Asuna's, Klein's and Egil's reaction was to be expected. The sudden proposal to take on the Boss of 76th floor was not only risky, but completely illogical, something only a madman would make. The floor wasn't even thirty percent completed, and there was no clue of the boss' location.
"Let's do it!" I just couldn't even hold back, though the idea was just crazy, I couldn't do anything but agree in excitement, which probably spurted from my hardcore gamer's side.
"EH, KIRITO-KUN?" Asuna replied to my agreement, astounded.
"I believe we have enough man power to defeat him, I think three «Unique Skills» for a level 76 boss will be enough"
"How do you warranty that?"
"From observation, it seems the beyond power level bosses are divided in quarters, that means the most powerful ones are in levels 25, 50, 75 and 100. After that clearing the quarter floor though, the power of the bosses drops to a normal linear function in terms on how powerful they are. At the moment, I'm estimating the level 76 boss will be somewhere in between 74 and 75."
"Is there a risk of a one hit-kill?"
"Yes, but it may be only by a direct critical hit, and I believe none of us would get hit by something of such magnitude"
"Where does your courage come from?"
I myself, didn't know. I wanted to reach Heathcliff as soon as possible and end this death game. I wanted to find out why he had created this game, and trapped ten-thousand players within. And overall, I feel more confident, having Gin's «Saya» and Hurstwic's «Maximus Scope» in our side. Strange of me, I was totally optimistic that nothing could turn wrong, and that the incident of floor 75 will not be repeated. Asuna, seen my serious expression, nodded in favor.
"I understand Kirito-kun, I will be by your side regardless of your choices"
"AH, whatever happens, happens" Klein exclaimed, it seems he had made a catchphrase out of that sentence.
Two hours after arriving in the front lines, we had already completed most of the dungeons. As expected, having the drilling force of two more «Unique Skills» affected the speed in which the clearing would be completed. Originally, without their aid, this would have taken two more weeks, but their rushing stamina, enthusiasm and courage helped other front liners to take upon the challenge. Over thirty members rushed through the floor, defeating the minions and sub-bosses with minor difficulty. Even I, who would put self safety over anything else, went berserk against them. I never had so much fun in my life.
Soon enough, we found the door that lead to the boss after two hours and forty-five minutes. The idea that only a door separated us from something that may exterminate us completely was frightening. Everyone fixed up their equipment and relaxed in order to take the boss seriously. Going against him the same way we did against the normal enemies would have been fatal.
As everyone was fixing up their equipment, I noticed something interesting, Hurstwic didn't activate her «Unique Skill» during the clearing. She was using throwing weapons to stun and destroy her enemies, which was terrifying. I couldn't even phantom the ballistic power that her bow would have.
"Ready, Kirito-San?" Gin said from behind, placing his right hand on my shoulder as he stood on my left, smiley as ever.
"Yeah."
"Well, I need to get ready too" Hurstwic said, standing on my right. She quickly moved through the panel, activating her «Maximus Scope» skill. Immediately after activating, a bow appeared on her left hand. Looking closely, the bow had no physical consistency, but was made remotely of energy. The bow looked like radiant light transformed into a bow. Magic? No, that wasn't it. Her will carried as a piercing force, which materialized in the form of a bow.
"Kirito, before we continue, what are their names?"
"Names?"
"Your dual wielding equipment of course"
"Oh, «Elucidator» is this black sword, and «Dark Repulser» is the light blue one." I said as I looked at my trusty swords.
"Amazing, they synchronize with your soul perfectly" Though I didn't know the meaning of his words, I couldn't do anything but thank him and asked the same question in return.
"Thanks, what about yours?" Gin, holding his unsheathed katana on his right, extended his hand toward me, giving me a much more closer look at his sword. His scabbard was snowy white with some crystalline decorations on it which reflected the light.
"Her name is «Shirosaya», she has been my trusty companion for a long time"
"I see we have made really good friends out of our swords"
"Don't tell the others, they may get jealous" Our conversation easily cleared the tension in the air, slowly preparing us for the battle.
"Let's do this" Gin nodded in agreement.
After pressing against the doors, which opened by reaction, we rushed inside.
The boss' room was spacious as always, which was able to fit more than fifty warriors inside. Sadly, not many decided to join the fight in fear of dying, which was understandable. In the end, we were left with ten people, which consisted of Asuna, Klein, Egil, Gin, Hurstwic, I and other high leveled swordsmen. Still, there was no struggle in my heart.
After all the lights in the room lighted up, the boss «The Stinger», was a a giant scorpion with the same characteristics of «The Skull Reaper», it seemed to lack that apparent overwhelming power. Two giant scissors instead of claws, and a giant metallic stinger in the end of his tail. Surely getting hit by any of those will assure anyone's death.
"Kirito I'll take care of his left claw, you take care of the main body" Gin said, getting ready to attack.
"I'll take care of that stinger, so nothing to worry about" Hurstwic exclaimed, giving me a wink while thumbing me up like an anime character.
"For the other claw, we will manage, Kirito-kun" Asuna said, accompanied with Egil and Klein, who stood by his right side, the three thumbing me up. Seriously, what the heck is with the thumbs up.
"OK! Then for the rest of you, attack his exposed sides!" I exclaimed in a leader-like tone, which was replied by an "YEAH" by the rest of the front liners.
Wiith both swords on my hands, I rushed into the battle. Trusting my companions, I immediately started with a sword skill from the dual blades called « Eclipses», which consisted of a row of continuous attacks similar to «Starburst Stream» with the exception of it being longer and much more powerful. If I were to be hit while attacking, I would be done for.
After the scorpion received some initial damage from my attack, he retaliated by attacking me with his tail, sending it toward me at inhuman speed, though I didn't even budged to dodge. Three meters before the stinger hit me, a condense spear of light parried, pushing it back with great power. As expected, it was Hurstwic activating her sword... correction, bow skill, which I heard as « Sunbeam Arrow», though I'm not entirely sure.
The scorpion then, which seemed to be furious, continued his attack toward me, using his right claw to attack me from the side. Similarly to what happened to the tail, it was pushed back by Egil, Klein and Asuna, who parried against it with overlapping sword skills, which showed not only incredible skill, but an incomparable teamwork.
From the back of my mind, a little doubt came into my mind. Would Gin be capable of protecting me against the left claw? As I remember, he invested most of his points in speed, leaving his strength in a dangerously low area. As witnessed, it took the combined force of Asuna, Klein and Egil to push back one claw. No, I believe in him. My belief of him paid of nicely.
As the claw came at me, I was able Gin's voice reciting «Iado», who held his sheathed katana with his right hand, while holding the handle with his left.
Suddenly, a flashing white light passed by me at godly speed, striking the claw by unsheatihng his katana from its scabbard, pushing it backwards a greater distance than what the others did.
I get it. He used the simple law of conservation of momentum. As he knew he wouldn't have a great force to push the claw with, he used even greater speed to not only match up the momentum, but also exceeded it. Quite unreal, but amazing.
Thanks to Gin's fast combination of strikes and foot speed, Hurstwic's arrows, my overpowered dual wielding and the others cooperation, we were able to beat the boss without losing anyone after thirty minutes of constant fight. The most outstanding thing was that no one's health ever dropped below eighty percent.
After resting a while, I activated the portal to the 77th floor, once again opening an unknown area, slowly reaching the doors for a tomorrow in the real world.
...
"Let's do it!" I just couldn't even hold back, though the idea was just crazy, I couldn't do anything but agree in excitement, which probably spurted from my hardcore gamer's side.
"EH, KIRITO-KUN?" Asuna replied to my agreement, astounded.
"I believe we have enough man power to defeat him, I think three «Unique Skills» for a level 76 boss will be enough"
"How do you warranty that?"
"From observation, it seems the beyond power level bosses are divided in quarters, that means the most powerful ones are in levels 25, 50, 75 and 100. After that clearing the quarter floor though, the power of the bosses drops to a normal linear function in terms on how powerful they are. At the moment, I'm estimating the level 76 boss will be somewhere in between 74 and 75."
"Is there a risk of a one hit-kill?"
"Yes, but it may be only by a direct critical hit, and I believe none of us would get hit by something of such magnitude"
"Where does your courage come from?"
I myself, didn't know. I wanted to reach Heathcliff as soon as possible and end this death game. I wanted to find out why he had created this game, and trapped ten-thousand players within. And overall, I feel more confident, having Gin's «Saya» and Hurstwic's «Maximus Scope» in our side. Strange of me, I was totally optimistic that nothing could turn wrong, and that the incident of floor 75 will not be repeated. Asuna, seen my serious expression, nodded in favor.
"I understand Kirito-kun, I will be by your side regardless of your choices"
"AH, whatever happens, happens" Klein exclaimed, it seems he had made a catchphrase out of that sentence.
...
Two hours after arriving in the front lines, we had already completed most of the dungeons. As expected, having the drilling force of two more «Unique Skills» affected the speed in which the clearing would be completed. Originally, without their aid, this would have taken two more weeks, but their rushing stamina, enthusiasm and courage helped other front liners to take upon the challenge. Over thirty members rushed through the floor, defeating the minions and sub-bosses with minor difficulty. Even I, who would put self safety over anything else, went berserk against them. I never had so much fun in my life.
Soon enough, we found the door that lead to the boss after two hours and forty-five minutes. The idea that only a door separated us from something that may exterminate us completely was frightening. Everyone fixed up their equipment and relaxed in order to take the boss seriously. Going against him the same way we did against the normal enemies would have been fatal.
As everyone was fixing up their equipment, I noticed something interesting, Hurstwic didn't activate her «Unique Skill» during the clearing. She was using throwing weapons to stun and destroy her enemies, which was terrifying. I couldn't even phantom the ballistic power that her bow would have.
"Ready, Kirito-San?" Gin said from behind, placing his right hand on my shoulder as he stood on my left, smiley as ever.
"Yeah."
"Well, I need to get ready too" Hurstwic said, standing on my right. She quickly moved through the panel, activating her «Maximus Scope» skill. Immediately after activating, a bow appeared on her left hand. Looking closely, the bow had no physical consistency, but was made remotely of energy. The bow looked like radiant light transformed into a bow. Magic? No, that wasn't it. Her will carried as a piercing force, which materialized in the form of a bow.
"Kirito, before we continue, what are their names?"
"Names?"
"Your dual wielding equipment of course"
"Oh, «Elucidator» is this black sword, and «Dark Repulser» is the light blue one." I said as I looked at my trusty swords.
"Amazing, they synchronize with your soul perfectly" Though I didn't know the meaning of his words, I couldn't do anything but thank him and asked the same question in return.
"Thanks, what about yours?" Gin, holding his unsheathed katana on his right, extended his hand toward me, giving me a much more closer look at his sword. His scabbard was snowy white with some crystalline decorations on it which reflected the light.
"Her name is «Shirosaya», she has been my trusty companion for a long time"
"I see we have made really good friends out of our swords"
"Don't tell the others, they may get jealous" Our conversation easily cleared the tension in the air, slowly preparing us for the battle.
"Let's do this" Gin nodded in agreement.
After pressing against the doors, which opened by reaction, we rushed inside.
...
The boss' room was spacious as always, which was able to fit more than fifty warriors inside. Sadly, not many decided to join the fight in fear of dying, which was understandable. In the end, we were left with ten people, which consisted of Asuna, Klein, Egil, Gin, Hurstwic, I and other high leveled swordsmen. Still, there was no struggle in my heart.
After all the lights in the room lighted up, the boss «The Stinger», was a a giant scorpion with the same characteristics of «The Skull Reaper», it seemed to lack that apparent overwhelming power. Two giant scissors instead of claws, and a giant metallic stinger in the end of his tail. Surely getting hit by any of those will assure anyone's death.
"Kirito I'll take care of his left claw, you take care of the main body" Gin said, getting ready to attack.
"I'll take care of that stinger, so nothing to worry about" Hurstwic exclaimed, giving me a wink while thumbing me up like an anime character.
"For the other claw, we will manage, Kirito-kun" Asuna said, accompanied with Egil and Klein, who stood by his right side, the three thumbing me up. Seriously, what the heck is with the thumbs up.
"OK! Then for the rest of you, attack his exposed sides!" I exclaimed in a leader-like tone, which was replied by an "YEAH" by the rest of the front liners.
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Wiith both swords on my hands, I rushed into the battle. Trusting my companions, I immediately started with a sword skill from the dual blades called « Eclipses», which consisted of a row of continuous attacks similar to «Starburst Stream» with the exception of it being longer and much more powerful. If I were to be hit while attacking, I would be done for.
After the scorpion received some initial damage from my attack, he retaliated by attacking me with his tail, sending it toward me at inhuman speed, though I didn't even budged to dodge. Three meters before the stinger hit me, a condense spear of light parried, pushing it back with great power. As expected, it was Hurstwic activating her sword... correction, bow skill, which I heard as « Sunbeam Arrow», though I'm not entirely sure.
The scorpion then, which seemed to be furious, continued his attack toward me, using his right claw to attack me from the side. Similarly to what happened to the tail, it was pushed back by Egil, Klein and Asuna, who parried against it with overlapping sword skills, which showed not only incredible skill, but an incomparable teamwork.
From the back of my mind, a little doubt came into my mind. Would Gin be capable of protecting me against the left claw? As I remember, he invested most of his points in speed, leaving his strength in a dangerously low area. As witnessed, it took the combined force of Asuna, Klein and Egil to push back one claw. No, I believe in him. My belief of him paid of nicely.
As the claw came at me, I was able Gin's voice reciting «Iado», who held his sheathed katana with his right hand, while holding the handle with his left.
Suddenly, a flashing white light passed by me at godly speed, striking the claw by unsheatihng his katana from its scabbard, pushing it backwards a greater distance than what the others did.
I get it. He used the simple law of conservation of momentum. As he knew he wouldn't have a great force to push the claw with, he used even greater speed to not only match up the momentum, but also exceeded it. Quite unreal, but amazing.
Thanks to Gin's fast combination of strikes and foot speed, Hurstwic's arrows, my overpowered dual wielding and the others cooperation, we were able to beat the boss without losing anyone after thirty minutes of constant fight. The most outstanding thing was that no one's health ever dropped below eighty percent.
After resting a while, I activated the portal to the 77th floor, once again opening an unknown area, slowly reaching the doors for a tomorrow in the real world.
...
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