Chapter 3

Team.

Two days have passed since the first meeting and I was already in a team (technically it would be a party). It was probably the first time I had actually socialized with players in this world. It felt great knowing people depended on you and you on them.

No one complaining about my appearance or anything concerning me, as we didn't talk much, I was chosen to be in Group A. The leader of the group was a hammer wielding and shield user that seemed pretty strong. All of our team was composed of melee weapon users with shields. This was basically because we were one of the two tank groups that would take on the hits that the boss threw at the party.

I was also a sword and shield user. I picked up the shield because I felt I needed something extra. But it was more due to experimenting with different types of compositions in my build. Although, it felt good knowing I could shield myself with it, I knew I couldn't get to attached, because I would constantly be open to new options.

Aside from my weapon composition, I wore light armor. Everyone seemed to have the same arming option, since it seems that heavy armor is meant for higher floors and rare on this first one. It consisted of a small chest plate, spaulders on my shoulders, a pair of light vambracers and greaves; all the same color and material.

And as we closed in to the boss room, and as we drew near, I wondered whether or not it would be enough to take on the massive threat that awaited us.

Have faith.

I thought, as I braced myself for combat.

December 4, around 2:30 p.m. It started.

Rushing in with my team, everyone let out their battle cries as we raced to cross swords with the beast.

"Kyaaaaaaaa!"

Overlapping with the floor boss´s own tremendous roar, we rushed forward, without fear.

The massive [Illfang the Kobold Lord] was supposed to be a demi-human, but it looked more like an overweight giant lizard. Armed with a bone axe and a crude shield, it swung down its weapon as our leader took the first blow.

Bang!

As a few sparks flew out, we covered our teammate and the battle truly began.

Swinging it weapon at us again, we took it and with some effort repelled it. But it would take more to beat us, so was we quickly recovered, we prepared for the next hit.

Using the rotation strategy, we switched to and fro, taking hits and letting the attackers do their thing. And all of this was being coordinated by the leader himself.

Roar after roar, its HP gauge dropped, leaving three left.

Screech!

Its giant-sized blade scratched deeply into my shield, as I was pushed a few meters back. Taking a breath, I lunged forward once again.

The scenario was practically the same for the majority of the battle. Taking damage, retreating and healing while the other team takes our role, switching back and rotating with the attack groups.

We can do this!

I thought, as the boss´s HP gauge plummeted further and further. This feeling was in the air as every single one of the forty-four players launching this daring attack began fighting even harder. It was natural, seeing "Illfang´s" gauge reach the yellow zone, thoughts of a decisive victory certainly began surfacing in everyone's mind.

But it felt a little bit odd. This beast was the only thing stopping us from reaching the next floor, an obstacle that everyone feared and couldn't imagine fighting. But we were here, doing battle, and not a single player had collapsed.

But I spoke too soon.

What happened next startled everyone. The very core of the elite fighting party, the lead Diavel, was hurled into the air, by a new weapon unleashed by the boss. Reaching its HP gauge´s yellow zone, the new weapon was taken out. It was described in the meeting, but no one had the idea of the destructive power of its blade.

Landing with much force, it was impossible to survive something like that. The very man, who gathered the strongest players possible and attempted to lead all of them to combat, was now dead.

Every player froze, stunned at the situation. Even the boss seemed to picture the moment, and as if it almost understood, it also stood there. The gasps of desperation filled the hall, for a short moment.

It was then that a young boy appeared.

Amazed by his apparent age, no, by the very rage in his eyes, everyone gave an even more shocked look.

So young and fragile looking, he single handedly took on the boss, as his comrade aided him.

Flashes of light shone throughout the hall, furious yells came from that single person. Taking on a deadly monster all by himself had everyone startled. It was very brave, yet stupid. A reckless move to attempt to chop down the very beast that moments ago took a player´s soul.

That's when I soon realized that he couldn't make it on his own and yelled to my comrades.

"Come on! We gotta help them!"

And with a stroke of luck, just as both of brave young warriors got knocked to the floor, the leader of Group B, the giant Agil, shielded them from annihilation.

We then moved in and commenced fulfilling our role once again. But at that instant, we were met with a superb skill straight from the monster´s weapon.

Screams and light ran across, as we flew few meters across the hall after the giant unexpected attack. It looked to be an unknown and high level katana skill.

As we faltered and tried to recover, the same young figure came into play once more.

The very boy from before, now in berserk state, began an unbelievable array of attacks. Slashing to and fro, he became one with his weapon. The beast realized and began an attempt to shake off the menace, but just at the last second, the young man dealt the final blow, shattering the beast to pieces.

Thousands of glass fragments filled the air, as Illfang disappeared.

Amazingly, we defeated the obstacle that kept reminding us that this world was unbeatable.