277 -273- Then join me

In this moment, the gradual appearance of players from all corners of the Fountain Plaza captured everyone's attention.

Because these players either wore impressive armor or wielded high-performance weapons, their equipment was exceptionally advanced, and their demeanor set them apart from the average players.

Undoubtedly, they were a group of top players, perhaps even surpassing the current standards.

They were not many in number, only fourteen.

However, these fourteen individuals stepped forward one by one, looking at Rozen with a mixture of shame, gratitude, and an added courage that others might not notice.

Seeing these fourteen players, who could be considered top players at this stage, how could the other players present not stir?

"Who... who are they?"

"Their equipment is top-tier, and their levels must be high."

"But... I don't recognize any of them!"

"Could it be..."

One player after another widened their eyes.

"These... these guys..."

Even Kibaou was a bit shaken.

And that was only natural.

Combining what Argo had just said, how could anyone not guess the identities of these players?

"Closed Beta testers..."

Yes.

All fourteen of them were Closed Beta testers.

Argo looked at Rozen and spoke with a cheerful tone.

"Although not everyone came, considering it's quite natural for some people not to gather in 'enemy' territory, I was still surprised that so many are willing to gather here. Truly impressive, ZenZen, everyone seems willing to bet on you."

Argo's words made Rozen smile slightly, and looking at the gathered Closed Beta testers, an expression of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Three days ago, Rozen had Argo search for players on the list, and they were all Closed Beta players.

Now, even though not all the people on Rozen's list were present, this was within Rozen's calculations.

Given the sensitivity of their identity as Closed Beta testers, and considering the hostility they faced from regular players, it was unrealistic to expect a large turnout in response to Rozen's call to gather in this place.

Rozen had even prepared himself for the possibility that no one would show up. But ultimately, quite a few people did come.

It's important to note that on the Fountain Plaza, there were only a little over forty players prepared to participate in the boss raid on the current floor.

Now, having fourteen Closed Beta testers present was already, as Argo had put it, quite surprising.

"..."

As they watched the appearance of each Closed Beta player, Diabel, who should have been the most prominent figure on this stage, fell completely silent.

Other players were similarly bewildered.

"What's going on...?"

Kibaou took several steps back, as if unable to believe his own eyes.

On the contrary, Agil, upon seeing this situation, felt both astonished and delighted. He burst into hearty laughter.

"I see, so the Closed Beta players had already planned to gather to deal with the floor boss?"

In response to Agil's laughter, Rozen simply shrugged.

"Well, I'm not someone who likes to sit and wait for death."

This was what Rozen had said to Argo three days ago.

At that time, Argo had seen through Rozen's intention to deal with the floor boss, which had made her both surprised and relieved.

In other words, if Diabel hadn't initiated the boss strategy meeting, Rozen would have planned to infiltrate the 20th floor of the labyrinth in the near future. He would have discovered the boss's room and then had Argo gather the Closed Beta players to charge into Aincrad's 2nd floor.

For this reason, Rozen had provided Argo with a list of his fellow collaborators from the Closed Beta period, asking her to find and bring them to him.

In other words...

"Even among the Closed Beta testers, there are many who genuinely hope for this game to be conquered, to free the people imprisoned in this game."

Argo turned to Kibaou with a serious expression and said, "The arrival of these fourteen Closed Beta players here proves that."

But just as these words were spoken, a correcting voice rang out.

"No, not fourteen people, but fifteen."

Kirito, carrying the "Anneal Blade +6" on his back, spoke up and stepped forward.

At this moment, Kirito's expression was no longer clouded; it was now determined and resolute.

"I, too, am a Closed Beta tester."

In front of everyone present, Kirito finally admitted that he was a Closed Beta player.

No longer afraid of being exposed.

No longer afraid of being accused.

This 14-year-old boy stepped forward, ready to shoulder everything.

"Sorry." Kirito placed his hand on Rozen's shoulder, his eyes determined, his voice slightly hoarse, as he said, "I should have stepped forward sooner."

Kirito's words were met with Argo's daze, followed by a bitter smile.

"You're right. We should have stepped forward sooner." Argo laughed with a tinge of bitterness but also a refreshing expression. She announced straightforwardly, "So, adding my name to the list, there are now sixteen Closed Beta testers gathered here."

At this moment, Argo also admitted her identity as a Closed Beta player.

Sixteen Closed Beta testers.

Adding Rozen's name to that, it made seventeen in total.

With forty-three regular players present in the area, if this was the number of players ready to conquer the 1st-floor boss, then almost one-third of the sixty players were Closed Beta testers.

Considering that there were over nine thousand regular players in this world and only seven or eight hundred Closed Beta players, even less than one-tenth, having one-third of the players being Closed Beta testers during the boss raid was quite astonishing.

Players could only watch in stunned silence as the Closed Beta testers stepped forward one by one and gathered around Rozen. They couldn't find words to express their thoughts.

Only Kibaou, his voice shaking, managed to speak.

"Why...?"

Kibaou said as if he couldn't comprehend.

"Why would you all be willing to respond to this guy's call?"

In a world where Closed Beta testers were treated like criminals, how could it be normal for Rozen to just make a statement and have over a dozen Closed Beta testers disregard the danger of being exposed and gather here?

However, how could Kibaou, who was thinking this way, know?

"Although there were a thousand slots for Closed Beta players, there were differences among players, just as the top players gathered here, there were middle and low-level players in safer places. Among the Closed Beta testers, there were those who only operated on lower levels at the beginning, and those who reached the 10th floor were very few."

Argo scanned the room and declared this.

"And among these players who led the players to the 10th floor, there was one who had a unique familiar during the Closed Beta, capable of inflicting negative conditions such as paralysis, blindness, poison, and others on the boss, and possessed excellent leadership skills. He was able to clear floors with zero casualties—'Rozen'."

It was because of this that the Closed Beta testers responded to Rozen's call.

It was because of this that Kirito, Argo, and the other Closed Beta players who knew Rozen's capabilities were willing to believe in him and join him in conquering the floor boss.

In this situation, Rozen slowly spoke.

"Let me make this clear."

Rozen's voice resonated throughout the area.

"This time, my goal is the same: zero casualties."

"If you're willing to believe in me, then join me."

In this world that had become a death game, what kind of impact would these words have?

The answer would be revealed in the next moment.

"-------!"

All sixteen Closed Beta players, including Kirito and Argo, let out a resounding cheer, raising their weapons high.

This momentum was much stronger than the one during Diabel's speech.

The regular players, led by Kibaou, could only be awestruck on the spot.

Diabel was also left speechless.

And on the edge of the plaza, a female player wearing a cloak and a rapier at her waist watched this scene in astonishment.

In an instant, the entire plaza was dominated by these mere sixteen Closed Beta testers.

And now, no one could cast a scornful gaze upon them.