#5

I stood from a distance as Asuna and Kirito were seemingly talking to each other. After half an hour of searching, I just went out of town to try leveling up a little more. Although that failed, I noticed the two of them sitting on a bench near the center of town, talking and eating the delicacy: bread. It wasn't much to see, but it helped me see the gentler side of this hellhole.

Seeing as how I wasn't needed, I walked off, found an inn, and slept that day off. However, nothing would prepare me for what happened the next day. I woke up around nine, got ready, and met up with Kirito and Asuna once again.

"Oh, Good morning," Kirito said.

"Morning," I muttered. I felt a tad bit grumpy on account of the boss fight coming up. Not that I didn't want to fight, I just felt discouraged alongside the other, higher ranked players.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," I replied.

"Doesn't sound like it," he snapped.

I grumbled again. "I… was just thinking about the battle."

"Me too. It'll be great when we all beat it, won't it?"

"Sure will." I turned to Asuna. "What about you? Are you ready to face it?"

"S-sure," she replied with a stutter. I sensed she also had some uncertainty, but it relaxed me quite bit knowing I wasn't the only one.

"Well," Kirito started, "shall we?"

SAO

"Let's go over the plan again," Kirito announced as we walked down the path in the forest. As we had heard, we were on our way to the dungeon and, in turn, the boss' lair. Kirito was just giving me and Asuna a reminder on our plan of attack.

He continued. "As the backup team, our target is the boss' minion, the Ruin Kobold Sentinels."

"We know," Asuna and I replied, almost like clockwork.

He continued once more. "I'll go in first and knock their weapons out of the way. Once that's done, you two will switch and take them out."

I just nodded, but Asuna asked, "What's a switch?"

Both Kirito and I looked at her, but Kirito responded. "Hold on, it this the first time you've been in a party?"

"Yes," she responded. Kirito just froze in place as me and Asuna walked forward. Did it really surprise Kirito that she didn't know one simple facet of the game? He may be a good swordsman, but he needs to realize that can happen sometimes.

Nevertheless, we turned back to see Kirito sighing at this revelation. It was going to be a long game if he kept up this bellyaching.

SAO

Standing in front of the door, Diabel brought his sword into the ground, turning to the assault team to address us before we fought to the death.

"Listen up," he began, "I've got one thing to say to all of you: let's beat this boss." It wasn't much of a speech, but the crowd certainly was fired up to win.

"Let's go," he replied as he pushed the boss' door open. It creaked as the door opened inch by inch, as when the door opened completely, there was only darkness. As we walked in, we saw a shadow at the far end of the corridor, undoubtedly the boss. Diabel, of course, took the lead while the rest of us filed in behind him.

As the last person entered, the room filled with blinding, artificial light, as the shadowy figure appeared right in front of us with a thud. It was a fat, red colored being with a square target on its belly, a giant axe-like weapon, and a shield. A red indicator appeared above its head, and its name, Illfang the Kobold Lord, followed shortly afterwards. As it let out a bloodcurdling roar, four health bars filled up and his entourage of helpers appeared in blinding blue pillars of light.

"CHARGE!" Diabel proclaimed. Kirito Asuna, and I (and everyone else) began to run towards the enemy, and the enemy did the same. As soon as I saw sparks up ahead, I knew the battle was well underway. Kirito took lead for our group by taking on the first Sentinel.

Nearby, I heard Diabel barking orders like he did it for a living. He was telling the groups on the boss precisely when to attack and when to switch. It really was a sight to behold.

"Squads D, E, and F, keep those minions off of us," he reminded.

"Roger," Kirito replied. In a split second, he had the first minion disarmed.

"Asuna, switch!" he exclaimed as he moved on to the next target. In a flash, she disappeared from my side, and was already halfway to the enemy. It was, in a word, impressive how quickly she moved. Hell, I couldn't even see the tip of her rapier as she sliced and diced the minion in record time, followed by the blue pixilation of death. I looked at Kirito, and his face told me he was just as impressed.

"Not bad," I replied softly. Suddenly, I noticed a minion try to get the jump on Kirito.

"Behind you," I yelled, and Kirito swiftly blocked the minion's blow. Once more, he knocked its weapon off, but he asked me to switch. I obliged, and brought my mighty two handed sword behind me; when it turned blue, I hacked the minion into two pieces as it also exploded into blue pixels.

I looked at my sword in amazement. I had no idea it was so powerful. For once, I felt like a total badass. My celebration was cut short, as I heard Illfang roar behind me; when I turned around, I saw that its final health bar was in the red, which meant it was time to change tactics. Instantaneously, the creature threw up his weapon and sword, leaving him defenseless.

"Looks like the guidebook was right after all," Kibaou noted. For once, I actually agreed with that monster.

"Stay back," Diabel yelled as he darted past the rest of us. "I've got him." No doubt, he was after the last attack bonus, and I don't blame him. After all that masterful coaching, he even deserved it. As I sliced another minion, I turned to Kirito only to find puzzlement in his expression.

"What's wrong, Kirito?" I asked.

He disarmed another enemy. "I thought we were all supposed to fight him as a group." I had forgotten about that detail, but he was right.

"But then why…"

As Diabel charged his sword skill, Illfang pulled out his weapon. My eyes widened as I got a good look at the sword. It wasn't a Talwar; the sword's tip branched into two distinct tips, which meant it was a No-Dachi. From what I heard, its weapon in the beta was a Talwar, so now Diabel was basically performing a death march. Kirito's expression confirmed my fears.

"STOP!" Kirito exclaimed as he bashed an enemy away. "It's pointless! Hurry back over here!"

It was too late. Just as Diabel was ready to strike Illfang, the enemy jumped into the air, bounced off all the pillars in the room like a pinball, and came back to the ground with a thud, slashing Diabel right in the center of his chest. Suddenly, the monster slashed Diabel once more before Diabel had a chance to hit the ground. As he flew in our direction, I heard shouts in the crowd as Illfang roared once again, landing right in front of the assault team.

"Diabel!" Kirito exclaimed. I followed up right behind him in case the minions tried coming his way. Kirito landed right beside him, but judging by Diabel's rapidly draining health bar, he was as good as dead.

"What the hell were you thinking trying to face him alone?" Kirito pressured as he pulled out a healing potion. As he brought it close to Diabel, the wounded leader refused the potion, bringing it back to Kirito. Kirito was shocked, but it was for the best anyways.

"Y-you guys w-were beta testers, weren't you?" Diabel croaked. Kirito and I were in even greater shock than before, but Kirito looked like he also has a question to ask.

"You were too, weren't you?" Kirito asked. Suddenly, the puzzle fell into place.

"That's why you went after the boss alone wasn't it?" I followed. Diabel just let out a wry smile as he started to glowed blue.

"Y-you two n-need to defeat the boss," Diabel started again as he started to fade. "Do it for everyone's sake." Those were his last words before he burst into the same blue pixels as the enemy. I saw the shock in everyone's faces as Diabel ceased to exist in Kirito's arms.

I finally understood how I was going to survive. Depending on other people wasn't going to get me through; working together, leveling higher, and following any plans made. Diabel had tried facing Illfang alone, and that foolish mistake cost him his life, and I got to experience firsthand how that ends up.

In the instant afterwards, I was fired up and ready to kill that bastard boss. Kirito stood up, also ready to fight. And in another instant, Asuna materialized beside us.

"You guys ready?" I asked Kirito and Asuna.

"Ready," Asuna replied. Kirito nodded.

"Ok," I replied. "Kirito, take the lead."

"Right," he replied, and the three of us darted ahead.

"We'll attack him just like the minions," Kirito barked.

"Gotcha," I replied.

"Understood," Asuna replied. Kirito ran right up to the boss, and clashed swords with Illfang. The result was a brilliant light show of sparks as Kirito yelled at us to switch. Asuna took first charge while I lagged behind a little. However, the boss sparked back to life and began to take aim at Asuna.

"Watch out!" Kirito and I screamed. As the boss sliced, only her shadowy robe vanished, revealing her true form. Once again, I saw her beautiful, long chestnut hair, but I also saw she wore one of the standard battle outfits and her pretty face showed she was determined to win. She brought up her rapier once again and knocked the boss back a great distance away from us guys while our jaws were on the ground in shock.

"That was…"Kirito started.

"…breathtaking." I finished. We couldn't revel in her beauty for long.

"Here he comes again!" Kirito announced. All three of us took turns slicing away at Illfang's health while the others held off the minions in our absence. After I took my turn, Kirito darted ahead to take a stab at him; however, the boss was a bit faster and took a slice at Kirito that blew him back, with Kirito landing right on top of Asuna.

In a split second, I took charge and began to hold off Illfang's devastating weapon until I was also lying on the ground next to the other two. The boss once again charged his sword skill, ready to take all of us out.

Just then I heard a battle grunt as a stream of emerald pushed the boss back to his corner. I looked up to see Agil standing over us. Then, the rest of the squads darted ahead to get back into the action.

Agil spoke. "We'll hold this bastard off until your health recovers."

I nodded. "Sure, thanks." Agil went back towards the boss, leaving the three of us to watch as all their strength went towards keeping Illfang in check. But, he easily beat back the immense force and hopped back into the air, ready to strike again.

Then, Kirito got back up to try again.

"What are you…" I started.

"Stay back!" he exclaimed. He jumped as well, charging up his own sword skill to use against Illfang. With a swipe, the boss fell on his back while his health bar depleted some more.

"Asuna! Haiyamoto!" Kirito yelled our names. "One last assault should kill this sucker."

"Got it!" Asuna and I once again said in clockwork. With the boss down, the tree of us darted towards him with all our might as we charged all of our sword skills. Asuna's speed, Kirito's skill, and my strength. There was no way Illfang could dodge this blend of skill.

Kirito striked first, then Asuna swiped. I followed with a slice, leaving the boss stunned. From behind, Kirito sliced Illfang from the bottom of its body to the head, screaming a battle cry as he did. After his sword exited Illfang's body, the boss roared one more time as it flew into the air, exploding into familiar blue pixels.

It was over, we had won.

SAO

The players roared into cheers as the reward screens lit up with earnings. Somehow, I had earned enough EXP to level up to level six. I, too, had a reason to be ecstatic, but I wasn't. Though we had won, we lost Diabel in the struggle, and I was still in disbelief.

I looked down at Kirito as he looked at his earnings, including whatever he won for getting the last attack bonus.

"That was awesome, man," I congratulated. He looked up, stunned.

"What he said," Agil responded. "That was some fine swordsmanship."

"Yeah, Great job," Asuna continued.

"T-thanks," Kirito responded humbly.

"This victory is all thanks to you," Agil continued.

"No," Kirito responded. The others snapped back, agreeing with Agil's comment. People were cheering all over, clapping hands at the victory.

"Stop cheering, all of you," Kibaou yelled. The entire room went silent. What the hell did he want now?

"W-why did you do it, huh?" he asked Kirito.

"Huh?" Kirito asked.

"Why did you let Diabel die?" Kibaou asked again.

"Hold up," I stepped forward. "Did you seriously ask him why did he let him die?"

Kibaou's head snapped back up. "Of course! He knew what the boss was going to do."

Now I was fuming again. "He could have told us that, then Diabel wouldn't have had to die." He crowd was once again mumbling, but I have about had it with this bastard's rash comments.

"Now listen here…" I replied as I pulled my sword out of its hilt. However, Asuna and Agil held me back before I had the chance to strike.

"That's enough," Agil told me.

I was taken over by anger. "No, it's not. I want to show this bastard what I think about his attitude RIGHT NOW!" Suddenly, I felt a slap to my face, compliments of Asuna.

"Calm down, please!" she yelled, and I fell out of my temporary insanity.

Someone else from the crowd piped in. "I know. He used to be a beta tester. He knew the boss' attack patterns, but kept it from the rest of us."

"And I bet there are some more here right now. Show yourselves!" As mad as I was, I couldn't outright say I was one now, less I want to be blacklisted. And of course, no one else spoke up. A quiet murmur enveloped the area, seeking out the beta testers.

"Knock it off, you guys," Agil announced. "There's no need to…" Suddenly, Kirito began to cackle like a hyena, almost as if he was losing his sanity to the game.

"You guys think I was a beta tester, huh?" he asked. The way he said it made him seem like a totally different person. "It's shameful to be grouped together with those newbs." That one comment hit me in the feels, because that would perfectly embody me. I collapsed to my knees. Is this how he really felt? I quickly brushed that comment off, for I don't think that's how he really felt.

"W-what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kibaou demanded.

"Exactly what I said," Kirito started. "Most of the thousand people who scored beta slots were nothing but beginners. They were so green, they didn't even know how to level up." He turned back to the group. "Hell, you guys are a lot better than they ever were." Kirito walked towards Kibaou, but now he was really starting to scare me.

"But me," Kirito continued, "I made it to floors that were way higher than the other testers, and that's a fact. I knew about the boss because I fought others on higher floors with far more intricate skills. That's not all I know. In fact, I know more than any of you or any info broker in the game."

I was in considerable shock. I could no longer tell if this was an act or if it was how he really felt. He was so scary, even I was starting to believe most of what he said. I also heard that bastard Kibaou stutter.

"W-w-what the hell?" He mumbled. "If that's the case, you're much worse that a beta tester. You're a god damn cheater! That's what you are!"

"Yeah," a guy from the crowd exclaimed. "He's a beta tester AND a cheater. He's a beater."

"A beater," Kirito mirrored. He chuckled once more. "I like it a lot. Ok, then call me a beater." He started tapping at his console. "Just don't confuse me for those beginners anymore, got it?" With the tap of a button, a long, black coat materialized onto his avatar. That was the moment he transitioned to a lone wolf player. He smirked as he turned around, walking up the stairs to the exit.

Asuna and I went to catch up with him.

"Hold up," I demanded. He halted like a robot. "You don't have to leave. I don't care having you as a party member." He stayed silent, walking back forward.

"Wait," Asuna demanded as he halted yet again. "During the battle, you called me by my name."

"I'm sorry," Kirito replied. "Did I mess up the pronunciation?"

"How did either of you know it?" she asked. I sighed, but Kirito responded.

"Right under your health bar, you can see another one if you're in a party." I saw her looking closely as she spoke his name.

"Kirito? That's your name?" she asked again.

"Yeah," Kirito responded. The three of us remained silent until Asuna started to laugh.

"Ha ha, so it was there this whole time? I'm so dumb." She said.

Kirito spoke to both of us after that. "Listen, the two of you could become so much powerful by yourselves. But if the day comes where someone invites you guys to a guild, don't turn it down. There are limits that even a solo player can reach."

"And as for you?" I asked. "What will you do when that comes?" Suddenly, Kirito's name disappeared from my screen as he opened the door to the next floor. As it completely opened, he walked into the dark, foggy corridor alone.

I turned to Asuna. "So, what now?" I asked.

She caught up with me, standing at my side. "I guess I'll follow you lead for now. It's not like I've got anyone else to trust right now."

I smiled lightly. "Let's get going, then." With Asuna at my side, we walked forward into the same darkness than enveloped Kirito.

Another chapter is finally done! But good god, was it a nightmare for me to write. I've had this chapter brewing in my head for a week, but out of laziness and business, I wasn't able to write all that much. On the bright side, I did hold to my promise and brought a lot of action to this chapter.

Another thing that was up was that I debated splitting this chapter into two halves, but I stuck with the battle until the very end and kept the origin chapters under five. So starting next chapter, the story will finally start becoming unique. But, there will come a time when I go back to the canon, so enjoy what little originality I add for now.

And once again, thanks for supporting me by reading, and please review if you can so I can make the story even better. Also, support my other fanfics, as I've still got ideas for those stories as well. Until then, keep trekking through the hellish nightmare of SAO with me.

-rjm324