Kibaou brushed back his spiky hair, sharp as cactus thorns, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Alright… I get it." His voice rang out, making sure everyone heard him. "Of course you wouldn't be foolish enough to do something that would ruin your own reputation. If the name Ago loses trust, then every single player in Aincrad will turn their back on you."
A few members of his Guild nodded in agreement, whispers rising across the battlefield.
"We all understand that." Lind also spoke, his words slow and heavy, like a blade driven into the earth to end the debate.
Ago let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders loosening just slightly, though her voice remained firm. "Good. Then here's my proposal: If you want to keep the safer path, my group will continue handling the Elf questline.
And as for any important information that could prove useful for fighting the boss..."
She paused, scanning the crowd to make sure every pair of eyes was locked on her, then spoke slowly, with deliberate weight.
"...I, Ago, will take responsibility and share everything with all the front-line parties, free of charge."
The last two words came almost in a whisper, but everyone heard them loud and clear. Eyes widened in unison. It was a deal too good, far too good, to dismiss.
Kibaou folded his arms, lips curling into a smirk. "Free, huh? Sounds nice. Then while your group is busy with quests… we'll have time to clear the labyrinth and get ready for the boss fight."
"Exactly. Not a bad trade-off, is it?" Ago answered with a faint smile, forcing herself to appear confident.
Lind gave a short, sharp huff, then rose to his feet. His greatsword swung lightly, its steel gleaming with firelight from the burning Elf camp. "Fine. Then until that time, the labyrinth will be our training ground. No lone black-clad players hogging everything for themselves."
But just as he turned to leave, he stopped. His eyes narrowed sharply, swinging back to Ago and Kibaou.
"But before we even get that far…" He raised his blade to shoulder height, voice sinking into a growl. "We clean this place up first."
"Clean up?" Several players frowned, not yet understanding.
Kibaou let out a dry, grating laugh that echoed in the tense air. "What else? Let's make this place lively."
In the blink of an eye, both Guilds rose as one. Armor clattered, steel rang.
Some tightened their grip on swords, others raised shields high. Together, as if bound by a silent agreement, they stood shoulder to shoulder, every gaze locked on the Forest Elf soldiers.
"What…?!" The Forest Elves recoiled, shock plain on their faces. "You… what do you think you're doing?!"
One Elf shouted, his voice shaking with both fear and anger. They had assumed humans were allies. But now, the gleaming blades pointed squarely at them.
No one from the Guilds offered an explanation. Step by step, they advanced across the battlefield in unison.
Cold steel flashed. Killing intent surged. Their silence was the cruelest answer of all.
The Forest Elves stumbled back in chaos, weapons raised in defense. They didn't understand why their supposed allies had turned against them. But one truth became undeniable: the massacre was about to begin.
.....
"Just focus on recovering the scroll… leave these guys to me." Ren shot Asuna a steady look, his eyes carrying an unspoken vow.
No more words were needed. Both understood. Even though the last time they'd fought side by side had been during the brutal First Floor boss battle, that old rhythm between them had never faded.
Ren lunged at the nearest Forest Elf soldier, his sword cutting through the air in a radiant arc.
Steel slashed past the clumsy defense, carving a glowing red wound across the enemy's body.
"Damn it!" The Elf hadn't even staggered back before Ren pivoted smoothly, his next strike flowing like water, forcing the foe to drop his weapon.
But before Ren could finish him, three or four others came roaring in at once.
Steel clashed in a storm of sparks, the sound of battle drums ringing in every blow. Ren twisted, parried one strike, then slid half a step back.
Another blade swept from behind, slicing so close it nearly nicked his hair.
He ducked low, letting the edge whistle past by inches, then spun sharply, shoving the attacker away.
His eyes flicked across the battlefield, no archers in sight. Fortunate. If there had been, things would already be far worse.
But that bit of luck couldn't hide the truth: he was holding off nearly half a squad of Forest Elf soldiers on his own.
Sweat soaked through his black armor, each ragged breath lost beneath the relentless clash of steel.
Every strike from his enemies came down heavy, as if intent on crushing the last of his stamina.
Ren knew better than anyone: one slip, one missed step, and he would never rise again.
He gritted his teeth, turned sharply, and unleashed a Sword Skill that burst with light. The furious combo hammered into a vanguard Elf, sending him crashing into a nearby tent.
The canvas ripped loose, collapsing in a cloud of fabric that briefly blinded the other soldiers.
Ren wasted no time. He charged, blade flashing, slicing through the fluttering cloth.
Steel pierced through the collapsing tarp before the enemy could even react.
The leading Elf's eyes went wide with shock, then his throat was skewered, and his body shattered into crimson shards of pixels.
Ren yanked his sword back, the blade tracing a glittering arc of illusory blood through the air.
Without pause, he spun and dashed outward, leaping over shelves stacked with crates and sacks, sweat mixing with ragged breaths that pounded like war drums.
His body was driven to the limit, yet Ren's eyes still burned fiercely, he would not allow himself to falter, not even for a heartbeat.
One foe had already fallen, shattering into crimson shards of light. But the encirclement did not loosen. Three more closed in, eyes flashing with murderous intent, their grips tightening on steel.
Ren twisted his wrist, the sword tip humming faintly through the air, his harsh breathing blending with the pounding rhythm in his chest.
They were about to strike.
And then the ground trembled beneath heavy footfalls. From afar came the clash of metal and the roar of voices, growing louder with each second.
A new party of players emerged, the gleam of their weapons cutting through the dark forest. The Forest Elves froze on the spot.
The tension snapped taut as a bowstring on the verge of breaking.
"You holding up?" one of them called out, breathless after a long sprint, while the others spread out swiftly, forming a firm line to block the advancing foes.
In an instant, the tide turned. Ren was no longer the one besieged; it was now the Elves who found themselves outmatched.
Ren gave a small nod, stealing a brief breath as sweat rolled down his brow. Yet his gaze instantly shot toward the clearing, toward Asuna, who still faced the giant bird thrashing in the open sky.
Its vast wings unfurled like curtains over the forest, each beat unleashing gusts that forced the players below to brace for balance.
With its command of the skies, the creature had nearly absolute advantage. Its talons gleamed like storm-forged blades, slicing the air again and again, driving Asuna to twist and dodge with desperate agility.
Each time she leapt, her rapier carved a silver streak through the wind, only for the monster to soar higher, letting her strike fall short by mere inches.
From the ground, the battle resembled a dance: a lone blade locked in a storm's fury.
Ren's grip tightened. He knew that if this dragged on, Asuna's stamina would give way.
\[Stap]
He triggered a sword skill, his blade erupting in light as he lunged upward, cleaving through the air just as the beast dove.
His strike pierced the cyclone head-on, biting into the thick plumage of its chest.
A shriek split the night, wings thrashing violently. The backlash hurled Ren off balance, and the monster's talons flung his blade free before it surged skyward once more, its eyes burning like twin embers fixed upon its prey.
Before Ren could recover, Asuna appeared beside him, sweat dotting her brow, rapier clutched tight.
"Ren, lend me your shoulder, just for a moment!" Her voice was urgent but unwavering.
"My shoulder? What...?" He barely had time to react before Asuna vaulted upward, planting her foot hard against him. His frame shuddered, yet he braced himself, refusing to yield.
With that boost, Asuna shot higher into the air. And though the leap alone should not have sufficed, Ren's eyes widened, she pushed again, as if stepping upon nothing itself, rising further.
Each impossible stride carried her upward, her body light as a drifting leaf.
Midair, she twisted, her rapier blazing with a brilliant emerald glow as a sword skill ignited.
Her strike carved a lethal arc, cleaving into the giant bird's head mid-screech.
The clash rang out like rending steel. The beast's scream tore the night as Asuna forced its massive form down, driving it into a spiraling fall.
BOOM!
They crashed into the earth with thunderous force. Dust exploded skyward, trees and grass quivering under the shockwave. A pillar of ash-gray smoke veiled the battlefield.
Ren shielded his face, eyes locked on the haze. His heart pounded wildly, not only from the sheer might of the strike, but from the impossible grace of Asuna's movements, as if she had transcended the game's limits.
Through the haze, she emerged step by steady step, her boots pressing onto fractured ground left by the impact.
In her hand was the sealed parchment, its faint glow illuminating her flushed face and breathless form.
Behind her, the giant bird writhed in its death throes. Its vast wings thrashed once, twice, then collapsed as strength drained away.
Its body fractured, scattering into a storm of radiant shards that shimmered like falling stars before vanishing into nothingness.
"Asuna… you…" Ren whispered, awe and relief mingling in his gaze as he beheld her still standing.
She drew a deep breath, determination glinting in her eyes. "I've got the scroll." She raised the item high, her voice resolute, shattering the last threads of tension lingering after the battle.