AN; So here is the second part of the boss fight. Hope you people enjoy.

Disclaimer; I don't own Bleach or SAO

Chapter 9: Promise of Hope

"LOOKOUT!" The warning was directed at Diable who was charging at Ilfang by himself. "It's not worth getting yourself killed for!" Unfortunately said person chose to ignore whoever had screamed at him to be on guard. And so what followed was a surprise series of blows by Ilfang's blade. As the finishing blow approached a mysterious flash of black overtook his vision. One second he was facing death at the hands of the Kolbold lord and the next he was leaning against a pillar away from the fight.

"Y'know, normally when someone tells you to be careful it's wise to listen to them." With out even giving him a chance to protest or react, Mugetsu shoved a healing potion into Diable's mouth. Afterwards he turned and pointed at Kirito. "You, make sure his health is back in the green zone before he jumps back in." Nodding his head in response he was quickly at Diable's side, supporting his head in arms.

He did as he was told and made sure Diable's health stayed out of the critical zone. "You knew, didn't you? About the last hit bonus."

"Then I was right, you were a beta tester too." He received his answer with a simple nod. "Then why did you do it? You must have known that something was of about the boss's attack pattern the moment he took out that sword."

"I- wanted to show them that this game is beatable, that there's hope of returning to the world we left behind." Surprised, Kirito merely looked at him with a sense of respect. Though he still believed the knight's actions to be foolish. "But now it seems that I won't be the one to show them."

Back to the fight

None of the players present would dare interfere due to the sear ferocity of the battle happening before them. Many looked for an opening, a single crack in Ilfang's defense. They had already analyzed his attack patterns and sword skills he used, but something had changed, his eyes. Those same feral eyes many of them had fought against just moments ago now possessed intelligence. Deep down many felt how if any of them dared to charge in, Ilfang would make quick work of them.

Soon, however, both came to a standstill. Neither dropping their guard. "Well now," said Ilfang, "aren't you just full of surprises." All those that had been able to do nothing but watch merely watched with curiosity. By now they had noticed that all the sentinels the orange haired swordsman had fought reacted to him with strong aggression, and some even taunting him. Whatever doubt in their mind was now gone, Mugetsu had found one of the unique quest.

"Is that so," said Mugestu. "Because to me it seemed like you could barely hold your own against the others."

"Ha! As if the likes of them could hold a candle to my strength. You humans are all the same, you delude yourself that you can surpass us. That's how it was centuries ago and that is how it is now!"

With great speed, Ilfang charged at Mugetsu. Once in front of him he activated a skill that moved in an upward motion. Rolling to the side in time to avoid any damage, Mugetsu saw as Ilfang bounced of the sealing with his sword rapidly approaching. "Shit." Raising his own blade to defend, he deflected the kobold towards one of the pillars. Stabbing into it, Ilfang came to a stop, but not without shattering it.

"Remind me again, what was that you said a moment ago?" Glaring at his opponent while catching his breath, Ilfang let out a hateful snarl. "I think it was something about how we humans are weaker than you? Looks to me that all that was nothing but talk, seeing how I'm holding my own against you."

"Shut it!" Glancing around he spotted the ax he had discarded moments ago. He stabbed his sword into the ground and picked it up. Using all his strength, Ilfang tossed it aiming for the man wearing the black shihakushō's neck. As it quickly approached, Mugetsu prepared to dodge. Soon, however, he realized that if he moved out of its trajectory it would hit anyone currently standing behind him.

'So that's what you're aiming for, you damn bastard.' With not enough time for the other to react, even if he were to warn them, he chose what he believed to be the best course of action. He just hoped that his zanpakutō was strong enough to block the incoming ax.

To his luck, it did. Unfortunately, there were a few things he forgot to keep in mind. As soon as the ax had been deflected upward, Ilfang had charged straight for him. With one quick slash, he made a deep cut down Mugetsu's right leg. Unable to keep standing due to the pain and severity of the wound, he fell on his back. All he could do as he watched Ilfang approach was raise his sword with one arm while using the other to hold himself up.

Raising his own free hand, Ilfang caught his ax as it descended. "It seems your luck has finally run out, human. Though seeing as you have provided me with such a fight, I shall remember your name. I believe I heard someone call you Mugetsu." As the blade came crashing down, Mugetsu closed his eyes, awaiting the pain. But when he opened his eyes, standing before him was Kirito, sword in hand blocking Ilfang.

"I see," said the black haired swordsman. "Fighting like that, it's no wonder why you arrived late. You probably fought just as recklessly last night too, didn't you?"

"Another pest!? That's it, the last one at least had the decency to fight me one on one. But if the rest of you wish to interfere, then don't expect any mercy from me!" While he continued to clash swords with Kirito, Asuna had snuck up behind him and unleashed a rapid succession of blows to his lower back.

"And what makes you think that you should expect any form us," asked the hooded girl.

"Grr, you damn humans!" Ilfang quickly spun around and slashed at the rapier user, only to miss and destroy her cloak instead. Without missing a beat, Asuna struck again while Kirito slashed the back of his knees. Ignoring the pain, he once again launched himself into the air and leaped of the sealing. However, before falling he grabbed his ax that had gotten stuck in the crack it had created. Now using both hands to fight against the two member party, a wave of sparks was created whenever they clashed against each other.

'Wow, those two are holding their own pretty well. And their movements look as if they've been fighting side by side since before this.' As Mugestu kept observing the fight while his leg recovered, his eyes widened when he caught sight of what Ilfang had pulled from his back using his tail. 'Another sword!?' This one however was much smaller than the one currently in his hand. 'Like hell I'll let you pull another trick like that again!'

Within the next few seconds, his right leg was fully recovered, and he was charging back into the fray. Holding his zanpakutō in a reverse grip, he stabbed it into the ground, pinning Ilfang's tail and causing the large kobold to stumble. "Kirito, Asuna! Hurry and finish him now while he's off balance!" With a nod both did as instructed and dealt a rapid array of strikes that ended with Kirito landing the final one. And just like the rest of the sentinels killed by Mugetsu, the body remained, even after the words «Congratulations» appeared and everyone present let out s victory cry. But the mood of celebration would soon be put to a stop.

Well, with that the fight is concluded. Hope you readers like it. Review and tell me what you thought of it. Until next time!