Chapter 12

December 16, 2022.

"I was there."

"In the midst of the battle. The boss's HP was in its third phase, yet we were struggling with the boss."

News of the first floor being cleared spread far and wide, across the entire towns of the beginning.

Particularly at the grand fountain of the town of the beginning, a wide-open space.

Somebody stood near the fountain, with many players gathering around him.

"There, as we were all getting fatigued from the rotations we had to endure."

"His young voice called out."

"With unreal speed that commanded winds, he dashed towards the boss, and would you believe it? He stunned the boss!"

The person who told the story told it with vigor. His respect for Sharia was evident.

He didn't add any extra, nor did he remove anything from what he was telling them. He was doing this of his own accord.

This was his own way of telling the people that they had lost hope and that there is one strong swordsman who is capable of freeing them.

As long as they all worked hard, they eventually became strong.

Beta-testers were not even trending anymore, according to the news. It was now this swordsman called Sharia.

"Before we knew it, the boss entered his second phase. However, thanks to his warnings, we were able to avoid death."

"While we were stunned, the boy still continued fighting."

"He then took out another sword from his inventory and started winning against the boss, singlehandedly!"

The storyteller exclaimed, but the people there simply laughed against such notions.

Not everybody believed such a story.

Some claimed that he only did that because the boss's HP was at its third phase, while others thought he had help from other players.

But even though there was this division amongst players, it was an undoubted fact that the first floor had been cleared.

..... Which was evident, as on that same day, many people had already gone to the second floor. "I'm on the second floor—!!"

"So, this is how the second floor looks like?"

Unlike the first floor,. The third floor is divided into a wide-open northern half and a narrow southern half.

The floor consisted mainly of table-topped mountains looming over plains, dotted with small caves through which underground rivers run.

Urbus. The settlement where players had begun to spawn in is the main settlement of the second floor, about 300 meters in diameter.

The entire city is excavated on a flat-topped mountain and rests in a crater.

Players were coming out of the arc gate made of neatly stacked stones with a blue-like vortex, covering the arc made by the gate, and had begun populating the second floor in large numbers.

Especially those players who had been meticulously levelling up.

They saw the second floor as an even greater opportunity to level up further.

Two days later. Morning.

On the second floor of an inn.

Urbus settlement.

"Do you have the package?"

"Hehe, trust me, I've got it right here."

"Hm... I see. I've confirmed this is the stuff. How much should I pay?"

"Haha, I never thought you saw me as that type of person, Shar-kun."

Yes, inside the inn, seated across a table, were Sharia and Argo.

She had followed other players shortly after he opened the teleportation gate leading directly to the second floor.

As per their agreement beforehand, she was now handing a map over to Sharia.

"In exchange for this map, I've decided to be a little stingy." She grinned as she locked eyes with him.

"Gah! As expected of an information broker." Sharia shook his head before conceding. "Fine, what do you want?"

The girl grinned, knowing she had him right where she wanted.

"Nothing much, just ten percent of the materials you get from rare enemies, and information about them as usual."

While she indeed wanted to support him wholeheartedly, she had her own needs, too, you know.

If anything, Sharia was the one benefiting from this arrangement, as he would still earn more informations and cols from the information he shares with her.

Given how many things had already started to change, Argo could imagine a lot more shifts on the horizon.

"Ah, on that note, Diabel has started forming a party."

Argo, holding her chin, spoke those words while looking at him suggestively. "Hm? A party? Could it be—"

"Yes. You got it right."

Before he could finish, Argo interrupted him again, but he understood; he simply shrugged his shoulders.

No, it was just as he expected.

With a capable leader like Diabel, who had survived the first-floor boss raid with no casualties...

... It was only natural he would attract attention, and people would be eager to join his cause. "Wow. How cold of you, Shar-kun."

"At the very least, he should work hard for another year or so."

Sharia's words were nonchalant, causing Argo to raise an eyebrow.

But before she could respond, Sharia quickly shifted the topic.

"No... no, that aside, what about that other matter I asked you about?"

Argo took a quick pause, with a silent hum.

"Shar-kun. As for that... I don't know why you need such information, but I'm still conducting my investigation."

Hearing Argo's response, Sharia fell silent once more. He then ruffled his hair. "Seems like I'll have to wait a little longer, then."

Argo quietly observed him, but said nothing. After a moment of silence, he stood up.

"Anyway, Argo, thanks for the help as usual."

"No problem, Shar-kun, do your best out there."

The boy nodded at her comment with a smile, pulling up his hood as he exited the inn.

Sharia was now heading west, towards a savanna and field region known for its dangerous buffalo-type monsters.

Despite being aware of the dangers—Argo had warned him so, after all—did that stop him?

Short answer: No.

In fact, Sharia considered this so-called "dangerous place" a minefield of EXP's.

His sword mastery was nearly reaching Lv 5, and he couldn't stay still or take things leisurely.

Sure, he planned to take some time off once he hit Lv 5 in sword mastery, but that's until then.

Sshhhh! RUSTLE!

"Hm...? Who's there?"

In the open field, surrounded by bushes and low towering trees.

With Sharia taking a quick rest near one of the said trees. Sharia suddenly heard the rustling of leaves.

His hand instinctively reached for the «Centennial Longsword» at his waist.

"Hng..."

"Huh...? It's you!"

The person who emerged from the bushes looked at Sharia with wide eyes. It wasn't just this person who was surprised—Sharia was too.

"Oh? It's you as well?"

Black hair, dressed in black—sound familiar? Yes, it's our resident overpowered protagonist, Kirito.

"I... I didn't know this was your hunting spot... sorry for intruding."

Kirito was, and had always been, a slightly awkward person—at least before he became who he was.

—At the very least, in the progression series, he was like so.

Naturally, Kirito assumed he was intruding on Sharia's hunting spot.

Not wanting to cause any trouble with someone like Sharia, Kirito decided to give up on the area and began to leave.

However, just as he took a step forward, Sharia called out, "Hey... Hold up a minute, I didn't say that, did I?"

Kirito paused, turning his head back to look at Sharia. "W-what?"

Sharia hesitated for a moment before clarifying, "What I mean is, I just found this place too, thanks to some help. I'm not planning on monopolizing it."

Sharia didn't mind sharing; he was easy-going about it.

After all, the monsters in Aincrad respawn anyway, and besides, he was curious about Kirito.

"Then... thank you."

Kirito gave a short nod, maintaining a neutral expression, though he was quietly pleased. He could finally witness Sharia's strength firsthand.

Tap! Tap!

Silently. They both approached the open filled with ox-type monsters.

[Mid-Level Area]

[Trembling Ox Field]

[Wind Wasps Field]

[Recommended Lv: 10 ~ 19]

Sharia briefly glanced at Kirito with a measured gaze, causing Kirito to feel a momentary unease.

It took a few seconds for Kirito's eyes to widen slightly, and just as he realized what was happening...

RUSTLE!

...Sharia had already dashed out of the bushes, heading straight for the nearest ox monster.

[Sword Skill: "Direct Thrust" has been activated.]

With a single thrust of his «Centennial Longsword», the HP bar of the monster that was caught unaware depleted quickly as it froze before bursting into fragments.

But Sharia didn't stop there. He immediately began pursuing the remaining ox-type monsters.

'Oh crap!'

Kirito thought in horror, after realizing he was a few seconds behind Sharia who looked like he would clear the field anytime soon.

Without hesitation, he leapt into the fray.

While most players wouldn't dare farm in such a mid-level area as solo players, two maniacs were now chasing down these supposed "mid-level monsters."

For Kirito, it was different—he felt compelled to keep up, especially with Sharia constantly taunting him.

—He was a Beta-Tester for crying out loud!

Anyways........ They continued their relentless hunt until the entire field was cleared.

[Spawn Timer:]

[00 days: 00 hours: 29 minutes: 59 seconds.]

"Hahaha. That was fun, wasn't it?"

Sharia chuckled as he sheathed his sword, flashing a smile at Kirito. The Black Swordsman, however, merely looked away.

"You're insane," Kirito muttered.

But he couldn't anything more than those words. 'His movements, the way he wields that sword—it's almost terrifying.'

To Kirito, Sharia resembled one of those legendary experienced historical swordsmen, or someone really experienced.

He couldn't put his hands on it, but that was the closest analogy for Kirito. 'Is this what they call talent?' he wondered.

"By the way," Sharia continued, "according to my info, there should be a Field Boss Monster just beyond that wooden bridge. Wanna come with me?"

Sharia's grin grew even wilder, prompting Kirito to take a quick step back. "Uhm... This... actually..."

'Is he okay? No. I doubt it,' Kirito thought, eyeing Sharia's smiling yet serious expression.

'Ngh—'

"Fine," Kirito finally exhaled, giving in while Sharia nodded with a satisfied smile. "Then, let's go!"

The [Trembling Ox Field] was divided into several flat-top mountain ranges, each connected by a wooden bridge.

At the far end of the flat-top mountain range, surrounded by low towering trees, stood a large Buffalo-type monster—a field boss.

[Bulbous Bow]

[Lv: 20]

As the name suggested, it was a massive bull with a bulging, rounded forehead, which it used for powerful and deadly charging attacks.

Gulp. Honestly, Kirito didn't want to join Sharia on this raid.

Normally, this was something that should require an entire party—no, in fact, the maximum number of players recommended would be fifteen.

Yet—

This maniac was planning on doing the raid with just the two of them.

'Is it too late to back out?' Kirito wondered.

"Hoho? Don't tell me you're starting to have second thoughts?" As if reading his mind, Sharia glanced back with a playful grin. "Kirito-san~"

His tone was sing-song, teasing, as if he knew exactly what Kirito was thinking.

"Don't worry, I won't run away... yet," Kirito muttered the last part to himself, but of course, he wouldn't really run.

"Well, it doesn't matter."

Sharia waved dismissively as he approached the twelve-foot field boss monster's reaction zone, while boldly proclaiming:

"Party? No! I am enough."

It was a declaration that made Kirito's eyes widen in pure shock and surprise.

—Actually. There is as to another reason why the Field Boss Monster is a must clear.

And that was mostly Sharia's reason for wanting to clear this and be done with this floor.