CHAPTER 2.1 - Beta Tester

***Tolbana***

"Welcome to Tolbana" The guard greeted them when they arrived; the Tolbana is the closest settlement to the first floor's labyrinth

Tolbana is the closest settlement to the 1st floor's labyrinth. It is the second-largest town on the 1st floor of aincrad with the size of 200 meters from edge to edge. The city is surrounded by large castle walls and is known for its white-walled windmill towers. It consists of inns, some bars, and restaurants, as well as multiple non-player character houses. Many water fountains are scattered across the town.

"We'll meet at the amphitheater at four" The man turned around and started walking away from Asuna but he immediately turned back "By the way.." He is hesitant "N-nothing" He saw a familiar woman passing by but he is not sure 'Maybe just an illusion?' in his mind

Asuna just stared at the man until he was completely gone 'What's wrong with that guy..' She thinks that man is a weirdo

Someone touched her in the back so she looked at who it was "Info house?!"

"You're concerned, aren't you? I'll give you a discount, Asu-chan"

"Looks like you're working hard," Asuna said

"In the labyrinth, there's a certain red riding hood hunting with the black wolf day and night, and those are only rumors" She shook her and tried to blackmail Asuna

"What.. That's not how it is" Asuna said

"Then what is it?" She teasing Asuna "That player, only occasionally shows up at the strategy meetings, to teach people things" She is referring to the man who was with Asuna earlier

"Anyhow! He's someone I just met! Please don't spread false rumors!" Asuna said she is furious still remembering that man

"Oh, is that so?" She thought the two were friends "Alright, alright, I get it. This isn't bad information for blackmailing" She laughed foolishly; she was thinking of blackmailing the man, she was sure that man will give her money to avoid the rumors

"Forget it, Info-san" Asuna understood what she was planning

"Do you know that person's history?" Argo asked her "The first thing you can ask about is their history.. Seems like I can't underestimate you Asu-chan" She whispered to Asuna

"I have no idea what you're talking about" Asuna stopped and immediately thought she didn't even know the man's name

"As long as you give me a good price, I won't be stingy about giving you information" She is trying to blackmail her

"Stop" Asuna turned her back to her

"Is that alright?" She can't believe, Asuna didn't care about it even it spread

"No, thanks! I have no interest in that person!" Asuna walked away

***Amphitheater***

You will hear the crowded noise coming from the amphitheater, there are many players here chatting about how they can defeat the boss. Even though they know that they'll all probably die

"Wow so many people" You can hear the players chatting

Asuna walks towards the amphitheater; she can hear the different voices of players from here

"Fencer-san, your serious" She stopped when she heard a familiar voice calling her. She turned and saw the man who had helped him in the labyrinth who was currently walking toward the amphitheater "Do you think they all gathered because of their spirit of self-sacrifice?"

"Of course, I'm not saying there aren't any of those spirits in there," She said

"But most of them" he suddenly remembered that they might be late so he run but a few miters away from Asuna he stopped "Even though they fear death, to fight a boss in someplace they don't know" He sight "Must be really frightening too" Even he also feels fear

"Then this..like not wanting to fall from top 10 in the grade and wanting to keep your low scores in the '70s, is the same game?" Asuna likens the game to learning

"Eh.. Huh? I guess.. Maybe.. Yes?" Hesitantly the man answered her

They have already walked towards the amphitheater, and they sit at the top where there are not so many people

"Thank you everyone for responding to my call!" The man on the stage claps to get the attention of all players "All the top players of SAO"

"So, it's the same.." She thinks the goal of this game is just the same in the real world; the searching for a good college school and the dream of finding a good job are the same. Those stupid game addicts also have a goal that is to clear the game. Now she understands.

The man noticed her silence so he looked at her

Now she has a clear goal in her mind; that is to beat the first level and keep going until the 100th floor. She touched her rapier on her side.

"Thank you everyone for accepting my invitation today!" The man on the stage continues "I'm Diavel, we'll then, the active front liners, or rather, the top players of SAO, the reason for gathering you all here is clear"

Asuna turned her back when she noticed that someone standing behind them and she saw Argo from there

"Today, our party has made it to the first floor's boss room! We'll finally use our power to defeat the boss!" Diavel was a strong and natural leader, having led the raiding group with almost no casualties and inspiring fellow players to clear the death game with his speech of determination "At this point, even though we took a whole month.. We must spread the message that this game of death, will one day end" Determination can be seen in his eyes and in his words "It is why we gather here today! This is the duty of us high-level players!" He encourages the front liners

"Wait for a second, Knight-san" They all turned to the man who suddenly spoke "Before I play this game of teams with you, there's something I have to say" He is a short yet solidly built man with sienna, spiky (cactus-styled) brownish-orange hair. He also has a small sienna goatee and brown eyes and wears scale mail armor with a rather large one-handed sword on his back.

"Opinions are welcomed. But first, tell us your name?" Diavel asked him when he reached the stage

"Hmph, my name is Kibaou" He stopped for a moment and he shout "YOU COWERING BETA TESTERS! SHOW YOUR-SELVES!!" everyone is silent "There should be quite a few in this group! Be honest and show yourselves!" The whispers of other players can already be heard "In this one month, those guys hogged all the resources! Apologize to those who died because of that! Then take all the money and items you've obtained and hand it all over!" He said in furious

"Yeah!" One player shouted

"Is it right to say something like that?" Another player said. The growing murmur of the players in the amphitheater can be heard

"Can I say something?" A man said. He is a massive and bulky African American with a brown goatee and brown eyes. He is bald and wears two silver earrings on his left ear "My name is Agil. Kibaou-san what you're trying to say is.." Kibaou's fear will be reflected "They should compensate for the beginners who died because they did not receive care from the original beta players, is that correct?"

"That.. That's right. Since the day this game began, they've abandoned most of the beginners. The players who have already leveled up all left the starting town" Asuna just listened quietly "Do you know people like that too?" He asked Agil. The man next to Asuna bowed slightly and clasped his hand

"That's true. The SAO system provides limited resources however Kibaou-san the players who only think of the survival of themselves" Agil continue "If they could only pick one which would they choose? 'Good hunting spot'? Or 'Easy quest'?"

"What are you trying to say..?" He asked