T-That hurt! How could we have fallen for a classical trap like that? Not like any pointing of fingers would help now… My only companions were Pina and some other back-up forces. Considering the others, I'm not really comfortable being with all these men.

We needed to find the others as soon as possible though. This lantern has its limit in lighting the area. Pina is able to light things up but too much of the same move tires her out. I wouldn't want to abuse Pina! I prepared quite well even if I thought that Vukso would bring me to «Cliffhanger Sundae». I had a fair amount of potions, a few healing crystals and a few teleport crystals.

Also, I still remember how to use «Yoruski Rush». It focuses on a fast takedown to the opponent with the dagger but I barely use it since it feels a bit awkward as the system takes over.

One of them nudged me a bit. "Umm… Miss Silica, what should we do now?" The player asking me seemed extremely uneasy. He quivered in an awkward style, possibly out of fear. "L-Leader can't help us now so all we can do is nothing…"

The stress was getting into them. Just because of the disappearance of Vukso and Quorora, it caused a slight uproar in the team. They don't even think I'm strong enough.

Staying calm should be the key for times like these. "E-Eto, remain calm everyone!" My sudden squeak caught all of their attention but the one thing that caught my attention was a sudden cold presence. One player had a hood covering his/her face. "Who's that?" I pointed at the player leaning by the dark corner.

The player heard my question and headed towards me. I gripped the hilt of my dagger for precautions. "Long time no see… From what I know, you're close to Husharu— no… Koyero," This voice sounded vaguely familiar to me. Have I heard him from somewhere? "Seems like navigation is needed for your team… Let me assist you." The player took off the hood and revealed his/her face.

It was Kushimu?! I thought he was being imprisoned in the prison of the «Investigators Guild»! I fought him once at the «Floor of Exile» but I couldn't have fought him without help from the others. Even with the five of us, he didn't let up. He held his ground and valiantly fought us like his life depended on it. What was he doing here in the first place?

Having no trust in him wasn't from the fight. It was from that betrayal they made. "W-What are you doing here?!" My other comrades did nothing but watch what was taking place. "Are you vying for revenge? I-If you are, then—"

"Nope," He cut my sentence short. "After some processed analysis of what I have done, I have seen the error of my ways. Husharu-sama may be my savior that time but after a deliberation in my mind, I didn't need to force my way to make you obey him… This can be thought of as a favor."

Having him as a party member can greatly increase our strength but for some reason, I can't trust him just yet. He had an antagonist aura around him (not literally) in the «Floor of Exile» incident. At first, he was brimming with trust but after that, it all disappeared.

You can't really blame me for the mistrust I give him right? He even fought me and the other four with no hesitation. In fact, he was holding his ground against all five of us. If it weren't for his limits, he would have easily defeated us and leave. No killing intent was in him unlike «Scarlet Temptation» or «Laughing Coffin». Now that I brought that up… what happened to that guild? The leader, Hozume, has gotten inactive for a long time now. Not a single PK was made for the past weeks.

Now, back to reality. Taking him to the team should be able to aid us in our mission but has a risk of backfiring. Is the risk really worth it? Maybe it is. I'm not confident that I can defend myself in a higher floor like this. I'm fine with low floors like 74 already but at a floor like this… it's a different story. The best choice is to bury the hatchet and just accept his aid. Hopefully, no consequence would happen.

"If you insist… I'll let you in," I opened up my menu and sent him the request, which was accepted in no time. "You'll only be our guide right? After that, you'll leave us without any surprise assault or ambush, right?"

He responded with a nod and started walking.

The area around us kept getting darker and darker. If it weren't for this lantern, we would've been lost in darkness! Kushimu suggests that he's actually a game program, hence the reason why he doesn't seem to fight currently.

These underground caves had numerous sharpened rocks from the ceiling. Keeping it down was harder than it sounds though. The other party members would sometimes suddenly panic, onlt to be stopped by our navigator, Kushimu.

"No… this can't be right," Kushimu gave that rare worried face of his. "I thought that they weren't here in the first place. My knowledge in the game never stated that this was actually the place!"

Confused of his sudden outburst, I tried to lighten him up. "I-It's alright, Kushimu," As if by cue, Pina flew and wrapped around my neck, not like a caring kitten as usual, but in hostility! "P-Pina?!"

"Damn it… He must have changed the floor just so I wouldn't know about it!" He quickly grabbed something from his pocket and used on Pina. This caused Pina to sleep and fall to my arms.

Coughing out from that sudden strangle, I knelt and examined Pina. "Pina… what's happening?" I stroked her wing with obvious sorrow in my eyes. "Kushimu, what happened to Pina?"

Silence spread across the room. All that was heard were drips of water coming from the ceiling. Kushimu was speechless in front of me. He was obviously sorry for what has transpired. That sudden event still boggled my mind. Pina would never do such a thing…

"Your other team, the main force, has already started their search for the boss room but," Even if sweat wasn't really supported by SAO, he was soaked with it. "The other back-up force has come for a betrayal…The one who made Pina rebel against you is a «Beast Tamer» much like you, one of the high-ranking members of the «Mercenary Guild». Probably sent by the other back-up forces"

"Another «Beast Tamer» like me? I thought the other forces were on our side!"

"Indeed they are but one of them is meant to be a traitor in the future. An inevitable betrayal can be seen in a while. A rebellion for «Scarlet Temptation» led by «Traitorous Assassin»… Also known as Ze."

Ze again? He's been like this ever since his appearance, never giving importance to human life in Aincrad even if he knew the consequences of a player dying here. He insists on murdering players despite Hozume's orders to stop all the PK-ing to his guild. Practically, he's probably the only onet hat actually murders with a smirk covering his face.

"Who's this «Beast Tamer» you're talking about then? If he or she is affiliated with the «Mercenary Guild» then I might be in trouble."

"To make it clear, the tamer is a female as well. She has no main beast tamed by her but she uses different methods. She either uses them as a temporary ally and release them later or use a beast to turn against the master. Her name here was probably, Mayami."

Another player to look out for? Things just get harder and harder. I wanted to level up to defend myself but it seems like it's getting too much. Koyero would have usually made some weird antic to lighten up the atmosphere but not now… he's with Havuki doing some sort of assignment given by themselves. I can't have myself being a burden to anyone anymore…

Slightly discouraged from what's the situation, I decided to ignore it and continue our journey through this underground cave. If Kushimu was that negative, something must have a difference here. Could it be that the boss room was getting closer to being found just by being inside this cave?

We continued our walk through this dark cave until we finally bumped into some company. Was it friend or foe? I pulled out my dagger for safety measures. Pina's unable to fight since it was still unconscious from the item Kushimu utilized.

"Oi! Don't point that small dagger at me, you little loli!" That insulting attitude only meant one thing. It was Vukso! "Do you even know how worried Quorora and I were for all of you?" Showing his caring side? That's not like him. "Well… I must say though, not bad for girl. I thought you'd be deathly afraid of a dark cave.

"Yep, you're definitely Vukso…" I pouted and went to him.

"Now that we're all back together, let's find a way out of this cave." Quorora noted.

"No, the boss room is just around the corner. Believe me, it is true." Kushimu used a monotonous voice as he told us.

The boss room was near? This could be bad. If it were near, then Ze's group would be too!

"Seems like you're all here…" A girl voice echoed throught the cave as we heard steps getting louder. "I won't let you off the hook as easy as before this time, Beast Tamer Silica."

C-Could it be—

Extra Scene: The Mercenary's last breath?

Once I heard the signal, I pulled out my scythe while Koyero rolled back for the «Switch». I am the party leader so I must finish this battle with all I have! With my full power still yet to be unraveled, I must give it my all just to defeat our opponent… Argo wasn't really much of a fighter and Koyero's still recovering from that sudden jab «Azura» gave.

I needed to finish off this boss by myself. It may still have three HP bars remaining but it doesn't have as much vitality as a Floor boss. Sapping its HP away should be easier than fighting a Floor boss by a landslide.

«Azura» deserved the tittle of being a field boss. Its tail was already severed but its defense and attack has not wavered. Even at the start of my battle with it, it still manages to push my scythe back with its large claws. At least it can't use that poison tail anymore. The only worry right now is probably its fangs and claws. I made a signal to Koyero and he understood.

"Got it, masked ally!" There goes his random personality again. At least he followed the order by going to the monster's side. "On three…" Koyero placed his hand on his Zweihander to start the «Pre-motion stage».

"One… Two…" I whirled my scythe fast enough to make it like an industrial fan spinning in high speeds. While doing this, the system took over for my skill. "Three!"

Koyero slammed the beast with his Zweihander. His skill's power was strong enough to launch «Azura» airborne, just as planned. At the exact time when it was sent to the air, I rushed to the area it was falling do and began my skill, «Extreme Slice», a powerful move for scythe users. I twirled even faster and it started to slice the beast. Of course, my move gave a chunk of damage to «Azura» and started to slice open its hard, rough skin. Red gashes appeared on its body.

As soon as my skill stopped, I backed away, evading the falling monster. At this time, the «Post-motion stage» started, rendering me unable to move for a while.

Argo knew what to do and so, she started throwing her throwing picks, right at the eyes of the monster, causing it to bellow in pain. With its sight gone, everything else should be easy enough. Its HP was still decently high even after that punishing roulette. Figures, if it would have died already, it can't be called a boss.

So far, we had the upper hand but soon enough, we may lose that advantage. If not careful, you can be caught up in one of its moves.

"Havuki, just be careful when it goes to its aggro mode," The information broker warned us from her distance. "Its defenses lower tremendously but its attack and speed will increase to its limit."

Heeding to her late warning, I kept my distance, along with Koyero. Its HP bar went to its final one so it would probably take up an extreme offensive mode by now. My scythe just got some huge chunk of damage from that combo with Koyero but at the cost of my scythe's durability becoming dangerously low. That rough skin really did do a number to my weapon… I cannot let this scythe break.

Hastily, I equipped one of my extra forged weapons. It's not as quick as my scythe but it has power. In similarity to my scythe, it was also forged by Lisbeth. My weapons are not forged by Deira anymore just because I found that a bit— No, that's a story for another time.

"Hey Koyero, Argo, buy me some time to focus on using my extra weapon," I equipped my great sword and sighed. "It's been a while since I used this blade, after all. Too bad my original one is already being used by Vukso though… «Mega Gaze» should be enough to give that boss a beating…" I started my skill as I pulled my blade back with both hands.

"As you say." Koyero charged to the beast with his usual suicidal attitude, causing a blue glow to be activated. "My signature move… No matter how tough your defense is, I will break through. «Phantom Charge»"

For once, he's actually talking in a serious way. As soon as he activated that skill of his, he pierced through the opponent and jumped away for the «Post-motion stage». That gave the beast only minimal damage, regardless of that pierce.

"I think I made it angry!" Koyero instantly got swatted away like a fly by the monster. Hit by the wall behind him, he actually gained a chunk of damage despite his tank attributes. There was only one possible reason for this change in aggression.

Rage mode…

«Azura» quickly got out of its previously slow state and started charging to Argo. If it weren't for her agile and evasive abilities, she would have been crushed by that raging beast! Its claws were probably only inches from piercing Argo. If only my charging for this skill would take shorter, then she wouldn't have to go through that. I must be thankful that she's as good as fighter as much as she's an information broker.

"Will that charging of yours be taking any longer?" Argo equipped those claws hanging from her belt and did some quick scratches on the beast, only causing it to get even more agitated. "I can evade the hits it can give but I can't do it forever."

"It's alright, it seems to be ready…" My blade shined a bright light, starting the skill. "This may be one of my risky moves but if I do it right… that beast is as good as dead… This is, «Brandishing Strike»!" I quickly went for the target to deliver a lethal blow.

I was just a few meters away from the beast. My blade had the glow still intact as I neared it. The final blow was about to be struck but «Azura» read my moves and caught my blade in between its claws and threw it away like a paper ball.

All I had left were my fists for fighting. Defenseless as it is, it's my only usable weapon at this point. Koyero seems to have be petrified from that hit it gave previously… he couldn't even move an inch. Argo, on the other hand, can still deliver blows but all her hits seem to be futile against the beast's defense. All it did was anger it and add fuel to the fire. The aggression kept getting higher and higher as the hits kept landing.

Trying to evade it at this stage isn't easy as it seems. I focused most of my stat points in «Strength» and «Vitality» so my evasion rate is practically as low as you can imagine. «Azura» easily cleaved and slashed at me with its lethal claws without trying as I saw my life drop little by little.

"Oi! Careful out there, Silent Mercenary." Argo threw some more of her throwing picks at the beast, hoping to capture its attention. "Your defenses may be enough to tank numerous normal monsters but you can't tank this one. Try evading for once."

"Sure Ar—" This time, it slammed me to the ground with… its tail?!

I-I thought it was already severed off! The info didn't say anything about body regeneration. Before, it had none of that. Once cut off, it's gone. Could Kayaba have tinkered with this field boss just to make it more challenging to the other players? Well, I can't think anymore. I'm down on the ground with nothing able to get me out. HP slowly depleting, its tail was crushing me.

My vision started giving up on me. All I saw was Argo starting her futile attempts to rescue me. Luck end here, I guess. I've been lucky to have survived from death the first time but now, it seems to have caught me with a net. Death… was inevitable at this point. Vukso, Deira, I'm sorry I couldn't keep the promise between us. Finish SAO without me…

"Havuki!" I heard a voice from Koyero and heard numerous clashes which were all invisible to me. My sight's giving up on me… damn it.

From the start of SAO, I saw it as a reality that we must escape. Nothing blinded me from that goal. Even neglecting Vukso and Deira was the payment for it. Ironically, I die like this… just like the way Fezery died… Sorry for not heeding to your wish as well… I can't tell your family and friends about your fate anymore. With that said, sorry… my friend.

As my HP was about to deplete, my eyes closed. All I could see was void. Maybe today is my last breath…

Next Chapter: Bloodshed

Next Extra Scene: Dead or Alive?