CHAPTER 1.3

'Asuna with rapier.. huh' Argo is currently looking to Asuna who has busy practicing with her sword "She'll become strong, she will probably exceed the top players soon someday, she might even become an impressive second place" Argo saw Asuna's potential in terms in battle 'If, so what happened today would sell for a good price, other than the main parts' in her thought

"Hey, info-san" She stopped meditating when Asuna called her

"Hm?"

"That monster from before, can I defeat it too?" Asuna asked while she is looking at her sword. The Argo didn't answer

--

***December 2, 2022; Friday***

Asuna is in the deepest part of the labyrinth that's filled with monsters. It is Kobold Troopers there are humanoid-type monsters, they are capable of using sword skills and wielding weapons.

"I don't know how many days have passed since we've entered the labyrinth" Asuna jumped and hit the monster "Even if I can regain my Hp, the mental fatigue wouldn't do away now and then I feel my consciousness distancing" Her knees were shaking so she raised her sword so she would not fall "If my consciousness fades it'll only lead to one thing. This—" Asuna forced herself to stand up and look at the monsters surrounding her "Damn it. It's impossible to get out of this situation" Asuna hurried to dodge when she was attacked by the monster. When she saw an opportunity, she used her speed skill and made three hits of linear but suddenly there is another monster attacked her at the back. When she was hit she saw her Hp level decrease and she also saw a flash sign in her hp indication that she was paralyzed "This is the end, but I've been trying so hard even till my death"

Players affected by this debuff are rendered immobile for a long period, retaining only the ability to slowly move their dominant hand, and barely speak through their lips. The minimum duration of the effect is ten minutes, though the duration of the effect may be longer, depending on the strength of the attack or level of paralysis that triggered this status.

She closed her eyes and waited for her death "It should be enough" But she felt a strong gust of wind and she just heard a sound of pieces of broken glass, when she opened her eyes she saw a man attacking the monster

"You, if you fight like that you'll die" The man who saved her said. She didn't know who it was

"Don't get other people's businesses every one's death anyways!" Asuna turned and shouted, she already accepted that she will be going to die "Instead of running away in the middle of a battle at least.. Let me die satisfied" She added losing her hope

"I don't plan to say things like 'value your life' to you, but it would be such a waste to let you die, at least leave me the map data.. After that, you can die if you want" The man looked at her and smiled "If you understand get up" He added. Asuna groan when she tried to stand up

"Alright, just like that rapier," The man said still smiling, when Asuna succeeded to stand up she is panting "I'll leave my back to you, let's go!"

"Don't order me around" 'What's up with this guy in Asuna's thought. They turn their backs on each other

"1…. 2….3.. Now!" After the man count, they rushed at the monsters together

Asuna dash towards the monster and streak it. It creates a diagonal slash, and linear three-hit combo after hitting the monster she charged the rapier, and then another linear the Kobold Troopers become fragments

"So fast.." The man said 'Has she mixed her sword skills?' in his thoughts "Okay! There's an opening! Run to the safe zone! Hurry!" The man said as he blocked the monsters, but Asuna remained standing "Rapier-san? Wait.. Please don't tell me you plan to defeat all the monsters.. Rapier-san?" Asuna ignored the man and attacked the monsters, but she suddenly fell to the ground

***Outside of Labyrinth***

Asuna woke up in the sunlight hitting her, she opened her eyes and she saw that she was no longer in the labyrinth, she got up from lying down and saw the man who had been with him earlier leaning against the tree

"Good morning rap—why?" The man asked, he saw that Asuna looked down at him

"Why didn't you abandon me?" Asuna asked seriously

"Even though dying out there is your decision, but as I said, it would be a waste of the map data" He removed the clasp of his sword behind him" He smiled "And anyway after you fell asleep, I just did whatever I wanted" After He said that Asuna gets up and strike him "Uwah!"

"What did you do to my body?!"

"No.. Nothing! I did nothing! I swear I did nothing to tamper with your honor" He said in a scary tone

"Don't.. Don't you dare lie to me!" She imagined things like he touched her body "When you were looking for the map data you must've done things to my body.. like that.. you probably did a lot of weird things?!"

"I'm innocent," He said while raising his hand

"Hell up!" They heard growling coming from Asuna's stomach

"It's just a game! It's just a game!!" She is embarrassed

"AHAHAH! Anyway, you should eat first" He laughs

"No! It's not like I can die from starvation anyway" She said

Growl growl growl~~

"Haha, whatever. Your map data has some value" He moved his finger in the air and fined something

"And the reason you've lost your instinct.. is probably related to your extreme hunger," He said and handed a loaf of bread to Asuna "All jokes aside, you should at least eat something and this tastes good" Asuna accept it

".. I have doubts about your sense of taste, isn't this the cheapest kind of black bread?" Asuna asked while looking at the black bread

"You gotta put some work into it.. here.. You'll know if I'm lying once you take a bite"

"What's this? Cream?" She spread the cream into the bread and she makes a bite. Its taste like heaven she blushed 'It's just a game..' in her thought

"You want another one?" He asked

"Enough. It's not like I tried so hard to survive just so I can eat delicious food"

"Then.. What for?" He bites his bread

"For.. For my existence. Rather than hiding in the starting street and rotting there.." She stood up and faced him "I'd rather fight to the very end, and then.."

"Die satisfied?" He continues her words

"After all.. There are 100 levels.. and we've only beaten 1 after 2 months! Do you know how many people died? Two thousand!.. It's impossible.. We'll never return.." She said

"Sorry"

"Right now.." She hangs her words when she heard a sound

Ding dong~~

"What? Bells?" She turned around to find where the sound was coming from

"It's from the town. Tolbana should be near here, it's the 3 o'clock bell, we should get going" H stood up

"To where?" Asuna asked

"The second floor, before anyone else" He pointed his finger up

'We're finally at the boss battle' "You coming along?" He asked