"Be Strong Now Because Things Will Get Better. It Might Be Stormy Now, But It Can't Rain Forever."
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The sounds of metal striking metal echoed throughout the large, dimly-lit hallways. As Shirou, Shimizu and the twins tried to force their way through the large amounts of mobs in front of them.
As they continued to run, ever so often, Shirou looked back at his teammate.
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"Please, let us get there in time!" Shirou pleaded as he began to run faster.
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Meanwhile…
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Slamming his sword into the ground, Diavel looked out onto the group that followed him all the way towards the First Floor Boss Room. Smiling then turning his attention towards Xena, he nodded stated a few words, then proceeded to open the door.
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"Here we go." Xena whispered, as the doors fully opened, revealing a vast room with a creature seated at the far end of it.
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Rushing into the dark, unlit room, all the players present began to look around with caution. Two such players stayed close to each other, a young boy with black hair, and a girl wearing a brown hooded cloak.
With Xena sticking close to Diavel, she kept her hand on her blade and looked around with her limited vision.
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"Diavel…" But before she could get a word in, the room lit up, putting everyone on edge. Even more so, as a giant dog-like beast jumped from the throne that sat facing the doorway and slammed into the ground and roared as it made its appearance. "Illfang the Kobold Lord." Xena whispered to herself as she pulled out her blade as she noticed Kobold sentinels appearing.
"You ready?" Diavel whispered as he looked back towards Xena and smiled.
"Always." Xena whispered back.
"Alright everyone…CHARGE!" Diavel ordered as everyone began to move forward.
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Back with Shirou's group…
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Despite placing a considerable distance between the entrance and where they were at, Shirou and his group realized they were still a ways away from the Boss Room.
Running with all their might to try and close the distance, they ran past mob after mob, only to see their numbers increase the farther in they went. Gritting his teeth harder and harder, Shirou looked like he was about to burst.
Seeing this, Hinata rushed forward and began to take care of the monsters in front of them.
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"Keep going!" She exclaimed as she killed one.
"No-" But Shirou was cut off as Makoto pushed him forward.
"WE have to keep going!" He yelled at his elder as he continued to push him forward. Not liking the situation one bit, Shirou sucked up his pride and continued running.
"Go." Hinata said under her breath as she twirled her dagger in her hands and pointed it towards the oncoming monsters. "Alright, come on! I need the EXP." She then rushed in and began to fight.
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This pattern kept going on until Shirou was the only one left. Running with whatever energy he had left, Shirou began to see the Boss Room up ahead, along with the sounds of people grunting and yelling.
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"Crap! They've already started!" Shirou yelled out loud as he began to pick up the pace.
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In the Boss Room…
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Seeing as how it took not that much effort into putting a considerable amount of damage on the boss, Diavel and Xena looked at each other, and nodded as they saw the Boss' health in the red.
Rushing forward, both players began their attack when they saw Illfang toss his shield and primary weapon.
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"That Last Attack Bonus is mine!" Xena thought to herself, and looked at Diavel, noticing that he had the same thought, but their thoughts were interrupted when someone yelled.
"STOP! That not a Talwar! It's a Nōdachi!" The player's warning came to late as Illfang jumped up, kicking Xena back and bringing her health to just above half of what it was supposed to be, and striking Diavel once after jumping around the pillars that supported the room.
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Landing in front of Diavel, Illfang raised his weapon. Seeing this Xena rushed to her feet and ran with all her might.
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"No! He's going to die!" But even at her fastest, Illfang's blade came rushing down quicker. "No!"
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But as Xena yelled, a white streak of light rushed past her with a speed she never thought possible. What followed was the sound of two swords clashing against each other and a flash of bright light.
Looking at where Diavel once was after the flash died down, Xena noticed someone else. His tall, lean, and muscular body still standing even after the blade came down. His blue-blackish hair, swaying in the wind, created by the blades as they contacted each other, biting down hard on his teeth as he held the full force of Illfang's weight.
Shaking to no end, Shirou forced Illfang's blade to slide off of his. Then looking at the monster, he spun and scratched out one of the monster's eye out. This forced the Floor Boss to scream in pain and move back several feet, giving Shirou and Diavel enough time to rush back to the group.
Still shaking, Shirou looked towards Illfang and without even waiting, he rushed forward.
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"Hey!" Kibaou called out the Shirou.
"Someone's got to keep that thing busy!" Shirou yelled without looking back.
"Xena go help him, I'll join you once I've healed up." Diavel ordered.
"Right!" Xena answered as she rushed forward to meet Shirou.
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Dodging and practically dancing around, Shirou kept his distance against the nōdachi that nearly took out Diavel. Seeing him watch his surrounding as well as keeping the enemy at bay, entranced Xena for a split second.
Shaking her head, she rushed in and, using the opening left by Shirou, struck Illfang across his back. This action caused the boss to turn his attention entirely on the young ginger-red haired girl.
Seeing her mistake quickly, Xena continued what she started. Using her high dexterity, Xena began to dodge Illfang's attacks with slight ease.
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"Damn! For a big guy, he's fast." Xena told herself, only to feel a push.
"Keep your head in the battle!" Shirou barked at the young girl, as the monster swung, only to miss due to Kai's interference.
"Oh, right." Xena quickly got her thoughts together and rushed back in.
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Like clockwork, both Shirou and Xena switched ever so often to keep the Floor Boss confused. As the boss swung down, Shirou blocked up. It swung to the right, Xena blocked it from the left. It came to the point to where the other's just stared at the work.
Just as Shirou began getting comfortable with the Floor Boss' pattern, he once again blocked up as he saw Illfang going for a downswing, only to get the shock of his life when the monster swung its blade around and sliced opened his stomach.
The force from it was enough to send Shirou flying back, straight into Xena. Crashing into her, Shirou opened his menu quickly and took out a healing potion. As they both landed, Shirou quickly drank and threw the bottle away and rose to his feet.
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"You're hurt!" Xena pulled on him.
"Let go!" Then at that moment, Illfang jumped in front of them, and roared as it once again swung it blade down on the duo.
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Holding his blade up, Shirou attempted to block it, knowing it would probably be futile.
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"My health is too low. A hit that like will probably end me." Shirou thought to himself as he still held his blade up, only for a blue and green streak to appear beside him and stopped Illfang from doing a devastating blow. "Huh?"
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Before him were two teens. The black haired teen, who tried to warn Diavel, and the cloaked girl.
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"We got this. You rest." The boy ordered.
"Tell Hinata and Makoto that I'm fine, alright?" The girl spoke as she rushed forward to join her partner.
"She knows the twins?" Shirou asked himself as he watched the duo go on the offense on the weakened Boss.
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Rushing in as Illfang was defeated…
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Shimizu, Makoto and Hinata witnessed the moment of the First Floor Boss' defeat. Seeing this, they smiled at each other, and rushed towards their partner, who was winded and tired that he laid on the ground without a care in the world.
Walking up to him, Shimizu sat by his side.
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"Good work." She spoke, as Shirou opened his eyes to see her.
"Hey. Took you long enough." Shirou sarcastically said.
"I went back for the twins." Shimizu stated as she began to look around for the twins, only to see them near a light-brown haired girl, talking and embracing her with relief. "At least you made it in time."
"Yeah, at least I did." Shirou grunted as he sat up, with a little help from Shimizu.
"Thanks for your help." Diavel spoke up as Shirou sat. "Without you, I would've been dead.
"There's no need to thank me. My group and I just discovered something late last night and was planning on telling you in the morning, but we ended up sleeping in." Shirou confessed as he turned around to face Diavel. "Sorry about that."
"It's fine. Really." Diavel accepted Shirou apology, only to then hear Kibaou yell.
"You knew, didn't you?!" As Shirou looked back, he noticed Kibaou seated a bit farther than where he was. But since Shirou was unsure if he was talking directly to him, the blue-black haired boy remained silent.
"Kibaou, what are you talking about?" Diavel intervened as he walked towards the spiked haired man.
"I'm talking about that blue haired man, and that one over there!" Shirou looked behind him to see the black haired boy facing away from the crowd. Not liking the situation, Shirou faced Kibaou. "You knew the technique the boss was going to use, didn't you? And you decided to use that knowledge to play the hero! And you…" Kibaou turned his attention to the black hair boy. "You also knew, but you didn't say anything!" Turning around, the boy faced Kibaou and was about the speak, only for Shirou to intervene, by laughing.
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Laughing like there was no tomorrow, Shirou held his stomach.
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"You know, that's a great play you're putting on. I can't believe that a man like you is willing to put the blame on a mere child." Rising to his feet, Shirou began to slowly walk towards Kibaou. "So, you want to know how I knew about the Boss' technique, huh?"
"Wait, what are you…" Seeing Shirou stand right before him, Shirou got up close and whispered into Kibaou's ear.
"I'm not going to let you have your way." Rising back up, Shirou turned around. "In the Beta Test, I've reached floors higher than anyone. Due to that, I've seen other Floor Bosses and their techniques." Stretching his arms out, Shirou began to proclaim. "It's not far to say that I'm more knowledgeable than any info broker you know."
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Seeing what Shirou was doing, Shimizu stayed silent. But as she saw Diavel moving to try and stop Shirou, she rushed by his side and whispered to him.
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"Leave him be. Please." Shimizu pleaded.
"But..." As Diavel turned to face Shimizu, he noticed a pained look on her face. Not liking it one bit, he just faced Shirou and never looked away. But without warning, the black haired boy spoke up.
"Aren't you forgetting something, mister?" Shocked to hear the boy speak, Shirou noticed the boy walking toward him. "I was there with you, remember? You taught me everything I need to know, and if I can be completely honest, the Beta Testers were all newbs who didn't even know how to level up. Heck, even these guys were better than they were." Seeing where he was going with this, Shirou looked at the young boy next to him, only to see him slightly nod.
"Yes, you're right. It was so hilarious to see them fail again and again, that I had a great time remembering it even to this day." Laughing once more, the young black haired boy joined in.
"Oh my god. You guys are worse than the Beta Testers. You are god damn cheaters, that's what you are!" Kibaou exclaimed, which got the other players riled up and began to yell their hate and frustration towards the two.
"I hope you don't regret it." Shirou spoke quietly to the boy behind him.
"I couldn't just stand there, and let you take it all. I had to do something." The boy answered.
"What's your name?" Shirou asked.
"It's Kirito." Kirito replied. Smiling after hearing Kirito's name, and hearing something from one of the players, Shirou walked straight towards the end of the Boss Room.
"Yeah, Beater. I love that." Swiping through his menu, he began to search for something he had left untouched for a while, and finally equipped it. Seeing his sword disappear, and another take its place, Shirou turned around and faced the group. "From this point forth, I'm the King of all Beaters! And don't you forget that!" His orders caused everyone to go silent as they watched him walk away and open the door to the next floor.
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Following after him, Kirito, and his partner, Asuna, Shimizu and the twins rushed to his side, knowing it was probably not a good idea to leave him alone.
Standing there in shock, Xena just stared at door where Shirou had walked through. She didn't know what to do.
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"Good riddance." Kibaou spoke as the group left the Boss Room, to which caused Xena to snap and walk his way. Standing just mere inches away from him, Kibaou looked at the girl. "What do you want?" Raising her hand, Xena slapped Kibaou across the cheek.
"Να πας στο διαολο. *" Xena cursed in Greek before rushing out of the Boss Room.
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After reaching the 2nd Floor after a whole month…
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Shirou took a deep breath in as he looked at the scenery before him. With hills as far as the eye can see. Cattle-like monsters grazing at the grass underneath their feet, Shirou couldn't be happier.
Rushing forward with all her might, Shimizu ran straight towards Shirou without a second thought. Turning around after hearing several gasps and wheezes, Shirou noticed a very exhausted Shimizu.
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"What? Are you going to give me a stern lecture again, Shimizu?" Shirou stated. Instead of speaking, Shimizu rushed forward and embraced Shirou. "Hey!" But as Shirou tried to push back, Shimizu held on tighter.
"You idiot." Shimizu's voice cracked as she tried to hold back her tears. "You are the biggest idiot there is, Shirou." Feeling Shirou lift her head, the boy began to wipe away her tears.
"And yet you decided to stay by this idiot's side." Shirou spoke with a soft smile.
"Because I'm an idiot, too." Shimizu responded as she buried her face in Shirou's chest.
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Author's Note:
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*Was unsure of this translation since her character speaks a bit of Greek. It's supposed to say "Go to Hell" so if it doesn't, please tell me. I'll try better next time. Thanks for your help.