Chapter Sixty-Two: Conquering the First Level (Part 1)

"What a wonderful day!" A languid figure stretched lazily atop the grass of the plaza.

"Hey, are you awake yet?"

"Awake! Though you're certainly enthusiastic."

"Of course. We're facing the boss of the first floor, after all. But you really don't seem the slightest bit anxious." Watching Lance remain utterly unruffled, despite this being the first turning point in the deadly game, left him at a loss for words.

"Tch, what's there to be afraid of? Haven't you already handed the boss's intel to that rodent-like merchant? Besides, even if the creator made this game, he wouldn't let us get stuck on the first floor. This is probably just an appetizer for future challenges. And we have the advantage in this battle. If it weren't for caution, I'd have dragged you to clear the boss together already." To Lance, the boss seemed no more dangerous than a prize waiting to be claimed.

Still, Lance got up and glanced at the map, heading toward the plaza of this small town.

When the two arrived, a blue-haired youth was already standing at the center, beginning the pre-raid briefing.

"...Welcome, everyone, to the first floor boss raid. My name is Tia Beryl. As for my class—well, I fancy myself a knight." With that, he flashed a bright, sunny smile.

His warmth helped everyone relax, and laughter rippled through the crowd. "Hey, there's no class system in this game, you know!"

"Yeah, that's right!"

...

But as the laughter faded, his expression suddenly turned serious.

"My squad has discovered the boss room." At his words, silence fell. Everyone knew the meeting's true purpose, but hearing it spoken aloud gave them pause.

He pressed on, not letting discussion derail him. "We're trapped in this world, yes. But since the chance to escape has appeared, let us take the first step toward conquering it!" He swept his gaze across all present.

"Our raid isn't just for the boss's gear—it's the first step toward our eventual escape. We must give hope to those still in the Town of Beginnings, show them that we can break—no, that we will break—this deadly game!"

His speech stirred the surrounding players to feverish excitement. After all, everyone harbored dreams of heroism, and now was their chance.

Led by unknown players, Lance among them, everyone applauded the young man standing at the plaza's heart.

Seeing his words had galvanized them, he seized the moment. "Now, let us begin the game's first raid meeting!" He continued, "First, please form teams of six. It's safer that way—bosses are not ordinary monsters. Though we strive for everyone's sake, I hope we'll meet again next time, rather than see someone lying here forever."

Nearly everyone agreed with this suggestion—this was no mere game; death here meant true death. Lance and Kirito, however, exchanged glances as they sat watching the proceedings. Neither had expected such a requirement.

---

The two looked on helplessly as the group below exchanged introductions, unsure what to do. Because Kirito possessed information on the first ten floors, the pair had leveled and completed quests at the fastest pace, naturally unfamiliar with most of these players. The others had grinded in one area; even if not close, they'd at least seen each other and could form six-person squads.

"So, what now? Should we join them? You know fighting alongside strangers is practically suicide," Kirito asked Lance first. Whether in school or the game, Lance was usually the leader, so Kirito naturally deferred to him.

"Are you an idiot? Joining them would only drag them down. We'll talk to the organizer later—our strength means we don't need anyone else." Though Lance said this, his eyes continued to scan the surroundings.

"Oh, found him," he murmured, ignoring Kirito's calls and heading toward a player wearing a dark red cloak.

"Hey, what's up? Looks like you're a solo player—aren't you planning to join them? You know the boss isn't a regular mob; a careless mistake could be fatal." When Kirito caught up, he saw Lance striking up a conversation with someone he'd never met. He couldn't imagine why Lance would do this.

"It's not that I don't want to join them; they've known each other for ages. Even if I wanted in, it would be impossible," the other replied calmly, unbothered by Lance's abrupt approach.

At that moment, Kirito seemed to realize something and tapped his right fist against his left palm.

Just as Lance was about to continue, a system notification signaled an incoming mail.

"Stop flirting—I’m heading to our usual tavern to wait for you," the message read. Lance waved him off, signaling Kirito to leave, who could only shake his head and lament his poor fortune in companions.

Kirito turned back to the cloaked player. "How about this—we’re just two, so teaming up for now shouldn’t be a problem." After a moment's thought, the other nodded.

With a decisive gesture, Kirito asked, "I'll add you to my party, then," and, using the player selection menu, sent a party invite. He knew the other's name, but using it would reveal he'd known all along, which he wanted to avoid.

Just as their party formed, Tia Beryl, seeing most people still unmoved, prepared to announce a temporary dismissal and the raid assembly time. But, as always, the ones who stand out in the worst way tend to appear at moments like these.

"Wait a minute!" A short, middle-aged man who hadn't quite graduated from adolescent delusions appeared directly in front of the sun, hopping down with exaggerated movements. He seemed quite pleased with his own display, even pausing for several seconds to savor the attention.

"Whoa, is that a rare skill—Frog Style?" someone joked, and laughter exploded through the crowd. Most didn't know what Frog Style was, but everyone recognized a frog.

The man, flushed red from the jeering, couldn't pinpoint who to blame among so many, so he endured it for now, remembering his purpose.

With thick skin, he ignored the ridicule and shouted, "My name is Fang King. I have something to say before the boss raid." Quite satisfied with the attention, he seemed to forget it was his eccentric actions and odd outfit that drew all eyes.

"Among those present, shouldn't someone atone for the deaths of two thousand players?" He didn't care for the fallen, but saw an opportunity to use their plight to stir sympathy and rally followers.

A commotion broke out.

"Mr. Fang King, you're talking about the beta testers, aren't you?" Tia Beryl, unfazed by the interruption, replied smoothly.

---

The other was clearly delighted by Tia Beryl's response. "Naturally!"

"Since the game began, beta testers have vanished from sight, enjoying advantageous spawn points and lavish rewards, selfishly boosting their levels, then pretending nothing happened." His voice grew stronger. "There are beta testers hidden among you. I demand they step forward and atone for the dead! And hand over any hoarded weapons and items. Otherwise, I won’t team up with such people."

Just as Lance was about to deliver a punch to this troublemaker...

"May I say something?" A steady voice emerged from the crowd. A man at least half a head taller than Fang King strode forward, blocking him with his imposing frame. "Mr. Fang King, are you saying that because beta testers didn’t look after everyone, that’s why things are as they are? And so they owe an apology?" Faced with such visual intimidation, Fang King faltered.

"That’s... yes... of course." But the bald man didn't let him continue, instead producing a small brown, nameless notebook. "My name is Agil, and I imagine you recognize what I hold."

"Of course." Fang King sneered, turning to address the crowd. "I’m sure you’ve all seen the strategy guide. It’s free at the item shop, but here's the thing—the guide was submitted by beta testers themselves." The revelation sent the players into a frenzy.

"Do you have any proof?" Fang King tried to put up a last stand. But Lance, ever eager for the finishing blow, prepared to add his own.

"Authenticity? I’ll vouch for it. I watched my friend hand it over to that rodent-like merchant, who copied it and distributed it free at the item shop." Lance's words struck the crowd like a stone tossed into a tranquil lake.

"So you’re a friend of those so-called beta tester scum—" Fang King began, but before he could continue, Lance stunned everyone by jumping down directly from above, without using the stairs. As he landed, the ground seemed to quake, and he promptly kicked Fang King aside.

"You’re the scum. Do you know why beta testers didn’t publish high-level maps? High rewards come with high risks—even they faced death in those places. Ordinary players, tempted by loot and experience, would fare even worse. The truly skilled already found those areas; they didn’t need maps or guides. These guides were meant for regular players. Who here can claim they’ve never encountered something unknown even to beta testers? The beta test lasted only a week—they’ve already shared everything they knew." He cast a contemptuous glance at the recovering Fang King.

Lance's retort prompted the players to reconsider his words. Beta testers couldn’t possibly know everything, and the two thousand deaths seemed largely due to suicide or accidents. The strategy guide had appeared early, circulating by the third town. If Lance was right, beta testers had done nothing wrong.

"You bastard, who knows if you’re just making excuses for those guys!" Fang King finally challenged Lance, "I want to duel you!"

"Duel? Do you even know what that means? Do you understand what duels between knights are for? For us, a duel is a sacred ceremony where each stakes his life for his beliefs. What right do you have to demand a duel? Or are you prepared to face death at any moment?" With that, Lance drew his short sword.

(For those with questions, I’ve already answered in the reviews. Feel free to ask—I’m bored right now. Don’t ask me to write, though; writing burns brain cells. If you want to chat, I’m happy to oblige—my QQ is in the review section.)