Chapter 387 ~Illfang The Kobold Lord

After the meeting was adjourned, Yuuji and Asuna stood up as one.

Asuna turned and began to walk up the stairs, only to stop after a few steps and turned back to see Yuuji still beside Kirito.

“Then, we’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget to fix your equipment.”

He began to turn and waved his hand.

“S-Sure, see you tomorrow!”

Kirito watched as Yuuji left along with Asuna, walking closely to each other.

‘He’s amazing alright…’

He couldn’t help but watch them with envy.

Kirito didn’t know the extent of their relationship, but considering how closely they were walking together, they were definitely not regular party members.

In a death game that had an abysmal ratio of guys to girls, how could Yuuji already have such a close relationship with a girl? And a seemingly cute one at that, judging by the slight visage of the lower half of her face.

Unlike him, whose age equaled how long he had gone without being in a relationship or even being close to a girl who wasn’t family…

However, there was one thing Kirito had to admit. Yuuji carried a natural charisma that exuded out of him naturally.

His poised demeanor, character, bearing, and voice that carried with them a commanding yet soothing and friendly tone made him a natural charismatic, reliable leader.

In addition to his strength, he would’ve been an extremely famous player if he wasn’t trying to obscure himself, both physically and socially.

To those he chose to open up to, they naturally regarded him extremely highly. Even Kirito, himself, admired him greatly, not only for his strength, but as a powerful player and a great friend.

It was only natural for Asuna to feel safe and be close to him.

“Hah…”

Kirito shook his head, dispersing the idle thought, and began making his way to prepare.

Though in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but wish he could also have a partner to fight side by side with and spend time with.

——————————–X——————————–

Yuuji and Asuna went on to eat lunch in the town after the floor boss raid meeting before making their way to the labyrinth for a last minute grinding to level up their equipped skills before the raid tomorrow.

They blast through floor after floor of the labyrinth, and quickly arrived at the top-most floor, just before the floor boss’s room, and begin grinding the monsters with the most experience points and rewards there.

High leveled monsters fell one after another. No matter how many appeared, they would be cut down and pierced without mercy.

While normally they would have dinner in the labyrinth and grind into the night, this time, they made an early return around dinner time to make sure they had plenty of time for preparations and rest.

Yuuji and Asuna returned to town, fixed their equipment, resupplied, and had dinner together before returning to their inn for a night’s rest.

The next morning, after breakfast, Yuuji and Asuna made their way to the prearranged meeting spot for their raid party.

They, or at least Yuuji, had arranged a meeting spot with Kirito. And as they searched for him, they found him along with a familiar short figure before him.

“Hey, you! Your name’s Kirito, right? Since you and your party are in my team, remember to follow what I say! Just deal with the stray Ruin kobold Sentinels while we do the rest, you hear me? Don’t mess things up!”

Kirito glared at him, his hands curled into a tight fist.

If Kibaou had spoken more politely, or at the very least, more amicably, he would’ve accepted his direction. After all, he wanted this boss raid to be a success, just like everyone else. And if all it took was a bit of concession to achieve that, he was willing to make one.

But the way he “ordered” him didn’t sit well with Kirito.

Still, he had no other choice.

“Al-”

“Kibaou-san.”

Just as Kirito was about to acquiesce, the two turned at the low, familiar voice calling out the rude short man before Kirito.

They saw Yuuji and Asuna, their figures both concealed by hoods and a mask for Yuuji, making their way towards them.

“Huh? Who the-!”

“The three of us will handle one Ruin Kobold Sentinel ourselves before linking up with the main vanguards to deal with Illfang.”

Kirito froze. He hadn’t heard about this.

His eyes turned towards Asuna, and saw her completely calm. It seemed they’ve discussed this beforehand and just hadn’t informed him.

On the other hand, Kibaou froze up before bursting, his face red.

“Hah?! What nonsense are you saying? Who the hell do you think you-!”

Yuuji took a step. And from the angle of Kibaou’s perspective as he looked up, a pair of cold, dark eyes pierced his soul, sending chills down his spine.

The digital world certainly couldn’t replicate such phenomena, but Kibaou certainly felt it deep within his bones. A primal fear. Like a prey before its predator.

“I have informed this to Diavel-san and received his agreement. Are you going to overturn the raid leader’s decision?”

“Y-You…”

Kibaou trembled. Words were barely squeezed out of his tightened throat.

In the end, all he could do was click his tongue and run back to his group. Imaginary cold sweat dripping down his forehead and back.

As he left, Kirito let out a relieved sigh and turned towards Yuuji.

“That’s… a concerning way to start the raid.”

“Good morning to you too.”

Yuuji smirked under his mask, and Kirito finally relaxed, placing a hand on his hip.

“By the way, I didn’t hear about that arrangement? Are we really going to take on a Ruin Kobold Sentinel on our own?”

Yuuji nodded.

“Yes. I’ve made the arrangement with Diavel-san. I told him that we’re perfectly capable of handling a Ruin Kobold Sentinel ourselves, and proposed to him some strategies with that in mind. He accepted it because even if we failed, the others would be able to take care of the Ruin Kobold Sentinels faster with their numbers, and the one Ruin Kobold Sentinels could be taken care of after.”

“I see… but are you serious? It’s a raid monster. A floor boss’s minion. They’re not the same as the minions you find outside.”

Yuuji nodded.

“It’ll be fine.”

Recalling the unnatural skills Yuuji had shown him on their first meeting, Kirito could understand the source of Yuuji’s confidence.

And most of all, Kirito knew that Yuuji was far from being overconfident or reckless. Although his actions may seem so, through his conversations with him, Yuuji was extremely meticulous, prepared, and aware of the extent of his abilities.

If he said he could do it, then it would be done.

So now, although Kirito didn’t believe in his own abilities, he chose to trust in Yuuji’s.

“Alright.”

——————————–X——————————–

Several hours have passed since the raid group left the town of Tolbana and headed to the labyrinth of the first floor.

Despite having the map data and their knowledge of the path towards the first floor boss’s room, most of those several hours were spent on traversing the labyrinth to reach their destination.

Most because they’d have to deal with monsters that were on their path that they must inevitably come across.

But in the end, thanks to their preparations and information regarding the monsters they would encounter on their way, they were able to reach the first floor boss’s room relatively intact.

Still, to Asuna, it was a painfully slow and arduous journey.

Her and Yuuji’s party were assigned to be a part of the main fighting force against the floor boss. So, they weren’t tasked to be the forerunner that would deal with the monsters they come across on their way to their destination to preserve their strength.

But because of this, the time they had to spend waiting for the forerunner parties to deal with the monsters became far longer than what Asuna was used to. If she were to do it with Yuuji, they would’ve reached it in half, perhaps even a quarter, of the time.

In the end, every time they had to stop to let the vanguard parties deal with the monsters they came across, Yuuji had to stop Asuna, who was itching to join and just deal with them herself.

Upon their arrival, standing before the massive double doors to the first floor boss’s room, Diavel addressed the raid group he had organized.

“Everyone, hear me. I have but one thing to say before we make history.”

Diavel slammed his sword down to the ground, piercing it slightly with the tip.

“Let’s win this!”

His voice reverberated throughout the dim, lantern-lit stone walls of the labyrinth.

A war cry erupted, meant to simply shake off their nervousness and anxiety that would’ve eaten them if they were not expelled with a loud shout. While some stayed silent, steeling their determination in their hearts.

“Asuna. Remember what we talk about.”

Asuna nodded.

“I know. Aim for the throat.”

Yuuji nodded to her answer.

Diavel pushed open the massive double doors that stood before them.

With a single push, the stone doors creaked open heavily, revealing a dark, massive room.

Columns of pillars stood in rows, away from the stone walls that were only several meters apart.

The room itself was longer than it was wide. And at the end of the space, sitting upon a throne, was a giant, blood-red kobold. Its eyes gleaming red.

A massive war axe leaned to the side of its throne. Behind its waist, a massive sword was fixed on a leather strap. And finally, a large buckler, the size of a human adult torso, was strapped to its muscular left arm.

Diavel entered, his shield propped up before him as he brandished his sword. Behind him, the rest of his vanguard party members followed suit in a formation.

One step. Two steps. Three steps. Each of them resounding throughout the stone walls and floors.

Then, the room alight with brilliant light. A shimmering light of rainbows colored the stone walls, floor, and roof of the room.

The giant, red kobold lord leapt from its throne, clearing half of the distance of the massive room with one leap, and landed with a heavy impact before the challengers.

On its massive figure, a red diamond appeared above the name of the first floor boss of Aincrad.

Illfang the Kobold Lord.

A deafening roar resounded, creating shockwaves, as Illfang brandished its war axe and buckler.

Three smaller red kobolds, the size of an adult man, appeared in a burst of light, adorned in knightly white armor and wielding a mace.

*ROOOOAR!*

Illfang roared, and charged at the challengers along with its kobold sentinels.

“Commence the attack!”

The raid group charged with a warcry of themselves.

Kibaou ran off, charging ahead of his party with a resounding roar. But suddenly, a blur went past him.

“Wha-?!”

A hooded figure suddenly appeared before the leftmost kobold sentinel, ducking slight below it.

And before it could even bring down the mace it had lifted high into the air, the Anneal Blade shone with brilliant golden light and slashed down across the sentinel’s torso.

*BOOOM!*

His “Sonic Leap” sword skill exploded with a power greater than any other players have ever seen, and pushed back the kobold sentinel against the stone pillars, cracking it.

“Asuna!”

“Yes!”

Another blur, this time dark red, dashed past the others before brandishing her rapier activating a sword skill.

Linear.

Her rapier glowed with crimson red, before unleashing a devastating single thrust at its throat, pinning the sentinel momentarily to the stone column.

And before it could recover, Asuna had retreated back to a safe distance, before Yuuji appeared in front of her protectively, his sword held to his side.

Diavel and the rest of the raid party were stunned momentarily, their gazes all focused at the nearly dead kobold sentinel and the two who had managed to put a raid monster from full health to death’s door with two sword skills.

The other sentinels and Illfang were similarly distracted momentarily, aggroed by Yuuji and Asuna’s sudden offense at one of the kobold sentinels.

“Don’t get distracted! Take advantage of this opening! Charge!”

Diavel snapped out of his daze and shouted orders, snapping the rest out of their shock.

Kibaou was first to act, and immediately engaged the middle kobold sentinel who was still distracted.

Then, the rest of the vanguards resumed their charge.

Two parties each dealt with a Ruin Kobold Sentinel, while another two engaged Illfang, switching with each other as Diavel ordered.

Soon, the room erupted in the sound of battle, clanging steel, roaring monsters, and warcrying warriors.

——————————–X——————————–

Yuuji, Asuna, and Kirito continued their engagement with the Ruin Kobold Sentinels the two had sent to near its death’s door.

As the battle and chaos raged on the other side of the massive chamber, the three dealt with their quarry with undeniable systemic efficiency and swiftness.

Yuuji maintained the sentinel’s attention and aggro, parrying the monster’s attacks or outright evading them with the least movement before making his counter-attack.

And thanks to his flawless “tanking”, Asuna and Kirito were able to freely deal damage to it from its flanks.

Though for some reason… Yuuji noticed his two “DPS” friends arguing.

“What are you doing?! Don’t get in my way!”

“Y-You were the one charging in head first while I was attacking!”

“Huh?! Yuuji left that opening for me!”

“No, I was in the right position to take that!”

Yuuji shifted to his side slightly, evading a sword skill from the Sentinel, and sighed at their argument.

“Alright… Let’s get along for a bit and quickly kill this thing…”

““He/She started it!””

“Hah…”

The three seemed to be of the same age, but somehow, Yuuji couldn’t help but notice the difference in maturity between them. Was it perhaps because he had gone on a lot of missions in stopped time that skewed his maturity compared to his true age?

“Haaah!”

Asuna thrusted her glowing rapier towards its neck, one of the few unarmored parts of the kobold sentinel, as it was staggered from having its sword skill parried by Yuuji.

Her rapier struck true, and the final sliver of the Ruin Kobold Sentinel’s HP disappeared, and its form burst into particles of digital light.

“Good job. Now, let’s deal with the big boss.”

““Yes!””

VerglasX

AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!

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Thank you~!