Sword Art Online: The Duo Factors

Chapter 7: Unexpected Tragedy.

Aincrad Standard Time 16:00. Floor 20, Battle Corridor..

The four of them approached the location where Lind and the others were believed to be stranded. But despite being in the right area based on the coordinates, there was no way to the floor that they needed to reach.

Lai: Eh?

Koharu: What's going on here? We can't find any ways to the floor where they are..

Lai: Maybe some secret passage we have to discover on our own? There must be..

Argo: I don't think there is.. Passages are oftenly unlocked by some specific quest we need to take.

Lai: Oh.. So we can't reach them at all..

As they both busy figuring out how to.. Someone calls from their behind.

???: Huh? Lai? Koharu? Is that you? What are you two doing in this dungeon?

In the result, they both got shocked.. But at the same time, they recognize the voice.

Koharu: Sachi?! Where did you come from?

Lai: You scared me! I thought you were a monster spawn.

Sachi: Hehe! Sorry! I didn't mean to spook you two!

Upon closer inspection, it seemed like the other members of her guild, the Moonlit Black Cats, were all gathered with her as well. A player who dressed as a thief seems to be very excited.

Ducker: So you two are the ones who helped Sachi!? Man, I heard a lot about you two as the top tier players, my name's Ducker and it's nice to see you! This is Keita, Sasamaru and Tetsuo!

The other three members greet at them with utmost respect.

Koharu: Uhm.. Nice to meet you all!

Lai: Me too. So these guys are your friends, Sachi? They seem pretty... decent tho. *Sweatdropped* (Not to mention all of them are just between level 10.)

Sachi: They're insisting on coming to this floor. ^^"

Koharu: These are the front lines, you know. Are you sure you all should be here?

Sachi: Yeah, we're okay. We're on a quest that lets us keep a bodyguard NPC for anything other than boss fights. Which is a problem because I don't think we can take on the boss for this quest by ourselves. So I talked it over with the others and we decided to try again later after leveling up a little bit more.

Lai: So how did you stumbled up on this quest?

Keita: Well, after we arrived on the 20th floor, we came across this quest in a safe zone that brought us to this dungeon here. The boss room for that quest is along this passage up ahead, but... Are you telling me you can't see it?

They both shake their heads.

Lai: No.. All I see is just a wall. And I bet it isn't an illusion.

Koharu: Sounds like that about confirms it. Unless we take up whatever quest Sachi and the others are doing, or else we won't be able to access that path.

Then, the silver devil asks..

Sanya: May I ask you a question? Does this quest of yours conclude once the boss has been vanquished?

Sachi: I don't think so. The NPC with us said, "Only those who pass the trial may go on to challenge the true threat." That makes me think there's probably more to the quest than just a boss fight. It could lead into another fight with an event boss who's even stronger, which is why we've held off on moving forward for now.