 10.

"Glad you could make it Dark."

"Continue with what you were saying."

He explained what groups we were going to be spilt into, and a bit about the boss.

Once he finished we headed into the door.

Chapter 8 Offline

There is a time skip in between this one and the next one.