CHAPTER 4.1 - Illfang

"Of course, our lives are the highest priority but, our simulations before went" Diavel smiled the outcome of their joint party simulation was good so he has high confidence that they will win "I won't let you guys die" He assured

"You don't need to listen to them Diavel-han," Kibaou said while looking at Kirito "These guys don't realize your amazing commanding skills so they're being anxious for no reason" Then he gaze diverted to Asuna "Don't try to tell us what to do when you were too busy flirting to participate in the joint practice" Kirito ignored what he said. There is no doubt that he is a good leader however many things could happen so they must be preferred.

"Oi oi, you're exaggerating hibachi" Other players laugh

"Thank you for your confidence in me however if I wasn't in this raid group, I would be feeling anxious too," Diavel said "I believe we have gathered the best members one could hope for. Let's win this together" Diavel walks towards the double door and is about to open it "Come now, let's proceed!"

"Listen up, stay back, and don't get carried away out there" Kibaou shrugged Kirito's shoulder

As soon as the door opened, white smoke immediately appeared followed by the illumination of the entire floor

"That's.. The king of the kobolds! The Boss of the first floor!" At the end of the room, they saw Illfang the kobold lord

Illfang was over two meters tall, muscular, covered in blue-grey fur, and had blood, copper-red eyes. Illfang used a large bone axe and a leather shield to attack. Behind its waist, it carried a meter and half long nodachi weapon. Illfang was supported by its minion Ruin Kobold Sentinels. Twelve such minions were spawned throughout the battle: three at the start of the battle and an additional three each time one of Illfang's hit point bars were depleted.

"Its main weapon is a Bone axe and its sub-weapon, a Talwar! It's supported by Sentinels!" Deavel shouted "Keep following the strategy! We've got this!" The player shouted and was ready to attack "Follow me! Charge!" They run towards the Boss but Asuna saw Kirito still standing

"The henchmen have started to make their move! What are you doing?"

"Aaah.." Kirito pulled out his sword from behind

"All right! The Boss entered into pattern C!" Diavel command "Party A, fall back! Time to launch the offensive!" The two Tank parties were assigned to draw the Boss's attention and endure its attacks; the player A equipped with an Iron Heater Shield and a Hammer "Party D, Advance!" The assault Parties C-D would concentrate on dealing damage to the Boss, They are tall players wielding a two-hand long sword "Party B, prepare for the next pattern!"

"Okay!" The players shouted

Asuna was amazed to see how they could defeat the big monster, even though they really might die "Everyone's so strong!"

"I said keep drinking potions, didn't I! Quickly!" She turned around and saw Kibaou giving the players a health position. High-mobility assault party assigned to fighting the Boss's minions. Supported by Asuna and Kirito

Asuna noticed that there was a minion approaching them so she prepared for the attack "S.. Swit—"

"Switch" Kirito run quickly towards the minion and attack it, its Hp gradually dropped until it turned red and disappeared, He get the health potion in his items and drink it. While the other players looked at him in amazement

"Don't get carried away. I heard about it, that during the Beta testing, a shameless one-handed swordsman without a shield would turn up at Boss battles" Kibaou whispered to Kirito "And stole the last attack" Kibaou give a death glare to Kirito "Looking for the best spot to go in and steal the last attack on the Boss, aren't you? Not a chance!"

"Fencer-san" Kirito ignored what Kibaou said "The level of the next wave of Sentinels is high"

"O-ok!" Asuna followed Kirito

As time goes on the Hp level of the Boss gradually decreases until only one Hp level is left. They all smiled and were sure they would win

"All right! It dropped its axe! We're all most there!" Diavel commands them "It's going to attack with its sub-weapon, Talwar, you remember the skill change right?" The basis is the same, repel its weapon, then strike its throat "This is it! Party C to the front!" The monster released a sub-weapon from behind

"Hey Fencer-san, what kind of sword is a Talwar again?" Kirito asked Asuna from his behind

"Huh? If I can recall correctly—it's an ismalic" Kirito felt scared while looking at the katana of the monster Illfang

"It's no good retreat!" Kirito shouted but Kibaou stopped him

"Stay back! You really want the last attack bonus that badly?"

"What are you saying! We have to stop their attack immediately!"

"Don't interfere! The last attack bonus belongs to Diavel-han!" Kibaou continued to restrain him on the assumption that he intends to snatch the last hit bonus

"Its sub-weapon is a katana! That Kobold lord is different from the Beta!!"

"Different from the..?" Kibaou is slightly taken aback "You?! I knew it!" From the beginning, he suspected that Kirito was also a Beta Tester

"Diavel run!!" Kirito shouted, but it was too late the monster quickly attacked Party C, because of that the player who was about to attack Illfang was temporary movement disability stun. The monster Illfang raised the katana and was about to attack the player who was stunned and only half the Hp level, Asuna and Kirito couldn't stand it and ran to ward off its attack

"It's too late!" Kibaou shouted. But Diavel preceded the attack with his shield "Dia.. Diavel-han!!"

"Tanks continue forwards! The attacks coming please defend the stunned Party C members!" Kirito command

"Got it! But what about you guys? With that lightweight armor.." Agil said, he's worried that they might be hit by the monster's especially since the armor they're wearing is light, so he's sure that when Asuna and Kirito hit their Hp level will go down to red.

"Over here, Kobold!" They bought caught the attention of the minions and they quickly attacked them

"Wow—Fast!" The eyes of the players can be seen the amazement because of the quick action of the two of them

Diavel saw what they did so he felt anxious that they might get the last attack "Alright! I will pierce it's throat!" He commanded them "Please repel its weapon! Time to end this!!"

"Diavel stop! Put everything into your defense! Diavel!" But Diavel didn't listen to Kirito "Don't unleash your skill motion" But the monster Illfang attacked faster and it hit Diavel and because of the length of its katana there was a big chance that it would also hit Asuna who was just close to Diavel so Kirito sprint and grabbed Asuna to fall and they avoided that attack

"P.. please.. Finis-" Diavel looked at Kirito and Asuna and he became fragments

Asuna couldn't believe what she saw; it was the first time she saw a person die, a human life ended right before her eyes. In her imagination, she sees Diavel in the hospital in the real world dying

"No way this is.. Not the way a human dies" She felt intense fear at the same loud growl of the monster Illfang

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