SAO:PoA - Chapter Three

Floor 1, December 30th, 2003

Galant woke up, almost immediately he yawned. Looking to the clock, he found out that the time was 11:00 am. Guinevere was still sleeping. He changed his clothes and prepared for the Boss battle. He left the room going to the dining room. There was the rest of the guild. He sat on the head. Gawn asked almost instantly.

Gawn: “Is she well?”

Galant: “Yes, she will be better; she will not come back with us to the frontlines.”

Bors: “What?”

Galant: “She will not fight again, she is too afraid. If you are afraid you can’t act, if you don’t, you die. I had no choice.”

Percival: “Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good, Bors. Think as him, he has to protect his girlfriend no matter the cost. If this is the only choice, he has to do it. Gawn, do you agree?”

Gawn: “Totally, sometimes you have no much choices, I stand with you on this.” Galant: “As you always have.”

Gawn: “And always will” he smiled

Lance: “Sorry for interrupting, but we must speak about the Boss”

Dagonet: “Enough personal problems. What do we know of the boss?”

Galant: “Belphegor, the rage king; he does not have weapons, fights with its claws, teeth, body and powers, that is what Kibaou said.

Bors: “what is that of “powers”?”

Gawn: “he probably breaths fire, or attacks with energy waves. That’s what I think.”

Galant: “Galahad. Give us a hand. What strategy do you think we should use.”

Galahad: “For what he said, most will be physical attacks, so we will need defense. You and Percival are the only ones with shields. We divide in two parties, and switch constantly.”

Galant: “Ok. We are eight and two of us use shield. We will divide in two parties. Gawn, Bors, with me. Lance, Dagonet and Galahad with Percival. Tristan will be left alone covering us with his arrows. Tristan, shoot his eyes.

Tristan nodded.

Galant: “Bors and Dagonet., you specialize in close combat be careful with this, be as fast as you can and remember I will be switching with you, so be as fast as you can.”

Bors pointed his thumb upwards, understanding what his leader meant. Dagonet, acted as if he cared.

Galant: “Percival, try to keep the boss at distance with your spear. And also switch fast as you can with Dagonet. Lance, you will be the leader of your Party, so if you need improvise and have quick decisions, Galahad, aid him at this.” They three also approved.

Galant looked at the hour, 12:00. In one hour the boss battle will began. Galant: “We should be going. Is everybody ready?

All: yes.

Galant: Let’s go!

They went to the door and crossed it. Suddenly a known voice was heard. They turned back. Guinevere was on the door, she ran towards Galant.

“What Happened?”

“I had a dream, a nightmare; I think it is a premonition”

“Go guys, I will catch you latter”

They left.

“What did you dreamed?”

“You, on your knees, leaning towards a huge beast. Your HP went down and…”

“What meaning do you take from it?”

“A warning. If you go to this battle, you may not come back.”

“I gave them my word”

“But impossible to change your Destiny.”

Galant grabbed her hand.

“I make my own Destiny.”

He moved his right hand, and searched for an item he had. He took it out, a dark red case.

“I bought you this, thought of giving it to you when you became a great warrior. I now think, I will give it you in this moment.”

He gave the box to her. She opened it, a purple ribbon for her hair, almost identical to the one she use on the real world.

“I supposed that with your hair it was difficult to fight”

“It is beautiful, can you tie it?”

She turned and Galant tied it. She turned once more and sheared a kiss with her husband.

“Kill the boss.”

“For you.”

Galant began to walk, their hands slowly separated, until they did not touch each other. Galant looked at her, nodded her smiling. He started running, trying to reach his mates.

Guinevere entered the inn and went to her room. She immediately looked through the mirror, towards the city plaza where her husband may be right now. She was sad, desperate. Thinking about her future, her dream, her boyfriend. What could happen to him? Her look melancholic and unhappy slowly became serious and determinate. She shall not give up. She would change fate.

Galant reached his friends.

Lance: “Is everything ok”

Galant: “Yeah, just fine. Does everybody remember what I said?”

All: “Yeah!”

Galant: “great, that is why we will become the best guild, and clear this game.” The bells of the clock dinged, it was 12:30.

Galant: “We are late, we must go faster. RUN”

They started running towards the plaza. In a matter of minutes they arrived. In the plaza there were at least 50 players for the Boss Battle, and at least 30 of them were from the army. There were some small guilds, and a few solo players. Kibaou was the leader of this battle. He was giving a pathetical speech about the tactics. He said that the army shall receive must of the attacks in the battle, while the rest try to attack the boss. After that, they all teleported to the 4th floor. They started a walk through the dusty road rounding the city. After a 10min walk, huge cavern on a mountain, inside of it, an enormous dark door, with drawings of skulls and demons. The door began to open. Gawn: we will be the once that shall attack the boss. So get ready guys.

Galant: DO NOT DIE, NONE OF YOU.

Lance: neither you.

They entered the room. The lights went on. The crimson fire appeared on the torches and the first sight of the boss. A mindless beast. A combination of the ferocity of a black bear, with long goat horns and six purple bat wings coming out of his back. He had big muscles, and sharpest claws, with flaming chains coming out of his forearms.. His skin was light brown, and in his chest piece he had red lines. His eyes went red as it roared towards us, beginning its attack, rushing towards us. It hare four long HP bars All the attack team managed to avoid it except a frozen of fear player, who was easily killed by the monster.

Galant: “Battle position NOW”

The Royal Knights used their strategy, Galant and Percival defending and attacking constantly, while the rest witched with them two, yet this dealed few damage to the boss HP. Kibaou ordered his men to assume tactic of defense. At least fifteen ALC players formed a defense position helped by their shields, similar to a roman one. Shields towards the opponent and, upwards the head of them protecting and attacking the opponent at the same time. Meanwhile the rest of the guilds attacked the boss constantly. Belphegor still did not surrender. He roared his claws became of energy, thrusting them towards the formation sending all the members of defense by the air and lowering their HP to half. He spread his huge wings and started flying above us, and igniting everything with his Flaming Chains, five more players died.

Galant: “With those wings, our strategy is useless we have to improvise. Lance, Gawn, Tristan attack his wings, destroy them. The others try to surround him once he is on earth once more.”

Lance: “needing a little help Galant!”

Galant: “GO!”

Lance jumped towards the shield of Galant and he went to the monster’s back. Gawn did the same. Tristan shut constantly towards the monster.

Galant: “Galahad, with me! Bors, Dagonet attack his legs!”

Lance: “Gawn cut down this freak’s wings.”

Gawn slammed his axe towards one of the monster’s wing lowering him to the ground. Percival: “one more and that’s all! As he speared the boss’ arm.”

Galant: “Members of The Army, defense position NOW!”

The army members once again formed the same defense position towards the monster.

The monster attacked once more with his claws but Bors and Dag attacked the monster arm, but they still suffered Belphegor’s wrath, when it slashed with his other arm, leaving the HP of both of them in red.

Galahad: Lance, another wing! It’s up to you.

Lance slashed the wing with his curved sword. The monster plummeted down to the earth, yet still, he had two HP bars.

Lance: “Gawn lets go down it is very unstable!”

Lance Jumped, Slashing the monster face and Gawn did the same with his Axe. The angry boss, Smashed the earth with his claws once more, injuring half of the HP of Lance and Gawn.

Percival: “Lance, Switch!”

Galant: “Gawn Switch! Galahad, take care of the rest of the guys!” Kibaou: “Army Members maintain the defense. Royal Knights, and the rest continue attacking!”

The boss HP reached the last bar, but there is when hell itself appeared. It once more used the attack of the Flaming Chains sending most players flying to the air once more and killing three members of the army and leaving the rest on nearly 0 HP. It then attacked first Tristan and then Percival with his claws. Belphegor rushed towards Kibaou, Galant interfered between them two.

Galant: STARDUST SLASHER!

Useless, the boss shoved Galant, who lost his shield in the hit. Galant got up. He repeated the same move twice, without dealing great damage. The boss slashed Galant with his claws, while the players stood paralyzed from the fear and such a violent spectacle.

Galant: “ARGHHHHH!”

Percival: “GALANT NO!”

Bors: “Leader!”

Galahad: “Galant!”

Tristan: “Do not do this.”

The demon prepared the Flaming Chains attack. Galant was at 45% of his HP, he would not survive this.

Galant: “Lance, take care of Guinevere would you.”

Lance: “Galant no!”

Galant: (me and he, if this will be my last moment living, I will deal it enough damage for my friends to kill it, my best Sword Skill. I am sorry Guinevere)

He was turning his sword into a crimson color, as the huge monster ran towards him as he thought in his girlfriend, when he saw a golden dash appeared in front of his eyes. It used Vertical Arc against Belphegor, it was Guinevere.

Galant: “Guinevere what are you doing!”

Guinevere: “saving our life! I finally learned what you said.”

Galant rushed and grabbed his shield and attack the monster with Vertical Square and Guinevere continued with Stardust Slasher. The demons life was in half on the HP bar when it attack once again Galant, and then he slashed Guinevere and prepared his chains once again towards her and prepared his chains.

Galant: “NO!”

Galant threw his shield towards the chains, yet the attack dealed damage to Guinevere, leaving her in red.

Lance: “Go with her we will cover you. Royal Knights hold this bastard for a moment!”

All of them rushed towards the beast, not minding on their lives, but on Galant who had just given an awesome battle almost himself alone.

Galant: “Guinevere are you alright?”

Guinevere: “I am. I came here because I could not stop thinking what would happen if you did not come back. I am happy to be with you.

She began losing her consciousness.

“Kill the boss”

Guinevere fainted.

“For you.”

Galant grabs his sword. He will defeat the boss right now and finish this nonsense battle.

Galant: “Royal Knights, Switch!”

Galant uses Stardust Slasher several times, dealing rapid damage. Tristan Shoots two arrows towards the monsters eyes.

The boss attacks with one of his Flaming Chains, Galant avoids it.

Galant: “Lance, Gawn, last attack together!”

They three rush towards Belphegor. Lance uses Reaver, though the monster’s belly. Gawn uses Dual Smash in the monster legs.

Galant: (the Sword Skill I promised I would use): “CRESCENT STARDUST SLASHER!”

The crimson Sword Skill slashes vertically the monster form dividing it into two. Belphegor finally shatters into polygons. All the parties celebrate victory, shouting and celebrating. Galant runs towards Guinevere, Galahad right behind him. Galahad: “Give her this, this potion shall heal her.”

Galant gives the potion to her, she automatically wakes up. She smiles.

Galant: “Thank you Galahad. Go heal the rest they need it.”

Guinevere: “Galant. Did you kill the boss?”

Galant: “I did. I am proud of you. You came, even with fear, which is true courage.”

Guinevere: “You gave that to me.”

Galant: “I want you to become a better warrior. I know it will be hard and difficult, but I swear I will always be there with you to protect you, even at the cost of my life.”

Guinevere: “I will also protect you, against anything.”

The young couple hugs.

Kibaou: “Good battle, you fought well.”

Galant: “The same cannot be said about you. If you continue to lead your guild on the frontlines, you better think twice what you are doing or you will drive all you comrades to certain doom, and I will not allways be there to protect you.”

Kibaou looked seriously to his new ally,

Kibaou: "Our guild is done for today, we are leaving. We expect you on the next floor metting."

Galant: "We will be there."

Kibaou left.

Lance: “We are done for today?”

Galant: “We are. Let’s head back to floor one. We will rest for the rest of the day, tomorrow we shall continue. ROYAL KNIGHTS, GREAT JOB”

Bors: “WHOA!”

Percival: “Good job everyone!”

All: “yeah.”

Bors: “Hey, Galant, by the way, which was the object you gained?”

Galant: “Oh! I totally forgot that. Let me see. A sword, it is called Balmung Blade.”

Galant took it out. A silver sword, in some parts golden. Its cross guard had a similar shape to the wings of a dragon with a crimson jewel. It blade was long, with strange markings upon it.

Galant: “With this sword, we shall clear the next levels and this game, my friends. We own our fate!" He smiled towards his friends as he held upwards the sword, pointing towards the sky and level 100.

Floor 1, 22:00, December 30th, 2003

Galant was resting the bed in his room when he heard someone entering, he sat on his bed, it was Guinevere, with her beautiful nightgown, and she closed the door. She touched Galant’s face with her two hands.

“What will happen form now on; it is unknown for both of us.” She said.

She sat on his legs and began a passionate kiss, touching his masculine, strong chest. She slowly guided his hand towards her long legs up to their beginning, as he took off his shirt. Galant continued to gently kiss from her ear to the collar bone while she softly moaned. Galant made them both fall into his bed, as they continued kissing and discovering each other’s body, they finally becoming one complete being, loosing themselves with one another.