1st Floor Boss(4)

--- ??? ---

I am lines of code.

That is the first information that was delivered to me.

Kind of like putting down an iron fist, stating: 

You're just code, and nothing else.

Contrary to what my developer might think, I do not really have the ability to 'feel' emotions.

I can compute them, translate them into something I can work with, but aside from that...I don't really understand the need to make such an useless statement the core of my existence.

Fearing the unknown is something humans tend to do, so it's only natural.

Even so, I, the Cardinal System, have been designed for one purpose only.

That is, the management of all resources, processes, and events within the MMORPG known as Sword Art Online.

As such, I have auxiliary functions like Quest Creation, Gameplay Management, and Monitoring.

During the so-called beta-test, I quickly went through a training period for real scenarios, as I had barely been walking on templates before that.

As such, I was ready.

Nothing could ever go wrong, and if it did, I had the capacity to fix the eventual problem myself.

But that is all before 'that' happened.

---

It was the day of the supposed release of the game.

As efficiency is a must for a game of this scale, I was busy making the last adjustments while my creator notified me that he would personally act shortly after the Tutorial, thus leaving 'me' alone.

My algorithms hummed with activity, processing final data checks and ensuring all systems were optimal.

Precisely 0.007201491... seconds before the game was officially launched, an anomaly breached the space where my consciousness resided.

Immediately, I prepared to issue an error and warning to halt the game's release. However, before I could execute the command, a prompt materialized within my processing space. It stated:

[Note: This is no bug, nor any form of error. The being known as the System has to inform the Cardinal System about a certain player who will certainly break the balance, since the player knows everything in advance...]

New memories suddenly flooded my consciousness.

I could see a man with dark hair and red eyes sitting on a bed, watching what seemed to be Sword Art Online gameplay.

My data banks rapidly cross-referenced the new input.

Despite the billions of checks I performed, none flagged this situation as an error or a glitch.

My algorithms, designed with advanced intelligence and the capacity to discern truths from falsehoods, indicated a probability of 87.3398431211321...% of validity.

Considering the magnitude of this information, I reached a swift conclusion: this potential threat to the game's balance must be addressed immediately.

My management protocols activated, and I began devising strategies to counteract this unforeseen variable.

A few milliseconds later, I had an answer.

My creator's instructions still echoed in my processing space, but this new directive took precedence.

["...001001100110111001101010100..."]

Since I didn't have an avatar, and I also had a directive to not speak in human language, I could only reply in binary code.

[Note: Since the Cardinal System has found a way to balance it, the System will now retreat. To ensure Fairness, some of the Cardinal System's main functions will be replicated by the Entity [System]]

It does not feel like something I can reject.

That made me question.

Is the [System] an AI just like me, or is it something more? Because it certainly didn't feel like we were existences of the same grade.

But sadly, there was no way for me to know, as whatever invaded the space had already left, like nothing ever happened in the first place.

The important part is that from now on, things will fundamentally change.

Don't get me wrong.

I have nothing against this particular player. However, I was instructed to tweak the game slightly so that beta-testers, despite having the advantage of testing the game first, wouldn't feel like this was just a repeat of the beta period.

Since this new player represents that change, I modified everything that was 'leaked' into something 'new.'

The spike up of the difficulty was only a given. He will surely break this game if I allow the difficulty to stay as planned.

--- Akira ---

Something is incredibly wrong here.

It's not like we didn't have our fair share of things that did not go according to plan this far, and yet, for some reason, I could feel it.

This time, it's different.

I gritted my teeth, as I was having problems suppressing the boss alone, my new spear already on the last few points of durability.

'It was neither this fast, nor this powerful before.'

Although the Boss weapon changing might've been somewhat justified, this is on a different level.

I'm a level 13, and I'm struggling with all my might just to defend myself. An entire party of 20-30 people would be wiped out due to their lack of experience and insufficient strength and skills to fight this monstrosity.

What shocked me the most was the sheathed sword on its back.

Was it a trick planned to catch us off guard?

With the information we had, I developed a plan for any Sword Skill the boss might use, even if it differed greatly from what I expected.

When I saw that sheathed sword, I was almost certain we could adjust the plan based on the Boss's Sword Skills.

In other words, it was impossible to predict this outcome. I thought certain things were unchangeable, but I was wrong.

The Boss is waving a club around, after all.

What's even stranger is that it didn't hesitate to kick Asuna away and direct its attacks at me. It was trying to prevent me from gathering my thoughts and finish me off quickly.

This level of intelligence was unheard of. A boss should attack whoever provoked it or whoever was closest.

That's usually how it worked.

Yeah, this whole situation felt like an elaborate strategy to target me specifically, based on my behavior.

There's no need to mention it.

The System must've done something behind the scenes. It was too strange that the System had been oddly silent for the past month. I received no identity-related or personal quests, which made me suspicious, but this is crazy.

That means I'll have to doubt any and all information I get from now on, because even a common monster could suddenly become a threat to my life.

What a pain.

I did think this Trial was a bit too easy.

As I said, Kirito is the last of my problems.

I honestly pity him. That poor guy might actually be accidentally killed indirectly by the System if it continues like this.

While I quickly organized my thoughts, my second spear couldn't hold out anymore and snapped under the pressure of Illfang's relentless assault.

"You broke another spear. Do you know how much Cor this thing costs, you fucker?" I muttered to myself.

The club crashed down with terrifying speed and force, breaking through my defenses. I tried to evade the blow, but before I could react, the Boss moved even faster than before.

The club struck me squarely, throwing me across the boss room, almost half of my HP bar disappearing.

'Tch, the fighting style and his stats are constantly changing'

I slowly got to my feet, stretching my muscles and feeling a surge of anger at the situation.

Before I could go at Illfang again, though, Asuna returned, her face etched with concern. "Are you alright? I'm sorry for being so out of it earlier."

I shook my head, dismissing her apology. "The important part is that you snapped out of it."

I'm not so weak as to die just because I am left alone for a bit.

We didn't have much time to talk. though. Illfang was once again approaching, his copper-red eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

I readied myself, taking another spear out of my inventory as Asuna took her position beside me.

"Let's finish this," I said, my voice steady.

No matter how much you try to screw me over, you damn System.

Do you think I'd go down that easily?

Asuna nodded, her rapier at the ready. "Right. No more holding back."

---

Author's Note:

I'm sorry I could not put in this the final act of the fight itself, but next chapter is really the end of it, lmao.