December 3, 2022 Floor 1 . Forest Fields

Kirito's POV...

We are all walking along the forest, with everyone in their groups and positions. On the fields, behind the other groups, our group was left last. I discussed a plan to attack.

"Let's go over it again.." I explained, looking at the two, "we leftovers are supposed to target the boss' helpers, the Ruin Kobold Sentinels.."

"I know.." said Asuna with intellegence. I turned to look at the white haired, who was fantasize by his book. "Kaneki, you better listen to this.." I ordered, he looked away from his book. "Um..yeah.." I sigh. He better be, cause this plan will save us from getting killed. Left alone a complete newbie like him.

"I'll use a sword skill to knock their pole axes up. The second I do, switch in.."

"Switch?" Asuna looked at me. Her voice wording it in question. I looked at her, "Is this the first time you've ever been in a party?"

"Yes.." she gave a nod.

(Time Skip~)

We were now in the gate of the dungeon, as Diabel, was upfront of us and drums his sword on the ground. Making everyone, viewing his attention to this promised event.

"Listen up, everybody! I have but one thing to say.." he clench his palms and showed everyone a courageous glare. This lift up our spirits. "Let's win this!" All are ready although most are unsure

but kept a fearless look on their expression. "Let's go!"

Diabel opened the gate. With a slight push of his palm, it opened with no effort and revealed a dark hall till it finally lights up the whole view in our eyes. Pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple, they swirled so magically to light the place up. Kaneki was amazed how the environment just changed in seconds. I gave in a confuse look. Isn't he scared?

Just then, a tall huge red monster, that kinda represents like a kangaroo, stood confidently in stance with its weapons and shields at hand. It let out a powerful roar, as if on cue that the battle had begun. Its minions appeared the same, ready to fight. Their boss and his minions rushed towards all of us. But just before Diabel could command, Kaneki, rushed upfront. I gave a terrified gasp while the players stood in shock. That idiot! Why is he charging ahead!?

But, as soon as he made contact with them, he killed one, by repeatedly attacking it. My eyes went wide, shocked to see how he confidently defeated one in front of our eyes. I slowly turned my fright to a calm relief. That complete newbie of a bookworm. He sure is full of surprises. Diabel smiled at this and shouts an order, "COMMENSE THE ATTACK!" A group of players rush in. Fighting together, backing kaneki, battling off the minions.

"Squads A and C! Switch! Here it comes Squad B, block! Squad C, keep guarding and prepare to switch on my mark. Now!" Diabel swish his sword on cue, then a group did what they were told. "Draw back and hank it! Squads D, E and F" he look at the said groups, "keep those sentinels away from us!"

"Roger!" I ran as I was told to do and attacked one of the boss' minions. "Switch!" On cue, Asuna took my place and attack the minions. But my worry, for letting her fight it, I somehow felt relief once more.

I thought she was just a beginner, well compare to kaneki. But she's really skilled. She is so fast that I can't even follow her blade.

"Good job" I ran up to her as she succeeded on killing the minion. The fight wasn't really that fierce, everyone was doing their best to cooperate and avoid being killed. I kept on attacking and doing switchings with Asuna, while Kaneki seem more of a solo fighter, fighting any unnecessary minions that's needs to be defeated. Among the noises and clashes of swords, the boss threw its weapon and shield. Feeling defeat according to its actions. Kibaou was among the groups who was fighting the boss, he smirked at this sight, "Looks like that guidebook was right on the money.."

"Stand back!" Diabel ordered, rushed upfront. Commanding everyone to open a path for him. "I'll finish him!" I took a glimpse of it, the fight seem very suspicious to me.

But this is where the whole group is supposed to hem the boss in..

The unarmed Boss, magically holds out a new weapon. It was entirely different than its other. Scanning the new item, my eyes went wide. Thats not a talwar! It's a nodachi! It's different from what it was in the beta test!

The thought I had, this left a full shock to me. I knew what's about to come. "STOP! Retreat as fast as you can!!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, in hopes to stop their fight. But, it was too late. The quickness of the boss'power and agility. It attacked Diabel. Watching the horror of our beaten comrade, kibaou shouted in a desperate worry, "Diabel!" Our situation has turned dark, the boss was now battling with Kibaou's troops.

As soon as Diabel, reached on the ground, "Diabel!" I rushed to his aid and checked his HP. I grit my teeth. It's turning red. I russled on my pockets to find some healing potions. Good thing I brought an extra one. "Why did you face it alone?" I asked him, in a curious worry. I lift up his head with my hand and with my other hand holding a potion to heal him. But, it reached mid way. Diabel stopped my hand from reaching it for him to drink. Why..I'm saving your life here!?

Kaneki's POV...

Diabel was struck violently by the tall red monster and Kirito was now aiding his wounds. I felt kinda bad for him but this is not my business. I should stop and focus on killing the boss' small fry's. However, while fighting the minions, my sense of hearing is sensing a conversation. I turned to see Kirito and Diabel talking. Even when, I was standing a mile away, especially to war cries coming from our comrades and the noise of the fight, I can somehow hear their talk very clear. Who knew my abilities as a ghoul, was very affective in the game.

"You wanna know why?" It was Diabel's voice but his words were shaking and weak. "...if you were also a beta tester, right?" I stood there and paused my fight, does it mean that..Diabel was a beta tester this whole time? Those so called players who use and abandons the beginners?

"You wanted the rare item from the last attack bonus.." this time, the voice was kirito's, it sounded like he knew Diabel's motive.

"You were a beta tester too..?" Now it's Diabel's. My ears, carried the message to me. But his words. I couldn't believe it. Kirito is a beta tester too? No way.

"Please...defeat...Defeat the boss...for everyone's sake..." My expression turned emotionless. In fact, I could see shards of light blue hue. That must have mean that he died. Death huh? Among my thoughts, the minion was attacking right in front of me as I regained back. I took my focus and in stance I attacked it. I was spacing out from the fight. I need to focus..

Kirito's POV...

Since this death game began, I had only been thinking about my own survival.. However, Diabel, though you were a beta tester, you never abandoned the other players. You led everyone and fought brilliantly. You tried to do what I couldn't..

I stood up, having the courage to face the tragedy that I stumble on, feeling regret on this with my heavy heart burying the promise. Diabel, had sacrificed himself to save everyone. And as his last wish, he wished for me to guide them out. A promise should never be broken and that's what I'm doing right now. To be honest, I do not wish for any more deaths to occur. It saddens me now that I had seen someone died right in front of me. Standing up, Asuna rushed to my side. Aiding me from being alone.

"I'll go to.." she said, understanding the situation I was having. I closed my eyes, it's great to have someone by your side.

"Thanks.." I lowly spoke and we both soon run off. Heading towards to the Boss. Among our rush, I called to Asuna, and thought of a better way to find a good advantage for her play.

"We'll do it just like we did with the sentinels"

"Got it.." she answered with a powerful acceptance.

The Boss was bracing a powerful impact at us as it noticed us running. But that wasn't enough to stop us, we dodge it skillfully and I took this chance to use my sword and attack it before it could use its move.

"Switch!" I yelled out, signaling Asuna to take my place and attacked the Boss. We did our usual routine doing switches. But, when it was Asuna's turn to attack the Boss had somehow was able to see it through, attempting to attack Asuna in time. I yelled out in a panic. Worried that she might die if the Boss had cornered her.

"Asuna!"

From the glint of the moment, Asuna had somehow found a narrow chance of escape and dodge the attack in time. The only thing that the attack had took was Asuna's hood, ripping it to shreds as she escapes the attack. Her hair was revealed. It was a light orange hair, flowing through the motion and when she turned, her face took my glance, her brown eyes bared it so fitting. It made me describe her, beautiful. Beautiful? Anyone who sees her would think that way..right?-no! I need to focus!

Among my surprised stares of Asuna's beauty, her eyes held anger and took the chance to attack the Boss nonetheless. Not only her appearance but also the way how she can turn a attack so skillfully. I'm still wondering if she really is a beginner. Well, I can't say anything about Kaneki's case. Anyways, when the Boss had took Asuna's attack I noticed that it wasn't enough for it so I yelled out, "he's coming back!" and shielded Asuna in time.

Once again, we did our usual plan and kept doing switches. As things are now, we need to end this quick, but the boss doesn't seem to be falling down a defeat. And once it was my turn, the Boss had took me off guard.

"Crap-"

Asuna's POV...

The boss had caught him off guard, and as I was attempting to save him, someone had already did before I could do a thing. I wanted to call for "him" but I haven't knew his name yet but the sight of the familiar snowy white. It was fast and was right on time too. His white hair blew from the breeze. It was Kaneki. With such speed and in the right moment. It caught me captivated for risking his life to save "him" Caught by the attack, shielding him while doing so, as they flew right straight towards me. I groaned from the hit as we all fell on the ground. I held my head. I know that we won't get hurt from the game but still that impact surprised me. Worried, I looked at Kaneki's HP looking for a huge damage. But to my surprise, not a single hit was shown. In a good way, he didn't get hurt but this somehow made me uneasy.

Odd, I was sure he got attacked...and his HP...it didn't get a single hit?

"You okay Kaneki?" I called to him, he seemed fine but one things for certain is that he didn't take any damage.

"I'm fine-...who are you?" His grey eyes looking cautiously at me. It must be his first time seeing my appearance huh..

I sighed, "I'm Asuna.."

"Really..? I've never seen your face before, so you took off your hood huh.." he must've been so busy killing the sentinels, that he hasn't saw us fighting the boss until now. But the speed, was he this fast? I guess his a player with many openings but many mysteries. Even "he" doesn't know what to describe of him. All he describes him as a Complete Newbie but from what I'm seeing his more of a mystery to me.

Not long after that, "he" slowly got up, "Argh..." 'he' stood up and saw us, but what took his attention was on Kaneki, "Kaneki?"

"Glad to see your okay-" Kaneki was cut off by "his" words.

"You idiot! What would happen to you if you got hit?!"

But their chat was cut short as the Boss had already raise its weapon at us before we could even run off to escape its attack. But then, the attacked didn't come through. Just then, right on that close moment, Egil and the other players were there to help. Everyone help out and it appears to be that the Boss had focus on them for now. Egil turned to us and said with assurance, "we'll give you guys time, for now we'll hold them off" and he ran towards the group to fight as well.

"You better be careful there.." Kaneki stared at "him"

"I would say the same to you!"

I felt relief that nothing happened to us. But I can't seem to stop trembling.

This is gonna be a little harder than I thought..

Kirito's POV...

"Tch. This boss is hard to read its patterns.." Asuna's words made us turned to her, I saw her shivering but in proper posture, trying to hide her fear from this mess, "what should we do now?" She motioned to me, as I thought up another plan after short minutes. There is only one left we can do. A narrow chance! But..it's an extreme risk to take.

"This plan may not work but it's a high risk. Are you guys up for this gamble?" I have prepared myself for the worst. Kaneki and Asuna looked at each other to find an agreement to my plan. From there, Asuna looked at a serious glare accepting it as for Kaneki, I can't quite describe his emotion to this but it somehow feels like he was used to this situation and found it a routine to say okay to this. The result was a yes among their expressions.

"Okay, follow my lead.." I ran off as the two followed behind me. The whole players and Egil gave way for us to attack the boss. Right upfront was the boss, I yelled on cue "Kaneki!" He looked at me "Go for its eyes!" He gave a understand nod

"Asuna, attack its limbs! Make sure not to let it use its sword skill!" I yelled and turned to look at Asuna. Our eyes met, she held a acceptance in her role "Roger!" She yelled back and the two ran ahead of me doing the plan I suggested them to do. Asuna does her skillful sword wielding ability and attack the boss. To Kaneki, well, I still don't know about his crazy jumping skills and dashing speed, but he did what I wanted him to do. As for me, seeing them this strong and trustworthy, my heart beats faster and I can't stop trembling in fear. We could die if we made the wrong move and the shock of being defeated and the aftermath of our HP hits zero..can we do it? That answer is simple. We'll try and find out! Despite my trembling fear, I can't stop now!

With us in one different role, as the other players watched from a distance in this fight, I did a powerful finishing move. With us three doing this at the same time, the Boss had finally yield down in defeat and let out a loud roar. Bright light shines upon its body as it explodes a powerful beam of light around the place. As the light had faded, the Boss had finally shattered to pieces in a light blue hue and vanished to nothing. We all had finally defeated the Boss and for the first time ever we won the fight.

[STAGE COMPLETE]