"Quick! Limit the Boss's movement!"
"AWOOO!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
Within mere minutes, the Dark Grand Duke found itself at a disadvantage. Surrounded by the clearing group's elite, its frantic swings of the black greatsword, wreathed in black and red flames that inflicted additional fire damage and possessed a heat capable of melting ordinary steel, proved insufficient. Despite being the Floor Boss of the eightieth floor, its strength, though slightly exceeding that of other bosses of the same rank, was pitted against top-tier players like Morin, Kirito, the disguised Kayaba Akihiko posing as Heathcliff, and Asuna.
Against the eightieth floor boss, Morin had adopted a strategy of overwhelming force.
Morin, Kayaba Akihiko, and the other Main Tanks were all at the pinnacle of SAO's capabilities. Even for the powerful Dark Grand Duke, felling just one of them would be an arduous task. Furthermore, it was not facing a disorganized team whose combined efforts might work against them, but rather an elite group of players who had spent over a year in SAO, their equipment and combat awareness honed to the highest degree through countless battles.
From the very start of the engagement, Morin, Kayaba Akihiko, and the other Main Tanks firmly surrounded the Dark Grand Duke. Asuna, Kirito, Diavel, Klein, Agil, and the others fulfilled their respective roles flawlessly. Asuna, Kirito, and other light armor users seized every opportunity to unleash sword skills on the Boss. Silica and the other support players attentively monitored the frontline tanks, ready to provide healing and support at any moment. Even Silica's dragon familiar Pina, along with Yui, had prepared themselves for their respective tasks.
The Dark Grand Duke was immediately overwhelmed. As it endured the relentless sword skill attacks from Asuna, Kirito, and the others, its health bar visibly plummeted. The constant damage caused the Dark Grand Duke to roar in fury and attempt to enhance its offensive and defensive capabilities. However, unable to break free from the entanglement of Morin and the other tanks, and frequently subjected to precise sword skill attacks targeting its vital points by Morin and Kayaba Akihiko, the Dark Grand Duke could not even fully defend against the players directly in front of it, let alone target the others.
Less than ten minutes into the battle, the Dark Grand Duke had already summoned several waves of demon minions, but they were easily dealt with by Morin's group, who then continued their relentless assault on the main Boss.
"Get ready! The Boss's second form might be coming out!"
Seeing the Dark Grand Duke being brutally beaten by the elite squad, losing three health bars in just a few minutes and appearing utterly miserable, Morin blocked a fiery greatsword attack with his shield and loudly warned the others.
Morin's warning was entirely unnecessary; the other players, including Asuna, were already prepared.
The Floor Bosses in SAO, and even the regular bosses within the floors, aside from a few quest-related or fixed-pattern bosses, typically gained increased damage and defense capabilities, changed their attack patterns, or even regenerated a certain percentage of health when their health dropped to a specific threshold. The most troublesome ones would even attempt to flee at high speed when their health reached critical levels. Of course, the Dark Grand Duke, being a Floor Boss, could not escape in this enclosed environment. The main concern was what special skills or effects it would unleash after transforming.
In less than ten seconds, the Dark Grand Duke's health bar plummeted to half of its final segment. Then, the Dark Grand Duke stood upright and roared, its eyes turning blood-red and emitting an eerie red glow as its entire body expanded noticeably.
"Stay alert! Everyone use enhancement items! Preferably light or fire resistance items!"
Seeing the Dark Grand Duke enter its transformation state, Morin did not attempt to interrupt it. Instead, he shouted to the others. At the same time, he turned to Kayaba Akihiko, who stood beside him with his shield raised, and instructed, "Heathcliff, you and I will keep the Boss engaged. Support healers, provide assistance at any time."
Morin's command was cautious, yet no one objected. Even Kayaba Akihiko found it appropriate.
Now that SAO had become a death game, the clearing group players, just like ordinary players, had only one life. Risking their lives to clear Aincrad in order to beat the game was one thing, but none of the clearing players had a death wish. Minimizing casualties during clearing operations was beneficial for themselves and everyone else.
As for Morin's instruction to Kayaba Akihiko, it was expected. Kayaba Akihiko's "Heathcliff" persona held the title of the Strongest Knight, not to mention the rumored Holy Sword special sword skill and his formidable defensive capabilities. Facing a Boss entering a dangerous transformation state directly, if the strongest survival-oriented tanks did not step up to shield the others, who else could be expected to do so — the squishy light swordsmen or support players?
Moreover, with Morin, the team leader, personally taking the front lines, Kayaba Akihiko naturally had no objections. He simply responded with a clear acknowledgment and moved to the forefront with his shield raised.
"Ready! Follow me!"
Accompanied by Morin's shout, the Dark Grand Duke, having completed its second-stage transformation, roared and swung its greatsword. Enveloped in black flames that now formed an armor, the demon engaged in an even fiercer second half of the battle against Morin and the others.
"AWOOOO!!!"
After the Dark Grand Duke unleashed its second form and struggled for another ten minutes, it finally let out a final, mournful howl. Then, amidst the flashing light of over a dozen sword skills, it crashed to the ground with a resounding thud. Its massive body exploded into countless fragments of light, dissipating across the battlefield where the fierce battle had just taken place.
"The Boss has been defeated!"
"Great! No casualties!"
Everyone watched as the Dark Grand Duke vanished into motes of light and the staircase to the next floor appeared, their cheers echoing throughout the hall.
It was a rare occurrence that no players had died during a Floor Boss battle, a truly celebratory event. Of course, aside from the Dark Grand Duke's strength not being overwhelmingly powerful, the greater reason was the exceptional strength of Morin and his team, coupled with flawless tactical execution, making the absence of casualties not entirely surprising.
However, unnoticed by most, Morin exchanged a glance with Asuna, then turned as if to leave, walking past Kayaba Akihiko's position.
"SWISH!"
Suddenly, the one-handed longsword that Morin had been holding at his side flashed, twisting and thrusting forward. The blade, glowing with the activation of a sword skill, pierced directly toward Kayaba Akihiko's vital back.
At the same moment, Asuna, who had not actively participated in the encirclement of the Boss and had subtly moved closer to Morin, also made her move. Her rapier, instantly unleashing the Rapid Bite special sword skill, transformed into a storm of sword light that completely engulfed Kayaba Akihiko's figure.
"CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!!!"
Amidst a series of exceptionally jarring metallic clashes, the cross-shaped shield in Kayaba Akihiko's hands rapidly parried the attacks with unbelievable speed. However, it could not block the simultaneous assault from multiple directions. Under the combined attack of two top-tier players wielding top-tier equipment, Kayaba Akihiko's health bar instantly dropped by half, and then a crimson barrier abruptly flared up around him.
"Morin?!"
Seeing the blood-colored barrier erupt around him and noticing Morin and Asuna suddenly ceasing their attacks and backing away, Kayaba Akihiko's expression turned exceptionally grim.
Morin slightly raised his head, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Kayaba Akihiko. His seemingly casual greeting struck like a thunderclap:
"Yes. It has been a long time, has it not, Senior Kayaba Akihiko?"
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