Kirito ran down the hallway in the Labyrinth on the 25th floor heading to the boss room. It was the guilds day off, but he was still able to scrounge about forty of his guild's best fighters along with Klein, Asuna, Agil, Argo, Diavel, and Yuuki. Unfortunately Aiko and the rest of the guild were either unreachable or too far away.
"Dammit I knew something like this would happen! Can you contact any of the other guilds Argo?" said Kirito while sprinting around a corner at top speed.
"Neither Heathcliff or Kuradeel is responding but Godfree says he will get together as many as possible and Lind says his guild won't bail them out unless we give him the last attack bonus." replies Argo trying desperately to keep up with Kirito, send messages, and not hit into a wall.
"Dammit! Does his greed mean more then people lives!"
It been about and hour since the Army frontliners with Kibaou at the head decided to try and fight the boss about a week early. Kibaou had been unhappy that his guild and more importantly him were not getting the fame or fortune that they so deserved. So in his infinite wisdom he decided to lead his under equipped, under leveled, poorly trained joke of a fighting force to fight the boss on the hardest floor to date. If that wasn't enough to make up for the lack of manpower he grabbed a few smaller guilds and lower level Army players from the lower floors.
"If we don't get there soon it's going to be a massacre!" shouted Klein as he scrambled to keep up with the faster members of the group.
"I new Kibaou was greedy but to throw his men's lives away like this." said Agil disbelief lacing his voice
"It's disgraceful and stupid." continued Diavel as the group reach the boss room.
When the group reached the boss chamber they stopped so the slower members could catch up and everyone could catch their breaths. Above the massive door written on large bold letters was a single sentence. There are many Ancient and cursed things in Aincrad that when awaken will destroy everything that would keep their king from his victory over this world.
"That's a little disheartening." said Argo in between gasps for breath.
As they opened the door they got their first look inside the room and a massive Two-headed Giant towered above scrambling Army players making them look like ants in comparison. This four-armed behemoth had barely lost half his first health bar. Two pairs of glowing red eyes stared out at the Army members inside his chamber. A wicked smile graced each face as he swung his two massive battering ram like hammers while his last two arms swept a chain across the ground tripping Army members before squishing them. Around his belt was about a dozen small round black objects with a little cord sticking out of the top of each one. His name read Zerleg and Dubous The Cursed Giant and he sat squarely in the middle of the room keeping two-thirds of the surviving Army soldiers trapped away from the exit.
"Ok guys try and get as many Army members out as possible and let's keep casualties to a minimum." said Kirito making to enter the room.
"Wait!" said Argo
'What!?" shouted Kirito confused on why he was stopped.
"Two things. First there is a limit on how many people can enter a Boss fight so we should prioritize who get to go in and as a heads up since the Army members haven't teleported out this is probably a Anti-Teleport zone so be careful and don't rely on that as a means of escape." said Argo quickly earning nods from the rest of the group.
"Ok let's do this." shouted Kirito leading close to twenty people into the boss chamber before an invisible wall stopped the others from entering.
With a mighty roar the Giant turned to meet the new arrivals after sending a who team of Army Tanks flying with a single hit. Kirito and his group headed toward the boss while his men tried to get the army players out of the room and to safety. Kirito then noticed a man screaming orders that didn't look anything like Kibaou. While the other kept the boss distracted. He ran to the other side of the room.
"Where's Kibaou!" asked Kirito frantically
"The man just gave a snort before replying.
"Last to enter first to leave sir. If you could help my men evac the room it would be much appreciated." said the Soldier before yelling some more orders
"Ok take your men out and we will hold of the boss!" said Kirito before jumping back into the fray
As Kirito's men ferried out injured and exhausted Army Members more of them were able to enter the room as slots in this joke of a raid freed up. They had finally removed the first health bar when they had gotten all the Army members out of the boss chamber. With a might roar the boss swung a hammer blow at the ground stunning several members before swinging his chain and dealing a critical of damage to the stunned players.
"We rescued the Army members lets pull out we are still out matched." shouted Diavel while organizing a tactical retreat from the room.
It was then that the boss revealed his new move. He threw one end of the chain towards Diavel and the chain wrapped itself around his waist. With a might heave the boss launched Diavel across the room and to the complete opposite side of the chamber from the exit.
"Diavel!" shouted Kirito and friends
The boss then charged the main group trying to retreat from the room knocking away and stunning many members before placing himself in front of the door. Argo ran to Diavel and gave him a health potion while Kirito and the rest attacked the boss.
"Doesn't look like he wants us to get past!" shouted Agil while blocking a hammer strike with his massive Battle-axe.
"Guys give me a sec I want to try something." shouted Yuuki while opening her menu.
"Ok, but what ever your going to do aim for that crystal between the two heads." replied Argo sprinting past her and throwing some throwing picks at the Giant's eyes blinding it momentarily.
"Asuna switch" shouted Kirito parrying a hammer blow and creating an opening in the enemy's defence. Asuna got a couple of hits in before being forced to retreat. The worst part was the Boss had refused to move from the doorway making getting past a serious problem.
"Ok ready." shouted Yuuki running past with a long sword in each hand! This was new Kirito didn't even know she could do that. Everyone else seemed to be in equal amazement as Yuuki jumped up and used a unrecognized sword skill on the bosses center. After a staggering eight hits she flipped backwards and landed next to Diavel who moved to take a hammer hit on his shield.
As they continued the fight murmurs about Yuuki's newfound power bounced around the group. Yuuki's duel wielding had inspired the group and morale was back up as they throw themselves back into the fight.
That proved to be the final straw as the boss lost his second health bar. Suddenly across the Giant's dark purple skin red Tattoos started to appear with the crystal as the epicenter of it all and the boss grabbed six of the round object from his belt in his two bottom hands after dropping his chain. Much to the group surprise the Giant, talked both heads voices blending together to create a deep raspy voice that almost seemed to bleed malice.
"Silly humans your time has come. The Ruby king demands your death and I will not disappoint. My Curse yours as well!" and with a smile he breathed into each hand before throwing the orbs into the chamber. Loud explosions shook the chamber as a red mist filled the room. Anyone hit by the mist suddenly found Black tattoos covering their skin.
"Your strength is mine!." said the Boss with a smile before charging with a newfound speed.
Kirito watched as his men were thrown around. Shouts "Why am I so slow." and "Why do my weapons feel so heavy." were coming from around the room as people found their Strength and Speed slower, but their defense raised. Doesn't matter how high our defense is if we can't dodge or fight back were dead. Thought Kirito. Only about a fourth the fighters including him and Agil were unaffected by the curse's effects.
With single hammer swing a who group of tanks lead by Diavel were sent flying. Another swing all but killed a swordsmen who got to close to the bosses left side while he used his hands to block strikes from several other attackers only taking minimal damage in the process.
"Time to die humans!" shouted the boss giving a malicious laugh before swating another group of attackers away.
Things were looking bad. When suddenly Yuuki and Asuna ran forward. They weren't affected by the curse and they used their impressive speed to dash up to the boss before he could react and then using some stunned players as launch boards flew and unleashed punishing sword skills on his crystal taking his third health bar down to a half.
With a cry of pure rage the boss hit them launching them across the room and putting both in the red.
"No" shouted Kirito as the boss moved in for the kill. Everyone else was either too far away or too low on health to be able to save. It was a miracle in itself that no one had died yet.
HE was going to save them it didn't matter anymore he had to overcome his fear at some point why not now. Kirito decided then and there even if his friends hate him or decide to hunt him down as long as they survive that's all that matters in the end. The Idea might terrify him but he was more scared of losing his friends, especially Asuna, then he was of their reaction once they learned his secret. As Kirito ran to intercept the boss he said one word.
"Elefthérosi." And with that his fate was sealed for better or for worse he would save his friends, his comrades, and all those who relied upon him. A black mist surrounded Kirito drawing all eyes to him including the bosses. When the mist cleared where once stood a boy no older than fourteen or fifteen now stood a huge dragon with glimmering black scales. With a might roar he hit the giant head on before breathing a jet of black fire into the the Giants faceless before knocking him into a pillar removing the third health bar in the process.
The room was in shocked silence. Was this their friend, comrade, and leader. This might creature that could probably burn them all to to ash. The men just looked on as the boss straightened himself and grabbed the remaining gas grenades from his belt.
'You will regret facing me Child of Fire!" Screamed the giant
"No I don't think I will." said Kirito as he again charged the boss.
Well here is another chapter for you all to enjoy.!As always review and tel me what you think. See ya next time!