CHAPTER 14.1 - Queen Spider's Nest

"I will make sure that this last attack will end you" He bend his knees and placed his swords to his side. Asuna was more alerted

"I'm sure that his next attack was not so easy to block" She murmured, "its wings add more speed on him, I can't block his attack" Asuna was already sweating "I need to surpass his speed, I need to be more faster" She can't avoid its attack but there is one and only thing that she can make "Keep pace" Asuna makes her fighting pose.

When the Falconer was about to attack, Asuna runs towards the woods "I need to move faster!" She dashed and she saw in her peripheral vision that the falconer was coming to her when they reached the waterfalls where Kirito and she complete the first chapter of the quest she came up with the idea she remembered that the water here was warm like a hot spring so the whole place was covered with fog, she hides. Because of the fog, the falconer couldn't see her so he stopped

"You can't hide forever human" The falconer smiled

Asuna used her searching skills, she can see the cursor of the falconer and analyst her range she saw a trees move, it's not a simple tree it is a treant Sapling it is a tree-like monster, Asuna came up with an idea she equipped her dagger "I can't make any mistakes" She whispered. Asuna throw her dagger to the treant sampling that cough the attention of the falconer, Asuna used her all speed and dash toward the falconer

Whosssshhhhh~~

Because of her speed, the water spilled as well as the thick fog and that created a large embryonic hole it was too late for the falconer to block the attack. Asuna charges her Farner rapier "AHHHHH!!!" She hit him with the three liner combo and its Hp level reached the zero

"You win human" The falconer smiled looking at Asuna and it becomes fragments that scattered in the whole place. Asuna dropped her rapier and sat on the ground

"That smiled, there are just an NPC but why do I feel…" Asuna looked at the stars in the sky and her tears dripped from her cheeks "I feel.. Guilty" She covered her face with her hand. This is her first time killing a human-like creature. The wind blow

"A-Asuna!!" Asuna heard the voice of Kirito and look at him, the worried face of Kirito greeted her

"K-K-iri-to-Kun.." When Kirito saw that Asuna hazel eyes were covered with tears he quickly went to her place and hugged her "K-Kirito-Kun Gomen ne.." She cried a lot

"Everything will be alright Asuna.." He gently stroked her hair until she stopped crying

"Kirito! Asuna! Are you alright?" Emilia came and after answering she decided to go back to the camp

***Dark elf Camp***

Emilia used the Western Spirit Tree to travel to the 4th floor to help deliver the jade key. When the pair reported to the dark elf commander to complete the quest, they were given the usual rewards for quests, along with a commendation to give to a Dark Elf General on the 4th Floor, and a minor piece of advice about the Boss guarding the labyrinth on that floor. After that, they decided to get some rest.

Asuna was currently dripping in the tub with herbs that makes her feel relaxed, after that battle with the falconer she received an additional speed skill however she wasn't happy at all, she can't accept the fact that she killed a human even dough it is just an NPC elf-human form, for her it is still a human.

"Asuna!" She heard Kirito calling her, he was guarding her outside

"I told you! I'm not yet done!" Asuna answered him with an irritating voice; Kirito was calling her name from time to time so she can't relax

"O-Okay!" Kirito was currently thinking about Morte he knows that he could do something terrible "I need to keep my eye on Asuna" He whispered

"What the problem of this man" Asuna sight

The next day Asuna and Kirito received an invitation for the second strategy meeting in Zumfut at five 'clock on the afternoon on December 20, the clearers had already finished mapping the labyrinth, with the dragon Knights Brigade finding the Boss room first.

***December 21, 2022***

Kirito and Asuna encountered a Roaring Wolf on their way to the Boss chamber from the Dark Elf base. The wolf tensed up and pounced mischarge at Kirito. As one-Handed Sword skills were unsuitable for anti-air attacks, Kirito used the martial arts technique Gengetsu to counter the wolf's attack, reducing the wolf's hit points to eighty percent.

A Roaring Wolf is a wolf with a brilliant yellow mane from head to back, a long, slender snout, and a two-meter-long body. Once a Roaring Wolf's hit point is reduced from its maximum value, the wolf howls, drawing more wolves to the area.

"Asuna! Switch!" Before either the wolf or Kirito landed, Asuna charged at the wolf with a Parallel sting, causing the beast's hit point bar to fall into the yellow zone and triggering its howl. It took nearly ten minutes for the pair to defeat the summoned pack of wolves.

"Hey Kirito-Kun, I know you encounter a lot of NPC in Beta, but did you.." Asuna was hesitant "Forget it" She started to walk and enter the labyrinth; while Kirito followed her and sight he knows that Asuna was still affected by the Falconer that she encounter. When they arrived Agil greeted them

"The best party is here" Agil look at Kirito "Did you change your mind about having a guild?" After Kibaou and Lind's hearing, they throw a serious glare at Kirito as if they saying that 'You said you want solo right? Then you need to keep it'

"Hehe, My mind wouldn't change" Kirito scratch her head. Liten was also there as a tank support

"Ehem! Now the Best front-line players are here let's enter the-" Lind was interrupted by Kibaou

"Don't command us we already have a separated guild" Kibaou said and look at the Aincrad liberation Guild "Let's win this!"

They entered the Boss chamber after reviewing their task Aincrad Liberation was assigned in the tank and supported same as Agil and Liten while the Dragon knight Brigade was in the damage dealer same as Kirito and Asuna.

When the whole Boss room illuminated they saw the Floor Boss Nephila Regina the Boss of the Queens spider's nest on the 3rd floor. The Boss has two hit points' bars and takes a minimum of three hours to respawn after being killed. Nephila Regina has a bulging body with round, glowing, red eyes, eight legs the size of tree trunks, and a dull purple exoskeleton with silver patters

They started to attack the Dragon Knight Brigade hit the monster but the monster make jabs from the front legs "Tank!! The Boss was about to use its bites" The bites from poison fangs, a sticky spray from the rear that would stick the player in place if stuck to the feet or blind the player if it stuck to the head

"Copy!!" They used their shield to avoid its sticky spray. After that, the damage dealer started to attack again but the Nephila Regina monster make a vertical jump, which may cause a shock wave upon landing that may lead to the player stumbling or falling over. They avoid the shock wave by jumping just before it lands.