Just Days Before the Floor 2 Boss Raid…
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"Shimizu and I were strolling around the city of Urbus just counting down the days until the Floor Boss Raid, when something catches my nose and eyes."
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"What's that?" I say to myself as I approach with curiosity.
"What's wrong, Shirou?" Shimizu asked as she followed to see what may have caught my attention. "Wait, are those…"
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Before us, sitting behind a glass window looked to be several lumps of wheat wrappings, probably buns of sorts.
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"They're probably meat buns." I instinctively say.
"Meat?!" Shimizu repeated excitedly, as she approached the NPC who was selling the buns and bought one without even questioning what the bun may be hiding inside its soft, fluffy body.
"I've never seen these in the beta." I thought to myself as I also bought one of the buns. "They were probably something that was added in after the beta-" A muffled scream stopped my internal monologue and I looked to see where the scream came from, but what I saw nearly caught me off guard.
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Several minutes later…
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Seen wiping herself with a napkin, as a young boy cladded in black from head to toe approached the young adults as they sat on ledge of a water fountain in the town square.
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"Hey there." Kirito introduced himself as he approached.
"Hey there, Kirito." I answered as I looked over to Shimizu, who was still wiping her face.
"What's wrong with her?" The young boy asked.
"Just had a bit of hiccup." I answered as I opened my menu and opened a trade window with Kirito.
"What's this?" But just as Kirito was about to check the item I sent him, I stopped him before he could investigate further.
"I noticed you're not with Asuna. What's up with that?" I say hoping to distract him long enough to stop him from looking to deep into the bun's fluffy secret.
"Oh, well…" Kirito hesitates to continue his story as he accepts the gift I had given him. "I'll see you later." Then the young man walks away without ever checking what the steam buns were.
"Hehe." I chuckled to myself as Kirito walked away and Shimizu walked up behind me.
"Did you just…" Without even letting her finish her sentence, I nod in response. "What are you going to do then?"
"Follow." Was all I said as my response as a I began walking right after Kirito.
"Ah." Another voice called out before I even had a chance to take one step. "There ya are. I've been lookin for ya both." I turned around only to see a rat in my presence.
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Walking down a hallway…
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"So, that's what's been happening on the 1st Floor?" I asked, still a bit stunned at the new I just received.
"Wait, you're telling me the 1st Floor boss resurrected?" Shimizu added.
"Yeah, that's what I've heard." Argo the rat, the best info broker (I needed to add this otherwise I won't hear the end of her tantrum) spoke after hearing our words. "That's why I wanted you, Shimizu, and Kirito to check it out. What do ya say?"
"I don't see why…" Then I heard the sound of another scream coming from a certain room at the end of the hallway. Rushing to hope to catch a glimpse of my prank in action, I ran without hesitation, leaving both Argo and Shimizu eating my dust.
"Hey!" Shimizu called out as she ran after me.
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Approaching the already open door, I peer inside to see…A young brunette woman's face covered in a thick, white gooey cream from the steam buns I gave Kirito just moments prior. As the cream slid down her face, Asuna trying her best to swallow the cream that sat in her mouth and around her lips, as she held her head up high to try and prevent the warm substance from leaking down any further. This was truly a sight to behold, but had I not seen it on Shimizu's face just minutes before, I would've guessed that both teens in this room may have done something rather naughty.
Not able to hold back my laughter any longer, I burst out laughing, while both Shimizu and Argo stared in shock. While laughing, I took some quick screen shots and continued laughing.
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"Shirou!" Kirito angrily yelled as he approached, which only caused me to laugh even harder.
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Minutes after explaining…
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"I'm so sorry Asuna." Shimizu kept apologizing on my behalf, only because I kept laughing every time I even so glanced as Kirito or Asuna. "Had I known he'd do this, I would've stopped him.
"Shirou." Argo tapped my shoulder. "How much for the pictures?"
"Not for sale." I answered. "I've got to at least help her keep her dignity."
"True." Argo answered as she sighed in disappointment.
"So, what made you think of doing that, Shirou?" Shimizu now turned to me as she began pointing fingers.
"Simple." I answered. "I saw it happen to you, so I wanted to see it happen to someone else, that's all."
"That's it?" Shimizu asked, hoping to get more out of me.
"That's it." I responded, proving that I had nothing else to say.
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"Ahem." Clearing her throat, Argo got all of our attention she continued speaking. "Now that I have your attention, I need you all to check something for me."
"Is it about the Floor 1 Boss?" I asked, thinking about the conversation I had with Argo just moments prior.
"Yeah." She answered, looking solemn as she spoke. "I understand that the Floor Boss raid for this floor is well underway, but there have been rumors of Illfang the Kobold Lord reappearing back in the boss room."
"That's impossible." Kirito interrupted as he stood up from his chair, causing it to squeal as it was pushed back on the wooden floor. "Once a Floor Boss is defeated, it doesn't reappear for any reason."
"That's why I want you to check it out for me." Argo spoke up before Kirito could say anymore. "If it really is just a rumor, then I'll be able to put it down with my connections. But… if it's not…"
"Anyone who is unfortunate enough to end up in the boss room unprepared will get the shock of their life when they come face to face with the boss alone." I added looking down at my hands remembering how I was lucky enough to save Diavel from certain doom.
"Yes, that's right." Argo looked at each of us individually before speaking up again. "So, can I count on you to deal with this matter, while I try to find this Floor Boss's weakness for you as payment?"
"Deal/ On it." Kirito and I spoke up at the same time to Argo's offer, while the women in our group sat there stunned.
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The Next Day…
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Teleporting to Tolbana, Kirito, Asuna, Shimizu, and I began to walk about while many thought ran through my mind. Why did the Floor Boss return? Where things going to be different this time around? But no matter how many questions ran through my mind, I knew that none of there were going to be answered unless I entered the boss room.
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Half an hour later…
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Clearing the hallways leading up to the Floor Boss, myself and the group walked towards the room that held the Floor Boss, but it would seem we weren't the only ones there.
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"Kibao?" I spoke instinctively as I was not expecting to see someone like him here.
"Huh? Oh, it's you." Kibao said unenthusiastically as he turned my way. "You here to see if the boss reappeared too?"
"You heard about from Argo, too?" I asked.
"No, another low-level player saw it when they went exploring and told me, so here I am." Kibao spoke with that unenthusiastic tone of his.
"Is that so?" I answered, as I opened the doors to the boss room.
"What are you doing?!" Kibao asked, now his voice holding a hint of hostility.
"We're not going to get anywhere just by standing around." I replied, glaring down on Kibao from over my shoulder. "Let's go." Without another word, my party and I entered the Boss room, with Kibao's party just behind us.
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Just like before, Illfang jumped from his throne and roared so loudly that it reverberated into our bones, but we weren't frightened this time. This time, we were prepared.
Getting the last attack in before anyone else, my sword sliced through Illfang's arm causing the dog looking monster to yelp in pain before vanishing into a million tiny little particles. With that out of the way, the Boss Room lights dimmed once again and the small battle was over.
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"Is that it?" Kibao asked, annoyed that no reward was given. "Hey. Give me the last attack bonus you got!" Kibao demanded at me as he pointed and stretched out his hand. "A beater like you doesn't deserve it." I don't answer but instead look at my group and speak with them.
"Let's go back to Argo." I say as Kibao is practically yelling in my ear.
"Don't ignore me! Are you even listening! Hey!" But before he could say another word, I use a teleport crystal and teleport back to Urbus.
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Later that night…
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After explaining to Argo what went down in the Boss Room, she began to nod her head in an understanding fashion.
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"So what you are predicting is that the Floor Boss only reappeared to give item and mat that may help on this floor? That about sum it up?" Argo asked as she leaned back in her chair.
"That's about right." I answered.
"So, what about the last attack bonus Kibao was so interested in?" Argo asked as she leaned over the table that separated us.
"There was none." I answered quickly.
"Huh?" Argo's face twitched at my response. "Surely there was somethin, no?"
"Nope, nothing." I answered with a smile.