Chapter 19: A Close Call – Timely Rescue
There were a total of forty-seven players participating in the boss raid this time.
The teams were organized into:
Teams A, B, and C, collectively known as the "Divine Dragon Union," led by Lind, who was appointed leader via lottery. Teams D, E, and F, making up the Aincrad Liberation Force, commanded by the Kibaou. Team G, composed of five so-called "Legendary Heroes," led by a man named Orlando. And finally, Team H, led by Agil, who had remained neutral in the previous battle.
(Legendary heroes... their gear looks impressive, but they seem kind of jittery... ah, I see.) Kirito surmised they were nervous because Nezha had vanished, probably fearing their wrongdoing would be exposed. Although he had a poor impression of these people, he added internally, "But that has nothing to do with me."
Originally, Teams G and H were in charge of handling the subordinate boss monster "Nato Kanar, the Minotaur," commonly called "Colonel Nato." However, Orlando had insisted his team also participate in the main boss fight.
After some negotiation, Team G joined the boss battle. 'Uneasy because Nezha disappeared... they must be trying to seize this chance to become the new leaders of the raid group. Still, taking on Colonel Nato with just one team is...' Just as Kirito was about to raise a proposal, Agil calmly stopped him:
"I've heard Colonel Nato is a mid-tier boss. It might be tough with just us." "If reality doesn't match the intel, we'll send another team to support. Sorry, can you bear with it for now?"
After voicing symbolic opposition, Agil shrugged and stepped back.
When the boss battle began, the raiders found it easier than expected. Although they initially considered retreating due to widespread paralysis, they gritted their teeth and pressed on.
As the fight progressed, they adapted. While paralysis persisted, it gradually decreased.
"Agil, how's it going?" "Definitely easier than last time..." "But we can't lower our guard..." "Yeah." "Colonel Nato's HP turned red." "Good. Keep focused."
Just then, a loud cheer erupted from the other side of the arena.
Kirito was startled but quickly realized it was a cheer of joy—General Balan's HP had finally turned yellow.
Just as he was about to shift focus back to the immediate battle, a sudden disturbance occurred.
A stage rose from deep within the plaza, and the sky distorted. Kirito recognized this phenomenon—signaling the appearance of a large-scale monster. The distortion intensified, and a colossal beast emerged from a pitch-black rift—
"Asterios, the Minotaur King."
A giant six-horned Minotaur crowned as king, surrounded by lightning, made its entrance.
The sudden development caught all teams off guard, and the team dealing with General Balan was now overwhelmed.
"Damn it! All-out attack!"
Kirito shouted the order before team leader Agil could respond. Their current enemy had to be dealt with first.
"Focus attacks on the forehead weak spot! Even if it's risky—go!"
The deathmatch began. Kirito leapt in and slammed a heavy blow to Colonel Nato's forehead, successfully delaying its counterattack.
"Now's the time! Everyone, go!"
Everyone unleashed their sword skills in quick succession.
As Kirito's post-skill delay ended, Colonel Nato's delay also ceased.
Normally, this would be when Kirito retreated, but he pressed the attack.
He leapt again and used his full-strength Horizontal Slash to the enemy's face. Simultaneously, he used a physical sword skill, Crescent Moon, from his left leg—his secret move, discovered through training, which cancels sword skill delay by switching weapon types.
That final blow shattered Colonel Nato into polygonal fragments.
"Everyone, drink healing potions! Agil, where's that monster now?" "It seems slow. It'll take time to reach us." "Then... we have to support the main team right away." "Got it. Everyone, move to General Balan! Hurry!"
Under Agil's command, the team charged toward General Balan.
"Should we flank from the right?" "Let's do it. Agil, you take command. Prioritize defeating General Balan. If the big one gets close, we'll try to draw it off."
After giving orders, Kirito jumped into the air and launched Sonic Impact, a high-speed thrust that struck General Balan in the forehead, defeating him.
"Did we make it in time...?"
Before he could finish the thought, Kirito saw the Minotaur King inhale. The next moment, a purple breath swept across the field.
"Crap..."
HP dropped by 20% in an instant. The green paralysis icon appeared.
The front-line players were paralyzed—unable even to speak.
"Everyone... antidote... use antidote..."
Kirito struggled to speak out.
Though the potion only slightly hastened recovery, doing nothing would mean death.
Hearing his call, the others began to fumble for potions—but paralysis made their movements slow.
Footsteps thundered with pressure as the Minotaur King approached.
Everyone braced for a massacre in their frozen state.
Its gaze locked on Kirito, Lind, and the Kibaou at the front line. The Kibaou, closest, took the brunt of the king's massive glowing warhammer. The strike distorted his face, sent him flying, and dropped his HP into the red zone.
"Damn... Hachiman, Asuna... I'm sorry..."
As the king raised its weapon again and Kirito steeled himself for death—
A white light shot from the entrance, piercing the Minotaur King's forehead and staggering it.
(About ten minutes earlier)
Driven by anxiety, Hachiman's group had been making rapid progress through the maze.
With the advantage of a map, they avoided most traps and ambushed unavoidable enemies. Even factoring in the map, their speed was astonishing.
"Hachiman is still amazing." "The small fry haven't respawned yet, so it's been easier." "We see the boss room."
"No matter what happens, don't panic. Stick to the plan." "Got it!"
The four of them charged in just as General Balan was defeated.
Colonel Nato was already gone.
The real boss, the Minotaur King, had appeared and was charging up breath.
"This is bad! Don't let it attack! Nezha! Argo! Disband the party!"
Argo quickly disbanded the team. Nezha aimed and threw his chakram with full force.
"Asuna, inspire the mobile ones to help the fallen! Argo, relay info to the Kibaou's team! I'll administer antidotes!"
Nezha's chakram transformed into white light and struck the crown on the Minotaur King's forehead just as it was about to attack.
Everyone saw the white flash and the metallic clang as the ring flew back toward the entrance.
All eyes turned to the four figures at the gate.
Even the boss turned away and began walking toward its new target—Nezha had drawn aggro with the opening strike.
"Anyone who can move, drag the injured back! We can still buy time! Stay calm, hold on!"
Asuna's clear voice rallied the stunned players into action.
"Drink this, Kirito." "Hachiman..." "Sorry we're late." "What are you saying? We're comrades." "That was really close..."
Kirito stood with Hachiman's help.
"Agil, take Kirito to the rear."
Meanwhile, Argo had rescued the Kibaou and Lind, now speaking to them:
"Whatever complaints you have about me, save them. If we retreat now, everyone lives. If we keep fighting... I've got boss data. I'll give it free this time."
To Argo's surprise, they chose to keep fighting. Their resolve after facing death changed her impression of them.
Kirito and Hachiman talked as Kirito recovered:
"That was Nezha? He made it." "Yeah." "Even learned to use chakram in a short time—surprising."
As Kirito watched Nezha, the Minotaur King began charging breath again.
"Uh-oh! The breath is coming!" "Don't worry. Just watch."
Just as Hachiman said, Nezha smoothly dodged the breath attack. At the same time, Lind called out:
"We just got the boss info! Don't complain about timing—they rushed here as fast as possible. Key point: before it breathes, the boss's eyes glow!"
"So that's how Nezha dodged it easily." "Exactly. And he's holding the front alone—pretty amazing."
While Lind continued explaining, Nezha's solo defense was reaching its limit.
The regrouped raid force sprang into action—tanks from teams A and D charged the Minotaur's legs.
"Asuna and I will watch from the back. Go, Kirito." "You got this, Kirito!" "Huh? You're not joining?" "Max party size is 48—it's full." "Oh... right..." "But if you get paralyzed again, we'll drag you to safety." "Th-thanks..."
Thanks to AB team drawing aggro, Nezha finally relaxed and stumbled slightly.
"You okay?"
Kirito asked, and Nezha weakly but proudly raised his weapon:
"I'm fine! Just being useful in a boss fight like this... makes me truly happy! Don't worry about me—go all out!"
Under Agil's command, Team H entered the fray. Every time the boss's eyes glowed, Nezha threw his chakram. Every hit drew cheers:
"Nice shot!"
Watching from the back, two people talked:
"Watching is kinda lonely..." "Support roles are important too!"
"But this fight's really intense—let's bear witness." "And jump in to help if anything happens."
Thanks to Nezha, the fight stabilized.
However, the legendary hero team still refused to acknowledge Nezha, only focusing on attacking the boss.
With their superior equipment, they suffered less paralysis, which made it hard for Lind to call a retreat.
"We're not in a position to stop them..." "Yeah... that team is a lost cause." "There's nothing we can do now." "Nezha deserves a better team..." "But he's still atoning... I wonder what form that will take." "Some of the victims might be right here..." "Anyway, I don't want them getting the boss loot." "Same here." "Let's cheer for Kirito when he pulls back."
When Kirito retreated briefly, Hachiman whispered in his ear:
"You don't want those guys to get MVP, right?"
Then quietly returned to the rear.
Kirito had already resolved to do that.
But Hachiman's words turned it into an imperative—a task he must complete, even for the two who couldn't fight.
The raid group maintained formation and finally drove the boss's HP into the red.
At the perfect moment—during Nezha's Nth stagger hit—Kirito chained his strongest one-handed sword and physical attack combo, and cleanly finished the boss.
"Amazing, Kirito-kun!" "Your timing was perfect!"
Thus, the turbulent conquest of the second-floor boss ended—though, of course, many issues still remained unresolved.