Sword Art Online ~ Destinies

The Gates To Reality

April 9th, 2023. The remaining players have been working hard to clear floors. I went in on a few floors with groups of players and fought beside them for the heck of it. I was able to steal a few last attacking bonuses, leaving me a sword called Amethyst's Blade and a long, vest like cloak named the Indigo Pharaoh. My other gear hasn't upgraded too much, besides me buying a top, skirt, and boots from a craftsman. Also gaining them from NPC quests. 

I'm still alive, and luckily haven't gotten close to death. A few days ago I reached level 38. I was working solo, besides the occasional dungeons. But within one of the dungeons, I met two players; which changed everything.

March 6th, 2023. Dungeon 10, the 10th boss. Or should I say bosses. We faced dragons, Zephryus and Sephylor. Zephryrus was a large, black, scaly dragon that breathed fire. His other primary attack was slashing. He is swifter than Sephylor who was a blue dragon with ice covering parts of its body. It breathed ice instead of fire. But unlike Zephryus, Sephylor was stronger against attacks and better at counterattacks. 

Our group of around 40-50 players entered the dungeon. It was dark, as most dungeons start. On the ground were fire and ice symbols. They suddenly came to glow while flapping of wings could be heard. The room lit up, and hovering above us were the two dragons. I must say, they were breathtaking. Sephylor roared and breathed ice around the room, freezing parts of the walls. While we were distracted, Zephryus swooped down, breathing fire. 

I ran and knocked down players it was aiming towards, only leaving them with a tiny burn. 

"We need to take out Sephylor first! Watch your backs and attack it! We'll keep Zephryus busy!" One player commanded. I called over a bunch of players and Sephylor landed. We surrounded it, guards up. I stood in front of it, making eye contact. It had somewhat of a look of sorrow. "Attack." I called, feeling kind of guilty. Everyone charged in, cutting the icy dragon here and there. It roared and flapped it's wings, knocking players down to the floor. 

I held my stance and ran in, dodging and weaving its ice breath and rays. Another player slashed at its leg, which distracted it, so I leaped into the air and landed on its back. "Sorry..." I whispered. I cut at its wings and stabbed its back. It growled, jolting back and fourth. It released a ray of ice, aiming directly at a boy with scruffy grey hair and blue eyes. 

Suddenly, everything seemed as if it was moving in slow motion. The boy stared at the beam, getting closer and closer. "Move!" I screamed. He was too scared to. My eyes widened and I ran up the dragons neck, pushing down its head and leaping in front of its mouth. I dashed down, in front of the boy, and pushed him back.

"What are you..." He mumbled. He fell back and watched in horror.

The beam hit me in the shoulder. I screamed and fell back, rolling onto the ground. I peaked open one eye to check my HP. It was down a little more than half way. I clenched my hands and rolled over onto my back. "That.. hurt.." I whispered. 

The boy scrambled to his feet and knelt beside me, taking out a healing crystal. He brushed the hair from his face. "Heal!" The crystal disintegrated. He took my hand and helped me sit up as I watched my HP return to full. "I'm so sorry!" His face was red, from embarrassment. "Thank you though.. I would've just died..." He looked at me. "Thank me after," I said standing up, "we still have two bosses to kill." I smiled at him and motioned him to run in with me at Sephylor. He nodded.

The dragon was in the air, breathing ice. While the unnamed boy and I ran in, I peaked behind me. Somehow, with less players, Zephyrus only had a bit of health left. I turned back and said to the boy, "You hit its legs to distract it. I'll sneak around and attack its back." "Got it."