It has been over ten days since the First Floor boss, the Kobold Lord, was defeated, and the Death Game has finally entered its second month. Likewise, the battle to defeat the Second Floor boss will begin today.
The number of people gathered before the boss gate is double that of the previous field boss. Everyone is making their final preparations during this brief moment before the battle, checking their weapons, equipment, and potion supplies. Team captains occasionally exchange a few whispered words of strategy. In short, the atmosphere is already thick with anticipation.
"Well, I suppose the three of you are already considered part of our squad, right? Three tanks and three reliable damage dealers, without a support class like a priest, that's a really solid setup."
With his imposing two-handed axe slung diagonally across his back, Agil walked leisurely over to Satoru and his two companions, hands casually on his hips, and issued a party invitation with practiced ease.
"I feel the same way."
Kirito extended his fist to bump Agil's, though his appearance seemed somewhat out of place for such a macho greeting.
"Still dressed all in black as always," Agil teased.
Black was simple and sharp, not a bad look, but sticking to it might make him seem a bit of a pretentious teenager. Kirito gave a sheepish chuckle.
"Asuna-san, how about taking off your hood once in a while? It's a shame to keep that charming face hidden all the time."
Agil's voice was a typical bass, and his tone of speech was quite different from that of a Japanese person. In any case, he was the kind of person who wouldn't make anyone feel uncomfortable.
If that had come from Kibaou, it would probably come across as harassment.
"But I can't go around showing off my muscles like you guys do, that's a whole different concept."
The rapier user under the hood gave a soft snort.
"It's great to see you two in such high spirits. Hmm… how should I put this? 'The Jungle Ghost' looks rather gloomy, are you feeling under the weather?"
The burly man turned to Satoru, looking slightly puzzled.
"How did you even get that nickname?" Satoru sighed softly.
"Rather than asking how it came about, it's more accurate to say that whenever we're leveling up on the front lines, there's always one person further ahead. I've also heard about your crazy habit of resting in the safe zone of the wilderness, that really takes guts. How are you doing now? Have you been pushing yourself too hard and getting worn out?"
The reason Agil asked this was because Satoru was constantly frowning, giving off an overly serious vibe. Of course, one could interpret it as pre-battle nerves, but it was clear he had something on his mind.
"Just something's been bothering me. It's nothing out of the ordinary."
Satoru shook his head, offering a somewhat dismissive reply.
The player in the pitch-black raincoat… This person, whom he'd learned about from Nezha, made him feel uneasy knowing that someone who believed "if the system allows it, it's permissible" was active in this game.
"Well, as long as it doesn't affect your performance," Agil nodded, patting him on the shoulder encouragingly.
With that, as if offering a pre-battle pep talk, the towering, burly man held out his hand. Sensing his intent, the three of them reached out as well. The four of them formed a circle, shouted "One, two, three, go!" with some fervor, and a moment later, the other two members of their party raised their thumbs in their direction.
The chatter of the crowd gradually died down. Presumably, everyone was ready.
On the massive double stone doors leading to the boss's lair, a dark, intricate relief of a bull's head was carved. Of course, this was not the diligent water buffalo plowing the fields or the black-and-white dairy cow producing fragrant milk, but rather a monster with devilish, spiked horns, a gaping, ferocious jaw, and bared fangs.
Its eyes, fashioned purely from black material, served no practical purpose, yet gazing upon them stirred a vague sense of unease.
The crisp sound of iron boots striking the ground echoed as a figure clad in pale blue-white armor, wielding a longsword, stepped forward to the entrance, facing the assembled troops.
No further summons were needed. The last whispers had completely faded, leaving only silence as they awaited the knight's address.
"We've reached this point just fourteen days after the Second Floor opened, thanks to everyone's effort and perseverance. Likewise, I am deeply honored to be recognized as your commander by so many top players."
He surveyed the crowd, his voice clear and resonant.
"Soon, we will begin the campaign against the Second Floor's boss. This is no small pressure. The thrill of the Kobold Lord battle on the first floor still sends shivers down my spine."
"But we are no longer the inexperienced swordsmen we were fourteen days ago. Those standing here have honed their blades and skills with blood, sweat, and tears. Having discussed the detailed plan and prepared thoroughly, we have absolutely no reason to fail."
He raised his hand level with his chest, clenched it into a fist in the air, and his voice suddenly grew forceful.
"The road ahead is long, and there are many hardships to overcome, but we must not let that make us timid. Behind us still lie those precious hopes, hopes that bind each of us together. Hand in hand, sooner or later, we will stand on the 100th floor. Sooner or later, even the mightiest mountains will be brought down!"
"And now, at this very moment, I have only one request. Let your blood boil! Sever the head of Baran the General Taurus! Carry this news back once more! Add fuel to the fire of courage for the remaining players still in pursuit!"
"Baran the General Taurus" was the full name of the boss within. Whether it was simply the way Diavel pronounced it or if he had deliberately practiced it, his enunciation and emphasis evoked the solemn resonance of a classical epic.
"And please remember this upcoming victory, for it will also be the first kill by the very first Guilds in Aincrad. The glory won jointly by 'Divine Dragons Alliance,' led by me, and Orlando-san's 'Legend Braves.' All of us, our very lives hang on the blades we share!"
The name "Divine Dragons Alliance" carried great gravitas, and every player wearing blue-and-white regalia couldn't help but raise their hands in a rousing cheer.
Although the "Legend Braves" Guild was no less impressive in name, the actual number of participants in this battle was negligible, making it somewhat odd to lump them together.
Satoru couldn't help but glance at the few members of the Heroes' Guild standing on the right side of the formation. Their heavily upgraded armor made them stand out from the other players.
Diavel immediately began issuing his orders with great enthusiasm.
"I'll take charge of Teams A, B, and C. Teams D, E, and F will be led by Lind and Kibaou. Team G will be handled by Orlando's Legend Braves, and Team H will be led by Agil."
He whipped up the excitement and delivered his final summary, riding the wave of their fiery enthusiasm.
"Teams A through F will attack the boss, while Teams G and H will draw aggro from nearby mobs to provide cover…"
"Can we hold on a moment?"
The sudden interruption disrupted Diavel's smooth flow of speech, much like pouring water on a blazing furnace. Upon recognizing the speaker, he showed no surprise and merely smiled faintly.
"Is there a problem, Orlando-san?"
Everyone's gaze inevitably turned to the captain of the five-man squad. With a helmet covering his thick, heavy armor, they could only sense his gaze flickering through the slits.
"We came here to fight the boss. Switching roles is fine, but if we're just going to be cleaning up the minions the whole time, it goes against our original purpose. Can we join the assault on the boss too?"
The deep voice echoing from beneath the helmet reverberated through the dim Labyrinth Tower. His words stirred discontent among the players who were already primed for action. Many frowned and muttered reprimands at the man who seemed to ignore the rules. In any case, his words abruptly halted the rising tension and caused the atmosphere to cool.
"Just as I thought, they're here to share in the massive amount of EXP from the boss on the floor and narrow the level gap all at once," Kirito muttered to himself.
"To go against the commander's orders like that in the middle of this tense atmosphere… Besides, the strategy meeting should have settled everything beforehand. There shouldn't be any objections at this point."
Satoru paused, then seemed to realize something.
"That guy, Diavel… that's what he meant when he dragged the Heroes' Guild into the conversation earlier."
Mentioning a small-scale Guild alongside a large force of thirty or forty people was already giving plenty of face to a group whose level was only second-tier. Moreover, thanks to his excellent eloquence and combat experience, everyone's morale was high. No matter how you looked at it, anyone with even a modicum of social intelligence wouldn't have pushed this issue so hard.
Everyone in this area was a top-tier player. Considering future interactions, the first impression during the boss battle was also crucial.
It was a subtle hint to someone not to stir up trouble.
But why would that guy do something like this?
Satoru gazed at Diavel.
If they were still at odds at this point, given his diplomatic skills, it shouldn't have happened. Or perhaps he had been deliberately avoiding those few people during the strategy meeting, which is why they were only raising objections now.
Has he also noticed that those people's equipment progression is off… or is it out of a competitive spirit as a new Guild leader, and he's already started cracking down on them?
"He really can't read the room," even Asuna muttered.
"It's probably because he has some confidence," Kirito said.
"Isn't it just that his equipment is a bit better?"
"Ah… that may be so, but in the battle against the Second Floor boss, armor upgrading is a crucial factor."
The conversation at the front continued.
"According to information, the boss only has one guard, and it won't respawn. In that case, Team H alone should be sufficient. We don't need two teams. With the damage output of an extra team, we could take down the boss even faster, couldn't we?"
Orlando spoke in a low voice, taking a step forward. Combined with his dazzling heavy armor, upgraded to its maximum limit, his words carried significant weight.
"But the guard isn't just a grunt. It has the capabilities of a mid-level boss. Of course, we can aim for speed, but safety must come first. Relying solely on Team H would place too heavy a burden on them."
Diavel's smile didn't waver as he spoke calmly.
"Besides, the players assigned to besiege the final boss in our plan are all veterans who've faced the Kobold Lord. With their skills and experience, clearing this floor shouldn't be a problem."
The implication was clear. Whether you joined the assault or not made no difference. In fact, insisting on participating would only increase the risk for Team H's members.
Given the absolute zero-casualty policy, Diavel's argument was undeniably sound.
Orlando didn't respond immediately. He couldn't find a suitable rebuttal, but his expression clearly showed his reluctance.
"Oi, oi—slow down, will ya? You're all so damn eager to rush the front lines. Yeah, your gear's decent, but your skills? Questionable. And your teamwork's a mess. This is life or death, so stop acting like idiots fighting over scraps."
The voice with the Kansai accent was, of course, Kibaou's. His blunt, almost abrasive tone was exactly what was needed to drive the point home.
"But…" Orlando hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
As if a switch had been flipped, the players from the Divine Dragons Alliance immediately began to complain.
"You talk a big game, but you'll probably freeze up when you see a boss that's several meters tall, won't you?"
"The pressure from the floor boss isn't something those little monsters in the Labyrinth Tower can compare to!"
The voices grew louder and louder until finally, Diavel signaled for them to stop.
"Orlando-san, what's your answer?"
Facing the knight with his flawless smile, the heavily armored hero wanted to say something, but was patted on the back by a companion behind him. A few seconds later, he had no choice but to step back.
"Let's do it this way."
His voice still carried a hint of reluctance.
"Thank you for your understanding."
Diavel nodded graciously and turned back to the assault team.
"So… based on what I just said, everyone! Let's go take down the Second Floor!!"
"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh,!!!"
Amid the roaring crowd, Satoru saw Diavel nod at him, whether intentionally or not.
Truly a competent leader, in every sense of the word.
After making that assessment, the gate swung open.