-423- [ Skull Reaper ]

In Aincrad, each boss room was unique.

For example, the 1st-floor boss room resembled an audience hall, while the 74th-floor boss room resembled an altar-like battlefield.

However, the 75th-floor boss room was different. It was a vast, dome-shaped space, occupying an area nearly as large as the arena in Collinia.

The room had a curved and enclosed design that gave it a sense of closure, raising the temperature within.

At this moment, a total of 737 of the best SAO players entered and spread out in groups, raising their weapons.

"Boom!"

The door behind them closed with a resounding boom, signaling that this battle was a fight to the finish with no way to retreat.

"Thud, thud..."

The palpable sound of heartbeats seemed to emanate from nowhere and echoed clearly.

Silent air hung heavy, feeling suffocating.

"Gulp..."

Someone audibly swallowed, and the sound reverberated in the space.

Groups of players formed formations, tightly gripping their weapons, nervously scanning around, searching for the massive boss-level monster that should have been present.

However, after waiting for a full minute...

"Where is it?"

With a pair of black and white single-handed swords, Kirito, who had completely mastered his "Searching" skill, voiced his surprise and caution.

"Where's the boss?"

"Why isn't it here?"

Klein and Agil were equally astonished, and the players on the scene exchanged confused glances.

The delay in the appearance of the floor boss began to create a noisy atmosphere among the players on the scene.

"..."

Even Asuna, with a tense expression, scanned her surroundings like a sharp sword.

Rozen was also continuously surveying every corner of the area.

However, despite his "Mind's Eye" skill, he couldn't sense the presence of the boss.

After all, the "Mind's Eye" skill focused on the microcosmic world and didn't grant awareness of the immediate surroundings. Its true power lay in understanding phenomena rather than observing reality, so even Rozen couldn't detect anything unusual.

(If only I had "Heaven's Eye" right now...)

Even if the enemy could turn invisible, Rozen could have found it with his skill. But wishing for something he didn't have was futile, so Rozen focused all his attention on the space before him.

Just then...

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Both Saichou and Hanachou, who had been alert by Rozen's side, simultaneously let out sharp cries.

Rozen instantly understood the meaning in their cries. Their exceptional perception was telling Rozen something.

"Above!"

Rozen shouted loudly to all the players around him.

"——!"

All the players on the scene were startled and simultaneously raised their heads to look upwards. In the next moment, what filled their vision left everyone wide-eyed.

"Click, click, click, click..."

It was the sound of bones moving.

What entered the sight of all players was such a creature.

It was approximately ten meters long, made up of numerous segments of bone. Each segment had sharp bone legs protruding from its sides, and it possessed a menacing skull-like head.

The creature's mandible extended forward, showcasing rows of sharp teeth. On both sides of its skull were enormous bone blades, resembling scythes.

At the sight of this creature, everyone could only think of one thing: A centipede.

It had a skull-like head resembling a human, four eye sockets high above that glowed with a red, eerie light, and its entire body was composed of bone.

Upon seeing this monster, the official name and the color of the cursor became visible to everyone.

The official name was — "Skull Reaper."

The cursor color was a blood-red shade close to black.

Upon seeing this, Rozen understood. This was a boss-level monster second only to "The Fatal Scythe" in the Underground Labyrinth of Black Iron Palace.

The creature known as the "Skull Reaper" had red eyes, wriggling countless bone legs, and clung to the ceiling, overlooking all the players below.

"——!"

It emitted a shrill cry, resembling both a baby's wail and a ghostly howl, echoing from its soundless bone jaws.

Its terrifying appearance, eerie cries, and undeniable malevolence sent shivers down the spines of all the players, who couldn't help but tremble as they stared with widened eyes.

This was the 75th-floor boss, the most powerful monster blocking their path before reaching the 100th floor.

"Click, click, click!"

With a series of bone-joint movements, the Skull Reaper, like a pouncing spider, leaped down from the ceiling.

Rozen reacted in time.

"Spread out!"

He shouted with an imposing voice, which acted like a powerful wake-up call for all the players who were initially paralyzed by the Skull Reaper's presence.

"Spread... spread out!"

"Spread out!"

"Hurry, spread out!"

Under the desperate shouts from Kirito, Klein, Agil, and others, players disregarded their formations and scattered in all directions.

The formation was in chaos, but that was exactly what was needed at this moment.

"——!"

The Skull Reaper let out a terrifying roar. It descended from above, raising its bone scythes high.

The person directly facing this pair of bone scythes was the only player who didn't spread out—Rozen.

"Rozen!"

Asuna, who was running away, suddenly stopped and exclaimed, but Rozen didn't have time to respond to Asuna. He was tightly focused on the descending and menacing Skull Reaper.

Though sweat trickled down his forehead, a fearless smile graced Rozen's face.

"You want to kill me?"

Rozen gripped his crystal sword tightly.

"Then come and try!"

As the battle cry resounded, the effect of Rozen's sword skill illuminated his crystal sword. He performed the basic upward thrusting skill for one-handed swords—"Sonic Leap."

"Haaa!"

With a resounding shout, Rozen forcefully kicked the ground. With the assistance of the system's propulsion force granted by the sword skill, he shot upward.

"————!"

The Skull Reaper roared once more. The two sides closed in on each other at an astonishing speed. Finally, the crystal sword gleaming with green light and the bone scythe glinting with an icy sheen clashed as if tearing through space, resulting in a resounding collision.

"Clang————!"

The deafening impact echoed through the room, creating a wave of noise, and causing the effects from both weapons to burst like flashes, igniting sparks.

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou immediately flew upwards, turning into two streaks of light.