A fellow author and friend of mine, Mataras the Author has given me my first review for this series which I very appreciate for. This chapter will go through the first floor boss, introducing a group of inseparable friends, and a particular chestnut girl. This chapter will also introduce a character that wasn't in Sword Art Online:

Mataras the Red Swordsman is an original character created by Mataras the Author for a book series called The Omega Chronicles in the first part Dragon's Roar. He has also appeared as the main character in two other stories featuring him:

The Red Swordsman: Toa of Aincrad

The Red Swordsman: Slayer of Aincrad

If you want to friend him or PM the author check out the two stories I mentioned above. I don't own Sword Art Online or Mataras the Red Swordsman, they belong to their respective owners. Enjoy!

Chapter 2 Illfang and the Beaters

He felt alone more than ever here.

Akira was in the back of a boss raid meeting thinking what happened. It had been 2 months after Kayaba's announcement and the deaths of 213 people, 2000 more were added as their names appeared on The Monument of Life on Floor 1.

He soon saw loners joining into parties while he just sat in the back. That is, until he saw three people in the back that would eventually become his best friends. One of them was about to leave when he went over. "If you please, could you stay, and cheer up." He said, and walked over to them seeing two of them were wearing cloaks. One of the three was wearing a black cloak and had a strong build of a male but couldn't see his face, and a single sword called a Fakora strapped to his back.

The second boy had black short and messy hair, pale skin, and grey eyes. He wore a blue shirt with a brown armor vest on, with brownish pants and matching fingerless gloves, and black shoes. The sword he had on his back was the Anneal Blade, a sword for awarding a person completing a certain quest. Akira tried to get it but was unable to do it because they were done. Akira himself actually did a quest get a new and got himself a better sword for his leveling on, a Serpent Katana. The boy reminded him of himself especially with his messy short blonde hair.

The third and final person had tell tale appearance of a female, he couldn't see the face, not even her weapon because of the red cloak she was wearing.

The boy came into contact with Akira, and shook hands, before asking, "Hey, would you like to join up with us in a party."

"Sure. I might as well, we'll need all the teammates we can get for this boss." responded Akira as a message appeared on his vision, 'Kirito would like you to join his party. Do you accept?' Akira instantly hit the yes button as three more health bars appeared beneath his name, revealing the three as Kirito, Mataras, and Asuna.

"So you go by the name Akira, eh? You'd be Japanese then?" asked Mataras

"No actually. Even though my name is Japanese, I'm an American, and living in Japan." Akira replied

"So your like me then, an American who lives here in Japan." The black cloaked player said.

"So your name is Mataras, huh? Spanish for 'You kill', interesting name for a game like this." remarked Akira

"Wow, how did you you know that?" asked the black cloaked player

"I learn some spanish from my Mom before I eventually came here." he replied

"I'm not a player killer. No need to worry about that." Mataras said Akira nodded and look at the other two names.

"Kirito and Asuna, It's pleasure to meet you both." he said as the two bowed with in response to his kind nature. The group then sat down together and sighed.

"Hey, I was wondering, would you remove the hoods of your cloaks? If were going to be working together, I'd like what you look like before we head out." Akira asked as to get to know his allies. Asuna didn't feeling nervous, while Mataras did so revealing a pale face around the age of 16. He had long straight black hair, that partially covered his left eye. His eyes were a very dark brown almost closer to being black.

Asuna then stood up and left leaving the boys confused as they shrugged and headed out to grind their levels.

The three males soon found working together very effective.

Akira was a balanced warrior, but had a good amount of speed to give him an edge on the enemy.

Kirito was fast but more on the heavier attacks, using his momentum to assist in his swings at the opponent.

Mataras was a mixture of Akira's speed, and Kirito's strength.

The trio also took time to analyze each other while they leveled up. Kirito was seen to be warm and friendly but, he tend to stay away from the lower leveled players, but it wasn't because of superiority, but from isolation. He was known to be Anti-Social, even before than, plus he was one of the Beta Testers for the game, so he also knew they weren't a lot of negative attention. So he didn't want to make a big scene out of it.

Mataras was friendly to his teammates, but to everyone else he gave only a cold stare or a negative comment, only like he was filled with some kind of anger.

Akira was seen as a kind , and respective person, and willing to help out others if their was anything wrong. He even saved Kirito's life and Mataras' as well. This action made him an instant ally to Mataras.

It was getting late, when they went and sold their spoils after grinding up some levels. Then they saw Asuna, in the dark alleyways, away from the others.

Akira sighed at this. "She stole my spot." chuckled Mataras

"What, your gonna kick her off it." Kirito asked him, grinning.

"Wait. Let me talk to her, see if she'll let us join her." Akira suggested as he walked up and sat down next to her. Asuna instantly scooted over away to give him some space.

"Hello Asuna," he started as he heard Diabel and Kibaou laughing in the background. "Why are sitting here all by yourself? You know you don't have to hide from everyone." said Akira.

"I'm not hiding, more like staying true to myself." Asuna replied, "I don't plan on staying in the Town of Beginnings and rot away. I just want to stay me until this death game is finally over. Even if it means I have to die. That way, I can beat this Death Game before it begins." she stated.

"Asuna, not everything in this game is all that bad." Mataras said as he, and Kirito came up to join them and sat down and handed out loafs of bread for the three of them.

"What do you mean by that?!" shouted Asuna, "Everything in this game, about this world, it's evil. How can any good come from any of this?"

Akira turned towards her and replied, "Because look at us, we're four complete strangers, and yet here we are trying to bond." he chuckled, "Yes its true that this game is evil, and many people will die, but that gives us a reason to fight, so that no one else has to die." Akira turned to Asuna, and placed his hand on her shoulder, "We all have a destiny you know. This is just a job we have to do, clear the game." he said.

Asuna seemed to ponder at what he said, "So, basically, all we have to… is fight for those who can't and… try to become friends?" she asked and removed the hood of her cloak, revealing she has orange eye, pale skin and long chestnut hair.

Kirito replied, "That's right. Try not to think so negatively about this Game of Death." he then brought out his inventory and got another loaf of bread and handed it Asuna, who had her head bent to one side out of confusion. "Don't worry, it's not poisoned or anything." he said as Asuna took the bread.

The group then shared some cream to spread on as they ate, Akira eyes widened a bit as Asuna wolfed down her food, and chuckled. The group then decided to turn in for the night, to prepare for the boss raid.

Akira was laying on his bed at the inn, staring up at the ceiling, his arms crossed, and he let out a sigh. "Mom… I don't really know if you can hear me, I sure hope so,… were heading out to take on the first floor boss tomorrow. This will be the toughest enemy we have to face, please have faith in me and my newest friends that we will have strength to take down this boss." he said to himself, and sighed once more as crawled onto the bed, tucked himself in and went to sleep.

The next morning, the raid party headed out to take on the boss, players that weren't participating cheered on as they watched them head out. Akira's party was the rearguard, their job was to keep the boss' sentinels in check, it turned out, however, Asuna didn't know how to work in a party, so the boys explained it to her during the trip up to the boss, Akira and Kirito explained the commands and tactics that a player uses in party.

The massive party soon appeared at a pair of massive doors, which lead to the boss room. Players were checking themselves as they prepared to fight, checking their menus for anything. Akira then prepared by equipping an item a blue cape with a very particular picture of a bird on the back. The group was wondering why he put on a cloak that fancy, and explained that he wanted to try and fit in with his party a bit, this made the group chuckled.

As the the raid party entered the boss room, Diabel lead the charge as the party entered for the battle, player by player, "Spread out, stay alert!" Akira called out.

"Over there!" one player cried out as they group soon saw a monstrous creature on a throne, soon sprung into action as it landed in front of the raid party. Akira could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the boss, it was basically a large red round kangaroo, with an axe and a buckler, he even saw a sword strapped to his back. The creature was none other than Illfang the Kobold Lord, as the creature landed and roared, it spawned Kobold Sentinel's to fight as well. The room soon lit up as the battle finally began.

Diabel soon cried out, "let's do this!" and Akira charged in to the first mob knocking the sentinel's blade to the side, "Switch, Kirito", cried Akira, as Kirito struck down the first mob.

Asuna soon engaged the second mob, as she sprinted at fast speeds to reach her, leaving Akira amazed. She sure is fast. I've never such speed before. thought Akira as Asuna defeated the second mob. This cleared a path for Mataras to fight the third mob.

When he got to the sentinel, he did a very strange move, Mataras ducked under the creature then struck upward at the Sentinels head, landing a critical blow and defeating the mob. This left his party members amazed at what happened, and realized they would have to ask him when it was done.

The party fought the boss, and the rep awning Sentinels for twenty minutes until the boss reached the red zone. Enraged, and as the guidebook said, Illfang tossed his axe and shield aside and drew his sword. What the players didn't noticed except for Kirito, was that the sword wasn't a Talwar, but a Nodachi. Diabel soon stepped up to face the boss, preparing to use a sword skill, but Kirito tried to warn him, only to have someone else beat him to it. Akira saw what was coming, jumped in and pushed Diabel to safety, just as Illfang landed on the ground and struck, but he got hit into the yellow, while Akira went into the orange in his HP.

Kirito ran over to them, "What were you thinking!?" he mutters, as he handed out health potions to Akira and Diabel. Akira gulped his down before heading back into battle, "You were after the last attack bonus weren't you?" Kirito asked behind Akira as fought against a sentinel and used the skill, 'Tsujikaze' striking the creature in two.

"Kirito!" cried a player as Illfang leaped towards them the trio to strike, only to be blocked by Agil. "You can't get distracted guys. On your feet Ya'll!" he cried out.

Akira nodded as he and Kirito got up, "Like the Minions!" he cried out as Mataras ran over to them, as they made a charge towards the boss.

Mataras then asked, "Who blocks?" as the trio heads to Illfang.

"Me!" replied Kirito as he blocked the Nodachi reaching in towards the boss. Akira took over and struck multiple times at the creatures stomach. Mataras then struck at the creatures chest.

The duo then ducked under the boss as it counter attacked, and then dropped back, Kirito then leaped towards the boss and activated the sword skill 'Vorpal Strike' at the boss striking it right through the middle in the form of a V, taking the last of the boss' HP down to zero, and causing it to explode into polygons.

Everyone cheered as a giant Congratulations appeared indicating the boss was cleared. Kirito then noticed he got the last attack bonus when someone shouted, "Stop Cheering!" Everyone turned to see Kibaou, who had a grudge with the beta testers, thinking this was all their fault. "Why did you let them die?" asked the spiky hair man.

"Let them die?" Kirito asked

"What on earth are you talking about you fool?" asked Mataras in a low voice that carried around the group.

"Them! You knew the attack patterns, and even the the sword! So why didn't you tell us?! Kibaou shouted

"I wasn't even in the beta test! So how should I know?" defended Akira.

I was." Kirito spoked and chuckled a little menacingly towards Kibaou, ignoring the other players as he continued to speak. "During the beta, Illfang used those weapons in the guide book, I should've know the bosses were changed up." Akira stared in shock as Kirito stared to grin evilly, as he explained that got to higher floors with more bosses around, and studied the attack patterns, weapons, and skills that the enemy used. He then started to brag that he knew a lot of other things as well, more than any info-broker.

"Then, if that's true, then your worse than an beta tester, you're a goddamn cheater!" Kibaou shouting in rage. Others joined in calling him a cheater, then a hacker, and finally…

"He's a Beta Tester and a Cheater. He's a Beater!" cried one player.

Kirito chuckled a bit dark as he spoke while accessing his menu, "A beater, yeah I like it," he smirked "You can call me a beater, just don't mistake with those other beta tester noobs, it's not cool." He soon equipped the item he got, the Cloak of Midnight. Akira was in awe at the new outfit, "Nice coat." he whispered.

"So you think your better than us, you son of a-" the whining man was stopped by a sword literally at his throat, Kibaou then look up into the eyes of Mataras.

Mataras then gave a valuable lesson in the Law of The Sword, which made Akira value him even more.

The group then heard the sound of hands clapping, and turned to Akira applauding Mataras, "Well said, Mataras. Now come on, let's catch up with Kirito." he said as the two went over to Kirito. Akira then saw Diabel, unsure of what to do. He then saw the two staring at him, unsure of himself, when Mataras smiled a t Akira giving him the ok."You don't have to be on your own anymore, Diabel. Come with us." Said Akira as the three boys and, Asuna went up to join him.

"Asuna, I'm sorry, but this is where we part ways for now," Kirito said, then turned to the three men, "Are you guys sure you want to do this?"

"What?" asked the group.

"If you guys join me, you'll be pegged as beaters. Asuna you can still claim innocence and join a guild, and gain more respect than with me." said Kirito.

"Kirito, we're not letting you go by yourself, we'll take the title with you." spoke Diabel

"He's right, everyone hates me for they I did, and Akira supported me." Said Mataras

"Alright, thanks guys, now let's get moving. It'll be great having you guys watching my back." Kirito said

"You said it." replied Akira as the group then headed into the next floor without saying another word.

Lauren: So now it's down to you four boys, Kirito, Diabel, Mataras, and Akira.

Kirito: We are the four swordsman that stand out from the rest.

Diabel: I feel honored that you saved my life out their.

Mataras: Thanks for letting me join you.

Akira: Your welcome everyone. And next time we meet a very particular guild.

Author: Next time on The Azure Swordsman: The Lost Fragment. Chapter 3 Sachi and The Moonlit Black Cats.

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