Chapter 180: Strategy meeting, Kobold Lord: Ilufang
Tolbana is the second largest city on Aincrad's 1st Floor, covering an area of 200 KM², much larger than Tolbana's original size of only 200 m² in the original work. This is due to the number of SAO players that is almost one hundred thousand people. The city is surrounded by a magnificent castle wall and is famous for its white windmill towers. Tolbana is also located close to the 1st Floor Labyrinth, which can be reached by walking for about thirty minutes from the city gate.
Throughout the city, there are many fountains that add to the beauty of the atmosphere. Now, almost a month has passed since the start of SAO, and today Tolbana is the center of attention because of an important event: a strategy conference to defeat the First Floor Boss.
After exploring the vast and challenging labyrinth, the players finally managed to find the boss room on the first floor of Aincrad. As soon as this news reached Diabel, he immediately invited all SAO players to gather in Tolbana, the city closest to the labyrinth. Hearing the invitation, the SAO players immediately rushed to this city.
Although Noah was not interested in joining the meeting, Asuna's insistence made it impossible for him to refuse. When he entered the meeting place, Noah was wearing black clothes with a long spear on his back, and his red hair stood out in the crowd. Beside him, Asuna with her long chestnut brown hair fluttering in the wind, wearing white clothes with blue stripes.
"Hey, isn't that a battle mage?" a Dwarf player whispered to his friend when he saw Noah.
"Yes, rumor has it that he is the strongest player currently," replied a player from the Dark Elf race.
"Beta tester," a whisper came from the crowd, the identity of the speaker unknown.
"Noah, don't you care?" Asuna asked, frowning at the discussion that slandered Noah as a beta tester, because she knew that he wasn't one.
"Don't worry about them, they are just a bunch of jealous clowns," Noah replied lightly. Although his voice was not loud, because the attention of many players was on him, many heard the taunts. The players who had previously belittled and slandered Noah felt angry, but did not dare to speak up, realizing that they were no match for Noah.
Tolbana, the magnificent city on Aincrad's 1st Floor, was now filled with thousands of players who had arrived. The atmosphere inside the meeting place was tense, as if there was an aura of hope and worry mixed together. Outside, the beautifully dancing fountain provided a calm rhythm that contrasted with the tension that was gripping the meeting building. Noah and Asuna stood in the corner of the room, watching the crowd grow louder.
In the center of the arena, Diabel, the conference leader, stood confidently. He was a player with a strong aura of leadership, and when he began to speak, all attention was drawn to him.
"Thank you for coming to this meeting. Guys, we have obtained important information about the First Floor Boss! After exploring the labyrinth, we were finally able to find the boss's location and prepare a strategy to defeat it. We must defeat the boss so that we can head to the 2nd floor and tell everyone in the starting city that we can all clear this game."
Diabel's voice echoed throughout the room, and cheers from the players echoed. They all knew that defeating the boss was the first step to proceeding to the next floor, and that meant hope for escaping this deadly game.
"Alright, let's make a plan. First form a party of six members. Each party must have a clear role," Diabel continued. "There are tanks, healers, and DPS."
The players immediately discussed among themselves and formed groups according to Diabel's requirements. Most of the Dwarf players would act as tanks, while the Elves and Dark Elves would act as DPS with their magic. The Renards would act as healers.
Although SAO allows all players to freely develop their strengths, choosing a race has its own advantages.
The Elf and Dark Elf races have strong elemental magic, Renards have stronger healing magic compared to the healing magic of other races. If the Elf's magic damage is 10, then the magic damage of other races can only be below 10.
Kirito, who was sitting alone in the corner, looked around and found that each player had their own group and no one invited him to form a group. As a solo player, Kirito didn't have anyone he could invite to form a party.
As he continued to observe the entire area, he happened to see Noah and Asuna who were also alone. Without thinking, Kirito approached them to join the party because he knew that it was impossible to defeat the boss alone.
"Can I join your party?" Kirito's voice caught the attention of Noah and Asuna who were chatting.
Noah looked at the Dark Elf young man in front of him, even though this was the first time they met, Noah was sure that the person in front of him was Kirito.
"Solo Player?" Asuna asked.
"Yeah, like he said, we can't defeat the boss alone, so I was wondering if I could join you guys?" Kirito explained his intentions while pointing at Diabel who was in the middle of the arena.
"Sure. Welcome to join" Noah replied while sending a party invitation to Kirito. Seeing the invitation to join the party in front of him, Kirito let out a sigh of relief.
In the middle of the arena Diabel continued to discuss the next strategy.
"Okay, have you formed a party?, then..."
"Wait a minute...!" someone interrupted Diabel's words. The voice immediately caught everyone's attention, they looked at the source of the voice.
A brown-haired wolf-eared Bestman jumped into the middle of the arena with a few steps.
"My name is Kibaou. There is something we want to say before we discuss the boss hunting strategy. Some of you have to apologize to the nine thousand players who have died" Kibaou introduced himself and said to all the players confidently.
(Ps: in the anime there are 2000, but the Author made it 9000 because there are 100,000 players here compared to the original work)
"Kibaou-san, do you mean them, the beta testers?" Diabel asked with a tone of pretending to be confused even though inside he was very angry at Kibaou's behavior, he himself was one of the beta testers, so of course he was not happy with Kibaou's behavior, but he could not reveal his identity as a beta tester here if he wanted to be able to lead the other SAO players.
"Isn't it obvious?! When this game started, the beta testers just left the newbies behind, and disappeared who knows where. They must have occupied a good Leveling up place and easy missions, so they got stronger easily. Then they just left us alone. I'm sure there must be beta testers here!" Kibaou meant to shout angrily and turn on the beta testers. Although Kibaou said he wanted the beta testers to apologize, his real goal was for their equipment and items. He wanted to get those equipment and items for himself.
"They have to hand over all the money and items they've obtained or we can't trust them as a party that protects each other..." Kibaou continued to provoke the other players to hate the beta testers.
The beta testers who were hiding in the crowd gritted their teeth when they heard that Kibaou wanted them to hand over all the money and equipment they had risked their lives to obtain.
"May I speak..." A tall and muscular bear Beastman raised his hand and interrupted Kibaou.
"My name is Egil." The man said as he walked in front of Kibaou and stared at him with an intimidating face.
Kibaou couldn't help but take a step back and gulp when he saw Egil's tall stature.
"Kibaou, so what you're saying is that because the beta testers didn't care about them, many new players died, and they have to take responsibility, apologize, and compensate. Is that so?" Egil said while narrowing his eyes at Kibaou.
"Y- yes, that's right!" Kibaou replied, stuttering because he was nervous.
After hearing Kibaou's answer, Egil took out a guidebook that was provided for free in the item shop. Egil explained that the guidebook was a book made by the beta testers that contained information about the game and was distributed for free in the item shop so that all players could read it. Many players were shocked to hear the news and their anger towards the beta testers subsided.
Kibaou, who was publicly humiliated, left the arena with a frown and shame.
After that brief incident, the meeting continued and strategies were explained. They all had the same goal: to survive and get out of Aincrad.
After a while, Diabel ended the meeting by reminding everyone to get ready. "We will start the attack tomorrow morning. Make sure all preparations are done properly. We will meet at the entrance of the labyrinth."
.....
The bright morning was filled with excitement and tension. Thousands of players gathered at the entrance of the labyrinth, preparing to attack the First Floor Boss, Kobold Lord Ilufang. Diabel, who had just been appointed as the commander, stood in front of the crowd with confidence.
"Alright, everyone! We've prepared well for today! Remember, we must stay organized and follow my orders. We can't let chaos happen in the middle of the battle!" Diabel shouted as he raised his sword, encouraging the players.
Behind him, Noah, Asuna, and Kirito stood side by side. Asuna and Kirito had serious and nervous expressions because today's battle would determine what would happen in the future. In front of them, Diabel's voice echoed, giving instructions to the rest of the group. "Remember, tanks in front! Healers stay behind! DPS get ready to attack while tanks fend off the boss's attacks!"
With a final warning, Diabel took the lead into the labyrinth.
As they entered the labyrinth, the atmosphere began to tense. Determination and worry filled the air. After walking for a long time, they finally arrived at the boss room. After asking if they were ready, Diabel did not hesitate to open the door to the boss room.
In the center of the room, Kobold Lord Ilufang sat on a throne, as the players approached he stood majestically, holding a battle axe and a nodachi, ready to fight.
Ilufang let out a thunderous roar, breaking the silence. "Roar!!!" its voice echoed like thunder, adding to the tension in the room. Ilufang summoned a group of kobold guards.
Diabel, who was standing in front, raised his sword and shouted, "Everyone, prepare! We can't retreat now!"
The players began to move, dividing into groups based on the strategy they had previously discussed. Noah, Asuna, and Kirito, who had united into one party, prepared to face the five approaching Kobold guards.
"Don't let them surround us!" Noah shouted, raising his spear. "Attack quickly!"
Asuna and Kirito nodded, both taking their positions. Asuna focused on the closest guard, while Kirito prepared to attack from the side. Noah utilized wind magic to increase their speed.
"Wind Blast!" Noah shouted, directing his magic towards Asuna and Kirito. In an instant, the two felt the power of wind flowing through their bodies, increasing the speed of their attacks.
"Now!" Asuna shouted, launching a swift attack with her rapier towards the first Kobold guard. The attack hit its mark, piercing the kobold guard's torso and sending him reeling back.
Kirito followed up with a swift attack, slashing in a stunning acrobatic move.
"Razor Edge!" he shouted, unleashing an attack that sent out a sharp wave that destroyed the remaining HP of the Kobold guards.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Diabel led his group to attack the Kobold Lord. The atmosphere grew tense as Ilufang began to use earth magic. It raised its hand, and in an instant, the ground beneath the players shook.
"Get ready!" Diabel shouted. "Dodge this attack!"
Ilufang swung its axe, and instantly the ground beneath the players began to form walls of earth that blocked them. Several players were trapped and unable to escape.
"Watch out!" Diabel shouted, but it was too late for some of the trapped players.
"Noah, we have to take down this guard immediately!" Asuna shouted, fighting off one of the guards that tried to attack her from behind. She also saw that the player facing the Kobold Lord was in trouble and she wanted to help.
"Yes, keep attacking!" Noah answered calmly without rushing, using his magic to protect Asuna from the incoming attacks.
"Wind Shield!" He created a wind shield that protected Asuna as he launched his attacks.
The three of them worked very well together, protecting each other and attacking simultaneously. However, just as they were about to defeat the third Kobold guard, Ilufang let out a thunderous roar that sent tremors throughout the room.
"Roar!!!" It shouted once more, and the ground beneath the players began to shake even more violently.
"Prepare to attack!" Diabel shouted, leading the charge towards Ilufang.
"We can't let it continue this attack!" Diabel swung his sword with full force, targeting Ilufang's large body. However, Ilufang easily dodged and retaliated with an axe strike that shattered the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked the players back.
"Unite! We must fight!" Diabel shouted, motivating the players around him. The tanks tried to distract Ilufang, but their mettle was tested when Ilufang began using earth magic to summon walls of earth that blocked their path.
"All healers, prepare healing!" Diabel shouted, realizing that many players were injured by Ilufang's attacks. The healers immediately began healing the wounded, but it was not enough to overcome the losses incurred.
Diabel tried to remain calm. "We must focus! Tanks withstand the boss's attacks, DPS prepare to attack after the boss uses a skill. Healers prepare healing spells and potions!" He instructed the party.
"Get ready!" Diabel shouted, as Ilufang raised its axe to attack. "Dodge this attack!"
However, Ilufang's attack was powerful. The ground beneath them grew walls of earth that blocked their path. Several players were trapped and unable to escape.
"Watch out!" Diabel shouted, but it was too late for some of the players caught in the attack.
"No!" shouted one of the players, as he was crushed by debris and shattered into pieces of data as his HP dropped to 0.
....
Noah stood his ground, carefully assessing the situation. He saw Asuna and Kirito busy with the remaining Kobold guards. Although they seemed to be under pressure, Noah could see that they were slowly pressuring the Kobold guards. As the other Kobold guards approached, Noah decided to step in.
Swiftly, Noah raised his spear and stepped forward. He used the increased speed thanks to the wind magic he had cast earlier. His spear gleamed as he launched the first attack, stabbing the tip of the spear into the stomach of the Kobold guard who tried to attack Asuna. The Kobold guard staggered back.
Not giving the Kobold guard a chance to recover, Noah continued his attack with a series of quick and skillful movements. He swung his spear with precision, each strike aimed at the guard's weak point. In a matter of seconds, Noah managed to knock down the first guard, turning him into pieces of data that disappeared.
Asuna and Kirito, inspired by Noah's calmness and skill, began to attack with more confidence. Asuna launched a swift attack with her rapier, while Kirito unleashed a stunning acrobatic attack, creating a deadly combination of attacks. Noah, remaining focused, shielded them from the incoming attacks with wind magic.
As the three of them began to gain control of the situation, the thunderous voice of Kobold Lord Ilufang echoed throughout the room. Ilufang, seemingly enraged by the players' success, began to prepare to launch a more powerful attack. The ground shook beneath them, and walls of earth began to rise rapidly, separating the players from each other.
Noah was unfazed by the tension. He focused and used his magic to form a wind shield around Asuna and Kirito. "Hold on!" Noah's calm voice gave them the strength to continue their assault.
Meanwhile, Diabel and his party fought hard against Ilufang. Attack after attack was launched and Ilufang's HP continued to drop to the yellow line. When Ilufang's HP reached the yellow line, it let out a violent roar and Ilufang's movements became faster, the DPS players immediately retreated while the tanks advanced to withstand the impact of Ilufang's attacks and the healers continued to cast healing spells on the tanks.
When Ilufang's violent effect ended, the DPS immediately launched their attacks, various spells and arrows attacked Ilufang non-stop. When Ilufang's HP turned red and only needed a few more attacks to kill it, Diabel who saw that immediately ran to make the final attack.
Every beta tester knows that whoever makes the final attack and kills the boss will get an exclusive reward, therefore Diabel who wanted the reward rushed towards Ilufang without hesitation because he thought that he knew all of Ilufang's moves so he could kill Ilufang easily.
The other players were shocked when they saw Diabel who had previously given orders behind with the Healer suddenly running towards Ilufang. It didn't take long for Diabel to arrive in front of Ilufang, Diabel's sword glowing and ready to attack while Ilufang sheathed its Nodachi.
In the distance Kirito who had just killed the Kobold guard saw Ilufang's strange movements that were not in the closed beta test and immediately knew that there was an unknown change.
"Retreat! The Kobold Lord's last move has changed..." Kirito shouted to remind Diabel but it was too late, Ilufang suddenly stomped its feet on the ground and the shockwave immediately made Diabel unable to move.
Feeling himself unable to move, Diabel's face was full of fear and despair. Without waiting for the other players to react, Ilufang swung its Nodachi and attacked Diabel in succession, in just a few attacks, Diabel's HP was immediately emptied.
When the other players realized, Diabel's figure had fallen to the ground before turning into scattered pieces of data.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone