Chapter 6: The Twin Terrors, Poison Dragon and White Dragon!
At the entrance to the First Floor Labyrinth, hundreds of players had gathered, forming clusters and nervously checking their equipment. The Labyrinth Boss was more than just a hurdle; once cleared, it wouldn't respawn for an entire week, giving non-combat players a safe window to migrate to the Second Floor.
Suddenly, a wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Look! It's Blank!"
"No way! The Blank? The legendary duo ranked in the world's top three?"
A newbie player looked at a veteran nearby, confused. "Top three? Who's the third?"
"The third goes by the handle 'Sei.' He's been in a constant tug-of-war for the top spot with Blank for years," the veteran explained, his eyes filled with awe. "It's an unwritten rule in the gaming world: if those three ever team up, there isn't a game in existence they can't conquer."
The focus shifted instantly. Players forgot about the Boss and began staring at the two figures approaching. One was tall, the other small. Both wore masks to hide their faces, adding to their mysterious aura.
Behind their masks, Sora and Shiro—the siblings known as Blank—were vibrating with social anxiety.
"Nii... too many people. There are way too many people!" Shiro whispered, clutching Sora's sleeve with trembling fingers.
"It's okay, Shiro... we're wearing masks. It's just a game," Sora replied, though his own voice was shaky.
The crowd knew it was them for one simple reason: above their heads, their levels were displayed in a hovering blue font. Level 10. At this stage of the game, only the "Monsters" of the gaming world could have hit the cap so quickly.
I wonder where Seito is, Sora thought.
Seito was their childhood friend—the only person besides each other that Shiro felt comfortable around. If anyone could help them navigate this sea of people, it was him.
"Has Seito-nii not arrived yet?" Shiro asked, her voice small and hopeful.
Just then, a shout cut through the chatter.
"Holy—! Someone just entered the Boss Chamber!"
"What?! Who's crazy enough to go in without a raid party?"
The crowd surged toward the massive virtual screen hovering above the Labyrinth gate. In God's Domain, once a party entered the Boss room, the area was locked. The names of the challengers flashed in bright gold:
[Sei – Level 10]
[Maple – Level 10]
The plaza exploded.
"Two people? Are they insane?!"
"Wait, that's Sei! One of the Top Three!"
"Even if he's a legend, who the hell is 'Maple'? Two players against a Floor Boss?
They have no idea what's coming."
The anime protagonists in the crowd—Kirito, Asuna, and the others—watched the screen with narrowed eyes. Sora and Shiro exchanged a worried glance. They knew Seito was a genius, but they also knew he wasn't reckless. What is he planning?
Two Minutes Earlier – The Boss Chamber
Seito and Maple stepped into the gargantuan arena. It was a cavernous nest, large enough to hold ten thousand players. In the center, the air shimmered with a deadly aura.
There, they saw them.
Sleeping atop a mountain of old bones was a massive, three-headed Western Dragon dripping with purple ichor—the Poison Hydra. But beside it, coiling around a crystalline pillar, was a long, elegant Eastern Dragon with scales as white as fresh snow—the Frost White Dragon.
"Two bosses?!" Seito's eyes widened.
He had planned to let Maple tank the poison while he focused on damage, but a dual-boss fight changed everything. However, looking at the sleeping behemoths, a daring plan formed in his mind.
"Maple! You take the Poison Dragon. I'll handle the White Dragon. Remember to keep your HP topped off!"
"Eh?! Wait, Seito-kun—!"
Zip!
Before she could finish, Seito used Dimensional Blink, vanishing in a blur of blue light. Maple was left standing alone, staring up at the three-headed nightmare that was just beginning to stir. She gulped, her shield trembling.
On the other side of the chamber, Seito reappeared—not in front of the White Dragon, but directly inside its mouth.
In the lore of this world, Eastern Dragons represented a much higher tier of power than their Western "Lizard" cousins. Seito remembered the "Maple Method" from the anime: by eating the boss, she gained its powers and a unique "Devourer" title.
He also knew that solo-killing a Floor Boss granted a "Unique Series" equipment set. If they each took down one boss solo, they wouldn't just get gear—they'd get God-Tier Sets.
Seito looked at the glowing, crystalline flesh of the White Dragon's throat. He grinned, his blue eyes flashing with a predatory light.
"Time to dig in, Bon appétit!"
Thank you for reading.