Hello everyone! Final Heir here finally here with the continuation of the 1st Floor Raid! I know it's been a long long LONG! time sense I said I'd have it done and ready to be seen but sadly other things have come up as a priority, but I have full proper plans to get back into the full swing of it all and to get everything I can done ASAP to keep the story going better than ever! Anyway, do enjoy everyone!
As everyone prepares for the Raid to come, the main group of 6 trains diligently and hard in the Canyons that lie close to the Dungeon. But prior to that several players made themselves known to Aaron's group, all looking to take part in the secondary Raid assault on Illfang the Kobold Lord. After meeting with the Raid leaders, they all went about their day to train and prepare.
Let us see how they all went about these preparations...
(Tolbana Town Inn)
"Alright Katalina, do you understand our plan?" Zero asked his friend as they went over the strategy.
"Similar to the original strategy told yesterday, we'll most likely stay back and help others with the adds while the primary attackers handle Illfang" Katalina said softly with a breath.
"Nervous?" Zero asked patting her back.
"Yeah... what happens if his weapon is different again...? Something other than the Katana, or it's the same as normal and we're overly prepared...?" Katalina said biting her lip looking down.
"Hey, don't worry, we'll fall back and stay evasive if anything goes against the plan, I promise everything will be alright" Zero said branding a calm smile.
Katalina gave a soft smile and nods before taking a deep breath. "Let's make sure our gear is all set and ready."
"Yeah, let's go" Zero said calmly with a smile.
(Tolbana Market)
"Alright, that should be everything," Alina said looking over her item menu.
"What ya doing there?" Ramos asked walking up behind her.
"Preparing for tomorrow, like you should be doing." Alina said with a sigh closing her menu.
"Nah I'm all set and ready," Ramos said with a chuckle.
"Why do I doubt you are? Ramos we're taking on the Raid, you need to be ready" Alina said walking at a slightly faster pace.
"No need to worry about little ole me, I got it all covered." Ramos said calmly following her easily.
"No, I'm more worried about everyone else..." Alina said rolling her eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ramos asked going ahead of her.
Letting out a sigh Alina stopped and crossed her arms "if you don't take this seriously and handle it right it could mean someones life, and not just yours, but anyones, it could mean my own, it could mean yours, it could mean the whole parties lives, do you understand?"
"Yeah yeah, I understand, I'll be ready by then, don't worry" Ramos said letting out a sigh rubbing his head.
"You'd better..." Alina said calmly walking off again.
"Troublesome Woman..." Ramos muttered under his breath with a sigh.
(Tolbana Center)
"given the data everything looks like it's run well and properly" Kashina said calmly to himself fiddling with his mask.
"Good to know," Finyui said stretching out. "You got quite the information network."
"Just the beginning my friend, just the beginning" Kashina said calmly. "But most of this is still just basic info."
"If you say so, you still seem like you know more info than you let on," Finyui said sitting down by the fountain.
"I may, I may not," Kashina said with a calm chuckle.
"Do you always dodge around things like that?" Finyui asked ending up getting a look. "Wait... don't answer that"
Letting out a chuckle and nodding Kasina stood up from the bench he was sitting on. "You set equipment wise? I need to go run through the market"
"I can get a few more items, mind if I tag along?" Finyui said calmly.
"Would I have asked if I did?" Kashina said with sigh.
"Yeah yeah, lets just get going." Finyui said rolling his eyes.
(Forest Outside Tolbana Town)
Within the forest we find Spectra walking a simple path with a rather elderly man following at a distance. This man had been following him sense Aaron had made his announcement of the secondary raid.
The man had long tied back dark grey hair. Though his basic armor were like most the other players, his undergarments were more robe like.
He followed behind Spectra for a time before the two finally stopped.
"What do you want old man?" Spectra said with a calm but annoyed tone turning towards the man. "You've been tailing me sense Tolbana, do you want to kill me or something?"
"Nothing of the like... You're participating in the secondary Raid, correct?" The man said calmly.
"And if I am?" Spectra asked grasping his swords handle staying on guard.
"I've seen you during the progress of the games start, purely by coincidence, I've come to know you battle by instinct and take risks," The man said calmly.
"What of it?" Spectra asked getting more annoyed.
"What'll happen when you take a risk and it doesn't follow through? Or worst the risk ended up being a pointless action." The man said looking to Spectra through a somewhat stern eye. "In this game where death is a certain thing should you not be careful, taking risks is something you should only do unless you can guarantee the action."
"Why do you care? The way I attack is my own choice" Spectra said trying to think his past few days of combat through.
"Yes, but with the way this game is and the raid and how difficult it'll be, if you take one wrong risk, it'll cost more than just your life..." The man said with a sigh.
"You're right... and I know... but I know what I can do... I do take risks but my instincts tell me they'll work," Spectra said with a sigh easing his state. "Who are you exactly?"
"My name is Sora, I was a Beta Tester, I also helped hand out the guides for the game after the day one launch, and incident..." Sora said with a calm breath. "I want to make a good stand to help every player, if you'd allow me, maybe I can help train you, we both act with curved blades, but I see a lot of potential in how you can fight in this game, I may even be able to break you of your risk taking and get you onto fighting with precision actions and putting your instincts to be able to read targets and catch them at their most open."
"You're a Beta..." Spectra let out a sigh and nodded easing his state. "Alright, thank you for the offer, I appreciate it, how should we began?"
"Knowing I'm a Beta you'll still accept my help?" Sora asked calmly.
"Beta or not, we're all stuck in the same position, you're no different than I Sora," Spectra said calmly walking towards Sora. "You are right that I can end up taking an inevitably bad risk that could cost more than my own life... so please... teach me what I need to know."
"You're a rare individual, after Kirito's action with the first raid, there's a lot that don't trust most Beta players, I'm glad that you can see past a simple title," Sora said with a calm smile.
"How shall we begin then?" Spectra asked.
"To begin, let's simply go about basic farming, but only attack when you believe you've seen the weak point, let your instincts guide you, when you see the weak point make your strike, do so and you can almost guarantee a kill on the target." Spectra said calmly drawing his sword. "It may also help to learn a proper sword technique, it could end up saving you in a rare situation."
"What do you mean?" Spectra asked drawing his sword.
"Do you know the young woman with the Katana following this raid's main group?" Sora asked.
"Lilika, I think her name was, I saw that she had a Katana too," Spectra said taking a moment to think. "What about her?"
"She's already much more skilled with a curved weapon than anyone normally would be here," Spectra said calmly taking a basic katana stance. "She must have real world skill with a katana or a sword of the like that she's bringing over to give her an overall boost, so even if she finds herself unable to use a Sword Skill, as dangerous as that is, she can be capable of very powerful attacks if she really does know."
"I see, so things like Kendo or Fencing, even a cultured person that knows old styles of combat utilizing different weapons could really stand their ground here with different weapons."
"Exactly, yes this game is fantasy and there are many different weapons, but that doesn't mean that personal knowledge can't be applied in whatever way that may wish too" Sora said calmly. "Now, let us begin."
The Beta known as Sora now begins to train Spectra to truly be able to engage enemies. Most of the Raids members have all gone about their time in different ways, all of the starting group has been training fiercely and hard to keep their skill up to par. Though a few themselves are having their own issues to get motivated for the ensuing battle.
The girl named Flara has been fighting an urge to back down from the raid out of nerves and fear. This was something that changed greatly when the game became one of life and death.
She herself often stayed in her room alone attempting to push herself to attempt the world day after day, at times her nerves won out and she forced herself to stay, but now she fights against her own losing battle to own up on a promise she herself had made to participate, even if it meant just staying in the back and helping the others stay safe.
The other player, Isaac, much like Aaron and his team were all doing, he himself was going about training, but he was active in the dungeon, primarily fighting the Kobold warriors to learn their basic strategies for battle.
The day seemed to last on forever, but eventually, night finally came, and soon, the second attack on Illfang the Kobold Lord would begin.
(Aincrad Floor 1 Dungeon – Labyrinth Floor 20 – Boss Door – 12:30 PM)
Standing before the door, was the secondary attack raid. Similar to how the original raid was held there had now come to be 7 groups than the basic groups. Aaron, Hero, Lilika, Celina, Luna, and Kat make up group A and the first party, Spectra and Isaac were on Group B with Isaac leading, Alina and Ramos made up the lead of group C, Finyui and Kashina acted as the lead of Group D, and Group E was leaded by the Beta Sora, Group E also held Zero, Katalina, and Flara.
The remaining teams were made up of 12 other players that had decided to join in.
One of the players was a 16 year old male, he had straight black hair and black eyes. He stood at about 5' 7.5", he mostly wore black clothes and armor, black boots and fingerless gloves. He had a sword at his hip. His name was Erebus.
Another player was a 14 year old male, he had chin length electric blue hair, and emerald green eyes. Is armor was standard, he wore a dark green long sleeved top, and dark blue pants, black boots and black fingerless gloves, he had a sword at his back. The man was named Mizunoken.
The next was a 17 year old female, she was tall with a slim figure, she had large multi colored eyes, her left being violet and the right being a navy blue, she had a light weight, ruby lips, and short blonde hair that had tints of blue in it. She had simple female armor, se was wearing a dark blue hooded cape, she had tall black boots, a white gold skirt, and under her white chest guard was golden crop top going long in the back and short in the front falling just over her skirt covering her mid-drift, she had a dark colored wide rapier at her hip. Her name was Kasuny.
The next was another 17 year old female, she stood at 5'8". Her skin was fair, she has a medium chest, slimmed waist, toned arms and legs, and a slightly rounded rear. Her eyes were lilac colored and wide, her hair was straight with a light copper color reaching down to her mid back, and her bangs were clipped back. She was wearing a maroon off shoulder long sleeved shirt, a dark brown skirt that went down to above her knees, black knee high flat boots, and a black choker. Her chest plate was a bronze piece with leather straps crossing her chest, over her basic skirt was a calf length flared skirt, and under that was a thin tightly woven chainmail protecting her legs, a pair of bronze gauntlets that cover high up her arms. At her hip was a rapier. Her name was Valoren.
The next was a 16 year old female, she was tall at 6' but slender at 100 lbs. Physically her muscles were at an average build, but she was rather busty as well. She had long silky green hair that had a green stripe going through it. Her eyes were blood red with blue mixed into the iris. Her armor was the same as the normal standard, she had her sword at her hip but she also had a small assortment of knives at her waist. Her name was Xaria
Standing by Xaria was a 16 year old male, he had long silky black hair, his eyes were blood red like Xaria's though they had a slit pupil and a black sclera. He stood a little taller than Xaria at 6'1" but was thin at 105 lbs. The man had tanned skin and a bite shaped scar on his arm. He was using the basic armor but he hadn't had a shirt on, his pants were red and his shoes black. He held a curved simitar like blade at his waist. His name was Dante
Standing by both Xaria and Dante was another male, he himself was 17 years old, he had medium length hair though it was rather bushy and had alternate of ruby red and emerald green colors. His eyes both had the same slit pupils and black sclera as Dante though his eyes were multicolored like Kasuny, but his were ruby colored in the left with some streaks of blue and the right is emerald colored with a red color in it. He stood tallest of the 3 at 6'2" and was still slim weighing 110 lbs. He had pale skin, and 2 scars on his face, one x shaped in between his eyes and another going through his right eye. He had been wearing a cloak but under he was wearing a chain shirt and black pants and shoes, he had a blade like Dante's at his waist. This man's name was Scar.
Another player was a 17 year old female. She had deep red, waist length, hair worn in a high ponytail. Her eyes were a grass green color. She stood at 5'8" weighing 135 lbs. She had a curvy but muscular figure, she also had a deep scar that ran from her left shoulder to over and past her heart. She was wearing a mid-thigh length white skirt, a white halter-styled top, brown leather belt, and knee high brown leather boots. Around her neck was a pendant holding a green stone. Over her chest was a bronze colored breast plate, on her forearms was a pair of leather vambraces. Held on her back was a large battle ax. The woman's name was Genesis.
The other 4 players were just random players that joined along.
Taking a breath Aaron stood forwards looking everyone over. "Alright everyone, today we stand to take on Illfang, the Kobold Lord once more. We stand and follow behind the previous raid group that completed this floor and are currently pressing on to finish the second floor." Aaron said calmly watching everyone. "I called for this secondary raid, because I knew that anyone could act and complete this game, we just needed to stand up with each other and take it on. Now, this is the last chance, if you choose to, use a Teleport Crystal to return to whatever town you wish and go on to the second floor, but if you wish to stay and participate alongside us, that is your own choice. Now, Hero will go over the basic strategy."
"Thank you," Hero said calmly stepping forward. "Alright everyone, we're going to follow the original battle plan used to first fight the boss, my team here will be group A, we'll press on Illfang to keep him from engaging anyone else, in sense we'll keep him busy while team B attacks him directly which is lead by Isaac. Groups C and D will alternate fighting the Kobold Sentinels that spawn and switching out with Group B, go in alphabetical, so when B switches out C goes forward, then D, Group E will soully focus in on the Sentinels so that we can attempt to hit him heavily."
"Excuse me," Genesis said raising her hand. "Last time the guide book was wrong on the change of combat that Illfang would go through, what is he does something different again?"
"The possibility is there, yes," Lilika said speaking up. "But our decided on plan of action is that the moment he decides to change his weapon everyone goes defensive to evaluate it. If he maintains the Talwar as he is supposed to, then we go about the Book's elected path, if the Nōdachi is pulled again then we'll attempt to maintain the original with high defensive."
"And if some new tactic is employed then we'll keep defensive and evaluate how to attack," Hero said continuing. "Are there any other questions?"
Everyone had stayed quiet looking around at everyone else.
"I'll say one last thing here, the only things we're aiming to surpass from the previous Raid is that there would be no casualties, in that raid the only one to pass, sadly was the leader, he acted to get the last hit kill bonus item Midnight Coat, because of him acting that way expecting the book to be true which everyone had, it cost him dearly, so now, NO PLAYING HERO! And especially no show boating! Take the fight seriously. I'm also going to reiterate this one last time for the new players here as I had already told to 8 of you, there is no segregation here, it doesn't matter if one of us is a Beta or a normal player, we're all trapped here, and yesterday showed that whatever the Beta's faced when they tried the game, may not ever happen, so I'll say this now, if you're a Beta, you don't have to say, say if you wish, the choice is yours alone, and for those that may have something against Beta Testers, leave now." Aaron's voice carried a stern tone through the whole of his speech. Everyone seemed to be intimidated by his stance, like if they stayed and pulled anything against a probable Beta that he'd attack them himself. "Now then, let's win this,"
Everyone gave a nod as Aaron put a hand on the door and pushed it open. As the door slowly opened showing the large dark room, everyone entered staying by their teams. Once they were all in the doors behind them closed and the room lit up once more with Illfang the Kobold Lord leaping forward landing in front of them all letting out a loud roar. With the roar, 4 lights came to form spawning in 4 Ruin Kobold Sentinels.
"Already a change, everyone the Sentinel total has gone up by 1, start on guard!" Hero called out readying his sword and shield. "Attack!"
Upon that call the battle began. Everyone charged towards their opponents ready to fight and win.
Aaron's group quickly rushed through intercepting Illfang from his pending attack with his large Ax. Celina and Luna kept rushing around the floor around him using basic attacks to keep his attention. Kat and Hero used their shields and swords to try and bounce him around. Lilika and Aaron used their weapons to attack him specifically to throw his balance off.
It hadn't taken long for Illfang's 1st bar of health to drop to half way, at that same time the four spawned Sentinels had been defeated and destroyed prompting Group B to switch with A and deliver strong Sword Skills at the large beasts body dropping his health down well into the second bar, which also caused the next wave of Sentinels to spawn.
"Alright, wave 2 everyone! Get ready!" Spectra called or readying his weapon, moving back as Group C moves forward and starts attacking the Sentinels.
Starting to engage the next wave, Sora watches Spectra and his actions. "He's come a long way, he's doing better, but still taking stupid risks, leaving himself open to force action and targets on their weak spot." Sora said to himself as he attacked the Sentinels keeping them clear of Flara who had taken a lot of damage after an ambush by other Sentinels.
"I-I'm sorry about g-getting hurt Sora..." Flara said shakily as she healed herself with a bottle.
"It's alright Flara, just be careful for now, stay mostly defensive for now," Sora said calmly.
"O-Okay," Flara said with a nod readying her sword and shield.
As the battles continued to progress, some badly placed attacks put Illfang in the middle of the attacking party. In his quick instance Illfang targeted and chose to attack Kasuny. The roar he let out left everyone stunned especially since he was suddenly right in the middle of them, but none more than her sense she was staring the beast in the eyes. She had been sure she was about to take Illfang's ax and attack, but the area around her grew dark quick as Aaron intercepted the ax with his sword while still getting it a bit in the shoulder.
"You okay?" Aaron grunted looking to Kasuny who had collapsed down from the sudden shock. Letting out a low growl Aaron pushed back on Illfang knocking him back a bit before taking a hard swing with his large sword catching the monster in the stomach throwing him back. "Get out of here Fatass!" Aaron let out a sigh after screaming at the monster before turning towards Kasuny holding a hand to her. "Are you okay?"
"H-Huh...?" Kasuny stuttered looking up at him slowly gaining a minor blush as she took his hand. "Oh, y-yeah, I'm alright, thanks for helping me"
"It's no trouble, just stay on guard," Aaron said as he helped her up quickly killing one of the new Sentinels that had spawned after his attack dropped Illfang to his 3rd bar. After Kasuny's blush grew a bit more and she gave a nod Aaron rushed back off to the fight but stopped when Illfang let out a louder roar and throwing his ax and shield. "He's changing weapons already? He's only half dead!"
After letting out his roar Illfang grabbed the handled to the weapon behind him.
"He's changing weapons! Defensive now!" Hero called out readying his shield as everyone else had switched to a primary defensive stance. He stood ready watching as Illfang drew his proper Talwar. "Alright everyone, follow the book! Group A forward onto attack him!"
"Alright let's make this one count guys!" Kat called as she took a swipe from the Talwar into her shield before bouncing him back letting Celina and Luna deliver several fast sharp attacks.
The battle continued on as it should have through the book, Illfang was constantly being bounced around between the different groups, they all weren't able to deal a lot of damage to him, another change came in a greater amount of health and a stronger base defense.
It took a time but all the Sentinels from each wave was killed and destroyed and it wasn't been long till Illfang had on 50% of his last bar. At that point, Illfang let out another loud roar which shocked everyone. Illfang then readied his Talwar and blindly threw it at his attackers.
The Talwar took an aim straight at Spectra who was busy trying to help an injured player. It would have been too late for him to react to the weapon and avoid it or deflect it, but just as he took notice, someone else had reacted.
Sora had rushed forward and took the full of the blade saving Spectra from it, but the blow was too much. He collapsed to the ground panting as his health steadily dropped.
"Sora! Damnit Sora come on!" Spectra called out as hurried over to Sora's side. "Sora use an item! Do something!"
"Quiet down... it's okay, don't worry, I decided to take the risk after all, you have more promise, please Spectra, do whatever it takes, clear this damned game..." Sora said weakly through a cough as he health crept closer and closer to 0.
"Damnit Sora... you know I will... You didn't need to die though..." Spectra said his body shaking, he jumped a bit seeing a screen appear with and item. "Sora this is..."
"I'll always fight beside you my student, win this game..." Sora said through his weak breaths.
Spectra only nodded accepting the item, he hit the ground hard as Sora's body disintegrated with the signal of his death.
While Spectra and Sora shared their final words, Illfang began his final means of attack. He drew another weapon. He once more drew the Nōdachi that he wielded against the first raid group.
"Damnit, keep up defensive! He's gonna start the Katana base!" Aaron yelled as he quickly attempted to brace against Illfang's next attack.
"Damn... They game isn't gonna throw any punches..." Luna muttered rushing to regroup with her group. "Everyone looks lost and shocked... did something happen...?"
"We need to end this now..." Lilika said as she and her group all came together.
"Does anyone know why everyone else seems lost...?" Luna asked.
"We lost a player... that last change took a players life..." Spectra said walking forward equipped with the new weapon he received. His body was tense but unlike the others he seemed ready to fight harder than ever. "Listen, we need to take this differently, attacking whenever isn't going to work, all it'll do is bring about risks, you look like the only ones able to pull off a kill that'll hit the fucker when he's weakest, I'll rally the others and keep them defensive, look for his weakest point then attack there, Aaron I know you can do, you sent the bastard flying earlier."
"Oh no... We'll do our best to finish him, did you know the player...?" Kat asked keeping an eye on Illfang as he was getting ready for another attack.
"His name was Sora, he was my teacher..." Spectra said gritting his teeth.
"We'll end this for him then, do your best Spectra," Hero said watching him.
In an instant, Aaron was on the other side of the area deflecting an attack stumbling back from the shock of it. He quickly met with his group in the center while watching the others start rallying behind Spectra getting the weaker players in a group while the others readied their weapons in defense.
"Got a plan Hero...?" Aaron asked readying his weapon against his back the blade slowly starting to glow.
"Not one in the slightest, but I know we can do it," Hero said readying his shield up Kat standing beside him hers ready as well.
"I think I have one, remember our training when that large wolf spawned?" Kat said asked calmly.
"You mean when you both bounced him back absorbing the shock of the attack and almost destroying your best shields?" Lilika said standing behind them her Katana glowing white as her skill started activating.
"Yeah more or less, chances are though these shields won't survive and he'll bounce right into another one." Kat said watching him start a Sword Skill.
"I'll have to bounce that one then," Lilika said with a quiet chuckle and sigh. "Probably gonna break my Katana though..."
"Pull this off I'll buy you a new one," Aaron said as he stood ready behind Celina and Luna who were readying their swords, Luna having switched to a rapier from her standard one handed long.
"I'm holding you to it big guy," Lilika said with a laugh.
"You girls going Meteor?" Aaron asked watching them both prepare sword skills.
"That's our plan, see if we can't stun lock him to a point where he can't properly act long enough for you to hit him"
"He's coming!" Hero called as he watched Illfang charge at them running as fast as he can.
The two shield users readied their shield catching the impact of the sword across both. Pressing their shoulders as hard against the shield back as they could both of them pushed him back and away as their shields shattered. Both Kat and Hero doubled back from there as Lilika charged forward her eyes white as her blade ready to attack.
As Lilika predicted Illfang recovered quick and came back with another attack. The two crossed blades and canceled each others attacks, but she quickly used her special attacks skill to deliver one final strike before her own sword shattered. Once it did she quickly jumped away to let the twins perform their assault.
Both Luna and Celina put their greater speed to the test racing forwards before performing a flurry of Thrust Sword Skills one after another bouncing Illfang around a bit steadily whittling his health down.
Aaron stood ready and watching Illfang, he quickly picked a single instance where the boss broke from the attacks and let out a roar before starting a new attack. Just as Illfang was prepared, Aaron was already in front of him with his sword ready to perform a Rising Vertical Slash. Illfang himself tried to attack as quickly as he could but Aaron dodged around the blade pulling it straight up the middle of Illfang's body cutting clean through slamming his sword down into the ground in front of him.
In a sudden bright flash Illfang disintegrated and was killed. A large congratulations sign appeared while several other signs appeared in front of each player and a few players themselves glowed. Aaron kneeled down holding his side having actually taken part of the hit, two signs appeared, one showing his basic reward, and another showing he got the final hit bonus, Coat of Midnight.
Amongst his hard breaths looking and seeing his health being much lower than his own rules allowed, he heard people all cheering at the victory. But it wasn't long before an argument was heard. Someone called Spectra out on the weapon he received from Sora before his passing. And that Sora had taught him things that should have been pointed out and taught to everyone.
Everyone did their best to quell the argument and silence the fight before it got bad. When the term Beater came up Aaron drew the line. "Enough! Sora gave his life to insure that we all may be able to live on and continue this hell called SAO!" Aaron yelled with a growl standing. "If you're going to be calling anyone a Beater than it should be me! I'm the only Beta Tester here, and when Spectra came up to me and the rest of my team he informed us of his passing, the sword he now bears is nothing more than a gift of a fallen friend and ally, and whatever Sora may have taught Spectra obviously came from age and years of IRL training with a curved style of weaponry."
"He's not a Beta... Dante, Scar and I are..." Xaria said to herself looking around. "So is that kid over there... Zero... and those twins... They were... Why is he...?"
"I participated in the Beta and my own style of action was re-engagement, that's how I knew about being able to re-attack Raid Bosses post completion for better loot and experience!" Aaron shouted as he opened his menu looking for the coat and equipping it. "The only other Beater is Kirito and he himself has dawned this black mark, and I will take it up myself too!" Doing this earned several glares from different players. "If you all have a problem with Beta then come take me on!" Everyone seemed to shy away. Aaron defeated Illfang, and the sight of him tossing the beast was still fresh in their memories. No one would dare pick a fight against someone of his present strength. "That's what I thought," Giving a glare that burned into a lot of peoples minds, Aaron has branded himself a Beater and now starts towards the door to the second floor with his party soon behind.
"Aaron wait!" Celina called out as she, Luna, Hero, Lilika, and Kat all ran to him. "Why...? Why brand yourself like that...?"
"My stat parameters are on a level that if I play right no one would know that I'm lying... and this way, you and Luna, and any others that may have actually been betas here will get off free, they have seen my capabilities, probably some lucky roll but... if I play it right and my knowledge of how typical MMOs and RPGs may go... I can attempt keeping this title... besides, it suits me, being a loner rebel willing to pick a fight with someone to defend another..."
"Damn Aaron, painting a mighty big target on your back..." Hero said with a sigh. "Just remember though, even if you start Soloing to keep up the charade... we're your friends and allies, we'll always help."
"Yeah, and remember, you owe me a sword still," Lilika said with a soft smile.
"We'll all stand beside our favorite Beater if he ever needs help," Kat said with a laugh.
"Aaron... Please be careful..." Celina and Luna said calmly together.
"I will, and thanks," Aaron said turning to the stairs leaving the party, and just waving as he walks to the door opening it before walking through.
Today, the 1st floor boss, Illfang the Kobold Lord, has been slain once again, but at a grave cost, as once again, another life was lost to the boss's blade. At the same time though, new friends and allies have been made, and a new Beater has been branded, though this once is based on a lie to protect others, Aaron now carries the title only worn by one other.
With the 1st floor now clear, the rest of Aincrad can now be attempted in hope of clearing the game of death Sword Art Online and returning to their own lives and homes.
But what lies ahead in the floors to come...?
There you go everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the read and I do apologize if any of this seemed phoned in at all, especially with the way the update started, it was a bit difficult coming up with different and usable ideas for each one. Anyone, one thing I want to say is that I'm sorry if I missed anyone that wanted to be in the Raid, I'll do my best next time around. Also! The Scar in this update belongs to Scar Lucifer Xaren, which is a bit of an odd thing as I have two submitted Scar's, one by the preciously mentioned reader, and another by one named ScarkitTheMadaNeko, their Scar is female, but regardless, it'll be confusing if I ever actually have both in the same area at once, so if either of you could contact me with a probable solution that would work for this, it'd be greatly appreciated. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the read!
One quick thing! As I am now entering a point where I can jump around the floors, if anyone has an idea or a suggestion that they think would be good, go ahead and send them to me!
Now everyone have a good evening, day, morning or whenever it may be that you're reading! And as always, Please do continue to Read, Review, and above all ENJOY!