A/N: With the way to the floor boss room revealed, our Assault Team gets ready to face the Floor boss. But are they fully prepared for what's in store on the bosses' chamber? We shall find out for ourselves.
AUGUST 25TH, 2023. FLOOR 24, HAILIN.
Nearly two weeks have passed since we discovered the Chamber of the Boss room. We have set out three separate raid parties to go after the boss, and each and every single one of them failed. Over 100 players dead.
Many players, those in the Assault Team included, begin to think the boss is unbeatable. I don't think that's possible.
Every ten floors, so far, the 10th's floor boss are the strongest of all the other previous bosses. This one is 24, nearly halfway through the whole Aincrad. It's gotta mean the boss is hardcore cause of our progression. Through it almost doesn't make sense. Something like this should be well suited for the very next floor boss.
What is Kayaba up to?
"Almost everyone is fully geared," Asuna says.
"Geared and leveled to the max, you mean," I say.
Most of the Assault Team, including myself, have all reached level 150, the highest level we can reach for now. We worked and trained hard, day and night, trying to strengthen ourselves to prepare for the boss fight. Whatever it must be, it's probably powerful enough to wipe out an entire raid party.
"Yeah. A soon as the last 8 are worked up, we'll be ready to fight." Asuna says.
"Espeon isn't going to be in the fight, is he?" I ask.
"It's possible. He is a powerful Cleric. We'll need every powerful healer we can get as well." Asuna says.
That worries me. This fight is going to be dangerous. The last thing I need is to put Hope into that danger, one that would take his life.
"I can understand if you're trying to protect him. Kirito is the same thing with his sister, Leafa." Asuna says.
"Knowing him, he certainly would be," I say. "Has there been any word of Laughing Coffin?"
Asuna shook her head. "No. It's been five days since they tried to murder our team." Asuna says.
Lately, while the Assault Team has been preparing for the fight, the murder guild, Laughing Coffin, has been ambushing us, attacking us when we're weak and exhausted. Bastard cowards, how it sickens me.
"They may be quiet and we may be close to our goal, that doesn't mean we can let our guard down," I say.
Asuna nods. "Agreed. I've acknowledged the commander of this. He actually has an assignment for us."
"And that is?" I ask.
FLOOR 24, FROZEN LAKE.
The orders from Commander Heathcliff are to search the latest known attack sightings of Laughing Coffin. Asuna and I have come to the Frozen Lake zone for any clues that would lead us to them.
"A hidden base?" I ask.
"That's right. The Commander believes they camp out somewhere on this floor. Somewhere close to the well-known hunting spots." Asuna says.
"So they can find their targets and strike them down when they're at their weakest state. Bastard cowards." I say.
Asuna and I search around the area. So far, for signs of any Laughing Coffin activity. Their last known attack has only acquired yesterday. Given them enough time to erase their tracks. Searching around this area is pointless.
"No clues...we're gonna have to figure out another way," I say.
"Like what?" Asuna asks.
I think. Laughing Coffin is a Red Guild. One of the worst and most criminal groups. If we are to find and capture them, we're gonna have to figure out a way to bring them to us.
"We're gonna have to lure them here," I say.
"Lure them?" Asuna asks. Her expression changes, assuming she has figured what I mean. "You mean...use other players as bait?" I nod. "But...but that goes against the ways of Knights of the Blood Oath."
"I don't like this any more than you do, Asuna. But we don't have any other choice." I say. "If we act fast and play it right, we can still save the players from being killed."
Asuna still doesn't like the plan, and I do not blame her, but she does agree to go with it.
Luckily, I keep on hand my Cloak of Invisibility. With it, we are both able to hide out in plain sight, waiting for the next group of players to come in. But we don't expect one to come for a while. This area may be well known for hunting Experience and Krystals, but with the news of Laughing Coffin attacks, players are most likely to not come here. Not for a while at least.
But there are still going to be players who will take the risks of being ambushed to have the hunting grounds all to themselves. I've known Kirito and Klein well enough to learn several players are like that.
Risking their lifes, in every way, for their hunts. To become stronger.
An hour has passed, and so far nothing. Few players have come and go in this area, some fallen into a weak state. But no attack came. Asuna certainly has heard no news of any of the remaining Training Assault Teams being attacks. It's almost like they're onto us.
We have our eyes trained on Wendy and Zane. Honestly, seeing those two here makes me nervous. I can't risk putting their lives in danger to capture a criminal group.
Still, seeing those two have fun, and messing around with each other, amuses me. I laughed even. Almost reminds me of Serah and Hope and I were together.
"I'm surprised they haven't come," Asuna says. "It's almost as if they realize we're here."
It's true Zane and Wendy here would be easy targets for the murder guild. I hate admitting it.
Still, this seems too quiet. I got a bad feeling on my spine. Bit of a warrior vibe. Laughing Coffin must be here...watching...waiting...waiting...
My eyes look around, fully trained and focused. One thing I failed to realize is that they could be hiding in the shadows. The woods may be a frozen blue, but nighttime still takes over. Darkness, even a distance away, can still hide the murder guild's black clothing and hoods.
Nothing comes within sight at a far range, so I enhance my sight vision, looker deeper into the darkness. Nothing but mostly black...and, just as I figured: The tip of a sniper gun.
"Asuna. Sniper gun! 165 degrees southeast!" I whispered.
Asuna is surprised to hear the news. Just as I did, she uses her sight vision. She gasps once catching the sight of the sniper. She must have also seen something bad happening.
"He's about to fire!" In a flash of light, Asuna bursts out of the invisibility to the kids. The second she does, there's a spark of light from the far position of the sniper. That can only mean he fired.
Wendy and Zane are both in shock by Asuna's sudden arrival. They are overwhelmed in fear when they noticed a bullet coming right at them, that becomes split in half by her rapier. The two halves fly right past them and they explode on the frozen trees.
I take notice of the sniper, who I soon realize is that Master Sniper Sterben, jumping back in shock. A second later, he makes a run for it.
This is our chance. "Asuna!" I jump out of the invisibility, startling Zane and Wendy as well, and rush at my full speed towards the attempted murderer. "I'm going after him!"
Asuna shouts something to me, but I couldn't make out what it is. I'm mostly focused on our target.
I chase after Sterben through the woods. He's faster, but not enough to outrun me. I come close that he's soon within my normal sights. He takes notice of my closer range. Taking out a pistol gun, he starts shooting at me. Clearly trying to slow me down.
Mere bullets don't stop me. I dodge them, still running at my fast pace.
I start to fight back. My Gunblade, loaded and in gun mode, I start shooting right at him. Sterben detects my income bullets and dodges them. His evasion skill must be high.
Trying to shoot him at this range won't do me good. I hold fire until I get close enough for better aim.
I chase after Sterben all over the frozen woods. The moment I become in range to shoot him properly, he jumps over a cliff. I get all serious as I build in more speed, and jumped over the cliff as well.
The drop isn't far, only about 30 feet. Much to my surprise, Sterben is gone.
I look all around. Nothing but wild open ice and snow. He couldn't have gotten far either.
It's as if he disappeared into thin air.
FLOOR 24, HAILIN.
I return to the city, confused and clueless at the disappearance of our little friend.
I head into the inn, only to find an unexpected guest. "Idiot!" I find Asuna, outraged. "Don't go running off like that!" I look over Asuna to find Wendy and Zane. I silently sigh in relief. Thank goodness they're all right. Asuna lets out a sigh as well. "Well...what happened?"
"I chased him out of the woods. But once we were out, I lost him." I say.
"You mean he was too fast?" Asuna asks.
"No. He just vanished. Like out of thin air." I say.
Asuna looks surprised, confused too. "What? Did he teleport?" She asks.
"I don't think so. There were no signs or sounds of teleportation." I say. "Plus, he's a red player. He couldn't have been able to teleport into a town."
"That's true." Asuna has her fingers on her chin, thinking. She's as clueless as I am. "How could this be possible?"
"I say we investigate, in the morning," I say.
And Asuna agrees.
Asuna takes both Wendy and Zell to their temporary home on the 10th floor. I don't much of anything. I just head for the dining hall in the inn to get some food. I'm lost in my thoughts. There's something familiar about Sterben. Like I know who's the man behind that metal mask. And it's not someone friendly. The thought of the man's presence makes me feel bitter.
It's someone who ticked me off. But who?
After I am done eating, I head to my room in the inn, falling into a thoughtless slumber.
AUGUST 26TH, 2023. FLOOR 24, OUTSIDE THE FROZEN FOREST.
News from Heathcliff came in today. The whole Assault Team is almost prepared, about two more are near to being fully set for the fight, and they plan on finishing tonight. Tonight, we face the 24th-floor boss. This means that we have to find the assailants before we go marching off to battle.
We don't know what we're up against, and as powerful as Asuna and I are we can't take any chances of being ambushed and strike down. Most of the Assault Team are busy getting ready and resting up for the fight, so I called in Noel and Hope to lend us a hand. They're strong, and with just the 4 of us, might still be risky but the odds are still greater than before.
"So you say the Laughing Coffin Assassin just disappeared from here?" Noel asks.
"That's right," I say with a nod.
"He couldn't have just teleported if he's a red player, and he defiantly wouldn't have gotten far if you were chasing him," Hope tells me.
"So, what do you think could have happened?" I ask.
We all look around. Sterben was right here when he vanished. Noel searches the cliff wall as if looking for some hidden switch. Asuna and Hope take a close look at the floor. Trap door perhaps. I'm just looking over the horizon.
The sound of Noel's scream startles us. And his scream only lasts a mere second. When we all turn to see what's become of him, he's gone.
"What just happened? Where's Bladelance?" Asuna asks.
The rest of us are just as confused about Noel's disappearance. In our wondering confusion, we jumped startled seeing some figure coming out of the icy cliff like a ghost. We relax for a moment realizing it's only Noel.
"Guys, you might wanna see this," Noel says, then he seeps back into the ice.
This confuses all of us, but we go with it.
We approach the cliff where Noel seeped into. I go first, putting my hand onto it...then through.
"An Illusion?" Hope says.
I say nothing, I just take a step through this 'wall'. Inside, I see a dark cave. Hope and Asuna both joined in, and are surprised to see this.
"Looks like some hidden room," Noel says.
"That's impossible. This area was checked out and there are no hidden rooms around here." Asuna says.
Hope takes a look at the tunnel, at its wall. "This place...it looks like it was dug here." He turns to the rest of us. "I think this tunnel was made by a player with an archaeologist skill."
"And that illusion was an Assassin Spell," I say. "Whatever's going on here, I got a feeling it's leading to our friends, the Laughing Coffin Guild."
"Be on guard." Asuna warns us.
We head down into the tunnel, weapons, and spells ready and on high alert. One thing we know about Laughing Coffin, they'll be ready to ambush us.
The path is short, and we reach the end of the tunnel into a small cave.
The cave here looks like a base but abandoned too. No sign of Laughing Coffin Members, not by sight anyways. I keep my senses sharp while everyone else looks around the base.
"No doubt about it. This is a Laughing Coffin Base." Asuna says.
"To think they were able to build a base with just a few progression skills," Noel says.
I wouldn't say it's that impressive, but I'll give them some credit to pull this off. Building a base right under our noses. Suddenly, I get a chilled feeling. Something bad's about to happen, my instincts could sense it. I look around the room. If they're still here, they'll strike in the shadows. Only there's not much to hide around in this small area.
I then look up...and trouble rains down. "INCOMING!"
Everyone is jumped by my alert, and they look up to see Laughing Coffin Members raining down from above. Weapons drawn, we prepare ourselves for battle. I stay close to Hope, guarding him. I know exactly what they plan on doing, and they say it out loud.
"Destroy the Cleric!"
I fight off against three Swordsman that wanted to destroy Hope. Asuna and Noel hold off against strong red players too, but I'm the one who's taking the heavy-hitting.
Swords come at me at full speed. I can hardly see where they're hitting and my parrying skills can barely keep up on blocking the attacks. I take several hits, and my HP drops only slowly. It's nothing bad. Hope is still able to heal me to full health.
"This chick is tough!" Laughing Coffin Swordsman #1 says.
"She's really determined to protect that little runt!" Laughing Coffin Swordsman #2 says.
The word little runt boils me. I know they're talking about Hope. "She can't keep up! Breakthrough and we'll have the Cleric Dead!"
They may have the numbers, but they're still outmatched. Asuna and I are powerful Swordswomen. Noel's pretty strong too, but the major advantage we have against them is we have a Cleric on our side.
When the enemy players Asuna and Noel faced got too low, they start running. "I'll go after them! Help Lightning and Espeon!" Asuna orders.
It's a good thing Noel's staying to land a hand. I can't land a single chance to counterattack with all the blows these three enemies are throwing at me. Noel takes on the Swordsman's, one at a time. With only two right on me, I'm able to fight back against them, my attacks still focused on defending.
In the end, the last three members we faced are defeated. Two of them choose to die and one of them fled. We attempted to chase after him, only by the time we reach outside, he vanished.
FLOOR 24, HAILIN.
Dusk approaches in Aincrad. The time has almost come to face the Floor's boss.
We haven't heard from Asuna since she ran off chasing the fleeing members o the murder guild. Noel and I have no idea what happened to her, we don't even know if she manages to capture the fleeing enemies or they escaped...or fought to the death.
After taking care of the enemy players, we destroyed the base and send the report to Heathcliff. Know how Laughing Coffin will be setting their bases, we're going to be on sharp alert when we're investigating the floors for them.
But unless we can figure out how to find their headquarters, this bloodshed war will never end.
"It's almost time for the floor boss," Hope says.
I nod. "Right. Let's meet up with the Assault Team."
