Rushing into the boss room, the group was met with a grim sight: the Aincrad Liberation Force on the brink of annihilation. The enemy's HP was down to one and a half bars, showing they'd put up a decent fight, but their numbers were far too few. Nearly every member's HP gauge was deep in the red zone.
"Damn it, why aren't they using teleport crystals? Don't tell me they didn't bring any!" Kirito cursed.
"Maybe the boss's attacks are too relentless for them to use them," Hachiman said. "The three of us will hold off its attacks for now. Prep for poison and paralysis too. Klein, take Fuurinkazan and get the army out of here."
As Hachiman issued orders, a blow from the boss sent Colonel Corvatz hurtling toward them.
"Hey, you okay?!" Klein shouted.
"Im… possible…"
With that, Corvatz shattered into fragments before their eyes.
"The only idiot here is you!" Klein yelled, charging toward the army to start the rescue.
The trio launched their attack on the boss.
"Ugh, this thing's hits are heavy," Hachiman grunted.
The boss's attacks were fiercer than expected, making parrying a challenge. Still, Hachiman managed to slow its onslaught, keeping the fight relatively safe despite the lack of a dedicated tank. Then Klein's voice rang out from the rescue effort.
"Hachiman, bad news! This is a crystal-disabled area!"
"What…?"
No boss room had ever blocked crystal use before. Hachiman cursed himself for not considering the possibility.
"No choice then," he said. "Klein, help us out here! The rest of you, get the army to the entrance!"
"On it!" Klein replied.
(Easier said than done. Without healing crystals, we won't last long. Our HP's already down to seventy percent. Should we ditch them and run?)
Hachiman glanced at Kirito and Asuna. As if reading his mind, Kirito said, "Your call, Hachiman."
Asuna's face showed concern, clearly wanting to save them.
(Asuna wants to help. Guess we're doing this.)
"Klein! Asuna! Buy me ten seconds! Don't overdo it!"
"Got it!" Klein shouted.
"Okay!" Asuna replied.
Hachiman switched out, joining Kirito at the rear.
"Kirito, looks like we've gotta use it."
"Yeah, I was just thinking the same."
"How many HP bars can you take out with one big move?"
"Based on the damage so far, probably one and a half."
"Alright. Signal when you're ready. Sorry, this'll put you in danger."
"Don't sweat it. Just go."
Hachiman switched back, facing the boss alone. Its HP was down to two bars and a sliver.
"Looking good, Hachiman!" Kirito called.
Hachiman steeled himself for the final push.
"Asuna! Klein! When I knock it back, hit it with your strongest attacks! Disengage the second it recovers! Here we go!"
With all his strength, Hachiman parried the boss's weapon, then landed [Flash Strike] on its unarmed shoulder, following through with the eight-hit combo [Accel Raid] straight to its face. The boss reeled back, and Asuna and Klein unleashed their most powerful strikes. The combined assault shaved its HP to one and a half bars.
"Now, Kirito!"
Hachiman, straining from the effort, forced his battered body to move, parrying the boss's weapon once more before disengaging. Asuna and Klein pulled back as well. Kirito charged in at breakneck speed, Elucidator in his right hand, Dark Repulser in his left.
"Starburst Stream!"
Kirito unleashed the Dual Blades skill he'd recently mastered. Asuna and Klein stared, stunned, unable to process the spectacle. Hachiman, drained from [Flash Strike] and [Accel Raid], could barely move. The three watched, almost praying, as the boss and Kirito's HP bars plummeted. Hachiman's gut told him they'd win, so he held off ordering a follow-up. His final parry had done its job—the boss shattered, and Kirito's HP stopped just shy of the red zone.
"Got it…" Hachiman muttered, collapsing from exhaustion.
Kirito crumpled to the ground at the same moment.
"Hachiman-kun! Kirito-kun!" Asuna cried.
"Hey, you two! Hang in there!" Klein shouted.
A voice calling his name roused Hachiman. His head rested on something soft. Opening his eyes, he found Asuna's face inches from his.
"Whoa!"
"Klein-san, Hachiman-kun's awake!"
Hachiman realized he was on Asuna's lap. He tried to sit up but couldn't move yet.
"Hey, Kirito! You're up!" Klein's voice echoed.
Hachiman glanced over. "What, I passed out?"
Kirito stirred, then yelped, "What the hell?!"
He was on Klein's lap.
"You awake, Kirito?" Hachiman asked.
"You okay over there?" Kirito replied.
"Yeah, but I can't move yet."
"I can." Kirito sat up, turning to Klein. "Why are you giving me a lap pillow?"
Klein grinned. "Well, Hachiman got one from Asuna. Felt bad leaving you on the floor."
"I'd rather have stayed there…" Kirito sighed, walking over to Hachiman.
"You pushed yourself hard, Hachiman," he said.
"Didn't push anything. Just didn't think it through," Hachiman replied.
"Got you a lap pillow from Asuna, so no complaints, right?" Kirito teased.
"Ugh… Asuna, I'm fine now, so…"
"You can move already?" she asked.
"Not quite, but—"
"Then you're staying put."
Asuna had no intention of letting him up. Hachiman gave in, saying nothing more.
"By the way, Kirito, what was that back there? That was insane!" Klein said.
"Uh… Dual Blades. Probably a Unique Skill," Kirito admitted.
"No way! No info on the unlock conditions?" Klein asked.
"Nope."
A murmur rippled through the onlookers—likely Fuurinkazan and surviving army members.
"Keeping that to yourself? That's cold, man," Klein said.
"I didn't even know," Asuna added. "Hachiman-kun knew, though."
"There's an unspoken rule between me and Kirito to keep our skills secret," Hachiman explained. "Sorry for not telling you guys."
"No, it's fine. I don't know your skill setup either," Asuna said.
"We figured if word got out about skills like this, it could be dangerous," Kirito added. "Sorry for keeping you in the dark."
Asuna and Klein nodded, satisfied.
"Anyway," Klein said, glancing at the army members, "about what happened…"
Hachiman took over, addressing the group. "You guys able to get back to town on your own?"
"Yes, we can use teleport crystals outside. We'll be fine," one player replied.
"Good. When you get back, tell your leaders this is strike two. There won't be a third. If you want to join the raids properly, follow protocol and do it right."
"Yes, we'll pass it on. Thank you so much for saving us."
"Thank Kirito, not me."
The army members bowed to Kirito and left, using their crystals to teleport away.
"Guess I can move now," Hachiman said. "Asuna, thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Let's head back."
"We'll handle the gate activation," Klein offered.
"Thanks, I owe you," Hachiman said.
"No problem. Catch ya later!"
Klein and his crew headed up the stairs.
"Hey, guys," Asuna said suddenly. "I've been thinking—I'm gonna take a break from the guild for a while."
"What's up?" Kirito asked.
Asuna hesitated. "You saw how Kuradeel acted today, right? And watching the army just now… I feel like the Knights of the Blood have changed since the early days."
"Hmm," Hachiman murmured.
"I want to step back and see the guild from the outside. Plus, I've got moving prep to do," she added with a smile.
"As long as Heathcliff approves," Hachiman said.
"Yeah, I'll talk to the guild leader," Asuna replied.
"Cool. Let's go," Kirito said.
"Yup."
And so, the seventy-fourth floor was cleared in a way no one could have predicted. For a while, the town buzzed with rumors of Kirito, the new Unique Skill hero, and the relationship between Hachiman and Asuna.
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