I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

Mitt added in a serious tone, "But next time, please let me play a more ordinary role."

Chapter 179: The Blue-Eyed Demon

April.

The labyrinthine area on the seventy-fourth floor was filled with the damp, metallic smell of corrosion.

On either side of the dimly lit passageway, the cold stone walls shimmered with a faint light, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the maze.

"clang--!"

With a piercing metallic clang, the lightning blade in Mochizuki Kaede's hand erupted with dazzling blue lightning. The moment the lizardman warrior's bone sword made contact with the lightning blade, fine currents surged up the blade, causing the monster covered in dark green scales to roar in pain. Using the recoil, Mochizuki Kaede nimbly leaped back three steps.

"It's now!"

Asuna's soft shout echoed crisply through the passageway, her chestnut hair billowing like a waterfall in the rushing air, and the elven sword in her hand shimmering with emerald light.

At the same time, Mitt's high-tied purple ponytail stretched into a straight line behind her, and her huge purple scythe drew a crescent-shaped trajectory.

The two figures surged forward from either side of Mochizuki Kaede like two intersecting bolts of lightning. To the accompaniment of Yuna's melodious, amplifying music, Asuna's amber pupils and Mito's crimson eyes flashed with a sharp light simultaneously—

Two distinct yet equally dazzling sword techniques converged on the lizardman's chest. In the burst of emerald and violet light, the monster's health bar instantly evaporated. With a shattering sound like glass breaking, the lizardman dissipated into countless polygonal fragments into the air.

Just then, from the shadows, an even larger lizardman warrior swung out with a double-bladed battle axe, the rusty blade whistling through the air.

The monster's mouth, filled with fangs, opened wide, spewing out a foul-smelling roar.

"Roar--!"

"call out--!"

With a sharp whistling sound, the crescent moon, like a silver streak, spun through the air, tracing an arc. It struck the lizardman's axe-wielding right wrist precisely. The monster winced in pain and took a half-step back. Then, the crescent moon spun in the air before returning to Silica's hand.

"It's my turn!"

Strea's voice still lingered in the air as she appeared before the axe-wielding lizardman. Her short, light purple hair danced like flames as she moved at high speed, and her crimson eyes reflected the monster's distorted face. Her slender arms gripped a two-handed greatsword almost as tall as herself.

The next second, Stoleya raised her greatsword high and brought it down heavily. The sword strike was so powerful that the lizardman had no time to dodge. The moment the blade touched the scales, a blinding red light surged out like magma along the sword mark.

The monster's ferocious expression froze on its face, and a straight red line appeared from its shoulder blade to its waist. Then, the two halves of its body slowly separated along the smooth cut surface. Before the halves even touched the ground, they had already turned into countless data fragments, which flew away and dissipated in front of Stoleya's dashing sword-wielding figure.

So far, they have repelled six waves of monster attacks in this labyrinth, almost unscathed. And the most remarkable feat has undoubtedly been Strea's dazzling combat performance.

Asuna and Mito both had to admit in private that the seemingly lazy girl was probably even stronger than them.

But Streaia's biggest problem is her unpredictable personality; sometimes she'll enthusiastically join the team to complete a mission, and other times she'll disappear without a trace.

Mitt was initially extremely dissatisfied with this carefree attitude, but soon discovered that Stoleya seemed to possess a unique magic. Anyone who saw her would feel a sense of powerlessness, as if they were hitting a ball of cotton with all their might.

"What a waste of talent..." Mitt sighed as he looked at Storia humming a song ahead. She possessed such astonishing strength, yet she refused to dedicate all her energy to the frontline campaign.

At this moment, the group cautiously moved through the colonnaded corridor. Although their enemy detection skills ensured they wouldn't be ambushed, the echoing footsteps on the hard stone floor kept everyone on edge.

Although there is no clear light source in the maze, the entire space is bathed in a pale blue glow. Upon closer inspection of these buildings, which are tinged with pale blue light, one can see that the lower half is made of reddish-brown sandstone, but as one goes up, the building materials gradually transition to damp, dark blue stone.

The columns, carved with twisted patterns, were deeply submerged in the waterways beneath the surface, their surfaces entwined with some kind of sticky algae. The oppressive atmosphere of the entire labyrinth grew stronger with each step, as if even the air itself had thickened.

at this time--

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

A heart-wrenching scream shattered the silence of the maze.

That was not a sound a monster could make, but the desperate cries of a human player on the verge of death.

The group exchanged glances instantly and, without a word, simultaneously sprinted toward the source of the sound.

The group stepped across the slippery, blue-glowing stone slabs and rounded two bends before a majestic bronze gate suddenly appeared at the edge of their vision. The gate was fully open, its frame adorned with thorn-like metal patterns.

"This is the BOSS room?!" Asuna exclaimed in surprise.

As they got closer, the scene inside the door gradually became clearer.

A ghostly blue flame burned fiercely in the darkness, and deep within the flickering light, a colossal creature was moving, the sounds of clashing metal mingling with intermittent screams.

Just as Mochizuki Kaede was about to rush into the room, he suddenly stopped, the steel nails on the soles of his boots scraping against the stone slab and sending up a string of dazzling sparks.

"Hey! Are you alright?" He leaned half his body into the doorway, his voice instantly swallowed by the wave of heat that hit him.

What unfolds before our eyes is a vivid depiction of hell:

Blue-white pillars of fire erupted from the floor of the entire room, the distorted heat blurring the air. And in the center of the flames stood a gigantic monster.

Its body was covered with rope-like, knotted muscles, and its deep blue skin formed an eerie harmony with the surrounding flames. Atop its thick neck was not a human head, but a ferocious goat's head, with two thick, curved horns rising high from the sides of its head, like two sharp weapons.

Its eyes gleamed with a blue-white light, like two flames burning within them. The thick, dark blue fur on its lower body was faintly visible through the flames, and one could vaguely see its reverse-jointed hooves crushing the ground.

“Blue-Eyed Demon…” Mitt murmured the inscription floating above the BOSS’s head.

The monster spewed forth a scorching, sulfurous breath from its grotesque goat head, its deep blue muscles heaving violently with each breath. In its right hand, it wielded an enormous greatsword, its blade gleaming ominously with the eerie blue flames. Each sweep unleashed a violent torrent of air, swirling the burning demonic flames on the ground into spiraling fire tornadoes.

In stark contrast were a dozen or so black figures fleeing in panic. They were all dressed in uniform, jet-black heavy armor, with the emblem of a large guild branded on their breastplates.

These heavily armed warriors were in a sorry state, like ants in a storm struggling against the demon's sword.

.

Chapter 180: The Army

A heavily armored player was struck by the Blue-Eyed Demon's greatsword, crashing to the ground like a rag doll. His health had plummeted into the dangerous red zone, starkly visible against the backdrop of the eerie blue flames.

The Blue-Eyed Demon's massive body stood like an insurmountable wall between the heavily armored players and the entrance where Mochizuki Kaede and her group were. Mochizuki Kaede shouted at the fallen players, "Use the teleportation crystals! Now!"

The player turned his head with difficulty, his face, illuminated by the blue flames, filled with despair: "It's useless... the crystal... it's not working!"

“What…” Mochizuki Kaede opened his mouth, but couldn’t utter a single word. He immediately realized that this was a [Crystal Nullification Space]. Although such traps occasionally appeared in the maze area, this was the first time he had encountered one in a BOSS room.

"How could this be..." Asuna held her breath.

Just then, a furious roar suddenly erupted from the other side of the Blue-Eyed Demon: "What nonsense are you spouting!"

A heavily armored warrior, exceptionally well-equipped, raised his longsword, his eyes bloodshot beneath his helmet: "The word 'retreat' has never existed in the dictionary of the [army]! Stand up and fight!"

He swung his longsword with all his might and shouted at the top of his lungs, "All troops, listen to my command—Charge!!"

With that shout, the remaining heavily armored warriors barely managed to regroup and, dragging their wounded bodies, charged once more towards the invincible demon.

At this moment, two of the ten men had their health reduced to the limit and collapsed helplessly on the floor. The remaining eight quickly formed two horizontal lines of four men each. Then, standing in the center of the lines, he raised his longsword high, gave a command, and led the group forward.

"Stop!" Mochizuki Kaede's shout was drowned out by the Blue-Eyed Demon's roar. This suicidal, concentrated charge was utterly foolish; eight people attacking simultaneously couldn't utilize their sword skills and would only hinder each other. A much wiser approach would be to take turns restraining the boss and systematically whittling down its health.

The Blue-Eyed Demon stood majestically like the Immovable King, its goat head suddenly rising, spewing blue-white breath from its nostrils. The charging warriors were instantly enveloped by the breath, their movements visibly slowing. The BOSS grinned and swung its greatsword, aiming the blade at the commander who was still roaring the charge order.

"Qiang——!"

At the critical moment, the Thunder Blade [Thunder Abyss Judgment] appeared out of nowhere, accompanied by blinding lightning.

Mochizuki Kaede's figure flashed into the battlefield like lightning, his black trench coat fluttering in the shockwave. The Thunder Blade clashed with the Greatsword of Zhanma, unleashing dazzling sparks that illuminated his taut profile, strained from the force of the impact.

"You..." Mochizuki Kaede spat out the words through gritted teeth, her voice laced with suppressed rage, "Is this how you order your comrades to their deaths?!"

The Blue-Eyed Demon's greatsword was enormous, making the Thunder Blade seem like a child's toy in comparison. Yet, this toy somehow managed to block the demon's fatal blow. The stone slab beneath Mochizuki Maple's feet shattered inch by inch, spiderweb-like cracks spreading three meters away. His calf muscles trembled slightly from the immense pressure, but he remained unmoved, absorbing the heavy slash.

"Xiao Feng!"

Asuna's clear voice pierced through the roar of the battlefield.

She and Mitt supported the charge, their elven swords and purple scythes drawing dazzling trajectories in the air.

Meanwhile, Yuna, Silica, and Stoleya covered the surviving heavily armored players as they evacuated. However, the fierce battle between Mochizuki Kaede and the demon blocked the middle of the passage, and the shockwaves from each clash of weapons made the rescue operation extremely difficult.

The battle between Mochizuki Kaede and the Blue-Eyed Demon had reached a fever pitch. Although the Demon's Greatsword was a two-handed greatsword technique, it concealed unpredictable changes at every turn. Sometimes it would cleave vertically like a battle axe, sometimes it would thrust like a spear, and sometimes it would even spin and slash at an angle that defied the laws of physics at the moment it seemed to be finishing its move.

"Keng!"

After another violent collision, the blade of the Thunder Blade trembled violently, and Wang Yuefeng's health points flickered slightly at the edge of his vision. Although the number didn't drop much, the stun effect from the continuous blocking made his movements noticeably slower.

Asuna and Mito were in equally precarious situations. Every time their exquisite sword skills were about to hit, a blue-white flame barrier would suddenly erupt around the Blue-Eyes Demon, forcing the two to change their moves on the spot.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, a figure darted into the battlefield like a shooting star.

"boom--!"

Stoleya's greatsword clashed violently with the demon's massive sword, the shockwave scattering the surrounding blue flames. The girl's slender arms unleashed astonishing strength, forcing the demon, whose size was vastly different, back half a step.

Her crimson eyes were remarkably calm, her short, light purple hair whipping wildly in the air currents: "I can't let you keep bullying everyone~"

Asuna seized the fleeting opportunity and raised the Banner of Valor to the ground. A golden halo rapidly spread from the banner, and everyone's weapons instantly glowed with enhanced light.

Taking advantage of the moment, Mochizuki switched weapons, wielding a thunder blade in her right hand and an earth sword in her left, crossing the two swords in a cross-shaped slash. The double blow caused the demon to stagger backward, its hooves cracking the hard ground.

"Beautiful!" A glint flashed in Mitt's eyes as his purple scythe aimed straight for the demon's throat. Asuna, meanwhile, launched a side thrust, her elven sword leaving an emerald afterimage in the air.

Strea then circled behind the Blue-Eyed Demon and slammed her greatsword down on the demon's spine.

The four players coordinated flawlessly, their attack rhythm was impenetrable.

"This teamwork..." Several heavily armored players who hadn't yet retreated murmured in disbelief. The demon, which they considered nearly invincible, was now being suppressed to the point of being powerless to fight back, its health points decreasing at a visible rate.

"Roar--!"

The demon suddenly raised its head and let out a deafening roar. The goat's head tilted back, and blue-white energy began to gather in its mouth, a prelude to a breath attack!

Mochizuki Maple's Earth Sword flew out of his hand, striking the demon's throat with the precision of a cannonball, abruptly interrupting its charge.

Seizing the moment the demon froze, Mochizuki Kaede gripped the lightning blade tightly with both hands, and a dazzling burst of lightning suddenly erupted from her body—

"One-sword Shura!"

The lightning blade transformed into a bolt of lightning that pierced through the heavens and earth, passing right through the demon's chest. Time seemed to stand still at that moment; the demon's massive body convulsed violently, and blue-white lightning erupted from its seven orifices.

"Boom——!"

With a deafening explosion, the BOSS transformed into countless blue chips that burst apart, and the entire room was immediately showered with a shimmering rain of light.

Mochizuki Kaede slowly sheathed his sword while maintaining his thrusting stance, a faint arc of electricity still lingering on the tip of the lightning blade. Behind him, the Banner of Valor still stood tall, its golden light illuminating the faces of the heavily armored players, faces etched with awe.

Chapter 181: Back to the First Floor

The blue light particles drifting in the BOSS room had not yet completely dissipated when Mochizuki Kaede strode towards the group of heavily armored players slumped on the ground. His face showed no joy of victory, only an unyielding solemnity.

The surviving heavily armored players were all in a sorry state, their armor riddled with cracks, and some even hovering in the danger zone with their health points dwindling. As Wang Yuefeng approached, their leader slowly stood up and removed his helmet.

He was a robust man in his early thirties, with a square face and sharp, hawk-like eyes. His very short buzz cut still bore the marks of his helmet, and beneath his thick eyebrows, his small eyes showed little gratitude.

“I am Lieutenant Colonel Kobaz of the Aincrad Army.” He extended his hand, which was covered with metal gauntlets, and said in a hoarse voice, “On behalf of all the members, I would like to express my gratitude to you.”

This expression of gratitude sounds formulaic, as if it were merely fulfilling some obligation.

Mochizuki Kaede was no stranger to the Aincrad army; its predecessor was the Aincrad Liberation Army led by Ya-Oh.

Mochizuki Kaede asked, "How many players did you lose this time?"

Kobaz didn't expect Mochizuki Kaede to suddenly ask this. He was slightly taken aback, then turned his head and glanced at the remaining team behind him. The once orderly team was now sparse, and several familiar faces had disappeared forever.

“…Five men were killed.” He finally answered, his voice sounding as if it were being squeezed out of his chest.

Mochizuki Kaede's voice was calm and utterly unwavering: "Do you know? The last time there were casualties in the floor boss battle was on the sixty-seventh floor... What you're doing is no different from suicide."

"My men are all glorious warriors who sacrificed themselves!" Kobaz suddenly raised his voice, "Heroes who fought to liberate all players!"

At that moment, Asuna strode over, her chestnut hair flying with her hurried steps: "This is not a strategy at all! You haven't devised any tactics, and your equipment level is not up to par. What's the point of sacrificing more lives to recklessly challenge the floor boss like this?"

Mitt added coldly, his crimson eyes flashing with sharpness: "If we hadn't arrived in time, you would all be dead here today."

Kobaz's facial muscles twitched, but he straightened his back and stubbornly replied, "First of all, I thank you all for your rescue, but assisting the [Army] is the duty of every player, after all, we are fighting for the liberation of all players."

These words made the air freeze instantly.

"Lieutenant Colonel Kobaz." Mochizuki Kaede's gaze swept over the heavily armored warriors, his voice exceptionally clear in the BOSS room, "Blind courage is not a virtue, but an irresponsibility towards the lives of comrades."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the spiral staircase leading to the upper level.

Asuna and Mito exchanged a glance and followed in his footsteps, while Yuna and Silica waved to the wounded.

Stoleya observed all of this with great interest, and finally chuckled as she pulled out the greatsword stuck in the ground and followed.

The spiral staircase leading to the seventy-fifth floor winds upwards, the patterns on the stone steps appearing and disappearing in the dim light.

Mochizuki Kaede walked at the front, his footsteps echoing on the silent stairs. Asuna quickened her pace to walk beside him, and for a moment, it felt as if they had returned to the time when they had climbed the stairs alone after defeating the first floor boss.