Kirito lead his raid team through the labyrinth to the location the scouts said the boss room was. If nothing had changed the boss should be Baran the General Taurus and the scouts said he was teamed with Nato the Colonel Taurus. So with two boss the forty-nine member raid group would spit in two. A raid group had seven teams of seven so they had decided that there would be two tank teams, two damage teams, and then two teams of mace users and scouts that would hit the bosses with bleed and stun effects to help the others out.

Kirito's team was the odd man out. It consisted of him, Yuuki, Aiko, Diavel, Agil, Argo, and Aceso. The team planned of fragmenting with Kirito, Yuuki, and Aiko joining Asuna and her attack on Baran while Agil, Argo, and Diavel would lead the troops attacking Nato. Aceso was one of of Argo's best scouts and she was loaded with health potions and even a few crystals so she could use her speed and hiding skills to help heal those whose health was getting low so she would be on the edges of the fight looking for those who were critically wounded.

As far as they knew there wasn't any mobs, but the bosses stunning abilities would be difficult to deal with. Kirito sent Klein's group off to complete some quests so they wouldn't be participating in this fight but he was sure they could do it without them.

When they finally reached the boss room Diavel gave a small speech before Kirito opened the door and in the room was two bosses just like the scouts said. Baran was a giant Red minotaur type monster wielding a two-handed warhammer. Nato was smaller and blue but no less intimidating. Both huge monsters were a terror to behold towering over the human swordsmen and would cause lesser men to run, but Kirito's men didn't even blink. The group split and went for their targets without a second thought prepared for the tough battle ahead.

Asuna lead the charge on Baran with Kirito close behind her. Asuna landed the first hit with a simple charge type sword skill called Shooting Star. The second after Kirito followed up with Serration Wave stunning Baran allowing the rest of the group to get to the fight.

"Tanks prepare for his counter attack!" Shouted Asuna seeing Baran raising his two-handed warhammer for a horizontal swing. The tank group raised their shields right before the strike troke home pushing the tank members back, but doing minimal damage. It did however momentarily stun them. Yuuki and Aiko used the tanks to vault up into Baran while the rest of the damage dealers went for his legs. Baran was just so massive that Yuuki and Aiko were only able to reach his chest before they unleashed their sword skills. Kirito and Asuna worked as a team attacking the bosses joints while Asuna shouted orders to her men. Under the savage onslaught Baran's health depleted quickly until the first of his three health bars was only half full. Baran let out a huge roar before slamming his hammer down on a tank all but crushing the poor soul. His teammates covered him so he could heal, but still it displayed a staggering amount of damage for a single attack.

"Mace users stun him now and non-tanks be careful of his hammer it hits like a truck" Shout Asuna earning a few chuckles and a confused Kirito. Baran stumbled backwards as the mace sword skills stunned him.

"Everyone attack now!"

They were now well into Baran's second health bar. With a growl Baran raised his hammer.

"Prepare for an attack.!" shouted Asuna causing the Damagers to run back as the tanks moved forward ready for the attack.

This is going well thought Kirito while peeking over at the other fight to see how it was going. Diavel was shouting orders as Agil delivered a powerful strike to Nato's left arm causing massive damage while Argo had somehow gotten on top of Nato and was busy clawing out his eyes wearing a gleeful smile the whole time. It's going a little better for them thought Kirito with a slight huff turning back to his fight to deflect a hammer swing and create an opening for Asuna to strike with several devastating Linear hits.

Baran health was just on the edge of his second bar when he raise his hammer for a downwards strike. The sound of glass shattering reached Kirito's ears. Had someone died! From behind him he heard cheers. Diavels team had killed Nato and were heading his way to help finish Baran. We can do this thought Kirito as Barans lost his second health bar. Suddenly the room started to shake. Baran let out a huge roar as his skin started to change to a sickly purple color and his eyes took a more murderous shine.

"He is entering a berserk state." shouted Asuna

"That's not our only problem" Shouted Argo as she reached Kirito.

In the center of the room a hole appeared and the sound of gears grinding could be heard.

"Don't slow down. We must kill Baran before whatever is coming gets here." shouted Asuna spurring her men to continue the assault even as Baran started using numbing blast every chance he got laying in stunned and paralyzation to many fighters. As Baran's final health bar hit 25% they could finally see what was coming from the hole. A massive monster that made even Baran and Nato look small. It wore chainmail around waist, but left its chest bear. A giant silver crown sat atop its head and it wielded no weapons. Its roar shook the chamber. Above it's head the name Asterius the Taurus King appeared followed by three more health bars.

It was a testament to their training that no one openly panicked.

"Keep fighting Baran Asuna. We will take Asterius. Join when you can." shouted Diavel while altering his group's course. "Kirito we could use your help!"

Earning a nod from Asuna. He ran off toward Asterius.

'Yuuki. Aiko. With me!" he shouted

"Right" was the reply he received acknowledging the order and following him into battle.

Asterius took a giant breath and his chest inflated like a barrel.

"Breath attack watch out!" shouted Kirito a little too late. Asterius open his mouth and a yellow blast of lightning shoot out striking the tank instantly paralysing everyone.

We might have a problem thought Kirito while charging into Asterius tree trunk thick legs.

After killing Baran and taking a little rest Asuna lead her men to join the attack but still they had barely hurt Asterius. The fact that Asterius seem to hand out paralyzation like it was candy didn't help. It surprised Kirito that they hadn't had any casualties yet. There had been a couple of close calls though but Aceso did an amazing job as medic healing those who need it or if they were too badly injured dragging them out of the combat. They could only ever seem to get about half the raid to attack him at once because the rest were paralyzed or healing. One thought struck Kirito. Where was Argo?

Argo for her part had snuck up behind the boss and had climbed it's legs. She had just reached Asterius head when his first health bar was depleted. Asterius started sucking in air for another breath attack.

"Everyone scatter." shouted Diavel.

What are we going to do? Thought Kirito in a panic. If this stayed they way they were they would definitely take casualties and soon. Then a yellow light caught his eyes.

So that's where Argo got to thought Kirito as Argo used Cat's Claws on Asterius head hitting both of his horns doing massive damage and canceling the breath attack. With a smile Kirito charged into the boss again with Yuuki and Aiko who just recovered from their paralyzation.

Several minutes later they had finally taken down Asterius second health bar. Asterius let out a murderous growl promising death as his skin burned to a coal black color and his attacks speed up. His first target was Argo still perched on his head his left hand sent her flying, but fortunately right to Diavel who was ready to catch her. Their happiness was short lived as Asterius right hand came in and swept them off their feet and sent both knight and scout flying into the nearest pillar putting both in the red zone. Agil charged forward just as Asterius stucked in air for another Breath attack.

"These attacks are getting pretty old real quick." shouted Asuna running past Kirito.

This time though it was different. The previous breath attacks had been a line of lightning this was more of a cone. The group had tried to scatter to avoid it but not far enough. Kirito seeing it coming and pushed Asuna who was on the edge of the cone out of the way. He then looked around. The entire group was laying on the floor having lost all ability to move the only ones not paralyzed were Asuna, because he had pushed her, Agil who was right under the boss so the attack had missed, and him for well being a dragon and therefore immune to paralyzing effects up till now he had been luck enough to dodge the one that would paralyze him. I hope nobody saw that. I still not ready to tell them just yet. Thought Kirito pulling himself up.

'Kirito are you ok." said Asuna worry clear in her eyes.

"Yes, now we must keep the boss busy with Agil ."

Asuna nodded as she went running toward Agil and the boss.

"I need a lift Agil!" shouted Asuna. Realizing what she had in mind he just smiled

"This is so cliche" was all he said as he launched Asuna up and into Asterius face. His massive strength helping her get up to strike were her attacks would do the most damage. Asterius sported a look of confusion as a small chestnut haired girl with a tiny toothpick of a sword appeared in his face. Confusion morphed to rage as Asuna landed dozens of Linear strikes into his eyes before finishing with a martial arts skill Crescent Moon. Asterius stumbled back under the attack and his health bar depletes itself to about 50%.

The rest of the raid pulled themselves up and attack Asterius while he was stunned from Asuna's ferocity. Kirito caught Asuna before she hit the ground and took the fall damage.

She was panting from the exhalation. "I did good?" she asked looking at Kirito

"You did good Asuna." He said with a smile as the raid group finished off Asterius with no casualties. Aiko got the final hit earning herself a new sword.

The group sat around the now empty boss room and rested from the long encounter before heading off. Kirito was sitting off to one side thinking when suddenly a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Hi Kii-bou" It was Argo.

"Hi Argo what can I do for you?" asked Kirito

"Well the funniest thing happened during the boss fight. The entire group was hit by that breath attack and paralyzed except you. Care to explain" asked Argo with a huge grin.

Kirito just sighed, "I should have known that you of all people would have noticed that."

"Does this have anything to do what what the old man called you. Child of Fire was it? Asked Argo adopting a more serious look. Kirito curled up and wrapped his arms around his legs.

Noticing this Argo sighed and looked away. "Whatever it is you're hiding Kirito we can handle it. We are friends after all, but if you want to keep it secret then that's your choice. Yuuki and Aiko both look up to you and you saved Diavels life. I'm sure Klein, Agil, and the rest of us can handle it you just have to trust us." with another sigh Argo started to walk away.

'I'll give you time to think it over and best of luck with Asuna." said Argo giving him a smile

"What's that suppose to mean?" said a very confused Kirito.

Argo stopped. Looked at Kirito. Then just laughed.

"You'll see I guess. Oh, and on the next floor after we make our guild we should do that elf quest you missed in the beta."

Not Elves. Thought Kirito, Dragons and elves never got along. One too many hunting parties and a couple burned villages. It was one of the many reasons Kirito didn't want to show people his true form. For as long as he remembered peoples usually approach to dragons was to form a hunting party and kill it. Kirito himself lived through a wood elf hunting party attack.

At least their not dwarves. Thought Kirito, and if it's a dark elf they probably wouldn't kill him on sight. Probably.

Seeing the happy pair of Konno sisters proudly showing off Aiko's new sword to some very exhausted raid members Kirito couldn't help but think back to Argo and the old man's words. He would have to tell them soon. He should at least let his close friends know even if they still hide it from the rest of the soon to be guild.

Here is that chapter I promised. I hope you enjoyed it. The problem I am trying to have for Kirito is that Dragons have a history of being hunted and it's not entirely their fault. Ya they're giant carnivorous monsters but still they aren't the evil monster they are made out to be. Kirito cares about his friends, but at the same time doesn't want to lose them when they learn he is not only not one of them but a giant fire breathing monster most of them hunt for valuable loot, armor, fame, and fortune. So he is hesitant to tell them. I also realized that many of you thought Yui would be the one to break the secret of Kirito's identity while this may be the case I thought that might take awhile so I decided to let Argo collect some information early. Also I am starting to think that with all the build up no matter what I do when they do learn the secret it will probably be a let down in some way to people, but what you gonna do I guess.

On a side note anyone know what the 25th boss is. I can't seem to find anything on it other than the fact that the army fought it, got their butts handed to them, and retreated to the lower levels. It would be nice to know what it is or I guess I could just make something up. We'll see I guess.

As always please review and tell what you guys think. Criticism is always welcome and I could never hurt to improve ones writing ability(or so my English teachers tell me). Thanks for all those who helped me so far with ideas and support.

Shadowace2400 to answer your question(At least I think it was a question) I was trying to make Kirito and family AI's that obtained a level of independence and free thought.

Sapphirestream thanks for the advice and I will keep it in mind when writing new chapters. Also any similarity to Tsukikage and Hikage was and accident. I was never that into yugioh. Sorry.