Chapter 2:

A month has past and 2,000 players have died. No-one has passed the 1st floor yet and lots of people were losing hope, even I who helped create this game couldn't find the boss room, things must have been changed.

We're having a meeting today to find out how to defeat the 1st floors boss. As I entered the meeting place, I sat next to this hooded figure who I couldn't tell which gender she/he was due the cloak and hood.

"Okay! let's get this meeting started! Thank you for coming on my behalf, I am Diabel, I like to think of myself as a knight!"

Laughter rang through the place but I didn't laugh with them-Are they taking this seriously? He suddenly looked serious.

"Today, our party found the boss room at the top of the tower, we need to get to the second floor and show others it's possible to clear this game! That is the duty of everyone here today!"

People applauded him.

"Okay, this is what we'll do, first divide up into parties of six"

I looked to the figure next to me. I asked unemotionally "Aren't you going to join a party with some of them down there?"

"They look like they all know each other" Her voice was high-pitched, so I was actually happy inside that there was another girl here fighting.

I wanted to try and be friends with her. She couldn't be as bad as the girls in my school could she?

"Then let's join a party together" I said.

She nodded. I saw a boy scoot over to where we're sitting and he asked "Are you guys creating a party together? Can I join? We can just party up for this fight"

I stared at him and nodded. "You can be the leader then" He tapped some buttons and a screen pooped up in front of me. 'Accept to join party?' I pressed yes and so did the other girl. I looked at their names, the boy was 'Kirito' and the girl was 'Asuna'.

"Okay! has everyone formed their parties? Then-""Wait right there" he was interrupted by this other guy jumping down so everyone could see him.

"My name is Kibaou, I want to say something before we take on the boss, some of you here need to apologize to the 2,000 people who've died!"

"Kibaou-san, could you be perhaps be referring to the beta testers?" "Obviously!"

This sent a huge pang through my chest, I wasn't a beta tester, I was even worst being one of the creators.

"The beta testers ditched us beginners and disappeared the day this game started! They took all the good hunting spots and easy quests for themselves, so only they could get stronger. They couldn't care less about the rest of us, I'm damn sure some of you were in the beta!"

"They should get on their knees, apologize, and give up all the items and money they've hoarded! Otherwise, we can't trust these members with our lives"

I looked beside me to Asuna who just sat there quietly and then to Kirito who looked a bit worried, he must have been a beta tester I thought.

"May I speak" A new voice spoke up.

He walked down to Kibaou.

"My name is Agil. Kibaou-san, let me get this straight, you're saying beginners died because beta testers didn't take care of them, and that they should take responsibility, apologize and provide compensation. Is that it?"

"Y-Yeah" came the response, it look like he was intimidated my Agil's size.

Agil took out a book, it was the guidebook nearly everyone has. "This is data that was all provided by the Beta testers, listen up, everyone has equal access to this information, still, many players died. I thought we would be discussing what we could learn from their deaths and how that can help us defeat the boss."

Beside me, I heard Kirito heave a sigh of relief.

Agil turned to Kibaou and he dejectedly walked back to his seat, Agil following after.

"Alright, let's continue then. The latest edition of the guild book was released. According to it, the boss's name is Illfang the Kobold Lord, he is guarded by underlings known as Ruin Kobold Sentinels. He is armed with an axe and a buckler, he has 4 HP bars, when the last one enters red, he switches to a curved sword-type weapon called a talwar. His attack patterns change as well."

"That ends the briefing, money will automatically shared amongst players, EXP will go to the party that defeats the monster and whoever receives an item gets to keep it."

"Okay, we leave at ten in the morning tomorrow. Dismissed."

I saw Asuna leave and I unknowingly followed her.

We were sitting down eating bread when I saw Kirito come up to us.

"It's pretty tasty isn't it?" but in fact I thought the bread was too hard and also tasted pretty bad.

"Can I sit here?" I just gave a tiny nod seeing Asuna wasn't going to say anything. As he sat down, he also pulled out some bread to eat.

"Do you really think it tastes good?" I asked.

"Of course, I've had one everyday since I came to this town" Was there something wrong with his taste buds? I thought.

"But I change it up a little." He pulled out a little bottle. "Try putting some of this on the bread."

I tapped it and cream appeared in my hand, I then gave some to Asuna and Kirito also took some before the bottle disappeared.
I took a bite, it really was quite delicious.

I looked over to Asuna, she took a bite and suddenly ate the whole thing and then sighed. I gave a small smile.

"It's the reward for a quest called 'The Heifer Strikes Back' at the village before this town." said Kirito. I just kept on eating and finished my bread.

"I could get you guys started on it if you want?" He suggested. Asuna kept saying nothing and I felt kind of sorry for him basically carrying this one sided conversation.

I started speaking, of course unemotionally like I always do but it was better than nothing.

"No, I came here to clear the game and I don't think Asuna came here just to eat good food either. But thank yo-" "How do you know my name?" interrupted Asuna.

I looked at her and she spoke again."You just said my name, how do you know it?"

Didn't she know?

"Can't you see it? It should be next to my HP bar." I could see her staring intently at me probably looking for it.

"Ah found it...Saki and...Kirito." She said.

Surprisingly she started laughing. "It's been there the whole time? I'm so stupid" I looked at Kirito and he shrugged back.

"Stupid or not, I don't want a party member dying on me, so you guys better not die on me tomorrow"He said.

"I'm not planning on it" Was my reply. I definitely wasn't going to die tomorrow.

As you can see, I'm following the original story line (although minor changes) and just adding my own character.

If you don't like this then please do not hesitate to stop reading this story. Although, thank you for giving it a chance.

Let's hope we meet again.