Baalram

More than a month had passed since the 1st floor boss was defeated. After the addition of more players to the frontline raid team and as players began to get used to the battle, conquering the floor bosses became easier so that in less than two months, eleven floors had been conquered.

Of course the reason why it was so fast was also because half of the floor bosses were killed by Noah and Asuna. Because of their behavior, the frontline players began to attack the bosses even more aggressively. They knew that only by defeating the floor boss could they get high-quality items.

So it could be said that Noah's approach of challenging the floor boss had aroused their competitive spirit. After being in this death game for a long time, the players had begun to get used to it and there was no longer a sense of pressure, some even began to enjoy the game.

.....

The thirteenth floor was a post-apocalyptic nightmare created by the terrible corruption that had consumed everything except the small settlement <<Angel's Point>>. This mysterious disease spread suddenly and quickly throughout the land, eating away at the minds and flesh of those infected. Angels in the form of large, armored flying knights are said to have fought to banish the spreading evil, seeking to undo the damage it had done while ensuring humanity had a foothold to survive.

The floor itself is desolate and empty at first glance. Plants grow everywhere, but only as sickly and rotten imitations of their original forms. To the touch, the floor is slick like mud, as if all life on the floor is trying to melt away. Only two settlements remain on the entire floor.

The NPC inhabitants of this floor are ordinary humans. Most wear simple, undyed tunics, gowns, and tabards as they go about their daily activities. The priestly type are easily recognizable as they are fully clad in bright white robes with religious hoods over their heads, covered in symbols of their reverence for purity that defies corruption.

Angel's Point is the last true settlement of the dying people. Humanity made its last stand here, and survived, but only barely. Despite its physical size, the city is sparsely populated with only 2000 NPCs roaming a place where many more should be. Many of the local buildings feature large stained glass windows depicting groups of people reaching for light as shadows try to pull them into the darkness below. In the center of Angel's Point is a large, conspicuously windowless chapel. Players do not have access to this chapel, but NPCs can be seen entering and exiting it regularly, at intervals of about six hours.

The Thirteenth Floor Labyrinth is located in a partially ruined cathedral atop a low hill and surrounded by a large cemetery. A thick fog shrouds the cemetery, obscuring the view and sapping the spirits of those who dare to enter.

"Bang"

Noah deflects the dark magic launched by the 13th floor boss with a holy shield.

The 13th floor's Baos is a demon with a ram's head and wields the dark magic, Baalram.

"Shooting Star"

Asuna moves quickly and attacks Baalram with several quick, uninterrupted thrusts from above, hitting Baalram's head with precision.

Baalram's HP continues to drop under their attacks.

Just as Asuna is about to continue her attack, a fireball launched by a warlock comes from the side.

"Holy shield"

Noah immediately created a defensive shield around Asuna.

While Noah cast defensive magic on Asuna, the Gargoyle floating in the sky swooped down and attacked Noah quickly. Without hesitation, Noah swung his spear and threw the Gargoyle to the ground, Noah's attacks continued, a storm of spears pierced the gargoyle, in an instant the Gargoyle was destroyed into pieces of data. Noah's attack this time was different from before, each of Noah's attacks carried a little divine power. In the past two months, the SAO game has become closer to reality and the boundary between fantasy and reality has become increasingly blurred. Therefore, Noah found that he could mobilize the little divine power he had. Therefore he wanted to see what effect his divine power would have.

After killing the Gargoyle that attacked him, he immediately turned back to the boss who was fighting, Baalram.

Asuna, who was not far from him, continued to launch a series of attacks with her rapier, displaying agile and precise movements. Every stab she launched tried to find a gap in Baalram's seemingly strong defense.

Seeing the death of Gargoyle, for a moment Baalram's eyes flashed with anger, although only for a moment, Noah happened to see the change in his expression.

"Mmm..there's something strange about this floor boss" Noah muttered, he was sure he wouldn't see it wrong with his concentration.

To make sure, he channeled divine power into his attack.

"Fire Rain"

A rain of fire made from the Sun's fire attacked Baalram, realizing the attack Baalram didn't hesitate to dodge because he could smell death.

...Swosh...

"Who are you?" Baalram spoke for the first time which made Noah and Asuna stunned by Baalram's intelligence and expression that was not like an NPC.

Noah was finally convinced that Baalram was not an NPC, and might have something to do with the person behind the scenes.

"Asuna. Rest yourself for a moment, let me fight him" Noah said, his voice calm even though his alertness was increasing. He could feel the magical energy gathering around Baalram, and it was a sign that the demon was about to launch an attack that was not covered by the game system.

"Fire Sphere!" Noah shouted, releasing a fireball that shot towards Baalram. The fireball left a trail of flames in the air, burning everything in its path. Baalram, sensing the threat, immediately raised his hand, creating a black shield that absorbed the energy from Noah's fireball.

"Hmm, quite strong for a human," Baalram's voice echoed, a sneer flashing through it. "But it's not enough to stop me!"

With a swift movement, Baalram launched a counterattack, summoning the dark energy that had gathered around him.

"Dark Pulse!" he shouted, and a dark wave shot towards Noah.

Noah swiftly raised both hands and summoned a shield of light. "Holy Barrier!" The glowing shield lit up in front of Noah, and as the dark wave struck, an explosion occurred, sending sparks of light and darkness all around him.

Noah gathered even more energy, this time combining fire and lightning. Although he couldn't use his authority for now, he could still manipulate the elements.

"Lightning Flame!" he shouted, creating a fireball surrounded by sparkling lightning.

Baalram tried to dodge, but this time Noah was fast. The lightning fireball shot out and hit Baalram hard, creating an explosion that shook the surrounding area. Asuna held her breath, amazed by the power of Noah's attack.

"Not bad, human," Baalram growled, though he looked a little shaken. "But I will not allow myself to be defeated by a creature like you!"

Angrily, Baalram raised both of his hands, and from the darkness around him, shadow creatures appeared ready to attack. "Shadow Minions, attack!"

The creatures shot towards Noah at incredible speed, trying to surround him. Noah knew that he could not let them get close to Asuna. Quickly, he swung his hands, summoning more energy.

"Solar Flare!" he shouted, releasing a blinding sunlight. The light destroyed all the shadow creatures that approached, erasing them into scattered data.

"Roar!!"

Seeing his summoned creature defeated so quickly by Noah, Baalram became even more furious and angry, and he immediately summoned a more powerful creature.

From the darkness, a winged figure emerged. A demon with bat-like wings flew and shone with a dark light. Baalram pointed his finger at Noah. "Kill him!"

The demon flew at high speed, swinging its gleaming sword. Noah could not ignore the creature. He raised his spear, ready to fight.

"Holy Strike!" Noah shouted, pointing the shining spear at the angel. They collided, and an explosion of energy spread out, emitting a dazzling light.

Noah felt his divine power flow, giving him more endurance and strength. With a quick and precise strike, he attacked again.

"Sunburst!" Noah unleashed a blazing sun, creating an explosion that destroyed the demon, forcing Baalram to dodge. However, Baalram did not stand still. He gathered dark energy in his fingers, creating a burning black sphere.

"Doom Sphere!" he shouted, throwing the ball of darkness towards Noah.

Noah knew that if it hit, the impact would be devastating.

"Holy Shield!" he quickly summoned another shield. The impact shattered the shield, but Noah was unfazed.

"Now, it's time to end this!" he shouted, gathering all the energy he had left. "Heaven's Wrath!"

He raised his hands high into the sky, summoning a bolt of lightning and sunlight that rained down on Baalram. The attack shot out at incredible speed, hitting Baalram with all the power Noah had.

"Human, this is not over! Wait for my revenge!" Baalram shouted before disappearing into a dark sliver of light.

Noah stood in the middle of the battlefield, his breath ragged, but a smile adorned his face as the mystery slowly unraveled.

Asuna ran towards him, her eyes full of worry. "Noah, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Noah replied as he rested on the floor.

"Do you know what happened?"

Asuna frowned at the strangeness of the previous boss.

"Asuna, it's better if you don't know about it, because it's useless for you to know and it'll just make you feel stressed. Let me handle it."

Noah said sighing, he knew with Asuna's personality, if she found out about people from another world that might invade her world, she would feel responsible for dealing with it.

"Are you looking down on me?" Asuna said angrily as she felt herself being looked down upon.

Noah sighed seeing Asuna's stubbornness "Of course I'm not looking down on you, Asuna. It's precisely because I respect you that I don't want you to be burdened with things that you shouldn't be responsible for and can't handle," Noah replied in a gentle tone, trying to calm Asuna's anger.

Asuna stared at Noah with a sharp gaze, struggling to understand what he meant. "But I want to know. We are here together and have fought side by side for a long time. Do you not consider me a friend and consider me a burden?" She insisted. Asuna didn't know what Noah meant about things being beyond his ability, she just thought he was looking down on her.

Noah sighed, he knew that if he didn't say something, their relationship would become awkward.

"Asuna, there are things in this world that you might not be able to understand. Like Baalram before, do you think he's just an NPC?"

Asuna looked confused "No?"

"Although I don't know the whole truth, I can confirm that Baalram is not an NPC." Noah shook his head.

"Is he also a player like us or even someone from the GM side?" Asuna asked in confusion. In her worldview, of course she wouldn't think about the possibility of supernatural beings.

"No. He is a supernatural entity, I don't know where he came from, but I'm sure he shouldn't be in this world, he should be from a different world" Noah sighed seeing Asuna's confused and curious expression.

"What do you mean by 'different world'? And how do you know?" She couldn't help but ask further.

"Do you know the multiverse theory?" Noah asked Asuna without answering directly.

"You mean, the hypothesis that states that there is a possibility of more than one universe, including the one we live in?" Asuna answered hesitantly.

"Are you saying that this world is not the only one?" Asuna asked.

"Yes," Noah confirmed Asuna's words.

"How do you know and how can I be sure that what you said is true?" Asuna was still not sure about Noah's words, as someone who lives in a modern and normal world, it was difficult for her to believe in the existence of other worlds that were like fiction.

"It's up to you, whether you believe it or not," Noah said without trying to convince Asuna, because in his previous life he also wouldn't believe it if someone suddenly told him that the multiverse existed.

"How do you know?" Asuna asked again.

Hearing Asuna's question, Noah was silent and did not answer.

Seeing him silent, Asuna guessed that it seemed like Noah's secret, so for the time being she held back her curiosity.

.....

Unbeknownst to Noah, in a room somewhere far away outside the world, a large figure sat on a throne with his eyes closed. Dark mist enveloped the figure and covered his face.

The figure opened his eyes and the dark mist immediately dispersed. The figure had a sheep's head and a sturdy body with sharp claws and red eyes. The figure had the same appearance as Baalram who was killed by Noah before. Or it could be said that they were the same person. It's just that compared to the previous Baalram who was full of violence, he seemed wise and had a complicated and calculating mind, which did not match his large body and ferocious face.

"Mmm... it seems like an unexpected variable has occurred in that world. I didn't expect someone to be able to kill my Avatar" Baalram said while narrowing his red eyes as he looked up at the sky as if he could penetrate dimensions and looked at Aincard where his avatar was killed.

Without saying anything, he disappeared from the throne along with the dark mist that surrounded him. It was unknown what he was planning and whether he would come directly to that world.