Okay, so we're here. The boss battle. The hardest bit to write for someone who isn't great at writing combat. Any comments on how I did would be much appreciated.

~ December 2nd, 2022 (Day 26) - Tolbana Inn, Aincrad ~

Daylight was taking hold of the town of Tolbana when Jet had awoken from the land of the sleep deprived. Admittedly, last night had been his first decent night's sleep in nearly 2 weeks... and of course, it would also be the night when he was most stressed out. Everything yesterday hadn't helped, and the impending boss battle was continuing to weigh on his mind. Without checking the HUD, Jet reasoned it was around 8am, given the still rising sun, and the fact it was December.

Hauling himself out of the bed, Jet repeated a mantra he'd used to make it easier to get out of bed at home - ''Sun is shining in the sky, there ain't a cloud in sight. It's stopped raining, everybody's in the play... and don't you know, it's a beautiful new day, hey.'' - It didn't exactly make it any easier to get up, but if nothing else, for once, it was at least accurate. Jet thought back to the days he'd repeated it during a blizzard, and wasn't entirely sure which was more depressing: not being able to get up, or singing about it being a beautiful day, whilst there were inches of snow on the ground.

Still, today would be perhaps the most pivotal day of his life so far, and whether he liked it or not, any actions he took during the day would affect everyone going onwards... no pressure then.

After a few minutes of psyching himself up, and getting ready for this, Jet walked out into the square, to find his partner waiting, and looking equally as anxious he felt. - ''Morning, Koharu.''

''Oh, you're here... sorry, just thinking...''

''About this, or home?''

''Both really. Do you think we can do this?''

''This boss, or?''

''Everything.''

''I'd be lying if I said I was optimistic right now, but I know I'll fight to my last breath, if it comes down to it. That's all I can do, protect those who need it, and fight those who stand in our way to freedom.''

''You know how you're late... you weren't practicing speeches, were you?''

''Not unless you count the pep talks I was giving myself.'' - Jet's usual brand of sarcastic retort was nowhere to be found, replaced by a more self loathing tone.

Thankfully, the knight and his group arrived in the square, and summoned everyone over, before Koharu could ask any questions. ''Morning!'' - How someone could be that upbeat at half 8, in a world without coffee, Jet would likely never know.

One labyrinth later...

The clearing force approached the boss room. The intimidating concrete structure was only the first horrifying thing to look at... the murals to the side depicted a grisly fate to anyone who grew brave... or stupid enough, to take on the Kobold Lord. The last group appeared to have been... was that them being flayed, or them being beheaded, the image wasn't particularly clear. In his mind, Jet gave a small number of points to Kayaba, simply for details like that... stuff that no one really paid attention to. Had Jet been paying any more attention... he'd have noticed the blade being used in the murals. It wasn't a scimitar...

''Is everyone ready?'' - A ragtag collection of shouts came from the party. Jet looked over to Koharu, and smiled, before uttering one sentence as the massive door inched open - ''Well, here goes nothing...''

Ilfang the Kobold Lord was not what Jet had expected. An old friend of his was German, and had mentioned about Kobolds being this form of house spirits, and often ambivalent ones, at that, in the stories his family had told him... Ilfang the Kobold Lord was bloody gigantic! To Jet, he looked less like a house spirit, and more like he'd eaten a house, and taken on it's dimensions. The beast towered over them, approaching 4.5 metres tall, around the average height of a double decker bus, and looking like a weird deformed kangaroo...

As the beast readied itself for a fight (or more likely, from it's perspective... meal), it summoned a number of minions - Ruin Kobold Sentinels. Three of them, to be precise. Groups E, F & G would focus on targeting the Sentinels, whilst Jet's group, D, or Delta as he'd labelled them, were assigned to hit the boss as hard, and as fast as they could. To him, theirs was the easiest task - A & B had to focus on withstanding the barrage of attacks from both the Kobold Lord, and his minions, whilst the support groups had to avoid the Kobold Lord's attacks, and focus on the Sentinels. They only really had to focus on giving the Kobold Lord a bad time, if things were going to plan...

Somehow, things were going to plan, as unlikely as that seemed. They'd whittled the beast down to it's last health bar, and were consistently doing damage to it, as it changed weapon, to a weapon described as a scimitar...

Jet momentarily froze, as he watched the demonic creature swap weapon. That sword looked an awful lot longer, and a very different shape to the one described as a scimitar in the guide... ''DIAVEL! Get back!'' - It didn't make any difference, as the beast's blade sent Diavel flying into the air, before the stunned knight impacted the floor. ''NO!'' - Jet yelled, going from a standing start to a full sprint, whilst readying his blade. Both he and the Kobold Lord charged up their sword skills, the Kobold Lord ready for it's killing blow, and released... the expected clattering of blades never happened though, as Jet's strike impacted Ilfang's wrist, and cleanly removed it's hand, and it's sword, from the equation. The now disembodied hand and blade stuck into the floor momentarily, before disappearing into pixels. The beast let out a scream of agony, before attempting to retrieve it's axe, an act it stood no chance of succeeding at, due to it's absent hand. ''I'm... alive?!'' - Diavel was still stunned, and could barely stand, but Jet passed him a health regenerating potion, just to get the knight out of the firing line... where Jet was now standing, thanks to maiming Ilfang.

The beast let out another scream, as it summoned more of it's minions to attack Jet, yet more of the Sentinels they'd just downed nine of. The first mace impacted the side of Jet's sword, and rebounded, as Jet thrust the blade through the adversary, disintegrating it almost instantly. Three more deceased Sentinels later, Jet and Koharu were dealing with the now increasingly agitated Ilfang, who'd taken to just charging the duo. - ''RRRAGRRRHH!'' - The beast charged once again, as Koharu dodged to the left. The beast carried straight on, smashing headfirst into a pillar behind her, dazing the beast, as it struggled to do anything, let alone mount an attack...

''Oi! You two, whatever you're planning, now's ya chance!'' - Jet shouted at the swordsman and his cloaked partner, as his blade connected with Ilfang's leg, forcing it almost to it's knees. Of the beast's three health bars, only one remained, and even that was now red, and about 20% shaded.

Jet glanced over at the pair, as streams of light lit up the room, and replaced them. Ilfang dropped to the floor, it's health bars drained, as perhaps the greatest sound, and sight that Jet had ever witnessed occurred. The monstrous beast, the Lord of Kobolds, exploded into a burst of light, and polygons, and the silence that had mostly been endured during the battle ended. ''It's over... right?'' - Koharu asked. Jet, still on an adrenaline rush, couldn't muster an answer, simply choosing to laugh, and try not to cry tears of joy. - ''It's over... it's bloody over!'' Kirito and the no longer cloaked girl both stood in the now fading light of the deceased beast, as a number of people congratulated them on the win. One person had other ideas...

''You bastards knew that would happen! Didn't you!'' - Maybe it wasn't all over, after all. The porcupine still had a stick inserted somewhere, and good grief, he made it known. ''Yes, Kibaou, we absolutely planned that Diavel would rush forward for some unknown reason, get stunned, force one of us to rush in, slightly screw up his aim with a sword skill, maim the boss, and cause it to change strategy... to try and ram us.'' - Jet muttered as sarcastically as possible to his partner, who rolled her eyes at him.'

''You knew about that weapon change! If you'd told us that before, then Diavel would never have been in-

''I apologise... I... went for the last attack bonus.''

''The who what where now?''

''How can you take that tone of voice... Kirito was fighting out there to save Diavel! As was Jet!'' - Jet slowly inched away from his partner, feeling an air of anger around her, something he'd never really seen from her before, and hopefully wouldn't see again.

''SHUT IT! I'm not talkin' -''

''NO, YOU SHUT IT, you oversized porcupine!'' - Jet did something completely out of character. He pulled his fist back as he approached Kibaou, in a not so implicit threat. ''She did absolutely nothing wrong, so if you think you're gonna get away with starting on her scot-free, well, you won't like what happens next... no matter how therapeutic it may be for me. Do. I. Make. Myself. VERY. Clear?'' - Evidently, he did, as Kibaou started to retreat, whilst everyone looked over towards him. ''I... uhh, yeah. That was out of line. Sorry.''

''I'm not talkin' results, I'm talkin' methods! We were all in danger because he didn't tell us about that sword.''

''The guidebook did though!''

''It never mentioned the sword skill though! And did he not step in to take the glory?'' - Murmurings came from the crowd, mostly about the morality of using Diavel as bait, and the possibility that Kirito was using knowledge from the beta test to gain an unfair advantage. Both the no longer cloaked girl, and Diavel tried fruitlessly to quell the now raging crowd, but not before Kirito had snapped...

''All you do is cry 'beta this' and 'beta that', but you know what? I don't wanna be lumped with those noobs!'' - The sudden outburst surprised everyone. - ''Most of the thousand players who were picked for the beta test were idiots who didn't even know how to level! They were even worse than you lot!'' - Even Jet could tell this tirade was far from over, and the slightly evil chuckle that Kirito was now indulging in practically cemented that opinion - ''But not me, I wasn't like them! During the beta, I got further than anyone else. That katana skill? I knew it because I've seen katana wielding mobs on the higher floors. I never thought I'd see it on this level... but no thanks to our happy-go-lucky knight of a leader here, I was lucky to get by without so much as a scratch!'' - Koharu shuffled anxiously, and had started messing with her hair, something Jet noticed as a sign she was extremely anxious. Jet wasn't much better here, trying his best to hide a mix of rage, at both Kibaou and Kirito, the first for being an ignorant jackass, the latter for acting like a god amongst men. - ''I know things our good knight here could only dream of! All sorts of stuff, stuff that would even surprise info-brokers!''

''Wh...whatcha tryin' to say!? Wh-what kinda tester are you...'' - If Jet had terrified Kibaou into backing down, Kirito had just forced him to submit. - ''You must be some form'a cheater!'' - Somehow, the crowd had started yelling 'beater' in the general direction of the now pariah. Jet quietly thought about how stupid that name was, and precisely how many negative connotations it had, before realising that it had probably been the intent of the crowd for that to apply.

''Beater, huh. Yeah, I'll take it.'' - Even Jet, whose smile in bad situations was often a sign of a sadistic side kicking in, was unnerved by the smirk of the, ahem, beater. - ''I'm a beater now. Stop lumping me in with those noobs.'' - He spun around on the spot, as a long black trench coat appeared on him. Jet could think of precisely two words to describe him right now... 'Show off.'. Kirito took his leave, presumably to carry on through the game, leaving behind the remainder of the clearing party, and his partner.

Koharu looked around at the now silent crowd. ''Why did he say all of that? Now everyone will think he's the real bad guy...''

''The people needed a scapegoat... they got one.''

''If he didn't stand out as a ''dirty beater'', then the rest of the beta testers would keep getting singled out by everyone... and since we're all stuck in this deadly game, that kind of hatred could be...'' - the large axe wielder who lead group B commented, Agil, if Jet recalled correctly.

''It could get you killed. So, he decided to take that burden on himself.'' - The no longer cloaked girl commented, as she walked over to them. ''When I passed out in a dungeon, he came in and rescued me.''

''What happened to you...'' - Koharu looked horrified at finding that out.

''I was in that dungeon on my own, for three days straight, with no sleep. I know, it was stupid of me. But it was something I needed.''

''Let me guess, you lost all hope, went slightly off the deep end, and decided that if you couldn't escape in a conventional manner, then death as you were was a better option, than dying as a hopeless husk, devoid of interaction for however long?'' - Jet commented, almost offhandedly.

''Jet!'' - Koharu looked mortified at her partner.

''Not too far off, yes.'' - Even Jet was slightly shocked by that. He'd been attempting to be facetious, not offer an actual psychological analysis on her... ''I felt I'd rather go out as the me I know. Losing to some monster was one thing... but losing to the world itself? I just couldn't bear that thought. And... well, you know... I was there, fighting till my last breath, hoping to at least go out with a bang. But he was different. He was ready to spend years to beat this game.''

''And now, we have you four to thank for getting us through this.'' - All three of them slightly bristled under the praise.

''I'm gonna head on after him. I never did have the chance to properly thank him before.''

''You can tell him this then - I look forward to battling our next boss together.''

''One from me too, tell him - If he truly meant all of that, history isn't kind to people like that. If he didn't, then... we'll help where we can.''

''Thank you, I'll make sure he knows. Oh, and you two, I never actually introduced myself. I'm Asuna.''

''Nice to meet you Asuna, best get on after him...'' - Jet raised a smirk towards the girl, figuring her partner would've tried to put as much distance between himself and them as possible.

''Well, now then...'' - the axe wielder looked over at the gathered crowd, who'd now amassed around Diavel and Kibaou - ''Doesn't look like we exactly have a grand finale waiting for us...''

''Not like we need one... this is only the beginning, I think.'' - The success that had been the battle had changed Jet's outlook since this morning. It had cemented something in his mind - that, as long as they kept moving on, perhaps this game could be cleared, after all.

Jet couldn't hear all of the details, but he could overhear the knight admitting that he had charged in with selfish intentions... and somehow, Kirito was still getting blamed for that. He'd also basically just announced that Kibaou, and some guy called Lind, would become Diavel's successors in the leadership role. Koharu took point, and walked up to Diavel - ''So, what are you going to do now, Diavel?''

''I have an unpayable debt, to both Jet and Kirito. But I'll return once I feel I can pay you back, I promise. Or, to put it another way... One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.'' - Most people there gave completely blank looks towards the knight, even if they understood the intended meaning...

Jet, on the other hand, just quipped - ''Guess that answers a question I had about the speeches...'' - Diavel nodded towards Jet, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat at the speech, as he walked away.

''Do you think he'll be okay?''

''Shaken, certainly. But I hope so. Besides, last thing we need is Kibaou in charge for the long haul...'' - Jet shuddered at the thought, as well as precisely how bad diplomatic relations would be under him. Jet's threatening earlier probably hadn't done much to help on that front, either.

''All we can do is let him be and wait. He said he'd be back, after all. I should be heading back to my party now though... just don't let it get to you, either of you. Kirito and Diavel made their own choices.'' - The axe wielder had gone back to his group, whilst Koharu and Jet headed towards the now opened doors, in almost complete silence.

Koharu was the first to break that silence, offering an apology. - ''I'm sorry.''

''Huh? What for?''

''You ran in to save Diavel, but I couldn't. All I could do was watch, it felt like my feet were locked in place.''

''Don't worry about it, Koharu, it was our first boss battle.''

''No... but what happens if it happens again? I'm worried I might lose you because of my own helplessness... I need to be braver. Brave enough to stand with you, Kirito and Asuna, Jet.''

''Can I just say something, using them as a yardstick is all well and good, but...''

''But what?''

''Maybe instead of measuring ourselves against them, we use ourselves. How we used to be, how much we've grown. It's only been a month, and yet, here you are - at the vanguard, inspiring people...''

''I don't know about that last one, Jet...''

''You don't give yourself enough credit, you know. You are inspiring people... Sachi, just to use an example. Think back to how she looked at you, and tell me she didn't look up to you... and on that note, which of us is gonna be the one to message her, and tell her we aren't dead?''

{Author's Comments}

Well, that's the first floor cleared, and it's onwards and upwards for the duo...

I probably won't be covering every floor in anywhere near the same level of detail, and some floors will be skipped entirely, or relegated to the intermissions. Anyway, the next main story arc will cover the Elf War Quest...

Hopefully, I'll have Chapter 1 of that arc up within two weeks of this going out (by the 28th October, at latest.).

Anyway, enjoy a trailer for the next arc or two...

Coming Soon...

Footsteps can be heard in the distance, in the Town of Beginnings, before cutting to the inside of a bar.

A lavender haired woman walks into the room, as most of the male population stare at her. - ''So then. I'm looking for someone... someone tall, ginger and very dead. Ring any bells?'' - She reaches for her sword, a large twin handed blade...

(Drum beat.)

''The Knight of the Wind.'' - Jet, still wearing his starter gear, readies his twin handed sword, and prepares a slant attack on the attacking cow monster.

(Beat.)

''A hurricane, blasting through Aincrad.'' - Both Jet and Koharu stand in the light of the deceased boss, and sheathe their weapons.

(Beat.)

''Tell me, good knight, do you ever look back for the storm that follows you?'' - Jet looks over the nearby plains on Floor 1 with a solemn look.

(Beat.)

''See those you inspire.'' - A red haired girl unleashes a sword skill on a nearby Dire Wolf, reducing it to nothing but polygons.

(Beat.)

''Those who will fight by your side, till death do you part.'' - As Jet dispatches a slime, Koharu releases a volley of strikes on a Golem.

(Beat.)

''Those who fight for ideals, no matter the consequences.'' - Kirito and Asuna scream towards the first boss, Ilfang the Kobold Lord, releasing a barrage of attacks on the beast.

(Beat.)

''Those who will lose themselves for you.'' - A heavy looking door closes on a figure, as Jet fights to pull a sobbing Koharu back.

(Beat.)

''And those... that will come for you.'' - The same purple haired woman unleashes a barrage of strikes at Jet and Koharu, as the duo circle her.

(Beat.)

''Does it terrify you yet?''

(Drum beat gets significantly faster.)

Asuna is berating Kirito for something, whilst he just blushes, as Jet and Koharu look over at the definitely not a couple, and both smirk at their antics.

From above, a purple blur descends onto Jet, knocking him to the floor with a very unbecoming scream, as Koharu looks on in surprise.

Jet and Koharu sit next to a lake, Jet eating what looks suspiciously like traditional fish and chips, and offering his partner some, as she looks mildly amused.

(Drum beat ceases.)

''Oh yeah... but do you have to make it sound like I'm some Machiavellian schemer...'' - Jet readies his sword and shield, and smirks at his hooded opponent.