"Five more minutes." Nadar commented as he had his menu up, keeping a close eye on the time as he walked next to Asuna and Hachiman. The three were currently walking through floor 75's Labyrinth with 20 other players, serving as the recon team to map out the rest of the area and find the boss room.

"Counting down the minutes to the anniversary?" Hachiman asked, getting a nod from Nadar.

"Two whole years trapped in this game, and in that time we've made it all the way to floor 75." Asuna commented as she looked over to the two. "And just think, after a month of being in here we couldn't even make it past the first floor."

"It was nerve racking, but luckily it was just the exception rather than the rule." Hachiman responded, shuttering at the thought. "If that were the case, we'd be all the way down on floor 24. And that thought scares me more than any boss we've gone up against."

"You'll probably change that thought when we get to this next one." Nadar chuckled, looking up from his clock to stare at the two. "So aside from floor 74, I've never been the first to see a boss room. Is there any rules to engagement?"

"When we enter the boss room, we stick together no matter what." Asuna explained. "Normally we'd stay in for ten minutes and figure out the boss' attacks before teleporting out. But if this will be anything like last time, we may not have that option. So now we have to all stay together and avoid separating."

"Sounds fair enough." Nadar shrugged as the group turned the latest corner, all stopping when they saw the massive corridor before them. At the end was none other than the boss door, designed with a bright gold that shined with the torches on the wall.

"It's here…" Hachiman muttered, everyone caught off guard that the room was already found. "This Labyrinth is half the size of floor 74's."

"We're getting higher on Aincrad with each floor, which means the total are of each one is going to get smaller." Nadar noted, letting his menu go down as he stared at the massive door. "The Labyrinth's scale with the floors, so it should be a surprise this one is smaller."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Haunt, a Paladin from the Holy Dragon Alliance questioned as he and nine others stepped towards the door. "Shield users, we'll take the front for this. If this boss will be anything like the last, it'll attack instantly. So we need to take the initial attack so the rest can get in."

"We just go in?" Nadar asked. "No preparation, no informing the higher-ups? Just go in and see what we can gather?"

"Pretty much." Hachiman shrugged, pulling his lance out. "We haven't had a problem before, so what's to worry about?"

"Aside from the "we're doomed" vibes from this place?" Nadar asked as they all approached the door, Haunt opening the entrance with a smirk. "Seriously, I am I the only one feeling that an ancient evil is about to be awakened? Cause that's what I'm getting from all of this."

"You're stressing out." Asuna encouraged, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It might be a quarter level boss, but as long as we stick to the plan, we'll be fine."

Nadar stared back for a few seconds, considering it before nodding. "Okay, let's do this."

"Alright men, move out!" Haunt yelled and the ten shield users all ran into the boss room in a line, readying themselves for an attack. Everyone watched as they made it all the way to the center of the area before stopping, everyone realizing the boss wasn't there. "What the hell?"

"What, did the boss glitch out or something?" Nadar chuckled as he walked to the doorway, stopping as he looked in. There were dozens of smaller platforms like the one the players were on, but nowhere in the cave was the boss visible. After standing there for a few seconds, Nadar was about to step in when the doors began to close, shocking him and everyone. "Oh shit!"

"Everyone, get out of there!" Hachiman shouted as Nadar jumped away from the door, the players turning to run after them.

"We have to go after them!" As the door was closing, Asuna was beginning to run after them, knowing that they wouldn't make it in time.

"We're not going to make it!" Haunt shouted, reaching for the entrance as it was near closed.

Asuna was just about to reach out for him as well, but was caught off guard as Nadar turned and tackled her from the door, the two landing a few feet away. When she was able to look up, she saw the door close, sealing them in before fading away from sight.

"It's just like I thought." Nadar said as he stood up, staring at the wall where the door was. "When that door closes, nothing is going to be able to get in or out. The boss must activate when the doors close."

"Why did you stop me!?" Asuna demanded, getting up shortly after. "They're going to be fighting the boss alone! They'll die!"

"It wouldn't change if we were there." Nadar responded, turning back to her. "Asuna, twenty players against a boss will never work. Without a clear idea of what that thing can do, we would be slaughtered."

"But you have your Unique Skill! You went against a boss one on one and won, we could've done something!"

"Asuna I barely beat the Gleam Eyes!" Nadar shouted back, surprising the player as he stood firmly. "It was at half health when I fought against it, even with Full Force I could barely keep up with it to finish it. Even then, I had an idea on how to fight it because we saw it before fighting it. On the quarter floor, against a boss we have no idea about, I don't think I'd last more than ten minutes."

"But… they need…"

"I know, I'm sorry." Nadar said gently as he hugged Asuna, feeling her return the embrace instantly. And as he did, the rest of the players could hear the desperate sounds of demonic screeching and the occasional scream from the players echoing in their ears. Nadar was the only one without a high enough detection to hear them, but hearing Asuna's crying was all he needed to know that it was horrible.

The door wasn't closed for five minutes before it opened again, revealing the room completely empty. None of the players were left, and the boss was gone as if it had never appeared to begin with. That sent a shiver down everyone's back, as they knew this boss was in a complete other league from all the previous.

"We need to tell Heathcliff, now." Hachiman ordered. "This is going to be hell."

"Ten players dead, and we don't even know what the boss' name is." Heathcliff sighed as he sat behind his desk. Nadar, Hachiman and Asuna were all standing in front of him, all recovering to some degree from abandoning those players to their deaths. "How long did they last?"

"No longer than five minutes." Nadar stated. "They died on the very second of the anniversary of us getting trapped in here."

"Damn, so many so quickly." Heathcliff swore under his breath, looking to Hachiman. "What would you suggest Hachiman? Do we use the team we have so far, or do we gather a few of the reserve players to aid us?"

"With all due respect commander, but you're going to need a bigger boat." Nadar interrupted, stepping forward.

"I assume you have an idea?" Heathcliff questioned, hiding a smirk from the executioner's words.

"It's something I'm going to regret saying, and to be honest I'm not even sure on it myself. But after seeing how quickly ten of the Assault Team's best getting wiped I don't think we have a choice." Nadar added in, stalling from having to say his idea.

"Nadar, I'm sure you have a perfectly reasonable idea. Speak your mind and tell us the plan."

"We have a prison don't we?" Nadar responded, confusing the commander. "Dozen's of criminal players, with a known seven at minimum being able to keep up with our players."

"Oh god, you're not saying what I think you are, are you?" Asuna asked, not getting a response from Nadar as he continued.

"Aside from Laughing Coffin, I know there's at least ten criminals at level 85, meaning they can help us fight against the boss in some sense. I'd say all our reserves plus 17 able players should be enough to at least challenge this thing."

"Nadar, are you crazy?" Hachiman asked. "You're saying we should recruit killers to help us against this thing?"

"I am." He answered, looking back to the lancer. "They're scum of the earth, but if they can help turn the tides then they're exactly what we need right now. Getting them supplies won't be a problem, and we don't need to waste much time on getting them up to speed."

"I assume you have a good reason for recommending this option?" Heathcliff asked, raising an eyebrow to the player. "You know better than anyone that these players will not hesitate to kill any of us. And I recall you not wanting any of them to see the light of day again instead of killing them."

"Which should be a signal to how I feel about this boss." Nadar responded, looking down as he did. "I'm not going to lie, I'm scared of what's going to happen. I never once considered a boss being able to wipe out ten players so quickly, at least not down here. I wasn't expecting that much challenge until floor 90. But if it really is that strong, I don't think we have much of a choice."

"You of all people, scared?" Heathcliff then folded his hands together as he thought over the idea, everyone remaining silent as he did. "Very well, if you feel that this boss is that dangerous, then I'll see to it we have all the men we have at our disposal."

"Commander!?"

"I know it's risky Asuna, but the stakes are high." Heathcliff said, looking to his second at her protest. "Nadar and I disagree on many things, but I respect him enough to believe he is truly concerned about this battle. I believe we all know how much it'd take for him to recommend letting Them out."

"I'll keep an eye on all of them." Nadar volunteered. "If it means keeping them in check, I'll risk the knife in my back. Although I don't think they'll actually do it."

"Do you now?"

"They have survival instincts, especially Laughing Coffin." Nadar explained. "Once we're in the boss room, they won't risk their necks like that. And if we're lucky, they'll be exhausted afterwards and unable to fight back."

"Then I'll trust your word." The commander then stood up, steeling himself for what he would have to do. "I'll gather any criminal able to assist us. As for you Nadar, I need you to get Kirito and Sachi for us. They haven't been responding to my messages for the past hour now."

"Yeah, I told them awhile ago to just ignore you." Nadar shrugged. "I'll go and get them. We'll be back up within an hour, just get the sum ready to move out."

"I'll go with him." Asuna said, the two walking off and leaving Hachiman and Heathcliff alone.

"What do you think, is this a good idea?" Hachiman asked the commander, who sighed as he thought it over.

"Personally I'd rather those criminals remained behind bars for the rest of our time here. However, I also know that Nadar being on edge means this will be a truly dangerous boss. I don't trust them, but I do trust Nadar's judgment on this. So we'll see if it was right when we get there."

"That's a big leap."

"Do you not trust him?"

"Of course I do, I just wasn't expecting you to." Hachiman answered. "You two have been at each other's throats a lot recently, so putting your faith in him is a bit of a surprise."

"Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later." Heathcliff smirked, turning to face the window behind him. "Plus, I'm interested in seeing him take charge like he has. Perhaps he'll make a good leader for the Assault Team."

'And possibly a good replacement for dealing with them.'

"This blows." Nadar sighed as the two appeared at the teleport platform for floor 22, which was close to the largest lake on the floor. "First ten recon players bite it, then we have to pull out everything to take on this boss, and now pulling Kirito and Sachi out of their honeymoon early."

"Well it was you who recommended getting criminals involved." Asuna reminded. "As for Kirito and Sachi, you know there was no avoiding them getting involved. They're some of our best and we need them for this."

"I know, but they just got themselves a kid. It just doesn't feel right." As the two stepped over a hill, they looked down to see a large group of people all by the lake, all surrounding Sachi as they seemed to be in a mixture of awe and praise.

"What's going on?" Asuna questioned, confused at the crowd.

"Oh yeah, Kirito got dragged into some big event for some special fish. They throw a festival every time this guy tries to get the thing and here they are." He then shrugged, not playing it off as anything big, seeing Yui, Silica and Lisbeth down with Kirito. "I almost forgot he sent a message to me as an invitation to join in."

"You didn't come for it?" Asuna asked, getting a pat on her head from Nadar in response.

"I would have had to leave you all by your lonesome if I did. Can't have that now can I?" He chuckled before walking forward, heading for the others.

"Good job honey." Kirito congratulated Sachi after she effortlessly dealt with the field boss.

"Must have been quite something to have so many people." Nadar spoke up before the swordsman could approach Sachi, getting everyone's attention.

"Nadar?" Lisbeth called out to the executioner, who gave a single wave.

"That is my name here, yep. Sorry I missed this, had to go out on recon with Asuna and Hachiman."

"You missed it Nadar!" Silica shouted as she ran up to him, bursting with excitement. "There was this really big fish, and it could actually walk on land after Kirito pulled it out! But it wasn't easy for him, it took him all his effort just to pull it up to the dock and…" While she started off excited, as she saw Nadar's somber expression it slowly went down until she was concerned. "Nadar?"

"You found the next boss, didn't you?" Yui asked, getting a nod from him.

"There's… a bit more to it too." He admitted, looking back towards Asuna as he did.

"You're wearing your equipment." Kirito noted, putting it together right away. "Are we going after the boss already? Did you figure out its attack pattern that quickly?"

"That's part of the reason I'm here." Nadar explained. "Are you guys able to get ready in a couple minutes? I'll explain everything when we're in Grandzam."

The tone that Nadar spoke in put everyone on edge, making them nervous to hear what it was that he'd tell them. But despite that, they knew that it'd be important, and nodded in agreement to wait before hearing everything.

"No way…" Kirito spoke in shock, staring at the executioner and Lightning Flash at hearing what had happened to the recon team.

"Ten of our best players are dead, in less than five minutes?" Sachi asked again, wanting to make sure she heard it correctly.

"That's right, we couldn't believe it ourselves at how quickly they were dealt with." Asuna responded, looking down in shame as she did. "They were all Paladins and Lancers, we didn't imagine them getting wiped so quickly as they were."

"Do we know what the boss even looks like?" Silica asked. "Even something like equipment that could give us a clue of what we're fighting against?"

"Absolutely none." Nadar shook his head. "The doors closed and disappeared. Apparently you could still hear what was going on if your detection skill is high enough though. All we gathered from that though was screeching and a strange clacking that Hachiman thinks was bones."

"So you guys are going in blind?" Lisbeth responded. "That's suicide, you won't stand a chance against a milestone boss with no information on it."

"That's why we're putting everything on the table." Nadar stated. "We're pulling in the reserve players to replace the ten we lost, plus a handful of mercenaries and other players willing to risk the rewards. Nothing is off the table in this."

"You're concerned… why?" Yui noticed her uncle slightly look away, signaling he was hiding something. "Is there something else bad going on?"

"Even with the extra players, I felt we wouldn't be ready yet to deal with the boss. So I recommended we… take an extra step." Nadar said hesitantly, getting glances from everyone aside from Asuna. "I said we should recruit the prisoners we had locked up that could and would fight against the boss, including Laughing Coffin."

"Are you crazy!?" All of them shouted at him, getting him to step back from the volume.

"Do I need to remind you what they did to you?" Kirito glared as he stepped up to Nadar.

"No, I'm pretty sure I have the most solid grasp of that."

"Then you must be on something to think I'd let them get anywhere near anyone here!" Kirito shouted as he grabbed Nadar's collar, the two staring one another down. "They've done nothing but try to kill you since they showed up, they even did when we fought them! And you're saying we should trust them!?"

"I never said to trust them." Nadar responded. "We're using them to fight the boss. You don't have to like it, but it's what we're doing."

"And what if they betray us and try to kill you? What about then!?"

"Then I die because I underestimated their survival instincts." Nadar then grabbed Kirito's wrist, his eyes wide in a cold anger as he stared the Black Swordsman down. "Do not think for a second that I made this decision lightly. I want them to remain locked up and never get out of here alive. But with what we're up against, I'm willing to throw away two years of rage."

"So you're putting all of this on a spare chance?" Kirito gritted his teeth as he pulled Nadar closer, not backing down from Nadar's anger and tightening his hold on his gear. "You'll throw everything away again just because of some small percent chance they won't go ahead and kill you. You're insane."

"It's better one life is taken than the entire Assault Team."

"You might be a part of the KoB, but you're still a Black Cat at heart! And don't think for a second that I'd just stand there and watch you get killed again!"

Although most took it as a signal to Kirito watching after Nadar, both the player himself and Yui picked up on the meaning. Which lead to Yui to start crying and Nadar to retaliate and slam his forehead against Kirito, stunning him and separating the two.

"Don't you dare ever consider that!" He shouted as Kirito rubbed his head, everyone shocked by his outburst. "I don't want you to even think of doing something as stupid as throwing your life away for the likes of me! You have a family you bastard! You're the one that has something to live for!"

"You have something to!" And to shock everyone further, Kirito lashed out and punched Nadar, the blow even catching Nadar off guard and knocking him down. "You've had something to fight for since we first joined the Moonlit Black Cats! But all you do is throw your life to the wind like an idiot!"

"Kirito stop!" Sachi pleaded as she grabbed the swordsman, stopping him from going further despite him fighting against her.

"You're more to everyone than the Executioner of Aincrad! You're Nadar, a part of our family! But you don't even consider how much you dying would affect us!" The swordsman then began to cry as well despite his anger, the system causing the tears to flow. "You died for me because I made the mistake of trusting PoH! And now you're going to go and let it happen all over again!"

After Kirito stopped his shouting, Nadar used his thumb to wipe at his lip on instinct, getting up as he glared at Kirito. "You get it out of your system yet? Done trying to tell me things I already know?" His calm response surprised Kirito, stopping his furry to see the tears escaping his eyes. "I know you all care about me, and that me dying would do nothing but make things worse. But if it means you all live, then I'll gladly make that sacrifice. All the guilt in the world won't stop me from doing everything in my power to protect you."

He then turned away from the group and started to walk away, wiping his tears away as he stomped away. "I need to go and check on the criminals we'll have. Do whatever you want for the next hour when we move out."

"I'll go-"

"No." Nadar said as he held his hand to Asuna, stopping her. "I need to do this alone. You'd just give me a crutch for them to exploit." With his refusal, everyone had to watch as the executioner walked away. The gravity of everything weighing down on them. And as Yui continued to cry and Sachi went to comfort her, Kirito was forced to stand there and think on what was going on with his brother.

'Nadar… what are you going to do?'

"Ah, the man of the hour!" Johnny Black laughed as he saw Nadar approach, him and the rest of Laughing Coffin and several other criminal players all standing in the central plaza of Grandzam while surrounded by KoB and HDA players. "Talk about a true blessing to all of us!"

"You are beyond desperate for this, huh?" XaXa grinned as he regarded the executioner, shifting his hood on his head. While they were all given their equipment back, even given better weapons, they refused to give XaXa his mask. Making it easier to predict when he'd attempt to make a move.

"I take it you aren't surprised?" Nadar completely ignored the two and looked over to PoH, who smirked and shrugged his shoulders in response. "Of course. Look we can talk all day about how this is the most bitter irony ever, or we can start to make a deal."

"A deal?" PoH questioned, looking down to the executioner with an interested gaze.

"I got a job, and you're the only ones I can trust for it."

"You're crazy if you think we'd-" Before XaXa could argue further, PoH held his hand up, signaling for him to stop.

"What's in it for us?"

"I don't tell the authorities in the real world any of your actual identities." Nadar answered, instantly getting grins from them.

"Oh hot damn!" Johnny Black shouted, getting Nadar to slam his hand on his mouth.

"Shut it Black, this is between us." Nadar warned, letting go of his mouth after he finished. "No one can know about this. And if I so much as get the idea anyone else is in on it, I'll end you all myself."

"Normally we'd prefer a large sum of col, but I suppose that's a better deal than anything you could offer." PoH spoke up, crossing his arms. "So then, what's this job you want us to do?"

"I have a suspicion on our glorious commander, one that came after the duel I had with him." Nadar explained. "And I need someone fast enough to accomplish what I have in mind."

"What about your buddies?" XaXa asked. "All of them are speed based, I'm sure one of them could do the job just fine."

"I'm trying to keep their involvement to a minimum, incase my hunch turns out to be a bust." Nadar answered. "So after them, you're my best bet."

"Okay, anything else before we get the plan?"

"Black, give me two of your paralysis knives."

"It's Johnny Black, it isn't that hard." The assassin complained as he pulled out two of his knives and gave them to Nadar, who put them in his belt pouch. "What'd you need them for?"

"One will be your signal to move in. The second is for if it turns out to have been worth it." He stated. "Now if you're done asking questions, here's the plan."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I will not lie to you. This is a grand risk we are all taking today." Heathcliff spoke as the entire Assault Team stood before the boss door, sounding extra extravagant for his speech. "What lies before us is a foe far more dangerous than anything we've faced before. And with the tragedy that befell our recon group, I cannot even give you the comfort of knowing what we are about to face."

"I cannot guarantee that all of us will leave this battle alive, but that is precisely the reason we must succeed here. For if we do not, then we have failed all of the players supporting us in our quest to clear this game for them and-"

"Um, why are there a dozen criminals here?" One of the players interrupted, completely ruining the mood of the speech.

"Ah, well as I've stated, we are unaware of what we are about to face. So as a way to bolster ourselves, we have put our faith in the ones we once called our enemies. In a righteous banner of brothers and sisters in arms-"

"Was it smart to give them better weapons?" Another spoke up, getting an eye twitch from the commander.

"Well they wouldn't be as well prepared for this battle, and we are relying on them to-"

"Couldn't they just attack us once the battle is over and go and kill all of us if the boss didn't?"

"Ugh, this is going to be a slaughter." Heathcliff groaned, already getting barraged by countless questions.

"All of you better be careful." Lisbeth said to Kirito and Sachi, standing next to Yui. The two weren't going to go in, but since there weren't any enemies in the corridor leading up to the boss they were able to stay there and wait for the battle to end. Either to confirm their victory or defeat.

"Don't worry, we will." Sachi smiled as she held Kirito's hand, the swordsman looking over to Nadar who was standing in front of the criminals.

'What are you planning?' He thought, soon being interrupted as he felt Sachi grip his hand a bit tighter.

"Kirito?"

"Sorry, I was thinking about something." He chuckled lightly before looking to Yui, smiling down to her. "I promise we won't be long. The battles for the past ten floors have been fast paced, so I'm sure this'll be a fast boss as well."

"Protect mommy no matter what, okay?" Yui ordered him, getting a shared laugh from the three players.

"Don't worry, I promise."

"You worried about him?" Hachiman asked Asuna, noting her absent stare at the executioner.

"Yeah, he recently had a bit of an episode and I'm worried he might do something reckless." Asuna admitted, looking down as she did.

"Yeah, I hadn't seen him yell at Kirito like that since the assault on Laughing Coffin, I'm scared for him." Silica added in, Pina huddling closer to her for comfort.

"Hey, there's nothing to worry about." Klein responded, him and Agil walking up to the trio as he did. "Nadar's always been a little reckless, but I'm sure he's thought all of this over. He wouldn't let those guys out if he didn't."

"Agil? You're here too?" Hachiman spoke the shopkeeper, surprised to see him present after having stopped coming at floor 60.

"Yeah, what can I say? The commander was offering quite the reward to anyone willing to sign up." The man responded, grinning as he looked down to him. "Plus with all the items I could get from this plus the actual rewards, I couldn't pass it up. I'm just lucky I caught on to it when I did."

"Yeah, sure that's what it's about." Hachiman rolled his eyes, looking towards the door afterwards. "It had absolutely nothing to do with the message I sent you."

"Nah, I'm confident in our faithful executioner." Agil stated, unsheathing his massive axe as he did. "No doubt he has a special plan for this boss."

"Big guy's right, cut my Red Bro some slack." Klein agreed, grabbing his katana and readying it. "He's gotten this far, there's no way this game will take him like that."

"If you say so." Asuna nodded, allowing the players' words to relax her a bit. True, they might not know as much about the player as she did, but they certainly have known and trusted him longer than her. If they thought he was okay, then that'd have to be good enough for her. Besides, she had to prepare herself for the boss and couldn't risk getting distracted by her thoughts.

"Alright, does that answer everyone's questions?" Heathcliff asked the raid group, getting a response of complete silence as a result. "Thank Christ… then, let us fight for our lives, to battle!" Opening the door, all of the players began to all pool in, rushing with their weapons brandished for the upcoming battle.

Once they were all in, the door closed and vanished from existence, leaving them in the dark and silent cave to wait in agonizing silence. The tension in the air was so thick the players could feel it enter their throat, making each second feel like a minute.

Eventually a single drop of water fell from the ground, getting Hachiman and Klein to look up, both their eyes widening in horror at what they saw. "Oh shit…"

Hearing them, everyone began to look up, and one after the other became just as shocked as them at what they saw. A massive boss, made entirely out of bones with a long body and sharp scythe like claws. When everyone had seen it, the boss' eye sockets glowed a bright red and it let out a devilish screech, revealing its five health bars and foreboding name.

THE SKULL REAPER

It then began to move down from the ceiling, and instantly Heathcliff and Kirito became aware and started to give orders.

"Everyone, stay away from it and spread out!" The commander ordered, all but two players listening as they were paralyzed with fear.

"Get out of there!" Kirito shouted to them, snapping them out of their shock. "Come on, get over here!"

The two players fought against their fear and started to run for the group of players, but soon after the Skull Reaper landed on the platform with the players. And in the second it did, the entire area began to glow a bright red and it swung one of its limbs out at them, striking them with enough force to send them into the air.

"We got you!" Sachi called out as she and Klein went to catch the two, only to stare in horror as they exploded into fragments before reaching them.

"N-No way…" Hachiman said in disbelief. "Those were two of our tanks and they… they went down in one hit?"

"Oh god." Asuna whispered shakily, fear creeping on all of the players again at the boss staring at them.

But the boss wasn't waiting for them to react, as it rushed out after a lone player out from any of the groups. While most then began to run away, Heathcliff stood firmly before rushing out, managing to parry the strike from the boss and save the player. The boss however didn't stop and swung out with its second limb, cutting the player down and rushing past the commander.

"Marauder's Malice!" As it was getting ready to select its next victim, its attention was instantly turned to Nadar, who activated his agro skill to prevent it from targeting anyone else. "Hey, Ugly! Come and get me!"

"Nadar are you insane!?" Kirito shouted out as the boss screeched and rushed after the executioner, ignoring all the much easier to reach players.

'I really hope this works.' Nadar winced as he brought his axe up, managing to block the first swing of the boss. It wasn't a struggle for him, as his strength proved enough to be able to match the attack, but left himself open as the second attack was coming from his side.

"Schmitt, Godfrey, now!"

"On it!" Before it struck though, Godfrey and Schmitt ran up and blocked the incoming attack, their combined strength matching against the boss' and stopping it in its tracks.

"Attack it, now!" Hearing his order, several Laughing Coffin assassins, including XaXa, rushed right at the boss' head and struck out with Strength skills, knocking the boss back and freeing the three players from the burden.

"Did… did they just…" One of the HAD lancers struggled to say, shocked at seeing the teamwork down.

"How did you know we were going to make it in time?" Schmitt asked, looking over to Nadar as he took a calming breath.

"I'm going to be honest with you. I didn't, but I'm glad you did." He answered before running after the boss, his agro skill still in affect. "Listen up! If you have a high strength stat you can block an attack for a couple seconds! If we occupy both of its claws, it can't attack! Use that window to attack it!"

When the boss reacted and struck at Nadar again, he blocked it again and stalled the blade. And as the second strike was coming in, Heathcliff appeared and blocked it just as easily, the two holding it in place.

"Quite the ingenious plan you had Nadar. Very quick thinking." Heathcliff complimented, Kirito and Sachi both lunging forward and hitting the boss again as Klein and Hachiman hit its sides.

"Quit the lip service and help me keep it busy!" Nadar shouted as he ran forward again and knocked the next attack to the side, digging the boss' claw into the ground as a result. As two players began to rush it from its side, Nadar's ability wore off, allowing the boss to detect and swing out at them, killing them in a single blow.

"Shit! Get back!" Nadar shouted as he lunged back, avoiding the boss as it freed its claw and slashed at him. The attack just grazed him, taking 10% of his health like it wasn't even there.

"I got you!" Asuna called out as she caught him, keeping him on his feet when he ran into her.

"Thanks." He said back, smiling for a second before hardening his expression. The boss was then going around the battlefield, attacking players when it could and recoiling when it got hit. "Stay by my side for this, okay? I'd rather you here where I can protect you than out by yourself."

"I wasn't planning on going anywhere else." Asuna responded.

"Save the gushy romance for after we kill the incarnation of Satan!" Johnny Black shouted as he dodged a swing from the boss, jumping back repeatedly as it continued its assault at him. "And someone help me for fuck's sake!"

"Take this you hellish science display!" Klein shouted as he ran across its side, digging his blade in while Schmitt and Heathcliff blocked the scythes from hitting the assassin.

"Piece of Schmitt! My hero!"

"Please, please don't talk to me." Schmitt grunted half nervously as he held the boss back, his stress being relieved as Agil rushed forward and swung up, hitting it with enough force to knock it back.

"Yeah, seriously!" Nadar said as he ran past the group. "You messed up a perfect Skeletor reference with your jab at my and Asuna's relationship that hasn't happened yet!"

"Fuck you're right!" Johnny Black screamed as he ran up with the executioner. "Why didn't you stop me!?"

"I'm not your damn babysitter Black!" Nadar responded before the two jumped apart, Nadar landing and blocking another attack from the boss.

When it swung its second attack, Kirito and Sachi both blocked it, the Black Swordsman looking over to Nadar as they held it back. "Is this really the… moment for this?"

"There's always time for shit talking!" Johnny Black responded as he and Silica attacked the boss, both sending a flurry of fast jabs at it before retreating back. "He-he-hey! Shorty, you've gotten faster! Way to go!"

"Don't even think about it Black!" Nadar shouted as he jumped top knock a stray attack from the boss away, not able to react quick enough as it cut down three players in a single swing. "This piece of shit is really starting to piss me off!"

"Stay clear minded Nadar!" Heathcliff ordered. "We cannot have you losing your temper at it."

"Fuck you I do what I want!" Nadar responded as he rolled underneath the boss' next attack at him and swung up, hitting its underside and landing a rare critical strike. Seeing the effect having taken effect, he quickly did a test and swung his fist up without a skill, seeing the critical notification go off again. "Bulls-eye!"

"Nadar watch out!" The executioner didn't have time as the boss maneuvered and swung at him, just being saved as Godfrey, Agil, Klein and Hachiman blocked it.

"Stop throwing yourself in dangerous situations you can't get out of!" Hachiman shouted as he struggled next to Klein, the two being relieved as Nadar and Silica struck the boss.

"If I didn't then we wouldn't get anywhere!" Nadar grinned, looking over to Silica. "Sili, I need you to take Sachi, Hachiman, Black and any critical strike players you can find and start hitting its belly! It's a central spine is a weak point!"

"Do I have to bring him with me?" Silica whined.

"That hurts Shorty, I thought we had something special!" Johnny Black complained, jumping away as the boss attacked him. "Fuck!"

"Just ignore most of what he says, trust me it's easier than it sounds." Nadar advised her, getting a nod before she and the others started to group up.

"So any more ideas?" Kirito asked as he and PoH stood next to Nadar, who nodded as his eyes glowed in anticipation as the boss focused at the three of them.

"Don't get killed." Seeing the boss' own red orbs brighten, he knew something big was coming and the three rushed at it. When they were getting close, the Skull Reaper began to impale its claws at the ground quickly, attempting to hit them with its fast but unfocused attacks. As it brought both its claws up for a final attack, PoH and Kirito both stopped on instinct as Agil and Godfrey rushed next to him, all three swinging up with Strength skills and stunning it.

With the window open, both Kirito and PoH jumped up and slashed across the boss' eyes with quick, powerful attacks that combed together. At their last attack, both flipped back and landed behind the axe users, who all readied themselves and blocked the piercing attack sent at them.

"Not doing too bad for a bunch of slackers!" Nadar grinned to the two as they parried the attacks, Sachi and Silica making a quick attack on the boss' weak spot before running away.

"Ain't no way in hell I'm missing this payday!" Agil grinned just as excitedly as Nadar, the two sharing a competitive stare. "And you can bet your ass I'm going to show you what it really takes to wield an axe in this game!"

"You saved my life from Laughing Coffin, I'll gladly fight and improve to aid you in this battle!" Godfrey stated as he and Nadar swung to the left, parrying the boss' attack before Heathcliff blocked the next one.

"Well then, prove it!" The executioner shouted as his eyes glowed brightly, any worry he had now completely gone as the Assault Team began to give the boss everything they had.

The fight had gone on for almost ten minutes after, with the team suffering casualties while the boss was taking a steady flow of attacks. Eventually though, its eyes glowed brighter than before and its scythes actually glowed with a Strength skill, everyone stopping when it did.

However as it was readying its attack, both Nadar and Heathcliff were running side-by-side, the two glaring at the boss as the light of its attack reflected in their eyes. And in the last second before the attack hit them, the two separated and dodged. The moment they stopped the turned and stabbed into the boss' limbs with their weapons, pinning them to the ground.

"Now, while it can't move!" Nadar shouted, him and the commander struggling to hold it down as it fought against them.

No one needed to be told twice as they all rushed in to attack it, swinging with every single skill they had at their disposal. As the boss was going critically into its final health bar, Kirito's swords began to glow brightly as he jumped right at the boss' face when it screeched.

"You're going down! Starburst Stream!" And in a brilliant display of both speed and strength, Kirito began to cut away at the boss' health, traces of blue energy flowing off of his blades as the effects weren't able to keep up with him. At the 50 and final attack, Sachi jumped up along with him and readied a Dexterity skill, the two screaming in synchronization as they cut down its entire head.

When their attack finished, the boss screeched in unholy pain before its health dropped to nothing, shattering into fragments as it was finally defeated. Everyone had to almost take a minute to process their victory before they all started to collapse in exhaustion.

Another boss was taken down, but there was a deep cost to taking it down. And there's no telling how many more might be made to prepare for the next.

(A/N): You cannot believe how happy I am to get another chapter out after my hiatus. Luckily this chapter was a blast for me and I hope it was for all of you as well. Originally this was going to cover the entire end of the Aincrad arc, but after passing 7,000 words I decided to split the chapter off here and do the next one to avoid the chapter being too long and hard to sit through. But there shouldn't be much to worry, as I got a solid 500 words on the next chapter meaning my struggle to start a chapter won't stop me from picking up right away. Once again I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and that you have a good day! Peace!