SWORD ART ONLINE - V -

episode 3 - '' Choose your character "

SWORD ART ONLINE
*V*

episode 3 : ''Choose your character''

"Left side! Move!" - Chloe , girl with short blonde hair and emerald eyes shouted as players who were hidden in one of the passage ways of the larrge domed room rushed out with their weapons aimed at "Regret" , boss of the level they were trying to complete for three days now. Regret was just a giant statue of gryphon and he was made entirely of grey stone. He didn't move at all and his only attack seemed to be short range energy blast that while inflicting damage to players , it also stunned them for 30 seconds which would make them endure at least two more blasts after which their health level would be on its minimum. After that all players would teleport away scared to continue fighting. But not Chloe, she'd be damned if she let this Boss win . Not again. As the group from left passage way attacked the beast, their swords glowing with skills that slashed at the stone Regret was made of , Chloe prepared her potions carefully. Two of them will heal everyone in small radius of the place she throws it at , and 15 others were to heal each player individually when they get hit by Regret's attack.
In the right passage way , players who attacked first retreated to drink potions or teleport back to safety. Chloe was throwing her potions to heal the players who endured most damage and she was so caught up into it , checking the status bars of all the players she forgot to check on Regret's.
"Wait , stop!!!" - she shouted as one of the players with his sword glowing with bright orange hue slashed at the statue lowering its health below 30% .
"Dammit i said wait! Run for cover !" - she cursed under her breath for not paying enough attention . They were supposed to retreat before his health goes below 30% , now theres just not enough time. Regret's emerald eyes started glowing as players around him ran for cover. The statue started spinning rapidly and shooting energy blasts from its eyes everywhere around the dome. Screams echoed as the players were hit , some of them taking small amount of damage and some of them disintegrated as soon as the blast hit them. Chloe was running toward main entrance to the dome drinking one potion after another and tossing few wide-range ones over her should not being able to look back if shes even managing to heal anyone. Entrance door started opening before she even got close to them . Bright light was coming from the other side and she saw a figure running through them and toward her.
"Attack isnt over yet wait until he stops!!!" - she waved here arms for players to stop because they were supposed to attack only after Regret's stops spinning. That way player hurt by his attack can heal or escape while the last group of players charging from main entrance finish him off.
The light coming from the entrance door begun to fade away and she could see the player who was running toward her.
"You-" - she was about to yell at him for being an idiot and not following orders when he grabbed her left hand and sun her around pushing her behind him as he raised his shield which took two energy blasts right away.
"Here he comes" - he said quietly as he gripped tight his shield. Then, as Regret's attack was ending he started spinning faster than ever and releasing energy blasts which looked like he shot them in all directions at once when in fact he was just shooting and spinning really fast.
The blasts hit the shield of the player protecting Chloe and shattered it , the impact blew them both away and they hit the ground hard. The player stood up and offered his hand to Chloe . She took it and pulled her up.
"So , are we even now?'' - he asked.
"Not even close Kira" - she said and and then signal the rest of the players to march in and attack the Boss.

-5 weeks earlier-

Not quite"- Kira said and turned around. Stephanie gasped. Wishes's eyes widened as he saw piece of beast's claw sticking out of Kira's chest. Kira reached and grabbed the piece of metal and fur that reflected red glow from his chest. He pulled it out and tossed it on the ground where it disintegrate . Everyone stood silently. Kira was just about to laugh it off when his health started decreasing so fast he knew it wont stop until it reached zero .
5% , 4% , 3% , 2% . Kira closed his eyes. He felt something hit him in the shoulder. He opened his eyes his health bar flashing with red light suddenly stopped making noise and he watched in awe as his health started increasing.
"You owe me big time kid." - Chloe said from top of the rumble . She threw the potion at Kira just before his health reached 0 .
''What did you do?''- Matt asked.
''I healed him , duh .''
''How ?'' - Stephanie asked looking at her and then at Kira who was looking at his clothes appearing again on the place he pull out the claw from.
''Potion obviously'' Chloe said "I have plenty,ill give few to some of you newbies or youre all done for.''
''How did you know it would work?'' - Matt asked.
''If what would work?''
''The potion . Most of the items we brought from games we were playing are useless here.''
''Trust me , all my items work.'' - Chloe smirked.
''How do you know? Did you check them already?'' - Wishes asked pulling up his inventory screen and looking at his items from PW .
''No. I was playing SAO before that psycho trapped me here and brought all you guys.''
''Wait you were playing this crap?'' - Ryan pushed through the crowd to get in front of Chloe - ''So you know how to complete thy game , get us out?''
''The only time game was completed back when the players were trapped in here the first time , noone completed it since.'' - Kira said.
''Perfect.'' - Ryan turned his back to Chloe.
''Yes, but the game's completion happened before players reached 100th level so noone knows what happens when you get there.'' - Wishes said and Chloe just nodded.
''Then we need to go there.'' - Matt said and looked around him , most of the players stepped back as he said it . He thought they might turn around and flee any second.
''But that guy said not to try that.'' - Stephanie mumbled.
''We have to.'' - Wishes put his hand on her shoulder.
'''Yeah, its our only chance.'' - Chloe said firmly.
''What if that guy sees us coming and just kills us on spot.'' - One of the scared players asked from the crowd.
''We cant know what he may do.'' - Chloe shrugged.
''But whats his endgame? I mean last time players were challenged to complete the game but now that creep told us not to even try it.'' - Kira asked while still looking at his status bar like at any moment is health may start decreasing again.
''Well when he find him and kick his ass maybe we'll ask him.'' - Chloe was serious and ready to fight.
''So what do we do now.'' - Matt asked.
''Now you come with me to Aincrad where its safe and ill teach you how to fight.''

-now-

Ryan was running next to Stephanie while Matt ,Wishes and other players were ahead of them their swords glowing with power aimed at Regret.
"Stay behind me Lady Huntress ill take care of this guy for you." - Ryan said nudging her Stephanie with his elbow.
"I told you not to call me that and-" - Stephanie stopped in her tracks and grabbed Ryan's collar pulling him back only inches away from the blast wave Regret released.
''Maybe i should stay behind you'' - Ryan said smiling. Stephanie winked at him and charged at the Boss . Cuts started appearing all over Regret's body each of them pulsing with red light.
''Wait for it ! ''- Chloe shouted as the players slashed fiercely.
''Now!!!'' - She yelled and all the players retreated in a circle around Regret at the edge of his blast wave radius. Chloe looked at Regret's health bar. 11% left. She knew once they get it below 10% he will commence his spinning and shooting attack.
''Everyone ready?'' - She shouted. Players cheered as they ran out from left and right passage ways and surrounded the Boss. Most of them had barely over 50% of health. They activated their sword skills and waiter for order to attack. Chloe raised her sword getting ready to attack with rest of them. Few seconds passed as everyone held their breath their legs itching to move and commence the attack.
Kira sighed loudly breaking his battle stance and looking over to Chloe "Would you just give them the signal to-"
"Attack!!!" - Chloe cut him off with a shout and rushed toward Regret. Kira shook his head smiling and joined other players. Wishes's blue sword started making buzzing noise as it powered up with electric power which was its special skill which also boost his agility and speed stats. He jumped and with sword's skill he almost looked like he was flying straight toward Regret's head. He raised the sword above his head and then brought it crushing down at Regret's face and slashing all the way down his chest as he was falling toward the ground. Sparks flew everywhere as he cut him. Regret's eyes started glowing. He had 7% health left.
"He is going to attack!" - Stephanie shouted. Players desperately started swinging their swords as fast as they cold trying to defeat him before he attacks because none of them would be able to avoid the blasts this time. Some of the players were also paralysed by his blast wave so not many of them were left to attack him now. 5% now . Regret started to spin slowly glow of his eyes starting to pulsate. He is going to attack.
Then he stopped and the grey color of stone he was made of turned purple and he looked like he faded away a bit. Chloe looked up at his head but it wasnt there . There was just a jumbled mess she couldnt make sense of.
Small fairy girl flew above his head and shouted to players - "He is glitched. Attack now , quickly!"
The players let out one final battle cry and hit the boss with everything they got. He stood there for a second when his health reached 0 and then exploded in million red pieces like a broken glass. Some players cheered , some cried , some fell to the ground in relief . Regret was defeated.
"I came in just in time . It was really hard to break into data stream." - Fairy girl flew down in front of Chloe and the others.
"Who are you?" - she asked.
"My name is Yui , papa sent me to help players trapped in the game like he was."
"I dont understand , are you a player or-" - Matt begun to ask her when she interrupted him.
"Wait! I am reading a strange digital signature."
"Whose?" - Wishes asked with confused look on his face.
"Its The Gamemaster , the one who trapped the players . He is on level above us."

TO BE CONTINUED