Destiny Bond

Floor Two: Field Boss

Hiro's POV

I woke up the next day, still dumbfounded at the prospect of being trapped inside this game. Turning around, a still sleeping Zero Two lay next to me, with almost nothing to cover her up. Averting my eyes as I pulled the covers over her, I calmly clambered out of bed and headed out the door. Almost instantly I was met with a face full of thick black hair,

???: "Oh I'm sorry," The figure exclaimed, backing up a little.

As I backed away, I got a good look at the young man standing in front of me. He had long black hair, which was messy, his jet black eyes also seemed to hide a lonely expression,

???: "I'm sorry, I was heading out the door and, I bumped into you," the black-haired boy explained.

Hiro: "Oh, no worries, I was heading out myself too, so it's my fault as well." I replied, giving him a sheepish look.

???: "My name's Kirito, and yours?" the boy asked, holding his hand out.

Hiro: "Mine's Hiro, it's nice to meet you," I answered, taking his hand.

Kirito: "I assume that you haven't gotten that far in the game just yet," Kirito said, walking down the steps with me.

Hiro: "No, surprisingly, I've been grinding since the game started yesterday with my partner," I explained, to which Kirito seemed taken aback.

Kirito: "Are-Are you one of the Beta Testers?" Kirito then whispered, leaning in closer to hide the words.

Hiro: "I am yes and you?" I answered, lowering my voice as we sat down at a table.

Kirito soon changed his expression from stern to relieved. He leaned back against the wall like he had a huge weight taken off of his shoulders. I chuckled as I looked out of the window,

Kirito: "There's been a lot of persecution for Beta Testers, a lot of us have to hide our identity from the regular players," Kirito explained, twiddling his fork around.

Hiro: "I expected as much, they would be suspicious of us because we know all the best hunting grounds and quests," I concurred, taking a bite out of my eggs.

Kirito: "Yeah, being solo is probably the only way I get by. We haven't even found the boss room inside the dungeon yet." Kirito explained, leaning back once more.

Hiro: "Yeah, though I know when we do find it; you'll find my partner and me there at the front." I declared, thinking of Zero Two.

It was at this moment when Zero Two appeared from the stairs she yawned as she looked around, lazily. Catching sight of Kirito and I, she meandered over and sat down in the chair next to me.

Zero Two: "Darling, what are we doing today," She asked, to which I blushed and Kirito's eyebrow raised.

Kirito: "So that's your partner," Kirito assumed, smirking a little, "She seems more like your girlfriend Hiro," he then jeered.

Hiro: "I-I promise you, she isn't we aren't-" I began before Zero Two held her hand over my mouth.

Zero Two: "Hiro is my darling, and you are?" She asked, giving Kirito a once over.

Kirito: "My name's Kirito, I'm a swordsman," Kirito revealed, smiling at her.

Zero Two's facial expression changed to more hospitable as he introduced himself.

Kirito: "You two seem to have good chemistry," Kirito pointed out.

Zero Two: "Well, he is my darling, so we have amazing chemistry." Zero Two bragged, releasing me from her grip.

Kirito, having eaten his meal, then stood up and motioned toward the door.

Kirito: "I'll be seeing you Hiro, Zero Two." he said, waving us goodbye as he left the inn.

Zero Two then began smothering her breakfast in honey, which was widely seen as disgusting by the other players at the inn. I blushed a little as I pouted. Taking a moment to enjoy my breakfast, I began to think about what the boss fight.

Hiro: We'll have to get a lot stronger for us to survive this boss fight. I thought, cleaning up my breakfast.

We then headed out for the day into the field. While in the area, we saw a few players battling monsters and some retreating to town. Zero Two smiled at me as a horde of monsters headed our way.

Zero Two: "C'mon darling, we can do this!" Zero Two declared, pulling me forward.

Hack, slash, stab, crush, these sounds echoed across the area for about ten minutes. Then a giant roar, louder and more penetrating than anything I had ever heard, came out of the thick forest. At that moment, a feeling of dread filled my stomach. I grimaced at the thought of dying in this world. Zero Two noticed my expression and took my hands,

Zero Two: "Darling, you aren't weak, you're brave, you can do anything if you wish, as long as I'm on your side; I won't let anything happen to us." she reassured, staring into my eyes.

I took all this in for a moment. I took in the situation, the sounds of battles, and the ominous sound of the monster in the forest. Then, I opened my eyes, let go of Zero Two, and drew my sword. Zero Two smiled as she saw determination illuminate my face.

Hiro: "You're right Zero Two, I can do this. As long as I'm with you, I can do anything." I declared, preparing a defensive stance.

The sounds of swords unsheathing from both my left and right reassured me as I leaned down to attack. Looking to both my right and left, I gazed upon Zero Two who had a smile on her face as she briefly looked at me; then to Kirito, who had appeared on the field.

Hiro: I can do this! I pledged, charging towards the minotaur.

I raced up the minotaurs left arm as it cleaved another group of players, and opened up a barrage of slices on its head. It attempted to claw at me, but I had jumped off before to dodge the attack. Kirito and Zero Two soon opened up the battle with their attacks, lighting up the minotaur with gashes of red across its torso and legs. The minotaur bellowed with pain as it sustained more damage. I watched as its health drained, attacking relentlessly until the last blow. I thrust my sword deep into the minotaur's torso, to which it stopped moving. It soon began to dissolve as the familiar death effect clouded my vision.

Hiro: "Are you okay?" I panted, sheathing my sword and leaning on a nearby tree,

Zero Two: "I'm perfectly fine darling, I'm more worried about you though," Zero Two replied, slowly walking towards me.

Kirito: "That's the most stressful fight I've had yet!" Kirito cheered, running up to us, "The boss fight will most likely be exactly like this battle though, you two already have mastery of the switch tactic so we could use you guys on the frontlines," Kirito suggested, patting my shoulder and handing me a healing crystal.

I chuckled as the other players began to get up from the ground, many of them strained as they limped back to the town. Waving them off, we headed back to town after a while. These were the first few, brutal, days of Sword Art Online. There was to be no courage in battle, only survival.