04

A month has passed, and so has over 2,000 players, dead from fear, or inability to wield a weapon, or both. Many more still haven't left the starting city, and many of the dead died on the road to here, Tolbana, where everything and everyone seems to have stalled, including myself and what little I've seen of Asuna since our departure that first night. Many more have died in the first level dungeon, trying and failing to find the boss. And we're still stuck on floor 1. After. One. Month.

2,000 dead…

I've kept myself busy power leveling around Tolbana, trying not to think about our problem, using the town as my base, collecting money that drops from enemies, and getting whatever gear I can find off monsters or bought in the town's abysmal market.

I've hidden my level to hide the fact that I'm a beta tester, since most everyone walking around is level 1 or 2, and I'm a grand level 6—as far as I can make it off the experience points available on the level 1 through 3 monsters on this first floor. They'd instantly know I've been holding back my hand as a more experienced player when everyone around me is dying, but there's only so much I can do.

I try, and I try, but I just can't keep them alive without their help. I help the ones I can, but every time I turn around to help someone else, the ones I just helped can't fend for themselves and die. It's a horrific cycle, again and again, day in and day out. I keep trying, but there's only so much one person can do.

If only Asuna was here…

Why did I think that? I don't know.

There is one bright light on the horizon, though: all the surviving players of Tolbana are being tracked down and called to a meeting. Apparently, someone found the first boss's liar…

"Alright, listen up!" says the man in the middle of the amphitheater. "My friends and I have been keeping ourselves busy while the rest of you have been moping, here, in town."

I look around the amphitheater, at everyone else sitting on the Greek-style stone steps that serve as seating in a three-quarters moon around the middle area where the man is speaking. Behind him is the entrance to this floor's dungeon.

"I'm Diavel, a level 6 beta tester!" the speaker says with a bright smile. "I've been through this game before, and we—my friends and I—have explored through the dungeon behind me, as some others have (we mourn their passing). And guess what?" He raises a hand and points at everyone. "We've found the boss's lair—Illfang the Kobold King!"

Even though everyone in attendance already knew this, they still murmured amongst themselves. 'The Kobold King!' they whisper. I fought the Kobold King when it was still in beta, and I'm thinking about joining Diavel, when I notice a familiar red cloak out the corner of my eye.

I scoot over as quick and as stealthily as I can, so not to interrupt the proceeding. "Asuna?" I ask.

"Mr. Beta," she replies.

My heart warms at the sound of her voice. She's the only one I know in-game, and I haven't seen her in what feels like ages, but here she is, listening to the same song and dance as I am.

A cautious moment passes between us, because I can't for the life of me think of what to say.

"You're helping?" Asuna asks.

"Are you?" I manage.

She turns her head and those auburn eyes at me. "Of course!" she says. "This may be our best chance to finally get off this floor." She levels a stare at me. "Besides—"

"You've been power leveling, haven't you?" She nods. "Level 5 or 6?" I ask.

"6, the maximum," she replies. "Same as you, I imagine." This time I nod. "Good," she says. "I figure the boss must be level 5 or higher. What do you think, Mr. Beta?"

"5, but a boss level 5," I tell her. "He'll be at least as strong as 4 or 5 level 5's."

"Jesus," Asuna whispers, then looks over those assembled.

"Hey, we have 3 level 6's, don't we?"

"Yeah, but what about the others? Level 1 and 2?"

"You catch on quick."

"I always have, but this is survival. Those who didn't learn quickly are already dead, aren't they?"

I nod grimly. "Unfortunately."

"Look at it this way," she says, "those that have made it this far are decent fighters, aren't they? They won't drag us down in a big fight as much as if we had all the level 1s from the starting city."

"That's a very pragmatic way of putting it," I say.

"Sorry," she says. "I know that sounds cold. I don't mean to…" She turns away, back to Diavel.

"Listen!" Diavel says. "We can take 10 more people in this raid, so any volunteers, please speak up now."

I sigh, knowing exactly what that means: this wouldn't be a small, short skirmish against level 1s through 3s in the outside world. Once engaged, the door shuts behind you in a boss battle, and it's kill or be killed.

Asuna raises her hand.

"Hey, alright!" Diavel says. "What's your name?"

"Rapier," Asuna says. "I've been leveling a little as cautiously as I can, so I have some experience." She points at me. "Also, this guy is coming with me. He helped me on the road here. He's a good fighter."

"Hey, wait—" but all I can do is sigh. "Yeah, sure," I raise my hand. "I'll go, so long as I can team up with 'Rapier'." I glance at Asuna out of the corner of my eye. Grr. I mean, I was going to go, anyway, but jeez.

"Sure thing!" says Diavel. "You and Rapier there can be on the kobold minion management team."

Asuna and I both give thumbs up.

Before I can do anything, Asuna has her pop-up HUD open and is sending me a party invite.

I accept, and the die is cast…