Equis Art Online

As Kirito launched himself at the boss, The Fireborn drew back its head and sprayed a massive gout of magma at him. As he dodged the blast, Sinon shot an Ice arrow straight into the boss’s face. It roared in frustration and focused on Sinon, drawing back for another blast. Kirito seized the moment and slashed twice at the boulders making up the left arm of the boss. The telltale red gashes appeared, and Kirito grinned. Suddenly, the boss swung its right arm around, straight towards him. Kirito slammed his legs into the boss’s clawed fist, and he propelled himself backwards. Taking a chance, Leafa ran straight towards the boss, jumping into the air and landing a fierce blow on the left leg. As the boss roared, Leafa suddenly pivoted her left foot, and using her momentum, threw herself back at the boss. But this time, it was ready for her. A clawed hand swiped, and Leafa was sent flying into the stands. Kirito clenched his teeth and he landed back on the ground. As Asuna chanted a healing spell, Klein and Silica rushed forward, with Kirito close behind them. The Fireborn roared and sent a clawed swipe their way, Klein jumped and pushed off the boss’s hand. Slashing with all his might, he landed a blow on the boss’s face. Silica weaved up the boss’s body, landing slashes with her dagger as she went. Kirito looked over at Leafa, who had gotten up, and then at the monster’s health bars. The boss still had two and one-third bars left. He growled in frustration.

“How are we supposed to beat this thing!” Klein said, bracing his Katana against the boss’s heavy fist.

“Kirito! His physical resistance is higher than it was before! Something’s changing his stats!” Aries yelled, while he ran past, his longsword and parrying blade held in a battle stance. As he ran toward the boss, he jumped and cartwheeled, leaving a gash down the monster’s back. As the monster’s tail slammed into him, it launched Aries into the back wall.

“How’s that possible?” Leafa said, getting up from the stands and landing next to Kirito with her sword ready. “I mean, the only thing in here is the arena and the massive amount of sand. Nothing adds up here!”

“I second thaaat!” Klein said as he was thrown straight into the wall of the arena. Silica, taking notice, leapt backwards and out of the boss’s attack range, and she landed next to Sinon.

        “This guy’s gotta have a weakness. Every problem has a solution!” Aries said while he ran along the monster’s back, all the while slashing with his sword, while the boss tried to brush him off.

“I know that, Aries!” Kirito said, rushing forward. As he triggered a Sword Skill, his left blade became cloaked in flame. As he dodged a swipe from the boss, he jumped and thrusted his sword deep into the Fireborn’s forehead. Pulling up and out, he cut a long gash straight up the boss’s face. He growled, and his second sword encased itself in a bright blue aura. As the monster tried to land a ground slam with his fist, Kirito slid under the fist, just barely avoiding being crushed. He pivoted on his foot, and he spun like a top, landing three sharp blows, which were quickly covered in ice. Running out from underneath the monster’s belly, he watched as the monster roared, and the fist simply exploded into fragments, leaving nothing behind. The Fireborn roared in agony. Kirito watched as half a bar of health depleted. He smiled, and as the rest of the group pressed the advantage, Sinon drew an Ice arrow and fired. The shot went straight into the gash that Kirito had made. It exploded into frozen fragments, and the boss roared once again, the rest of the second health bar depleted. Now down to less than one bar, It roared. Suddenly, wings of magma and rock appeared on it’s back, and it took to the skies. Breathing in deeply, it suddenly exhaled and massive cone of magma and stone. As the group dodged, almost being incinerated in the process. As the group recovered, the boss summoned several floating stones. As it launched them towards the group, they suddenly exploded. All eyes turned to Sinon, who had a furrowed brow. As she nocked not one, not two, but three Ice arrows, she smiled.

“Party’s over!” she said as she shot them. All three impacted the boss’s chest. As the boss roared, the last vestiges of its health bar depleted. As the boss roared for the final time, it exploded into the familiar blue and green particles. As the message of “Congratulations!” appeared, the whole group began to cheer and check the loot they had received. Kirito smiled, but then he looked at Aries, who looked like he was in a state of thought.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“It’s nothing. I was just wondering how you managed to do that thing with your sword skills. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

        “It’s something I call “Skill Connect.” I just rapidly chain sword skills to avoid the stun penalty. It’s nothing important.”

“Nice. Wish I could do that.” Aries said, and as they both laughed, the four stags suddenly appeared in the back of the room. As the group walked up to them, the stags seemed to bow to them.

“Well done, fairy swordsmen. You have defeated the Guardian of the Terminus. You are worthy to enter Eqigard.” they said, and a massive arch came out of the ground. The stags turned and shot four blasts of energy into the arch’s open space. A massive rainbow vortex appeared, and the stags turned to face the group again.

“Enter, and begin your journey.”

As the stags disappeared, Kirito turned at looked at the group with a smile.

“Let’s get going!” he said as he dived in. As the group followed him, light filled the arena, and all was silent.