CHAPTER 21.1 - Lake

"Yeah. I don't think we can win in a straightforward fight. The leader's icon was basically black" Kirito said

"Black?! Y-Yeah no missing with that" Argo was shocked after hearing that. Black cursors are even more powerful than that dark crimson cursor

"Yeah need to avoid that, so to avoid needless casualties," Liten said

"Thanks, that'll help," Kirito said

"Well, now that's settled, I better compile my information and get to distribution" Liten and Argo stood up "Thanks for buying the pizza. Drop me a line if you got anything for me" Argo said

"Sure. Thanks for taking the time to come by" Kirito said

"No worries. If you need help, just ask your big sister's okay?" Argo laughs and pointed herself and Liten and left

"Sorry for waking up you like that, Asuna," Kirito said facing Asuna

"Don't feel bad, I slept better than usual. By the way, Kirito-Kun" Asuna bowed her head and was hesitant to ask about something personal to Kirito "Uhm just out of curiosity, what do you think of Argo-San? She's pretty and cute, right?" She blushed

"Yeah, she's cute I guess?" Kirito scratch his head "And that she's a greedy and talented Information dealer"

"That's not what I mean!.." Asuna was stuttered "What I mean is! Ugh never mind" She could help to question the friendship of Kirito and Argo knowing that they were that close "Well, we ought to get going, all front-line advancement already has their gondolas"

"I don't know it might be tough, even for them.."

***December 24, 2022 / Caldera Lake***

The Caldera Lake, a lake measuring about three hundred meters in diameter, is located just north of the center of the floor and is surrounded by sheer cliffs, forcing players to cross the lake to reach the south side of the floor. In the beta test, the lake used to be the mouth of a volcano with red glowing magma bubbling up from the cracks in the earth. In the official version, the volcano was filled with water. The lake is inhabited by the Field Boss that impedes travel to the southern areas of the floor.

The sound of the Gong drum signaling that they already arrived at the Caldera Lake echoed in the whole place, there are six gondolas one of them is the Emilia

"The time has come! We are going to tackle the field Boss of the fourth floor, Biceps Archelon the ancient two-headed turtle!" Lind shouted "According to the Rat's Intel, its attack pattern is easy to recognize! We'll use the gong to give orders, so listen closely! Maintain formation as planned, and sail onwards!" The command

"We're here too" Kibaou smirk "This should be the spot" They are now at the center of the lake "Oh! Here it comes! Get ready!" The field Boss monster comes out from the lake

"There is it! Everyone in the position!" Lind commanded, "And this time, the last attack bonus is ours!" Both Lind and Kibaou said

Biceps Archelon was the field-boss of the fourth floor of the aincrad that blocked passage to the southern half of the floor. The Boss had a two-bar Hit point gauge. The Biceps Archelon was an ancient, two-headed turtle that was twenty meters in length and armored with a thick, dark, gleaming shell that makes its sides virtually invulnerable, leaving only its heads and abdomen unprotected. The Boss has three main attacks: a bite attack from both heads, a watery smack from its side fins, and a charge.

The Field Boss attack using the watery smack and the gondola of Kibaou's guild was shaken because of that there is one of the guild members out of balance and about to fall in the water but Kibaou grabbed his hand "Keep your feet planted on the boat!"

"Thanks for the catch, Kibaou-san"

"No worries! I'll save you every time" Kibaou make an approved sign, for him the safeties of his guild member was his top priority

"Yahh!" Lind's group started to attack the monster. The major parties consisting of the members from the Aincrad Liberation Squad and the Dragon Knights Brigade were assigned to fight in the center, while minor groups were Kirito's and Agil's parties were assigned to attack the Boss's sides. They both attack on the different sides

"As the Information said, it moves slowly. Give it all you've got!" Lind said

"Lind-San! It's charging patterns and facing forward!" One of the members of his guild said

"Sound the Gong drum! Avoid getting in front of it!" Lind shouted

"This stupid shell's too hard!" Asuna was attacking the shell of the monster on the back "Help me out Kirito-Kun!"

"Sorry I've got my hands full with the boat," Kirito said, he doesn't want to fight with that monsters shell for him attacking its shell was wasting the time

"They put us back here just to make sure we don't get the last attack bonus," Asuna said pissing off

"But at least our ship won't take any damage," Kirito said "The Boss Hp is in the red zone. We should pull back, just in case"

"Everyone, retreat!" Agil said

The Boss twists up its two heads, front and rear flippers, and tail against the sides of the shell to begin spinning and cause a whirlpool. Additionally, in this state, the Boss is more resistant to any attacks.

"At this rate, we'll be sucked into a whirlpool, worst scenario, we'll capsize and the ships will collide and fall apart!" Kirito shouted "Asuna, duck!" Changing tactics

"We've almost got it down! The last attack bonus will be mine!" Lind sprints and is about to attack the field Boss "That's right! Its defense may have gone up, but it doesn't mean that we can't hurt it anymore!"

"No! Mine!" Kibaou said and was about to attack the Boss too. However, Kirito began rowing madly and used Emilia's fire bear ram to strike the turtle's abdomen before it could begin spinning. This attack resulted in the boss's defeat and Kirito receiving the last attack bonus.

"Who got the last attack?!" Lind and Kibaou ask when the monsters become a fragment

"Sorry it was me hehe," Kirito said receiving the last attack bonus

"Not you again!" They both said "What gives?! You were on the side of the Boss where it was armored!"

"It was thanks to this" Kirito pointed the outside of The Emilia "The special made from the Boss bear's horns, I didn't have it equipped most of the time to preserve its durability. I was saving it for the moment"

"What?!" They look at the front of the gondola "Dammit! I didn't know that" Kibaou said

"More importantly, why were you rustling to attack this Boss?" Kirito ask

"Huh?" Kibaou ask he started stuttering "W-Well you'll know! Nothing wrong with getting it over quickly right?" Kibaou said he didn't say that he was for the last bonus attack

"I guess," Kirito said

"Well we're heading the main town back down" They informed Kirito and Asuna

"Kirito-Kun don't you think? Asuna hesitant

"Hmm? What is Asuna?"

"Uh never mind" She smiled, she wants them to celebrate since it was Christmas eve later "W've done all quests around the main town. Let's move on"

"Good idea," Kirito said and took the paddle "We'll visit the next town to gather information"

"Huh? Y-Yeah.."

***Usco Village***

Usco Village is located southwest of Caldera Lake and is the first Village that the players can encounter after defeating the field Boss. The Village consists of several shacks, walkways, and opened spaces buoyed by balsa-like logs, floating and creaking in the midst of a crescent-shaped lake.