Chapter 17: Asuna: So my teammates are all big shots

To be honest, ever since Kayaba Akihiko appeared, although Kirito had worried about being trapped in the game, he couldn't call it panic.

Because during the beta test, it only took them one month to clear up to the eighth floor of Aincrad.

Kirito had originally thought that since the number of SAO players was now a hundred times greater than before, they should be able to clear this game at an even faster speed.

But what was unexpected was that in this month's time, not only had nearly a thousand players in the game died, but in terms of clearing progress, there was absolutely no achievement at all.

Compared to the beta test, the location of the floor boss room in the labyrinth area had changed, and it wasn't until today that it was discovered by Diavel.

The labyrinth area had changed; this might be one of the reasons for the slow progress in clearing it.

But Kirito believed that the current mindset of the players was also a very big problem.

This time, Diavel had made such a big deal out of the strategy meeting; if they could successfully defeat the floor boss, then naturally it would be a good thing, but if they failed...

Then the players who were already afraid of the labyrinth area would probably be even more afraid to face the floor boss.

Even, if it were more serious, they might be trapped on the first floor for months, half a year... or even longer.

"It's hard to say. Although this beginner's guide does indeed have information about the first-floor boss, the Kobold Lord, that's correct.

But compared to the beta test, the location of the floor boss room has changed. Who knows if the opponent's skills and mechanics will change too?"

"And today's situation, I think you should have seen it too. That idiot called Kibaou, before the battle even started, he already stirred up conflict between the players. And he still wants to work together to clear the raid?"

"That Diavel who organized the meeting, I don't think he's a simple guy either."

"Organizing everyone to clear the boss together, I'm afraid that besides boosting player morale, it's also to build up his own fame."

"After all, if we successfully clear the first floor boss, then we can be considered pioneers. And as the leader, if he wants to recruit people in the future, having a fame bonus will naturally make many people choose to follow him."

After Shengzai's analysis, Kirito and Asuna both agreed for the most part, only they always felt that Shengzai thought of everyone else too darkly.

They didn't quite understand, clearly everyone looked about the same age, why was Shengzai's heart comparable to those dirty adults.

"Heh, you guys are still just clear and stupid... middle school students. It's normal not to understand the dangers of society."

Kirito: (▽｀) We grew up wearing the same pair of pants, acting cool in front of me?

Asuna: (￣￣), judging by the self-introduction just now, he's even a year younger than me, right?

And you guys are the middle school students, I've already advanced to high school this year, okay! Why does she, a high school student, have to be scolded by middle school students? So annoying!

"In short, in case any unexpected situation happens, let's just go it alone, the three of us!"

"A mere floor boss, even if it's just the three of us, there shouldn't be any problem."

"If it weren't for the fact that we couldn't find the room before, I would have soloed this Kobold long ago."

To be honest, Shengzai's tone was quite arrogant, which left Asuna, sitting on the side, quite speechless.

She was also a gaming novice, but relying on her excellent learning ability and adaptability, she had also mastered the tricks of this game in a very short time.

But even so, even when dealing with ordinary wild monsters of the same level, Asuna often fought quite strenuously, so she really didn't understand why Shengzai could talk about soloing a boss so easily.

Is the other party a braggart, or does he really have the strength?

However, very soon, Asuna would definitely experience whether Shengzai was all show or truly capable.

The strategy meeting was set by Diavel for two days later; the two days were to let each team prepare and increase their mutual tacit understanding and cooperation.

Shengzai and Kirito were fine, but since Asuna was a new teammate, Shengzai suggested they go grind some monsters to enhance their compatibility.

And it was during these two days of grinding that Asuna truly realized that what Shengzai said about soloing the boss was definitely not just talk.

Because these two teammates in her own team were all monsters!

It wasn't that Asuna hadn't seen solo fighting, because she herself was like that.

But Shengzai and Kirito's solo fighting directly refreshed her worldview!

These two guys said they were taking her to grind the team's tacit understanding, but they directly took her to the most monster-dense and highest-level dangerous area!

And skipping levels to kill monsters was one thing, but these two guys actually fought multiple monsters at once every time.

That fighting style of walking among multiple monsters at the same time made Asuna deeply realize what it meant to truly dance on the blade.

What's even more outrageous is that after finishing the first day of buffer training, these two guys actually took her to find a wild boss with a higher level than them on the second day.

And they directly taught her the "switch" mechanism in boss battles according to her aptitude!

Although the wild boss's attributes and level were not as powerful as the floor boss, and it didn't have "uniqueness," it wasn't something ordinary players could defeat, let alone them challenging it while skipping levels.

But what's outrageous is that the wild boss, which was almost invincible in Asuna's eyes, was directly ground to death by the three of them under the careful guidance of Shengzai and Kirito.

And as the final killer, she not only gained a large amount of experience, causing her level to rise, but also obtained a rapier named "Flying Star" as a special reward.

It was also from that moment that Asuna understood that the two teammates she had accidentally met were completely big-shot level players.

Especially Shengzai, who was a monster among monsters; his reflexes and techniques were simply not like a human's.

When she hadn't fully mastered the "switch" mechanism at the beginning, the flaws she showed were all remedied by Shengzai.

The so-called "Saint," it's not just about being rich; his combat power is also as heaven-defyingly powerful as a saint!

Two days passed in a flash, and Shengzai and the other two, along with other small teams, gathered with the rest of the strategy group at the entrance of the labyrinth area as agreed.

Compared to the tattered cloak outfit from two days ago, Asuna now had flaxen long hair reaching her waist, wore a tight leather armor, and the rapier "Flying Star" was tucked at her waist, looking exactly like a heroic female swordsman.

Using a cloak to cover her figure before was because Asuna didn't want to attract trouble, and also because she wasn't willing to trust others easily.

After all, in this game, there are no characters like police detectives; it can be said to be a true lawless zone.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 18 =====