Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Second-floor Boss Raid II.

-With Sharia and Baran-

Both Sharia and Baran dashed at each other, the latter swinging his hammer and the former swinging his sword.

Baran swung his hammer overhead while Sharia swung his «Centennial Longsword [+6 4S1D1Q]» from a downward to an upward motion to meet Baran's hammer.

This resulted in a heavy clash. But since Baran was naturally stronger, Sharia had been sent a few meters back.

"Heh."

Sharia only smiled and would then jump at the bull. 

Since their attack patterns were similar to the normal Taurus– 

Sharia had a pretty good idea of what Baran could do.

Immediately, using his advantage, Sharia had blurred towards Baran, slashing its two legs even with such great speed.

"Uwoogh!"

The beast had fallen on its knees, but Sharia wasn't done with it. He had somehow jumped high up, his back turned against the general.

Then, spinning in a clockwise motion in an attempt to finish it. Again—

"Grrwoooooogh!"

"Eh?"

Sharia's eyes widened as he saw Baran, in its position, had reached out for him with its hands, balled into a fist instead.

"For real? Again!?!?"

Making a frustrated expression, Sharia had planned to pull a manoeuvre midair; however, before he could.

"Leave it to me!"

Diabel had appeared in the front of Sharia midair, his shield holstered to block the approaching fist.

However—

"You idiot!"

Sharia only scolded instead, but Diabel's timing was convenient.

Twisting his body midair, his legs pushed against Diabel, sending both of them sideways in opposite directions.

Diabel had been caught by the players, but Sharia was sent crashing against the floor.

[Sharia]

○ [78%]

"Ouch, ouch, ouch."

Sharia mumbled as he got up, his hand on his «Centennial Longsword [+6 4S1D1Q]», but then the Taurus had already begun running after him.

Its body was bent slightly, with its horns in front. It was a typical bull charge motion.

"Urowwhhhh!"

The bull had then started charging towards Sharia. One of the things Sharia himself loved doing was—

Charging towards a charging opponent.

…. Sharia had made his own charge too, but when they were just a meter close. 

Sharia slid under Baran instead.

With his «Centennial Longsword [+6 4S1D1Q]» poised up, as he slid, he also slashed the Taurus in a vertical line.

Then as the Taurus charge passed him, he got up and then turned towards the Taurus and dashed at it.

Like before. Even without entering its last HP phase. The boss was already in berserk mode.

This is the second time it's happening; it was like the system hated him. But Sharia at this point couldn't even care less.

Even the boy himself didn't know he had a smile on his face right now.

In a flurry of motion, the Taurus had summoned its weapon and swung it, and like before, Sharia entered a parry stance.

Since the enemies he had been fighting weren't giving him enough challenge, he had refrained from using them….

But now. It's time.

With a wide arc of a horizontal sideway upswing, Sharia had parried, but this time—

The boss staggered back. A «Guard Break» had been inflicted. Additionally.

[Baran, the Taurus General] 

[Berserk, stun: 05 sec]

○ [0%] 

○ [43%] 

○ [100%]

As infuriating as it was, the stun only lasted for five seconds; but that was all Sharia needed.

Taking out his «Anneal Blade +0» from his inventory, he then dashed towards Baran again.

At the very least, he wanted to take out the second HP bar before the stun duration ended in three seconds time.

Naturally, this was then followed by «Skill Connect» connecting both «Horizontal» and «Vertical».

[02 seconds]

○ [34%]

Then gripping his swords in a reverse grip, activating «Direct Trust,» which would have been a thrust but changed to a slash—

Sharia had slashed it with a reverse grip slash motion instead of a thrust.

[01 second]

○ [21%]

Then at the moment the stun would end, Sharia once more prepared another «Direct Thrust,» but this time…

He jumped back and threw the blade instead towards its head.

The sword pierced its head, making a hole in it as the «Anneal Blade» lodged itself into the wall on the other end and exhausted its durability.

«Anneal Blade has been destroyed»

Naturally, such a loud thud was heard by everybody, and at the same time, Sharia had beaten Baran…

Nato had fallen, too, simultaneously.

"No—no way…"

"He just beat the boss alone."

"Fuck! And I made fun of him...?"

"Crazy!"

While people were celebrating, a few weren't.

It was when people started cheering that they heard a voice from the other side.

"Don't relax yet! The boss has yet to show!"

That voice undoubtedly belongs to Kirito. He too, like Sharia and Diabel, had come to realise the real boss hadn't shown up yet.

Ga–Gong!

As Kirito had warned. 

There was a gong-like sound that emanated from the centre of the Boss Chamber.

But there was nothing there. Only a series of concentric floor rings made of blackish stone...

No. It was moving. 

The three circles of paving stones were sliding, rotating anticlockwise, and slowly picking up speed. 

The stones were rising from the floor before everyone's eyes, elevating into a three-step stage at the centre of the room.

Suddenly, the view of the far wall over the centre platform began to waver.

"Looks like something big is coming." Diabel grunted. 

That was the visual effect that signalled a very large object being generated into the map.

And as they feared, the wavering in the air rapidly spread and began to generate a thick, menacing shadow at the centre.

The shadow soon coalesced into a humanoid form and grew legs thick as tree trunks that thudded heavily onto the stage.

Sturdy, dark chainmail covered the figure's waist, but it's torso was, as usual, bare. 

This one had a long, twisted beard that hung down to its stomach. 

The head was that of a bull, but it had six horns instead of two, and atop the center of its head was a round accessory of silvery platinum–a crown.

The mammoth figure, so black it might as well have been painted with ink, reared back, and the third and largest of the tauruses let out a roar. 

"Uro Wwwww Hhhhh!"

Flashes of lightning spread around the minotaur, filling the chamber with blinding light.

Finally, a six-part HP bar appeared so high that it seemed to be stuck to the ceiling. 

Everyone gazed dully at the letters that appeared.

[ASTERIOS THE TAURUS KING.]

○ [100%]

○ [100%]

○ [100%]

○ [100%]

○ [100%]

○ [100%]

"Fuck!"

"How are we supposed to beat something that big?"

Every player had stopped. It was kind of clear to everyone that Baran was as much of an opening act as was Nato.

Baran HP depleting or dying straight up must have been the trigger for the Boss. 

But speculations at this point were pointless.

What mattered next was what they'd do.

However, unfortunately, the Black King seemed to have gotten into motion for an attack.

"Shit, something's coming, party A to G, «Tanks», forward!"

Diabel had given such a command. 

However, before his command could register, someone had beaten him to him.

"Let me!"

It was Sharia who was now wielding his «Centennial Longsword [+6 4S1D1Q]» alone, dashing at the Black King.

Trying to defend against a paralyzing breath was futile. That much, he could guess.

If the «Tanks» are paralysed, then it's pretty much futile. Hence, he has to bear the brunt.

If it were him alone, he'd have dodged, but maybe that willful part of him that wanted them to survive the death had made him jump at it.

No. That wasn't it.

Sharia himself wanted to do this. Plus. He had a smile on his face at this same moment—

"Lord Sharia!"

⸻The breath attack was incoming.

The world seemed to grow pure white. The entire room had been embraced by that pure white attack.

Everyone in one way had squint their eyes as the light was too bright.

However, it was harder for Sharia who was close to the Boss. But it didn't even matter to him.

"Rrragh—!"

"Urowgg—!"

At the same time Asterios unleashed its breath attack, Sharia spun in the air, and swung his «Centennial Longsword [+6 4S1D1Q]» against the breath attack.

The white light which had enveloped practically everyone was… suddenly deflected towards the other half of the room, back at Asterios to the back of the Boss Chamber.

"Fo-for real??"

"He parried the light?"

While the other players were more shocked about Sharia blocking the light, they had disregarded the fact that the superhuman himself along with Asterios were in a pinch.

[Sharia Lv. 18] 

○ [57%]

[Stunned: 00:10] [Paralysed]

His HP had been chipped that low, but Asterios on the other hand wasn't in any better situation.

[ASTERIOS THE TAURUS KING.]

[Stunned: 00:10]]

○ [79%] [First HP Bar]

Its first HP bar had been chipped by more than 20 percent.

"Nghaaa! Switch!"

In the midst of their dazed state. Sharia had suddenly called out. But who?

SWISH!

Three people had run out, two of them activating their sword skill, «Sonic Leap» to take into the skies.

The last person, had positioned themself below, catching Sharia as he dropped to the ground.

⸻Kirito and Asuna kicked the air using a second «Sonic Leap», hitting the Taurus Lord by the head simultaneously.

[ASTERIOS THE TAURUS KING.]

[Stunned: 00:06]

○ [65%] [First HP Bar]

"Asuna! Once more, we'll descend like this!"

"Roger that."

Because this was a virtual world, where movement was being controlled by their brain, they could pull off moves that would be impossible in the real world.

They twirled their body midair using «Sonic Leap» once more to kick the air, dealing another damage to the Taurus King.

"Urowwhhhh!!!"

-At the same time- Sharia was already recovering thanks to Diabel, some meters behind the front line, which had formed a shield.

"Stay sharp; the moment Lord Sharia's stun duration ends, expect an incoming paralysis attack!"

"If you successfully block it, it would give Lord Sharia and the rest a chance. Like that, we'll continue to switch till it's dead."

Lind at some point had taken leadership from Diabel, and the man seemed to be doing well.

"How are you doing?"

"Ugh. Not good, but I'll be okay. Regardless."

Sharia looked in front, seeing both Kirito and Asuna synchronised using «Sonic Leap» to kick into the air and descend.

It would seem that both of them were made for each other with how perfectly they sync up together.

"I'm kind of jealous. Having someone that would fight side by side with."

Sharia said with a smile, standing up, before addressing the Knight behind him.

"Thanks, Diabel."

As Sharia stood up, a group of other people had begun approaching Sharia and Diabel.

"Please. Excuse us."

The leader of the party had said so, prompting Sharia to look over.

They were the Legend Brave, the ones involved with the blacksmith scam.

"We—we feel bad for what we've done…. Watching you go against the Taurus King was inspiring; we wish to join you."

They said as they gave a curt bow at Sharia, who mused with a neutral expression.

Holding out his right hand to Diabel. He motioned to the man.

"The LA bonus from Illfang. Do you still have it?"

Diabel thought for a moment why Sharia had asked such, but then, almost immediately, it clicked.

"Certainly."

Unlike what people think. The LA bonus had not only contained the coat of midnight, which Blackie rocked till he got his other outfit.

It also contained a weapon.

Remember when it was stated Orlando had changed professions because of his FNC?

However, throwing weapons wasn't exactly the way to go, as once they're thrown, they never come back.

But there exists a weapon that can solve said problem.

Diabel had handed the said weapon over to Sharia, who approached Nezha, who had his head low for obvious reasons.

"I expect you know what to do. Chickening out isn't an option. Repay every user harmed by helping us defeat that boss."

At this point. Even Sharia would have to admit. Even if he does think of solo Asterios. 

It would take time. Severe prep time.

Maybe he had ultimately overestimated himself.

"Yes, sir!"

-Back to Asterios-

The Taurus king had already exited his stunned state and brute-forced his way from its paralysed state.

Its knees tensed as if bent slightly.

"Tankers! A shockwave incoming!"

Kirito shouted as he leaped at Asuna, pushing both away from the range.

While the «Tanks» were getting ready—

"Leave this to us."

The Legend Brave had begun running up to Asterios to engage the boss, forming a spearhead tactic with Sharia behind them.

Sharia had borrowed Diabel's «Anneal Blade +3 1H1Q1S» equipped along with his own enhanced «Centennial Longsword [+6 4S1D1Q]».

"Heh."

Sharia licked his lips as the boss would soon stomp the ground, sending a powerful shockwave.

"Nezha!"

"Roger!"

While the skill was still being carried out, Nehza had sent out an attack using his new weapon: Chakram—

This had interrupted the Taurus King's skill, prompting it to stagger a step back, "Yosha!"

"Leave the rest to me."

Using the Legend Brave as a foothold, Sharia leaped towards the Taurus King.

"I'll destroy you with this."

[ASTERIOS THE TAURUS KING.]

○ [68%] [Second HP Bar]