Chapter 18

The Red Eyes just looked at us, sitting almost like a king would sit looking at peasants that didn't interest him. A low growl was heard from this entity as we walked towards it with caution. Just as we were walking, we then heard sudden clanging sounds as it echoed throughout the hall.

We all stopped in our footsteps as a cackle was heard from the entity, Toru noticed something waving behind the pillars that were around us as she said "What's that?" confused as we looked to see the same thing waving.

We looked at the other pillars as we noticed more and more pop out from behind the pillars, then mobs walked out from behind it revealing medium-sized entities, they were darker in color as they resembled the Kobold Sentinels from the first labyrinth. "They're Kobold Sentinels.." Kirito remarked on their appearance as one charged towards us and swung its mace.

Kirito was quick to block it but overpowered his attempt and threw him back. I quickly swung my sword at it as it jumped back and let out a sinister and distorted cackle sound. It crawled under my virtual skin as it sent chills down my spine, Five walked out from behind the pillars as their levels were 83.

"Shit..."

I thought to myself as I was only level 82, a level lower than the Sentinels. Our group only consists of Four level 80+, one level 75+ and a level 3. Kirito got up as he took a defensive stance, I tightly gripped my sword with two hands as they began to charge at us.

I swung my sword as it ducked under it and Counter swung, smashing my face with its mace and throwing me off balance, Toru rushed up from the side and got a clean punch on it. Kirito and Asuna branched off as Yulier was stuck protecting Yui. Toru punched it again as its health went down slightly as I slashed it and it's health dropped a little more, "Just punch the ever living shit out of it!" I shouted as she replied back "Way ahead of you!" trying to hit it.

With its medium stature, Toru wasn't able to get a clean hit, only grazing it or dodging it completely. "STAND STILL YOU LITTLE RAT!!!" Toru shouted in anger as She managed to punch it after missing almost 10 times. I came from the side and slashed its side, stunning it as Toru charged up a punch and uppercutted the Sentinel, sending it flying upwards.

We both looked up as Toru clenched her hand into a fist hard, charging up another punch as she took a step back and punched the Sentinel straight forward. She sent the sentinel flying towards the entity as it just slightly moves its head and the Sentinel slams near its head shattering.

Toru flipped off the Entity as I turned and saw one jump at her, tackling her out of the way and seeing the sentinel miss entirely. Eventually after 10 minutes we cleared out the 5 kobold sentinels that were in our way. Exhausted and used most of our resources, Yulier and Yui were unscathed as we kept the Sentinel's attention off of them and onto us.

We all used our last potions that we carried on us, healing up to high yellow. Asuna opened her inventory and split a piece of bread four-ways. "Here you all take one" She said to all of us as Kirito, Toru and I took one and we all ate our pieces. We all healed up to low green and looked over to the Entity that sat there. It then got up and put on a shield and picked up its enormous sword that was stuck in the concrete floor.

We heard its heavy footsteps walk down from the stairway as we finally got to see the thing in some light. Kirito and I instantly recognized it as Illfang the Kobold Lord, But it seemed...A little different.

Its physical appearance was shot up tenfold, shown being physically buff and being slightly darker in color. Instead of its red and bright skin tone it has a dark gray skin tone like the Sentinels. I was worried about the fight as Kirito and I only fought the Bright red version and physically weaker version of Illfang in the Beta.

I hadn't felt this worried since my encounter with Kuradeel back on floor 2, A chill and a bad aura was around this hallway. It stopped in its tracks as it gave our entire party a menacing and death-like stare.

It almost felt like it was studying us, watching our movements as Kirito and I slowly spreaded out a little bit from Toru and Asuna. It then spotted Yulier and Yui as it's eyes locked onto Yui, roaring out and the room echoing. The scenery of the hallway glowed up as star-like lights were glowing and giving the room more light. It charged straight for Yulier and Yui as it ran past us, we looked over and saw as we shouted "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!" with Yulier jumping out of the way as it swung its scimitar straight down.

We ran towards it as it turned around and roared at us. I gripped my sword and swung at it, seeing that it blocked my slash with its shield. Kirito rushed from the side as he landed two hits on it, hearing it roar in agony a bit before turning its attention to Kirito.

Kirito jumped back as it tried stomping on Kirito, Asuna ran into the fight as she thrusted her rapier into its leg quickly and swiftly ran around towards its back. All of a sudden, Illfang just jumped high into the air as Kirito and I recognized this move shouting at Asuna "RUN!!!" as we blitzed out of its range.

Illfang fell down slamming it's sword into the ground, shattering pieces of the floor and sending a shockwave all around the impact. Asuna took the hit as she instantly dropped down to lower yellow, slamming her back against a pillar.

"ASUNA!!"

Kirito shouted as he rushed over towards Asuna, Illfang noticed this as it smirked and prepared a downward slash towards Kirito. I ran over towards him as Illfang slashed down and I parried the hit by slashing the sword to the side and landing beside us. "Go!" I shouted as I ran in and slashed at Illfang's abdomen multiple times.

Kirito sets his swords down and goes to pick her up, "hey! Hey!!" he shouts, lightly smacking her cheek trying to get her to wake up. "C'mon c'mon!" He mutters scared underneath his breath as he keeps smacking her cheek. Asuna groaned a bit before opening her eyes a bit, "Kiri...to..?" she said lightly as he hugged her.

"Oh thank god...!"