After leaving RG, before we warped to Floor 4, Leo decided we needed new weapons since he was worn out from the earlier battles. There was a blacksmith near RG, so he said it would only take him a moment to get what we needed. He left Mia and Lia with me outside RG.
===
Guild Rank 3- Sho
Sho Tryouts on the Fourth Floor Today
Requirements: Must be at least C rank. Must have at least a Blue Mana Core.
===
Mia and Lia exchanged a knowing glance, a small smile crossing their faces.
"I heard the leader of Sho is the current Rank 1," Lia said, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Really?" I asked. "How many people would she have had to fight to get that?" Lia smiled slightly, her tone almost amused.
Mia gave me a once-over, her eyes lingering for a moment before she spoke, her voice more serious now. "More than you might think."
Mai looked at me and asked sincerely, "Do you want to get a weapon?"
I replied quietly, "No, I'm fine."
Lia chimed in, "Are you sure? Wands can improve damage, and chants can enhance their effectiveness."
I hesitated, thinking about the book I read. "The book didn't mention chants," I said, quickly realizing I might have missed something.
I pulled the book from my bag and took another look.
The book explained:
"There are three ways to cast magic: saying its name, chanting it, or—"
The rest of the page was scribbled out.
Leo returned with new weapons for all of us—a white crystal wand for Lia and me, a sword and shield for Mia, and a pike for himself, along with a few other items.
Mia spoke up quickly, "We'll cover the cost. How much is it?"
Lia nodded in agreement, her expression serious.
Leo smiled warmly and replied, "You can settle up after we defeat the boss."
Lia looked down, her mood momentarily subdued. I gave her an encouraging smile, and she managed a faint smile in return.
"Is everyone ready?" Leo asked with a commanding tone.
"Yes," we all responded in unison, drawing the attention of those around us.
"Party_Floor_4" Leo commanded, his voice resolute.
CRACK
We were teleported to the same rune on the fourth floor, but this time, it felt different. Among the crowd, one figure stood above the rest, drawing every eye toward her.
A woman, tall and composed, exuded a commanding presence. Her silver-gray hair, almost white, cascaded down her back in gentle waves, contrasting sharply with the dark, jagged armor she wore. The armor was minimal in plating, crafted for agility and designed to allow for fluid, precise movements. Draped over her shoulders was a black cloak, its interior lined in deep red, billowing slightly as she moved.
Atop her head rested a jagged black crown, its sharp edges giving her an almost regal appearance. Red gems were etched into the armor, adorning her belt and fastening her cloak in place.
Her piercing red eyes scanned around her, locking onto mine for a brief moment. A flicker of recognition passed between us.
Across her back, she carried a longsword, its hilt wrapped in dark leather, and its blade shining with an otherworldly energy. The weapon was perfectly balanced, as though it were an extension of her very being. Beside her, a companion called out her name with a respectful tone.
"Sho," they said, their voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.
ho walked over to me, her presence alone making me nervous.
"How'd you lose your arm?" she asked, her voice cold.
"A bear," I replied.
"Grim? I killed that bear. It's a shame you had so much potential."
Before I could respond, Leo stepped in front of me, placing his hand between Sho and me.
"What?!"
"And now you'll never be anything, just another nobody," Sho said, dismissing me before walking off, the rest of the group following her into the swamp.
Leo, looking uneasy, pulled me in the opposite direction.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"That's Sho," Leo said, his voice low.
"Is she dangerous?"
"Sho is extremely dangerous," Leo replied. "She's won every fight she's had and earned the title, 'The Undisputed'."
Leo whispered to me, "I know exactly where the boss is, so just follow me."
We followed Leo into the swamp, sticking closely to the path. When the path ended, there were guards warning us to stay safe and informing us of a dangerous monster ahead.
"The boss is located on the far side of the swamp," Leo explained. "The swamp is vast."
"They have to be huge to accommodate all of humanity, monsters, and NPCs," Mai interjected.
"Are all floors the same size?" Lia asked.
"Most floors are about this size," Leo replied. "Some bosses are relatively close together, but as we progress, the distances between floors increase, and the floors themselves get smaller.".
"People who didn't play the game would end up on endless quests searching for bosses," he added.
We ventured deeper into the swamp, noting the abundance of slimes—something we hadn't seen on our first visit. Finally, we arrived at a massive mountain that seemed to stretch beyond the clouds. At its base was a cave, and in front of the cave was a lizard man sitting on a pile of bones.
"Xal'thor," Leo whispered. "Lizard General Xal'thor."
The Lizard General had a formidable presence, with scales that shimmered in the dim light. Unlike the previous lizard men, he had a tail and no armor. He leaned against his spear, his tired eyes suggesting a lack of sleep. I recognized those eyes. He had a commanding presence and was clearly ready for battle.
As soon as we appeared, his eyes widened—whether from shock or another emotion, it was hard to tell. He looked at us with disgust.
"Xal'Nia," he said quietly. "You killed my wife!" He screamed.
Leo stepped forward, saying, "We didn't. In fact, she gave me this dragon egg," and he lifted the egg for Xal'thor to see.
Xal'thor's eyes narrowed. "Then why... why do I smell my wife's blood?"
Mia, Lia, and I looked pale as the realization hit us. Mia spoke quietly, "We killed your wife."
Lia then spoke "But it was because—"
"Silence!" Xal'thor roared.
Leo stepped in front of them, hands stretched out. "I'd rather do this peacefully, but I won't allow you to hurt my friends."
"Peacefully? Peacefully? You killed my wife!" Xal'thor rose from his throne of bones, his voice chilling with rage. "Which of you will fight me?"
Xal'thor leaped toward us with a fierce determination. Leo, ready for action, drew his shield and blocked Xal'thor's attack. The spear clashed against the shield, driving Leo back but preventing the spear from reaching me.
"Light_Bind!" Lia called out, casting a shimmering rope of pure light that wrapped around Xal'thor, reflecting off his scales. He struggled, but the bindings held for only a moment before he broke free with a powerful force, sending us stumbling backward.
Mia, using her shield to block the force, charged at Xal'thor, aiming to stab him. He moved with swift agility, dodging her strikes and weaving through her attacks. As he found an opening, he used his tail to slam Mia into a nearby tree with a resounding crash.
"Dark_Lightning_Javelin!" I shouted, and the spell shot out of my wand, hurtling toward Xal'thor. The javelin struck him head-on, sending him crashing backward into his throne of bones, causing debris to splinter and scatter around the area.
Recovering, Xal'thor glared down at us, his voice dripping with contempt. "Where's your honor, high humans? Four against one…"
With a swift motion, Leo drew his sword, and Xal'thor readied his spear. The duel began with a clash of metal and spear, Leo's sword moving with precise, fluid movements. Xal'thor's spear thrusts were powerful but predictable, and Leo's swordsmanship was impeccable. He deflected a series of spear strikes, countering with slashes that forced Xal'thor into a defensive stance.
In a dazzling display of skill, Leo used a series of quick, calculated strikes to slice through Xal'thor's tail. The lizard man roared in pain, leaving him vulnerable. Leo seized the opportunity, launching a decisive attack that cleaved through Xal'thor's defenses.
With a final, powerful thrust, Leo drove his sword into Xal'thor's chest. The lizard man's form disintegrated into pixels, his last words escaping as he faded away. "Good job, high human. I can finally see my wife once more."
Instead of taking his valuables and teeth, which would have fetched a good price, we all decided it would be better to bury him and his wife next to one another, in the peaceful grasslands. It felt like a more fitting tribute.