The morning of the first floor boss raid arrived. Hachiman thought of those he left behind. (Today's the real first step. Watch over me, everyone. I'll come back.)
He ignored a faint voice claiming inclusion.
"Morning, you two," Kirito greeted.
"Yo," Hachiman replied.
"Hey," Asuna said.
"Let's trail the group. No need to stand out," Hachiman suggested.
Asuna and Kirito shrugged, following him. The large group moved smoothly, facing minor battles, and reached the boss room without incident.
Diavel reviewed the strategy, asking for questions. Hachiman and Kirito raised hands. Hachiman was called first.
"If the boss's behavior deviates from intel, what's the plan? Withdrawal an option? You calling it?" Hachiman asked.
"Safety first. Simulations are solid, no one's getting hurt," Diavel assured.
Kirito asked the same. Kibaou snapped, "Non-training nobodies shouldn't butt in! Diavel's got this!"
They ignored him, nodding and stepping back, whispering.
"What'd you think?" Kirito asked.
"Different vibe from yesterday," Hachiman said.
"His words are softer, despite the tone."
"Less risk of infighting now."
"One less worry."
Diavel addressed the group. "Thanks for the trust. This is our first floor boss. We've got the best team. Let's win!" He led the charge into the boss room, everyone roaring.
Egir glanced back, raising a fist with a thumbs-up. The trio mirrored it.
"Feels legit," Hachiman grinned.
"Egir's cool," Kirito said.
"Haha, yeah," Asuna laughed.
The gesture eased their tension.
"Kirito, Asuna, we might see deaths. I've never seen it. If I freeze, slap me awake. If we all freeze, first to snap out slaps the others. We survive and clear this," Hachiman said.
"Got it," Asuna replied.
"Yeah," Kirito agreed.
They entered the boss room.
"There it is—Illfang the Kobold Lord," someone muttered.
The boss's presence was daunting. Tension rose, but Diavel's voice cut through.
"Bone axe in right, nodachi in left. Three minions. Intel's spot-on. Let's go! Raise your voices!" Diavel shouted.
The group roared, charging. The raid split into A-B tank squads, C-G attack squads, and the trio's skirmish team. Initially, the trio waited, but as squads faltered, they were called.
"A to B, switch!"
"C, prep to fall back! F, ready to switch!"
"G, two injured, retreat! Skirmish, cover us!"
"Skirmish, roger!" Hachiman replied.
No one had seen the trio fight. Their small size led others to underestimate them as mere fillers. The injured G squad members used potions, heads down. Others watched the trio anxiously, ready to jump in.
"We're good!" the healed G members called.
"Is skirmish okay?"
Onlookers gasped—not in fear, but awe. The two turned to see a minion shatter like glass.
"What just happened?" one asked.
"Skirmish… took it out," another stammered.
"But others are still on their first…"
"Skirmish, task done. Withdrawing," Hachiman announced.
G squad, dazed, snapped to attention. "Roger! Supporting other squads."
Kirito and Asuna led, Kirito's attacks swift and heavy, Asuna's thrusts blindingly fast. The minion's HP dropped rapidly.
"Asuna, switch!" Kirito called.
"Got it!"
Hachiman stepped in, parrying most attacks, boosting Kirito's damage. Asuna called, "Switch!"
Hachiman and Asuna's flawless combo finished the minion.
"Skirmish, task done. Withdrawing," Hachiman shouted.
G squad didn't respond immediately, stunned. Hachiman glanced over, prompting a hurried, "Roger!"
The trio regrouped.
"You okay, Asuna?" Hachiman asked.
"No issues!" she replied.
"Kirito, you're insane," Hachiman said.
"Your moves changed since yesterday," Kirito countered.
"My style's better against armed humanoids."
"Makes sense."
Egir, watching, felt a spark of hope. Kibaou, initially stunned, glared resentfully before rejoining the fight. Passing the trio, he sneered, "Don't get cocky. We can do that too. Stay in your lane."
In sync, the trio flashed identical smiles. Kibaou spat, "Tch, what's that look?" and stormed off.
With the skirmish team's key plays, no deaths occurred. The boss's HP dropped to one bar. Now axeless, it fought with its nodachi. As the trio finished the last minion and retreated, cheers erupted.
"We took both weapons!" Diavel shouted. "D squad, follow me!"
Diavel, hyped, didn't notice the boss reaching for something. Hachiman's sharp eyes caught it.
"Kirito, is that… a katana?" Hachiman asked.
"What? …Oh no!" Kirito bolted toward Diavel but was blocked by Kibaou.
"Stay back!" Kibaou barked.
"It's grabbing a katana! It'll stun!" Kirito shouted.
Kibaou turned, realizing. "Diavel! Katana! Run!" he yelled.
Diavel looked up, seeing the katana. A beta tester himself, he knew katana-wielding foes and tried to react, but he was too slow. The boss's strike stunned D squad, and a follow-up hit sent Diavel flying. Screams rang out.
"Asuna, hold the boss with me for a bit?" Hachiman asked.
"With you, I'm fine," she smiled.
"Sorry for the risk."
Hachiman shouted to Kirito, "Take command for Diavel! We'll hold the boss. Join us after!"
Kirito snapped into action. "A, B, evacuate D squad! C, E, cover them! F, G, flank and prep to attack! We've got the boss!"
Egir called, "You three in light gear—sure you're okay?"
"Hachiman and Asuna can handle it. I'm joining soon!" Kirito replied.
Hachiman parried frantically, but the boss's attacks grazed him, chipping his HP. Asuna's hit-and-run strikes distracted it, buying time until Kirito arrived. Kirito faced the boss alone.
"Don't die, Kirito!" Hachiman yelled.
"Diavel's alive! Someone get a potion!" a voice called.
Relieved, Kirito focused. He dodged well but got caught in a post-skill freeze as the boss hit red HP, its attacks surging. A blow loomed.
"Damn…" Kirito braced.
Hachiman dove in, parrying, as Asuna pulled Kirito back.
"Sorry, kept you waiting?" Hachiman grinned.
"Nah, had plenty of room, partner," Kirito quipped.
"Says the guy who yelled 'damn'!" Hachiman teased.
"You heard that?!"
Egir's tank squad arrived. "We'll take it! Fall back!"
"Thanks!" Hachiman replied.
Diavel's voice rang out. "I'll hit its throat—let's end this!"
"What?" Asuna gasped.
"What's he doing?!" Kirito shouted.
Diavel entered a sword skill motion, his HP at 20%. The boss turned toward him.
"Diavel, it's targeting you! Run! Please!" Kirito yelled.
Too late—the boss's katana struck, wiping Diavel's HP. He shattered in an instant. Hachiman and Asuna, seeing death for the first time, froze—Hachiman in rage, Asuna trembling at the cheap effect. Kirito, teeth clenched, stared at Diavel's spot.
The optimistic mood vanished, death's weight sinking in. Kirito, hardened by a past quest death, recovered first. Per their pact, he slapped Hachiman and Asuna. The pain snapped them back. They shouted in unison:
"Wake up! Tanks, hold the boss!"
"Attack squads, flank and strike!"
"Low HP, retreat!"
Still shaken, the group moved on their command, launching the final assault. The enraged boss resisted, its HP stubborn. Hachiman whispered to Asuna and Kirito, and they acted. Asuna slipped behind, hitting the boss's knee with Linear as it raised its weapon, unbalancing it. Hachiman charged, striking the katana's base. The boss staggered. Kirito shouted, "Egir, duck!"
Using Egir's back, Kirito leaped, roaring, "This ends now!"
His strike split the boss's head. After a pause, it burst into light, "CONGRATULATIONS" flashing.
A month after the game began, Diavel was lost, but the first floor was cleared, marking a new milestone.