[h1][center]Outside of the boss room, Floor 25.[/center][/h1]

They had cleared 24 floors before this one with little trouble, so why should this be any different? Sure, one would think that as the floors increased so did the difficulty, but it wasn't a one sided change; as the floors went up so did their level, so long as they kept up to speed it shouldn't be too hard. It was for this reason that Suto could go into the dungeon confident, managing to be as lighthearted and joking as ever even during fights. No matter what the game threw at them he was confident they could handle it, they had thus far. From what they had gathered thus far it seemed every tenth floor was especially tricky, so they had a few more to go until they faced any real challenge.

Having cleared the final room prior to the boss room, all 49 of the Clearers, that is players who advanced the game, were taking stock of their gear and a much needed breather. No longer was Sword Art Online just a game, now you could legitimately feel tired. All of the battling they did, regardless of how well it went, was still tiring and required the occasional pause even for the most well versed of warriors. Rather than fretting about what lie beyond the doors most everyone was enjoying themselves, sharing a laugh with a friend or putting away a quick meal before the fight. Once this was done and over with there would be a party for the Clearers, the best part of any raid in Suto's opinion. There was always time for a party, and it was where most of his fortune was spent. Much as his friends tried to dissuade him from being so casual about spending his Col he couldn't help it, parties were his release in this world.

Sharing a laugh with another party Suto felt a hand slap his back, glancing around curiously and beaming seeing his friend Fitch. Alex in the real world, the two of them along with Mizuki had been friends for a number of years, and now found themselves trapped in Sword Art Online together. Aside from parties that was a saving grace as well, having some familiar faces along with the ride for you. Sure, throughout their travels they had made a few other friends, but nothing quite beat having someone from the other world at your side. Grinning at the complement Suto let out a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well... You know, I just try to stay positive, that's all!" Suto replied, smiling as he gave a thumbs up, "But glad I can help. And things are only going to get better after this, because we've got a party to go to!" He couldn't wait, it was going to be huge! A quarter of the way through the game, and a whole new town, what were they going to do for this special occasion? Watching as Fitch and Yari went off to talk the martial artist went to join the other damage dealers, wondering what their plan of action was. 

"Alright, remember everyone, we want to maximize our damage without drawing the focus onto us. So we'll take turns with our bursts, and rotate as needed for the adds." Takahiro was the man in charge of Suto's division, a lance-user and one of the few of their group. He was an older man, probably 30 or so, and for that reason alone he figured people gave a lot of weight to what he had to say. That and he had an extensive history of MMOs, enough so that he'd been playing them longer than some people, Suto included, had been alive. Glancing over at the door Takahiro got to his feet, smirking as he placed his hands on his hips. "Everyone knows their role, so let's get to it. We might not be the front fighters but we'll show everyone we're just a big a part as the tanks, got it?"

Suto couldn't wait, he loved battling in the game even with the threat of death looming overhead. After you adjusted to how combat worked it became a bit of a thrill, and being one of the very few hand-to-hand combatants in the game, let alone the Clearers, he got to enjoy a unique take on battles. Smiling confidently with Takahiro's little speech done with he glancing down at his hands, flexing his fingers in the leather gloves he wore before re-equipping his gauntlets. They were simply enough in design, with two half-cylindrical metal plates strapped to his forearms, flexible padding between the top of that plate and another which covered the back of his hand; while meant as an offensive weapon the gauntlets also doubled as a modest defensive tool, enabling Suto to block basic sword attacks with the protective plating. The dual-nature of his weapons played into his "class too", something he self-designated as a Monk. He could use three different stances in combat, each offering its own set of bonuses and skills; his Fists of Fire stance provided the most offensive power, but offered no defenses; Fists of Earth offered defensive power while halving his damage output, making him able to almost play as a sort of tank, and finally his Fists of Wind made him elusive and quicker, able to pull off quick, moderate damage combos with ease. His style was one of the very few in the game that had such a thing, and he loved it.

Having taken their brief reprieve and gathered their thoughts the group moved on ahead, finally making their way into the boss room. Like every other one before it the room was ornate, polished to a point of almost beauty as one could see themselves in the floor beneath their feet. It was empty upon entry, but experience told them that would change in just a matter of moments. Preparing himself for the impending battle Suto assumed a stance, crouching slightly and holding his fists up as his gauntlets glowed with a red hue, an intricate pattern forming at his feet before vanishing, signaling his Fists of Fire stance had been activated. Though he wouldn't be the first line to fight he wanted to be ready, and this way he could swiftly deal with whatever enemies came his way.

Like many battles before this one began with a basic set of trash monsters, a few waves of skeletons that threw themselves haphazardly at the players and met a swift end. Though everyone had been giggles and smiles moments before the mood in the boss room was more somber, and even though Suto could still smile he was hardly jumping around for joy. Confident as any player could be one needed to be careful, one misstep and it could spell the end for you. Until they knew what this boss was capable of, he reasoned, everyone was bound to be strung up as could be. It didn't take long for the boss to arrive, and when it did show up it did so in a thunderous fashion as it sent a good many players flying, even killing a few in its first attack. Tension was palpable at this point, and yet for Suto so was an inexplicable feeling of excitement. This was what they had been working so hard for these last few weeks, and now that they were here he couldn't wait to see it finished.

It was impossible to know what to expect from a boss battle, and even with the limited information they had gathered on the boss they were in effect going in blind here. The attack pattern seemed easy enough to follow, the skeletons were simple enough to deal with, the fight by all means should have been child's play. So why then were there now cries of terror and anguish filling the room? Suto had been busy in dueling a skeleton to see what had happened, though the shuddering of the room with the strike of the giant's hammer was more than enough to draw his attention over to the scene. He knew what had happened the moment he glanced over, seeing Fitch staring at shattered crystals helplessly. There was someone missing in all of the fray, someone he knew he would never lose sight of or forget. But how could that be? They were doing so well, they had come so far and done so unscathed, so how was this possible? He didn't know how or why, but it seemed that after all they had been through Yari was no longer with them; by some cruel twist of fate they had lost their friend to this game, and in the real world her family and friends still home would be learning of her death any moment now.

Suto being made to face this realization was all too daunting at once, and he nearly forgot himself in his battle. Letting out a yelp as he took a clean vertical attack to the torso he stumbled back from the skeleton, staring at its emotionless visage as it raised its sword again. Yari was gone... She was really gone. The game had to have cheated somehow, she was too good to die like that. Instead of his friend being here he was now left with this... Thing, this inhuman, shambling corpse. It was just numbers really, and yet he felt himself experiencing a sensation he'd never felt in this game before. The anguish of his loss of a friend, the feeling of being cheated by a game they were forced to play, it all came crashing down and instantly transformed into a fury. Watching as the skeleton prepared another strike Suto yet out a furious yell, pulling his hands to his sides as he got a skill ready. With the sword swinging fast down on him he dashed forward, leaving a blurry trail of himself in his wake as he closed the meter and a half distance between himself and the skeleton with ease. The first strike of the combo was a simple jab, landing square in the monster's sternum and making it stumble back. Immediately following that was a haymaker to the left side of its head, the skeleton leaning sideways as it reeled from the blow. To finish it off Suto's body twisted around, his leg raising up and smashing it in the side of the head again, the skeleton falling yet immediately being forced back up as he kicked it again, then one last time square in the jaw, knocking it off of its feet and making the creature shatter before it could even hit the ground.

Suto wasn't sure what had happened in the fight after that point, only that they won. How many of the skeletons had he even killed in those last few minutes? He'd even made a rotation in on the boss itself, but that had been so fleeting evidently he couldn't even recollect it. By the time the fanfare had begun signaling their victory he was left panting from exhaustion, his shoulders sagging as he stared down at the ground abysmally. They had won, but what good was it when they had lost a friend? Victory wasn't going to bring Yari back, nor would any special drop or stupid party. Feeling tears welling up in his eyes the Monk sniffled, trying to keep himself from bawling like a baby as he rubbed at his face. Then, overhearing a familiar voice Suto froze, lifting his head and turning in confusion and disbelief; standing off in the distance was none other than Yari herself, but how? She had died, he knew she had died, so how was she here now? Exchanging a glance of utter confusion with Fitch the two boys dashed over immediately, no doubt both utterly baffled by the turn fo events.

"Y-Yari...? But how... I thought..." Suto began, blinking rapidly as tears threatened to flow down his cheeks. Letting out a half-sob, half-laugh he shook his head, having to cover his eyes with his arm as he smiled meekly. "I can't believe it, you're alive..." He didn't know how, it didn't make any sense and yet for the moment he hardly cared. Feeling such a conflict of emotions he only became even further confused when Yari's response threw them through a loop, sounding earnestly unsure of who they were.

"Heh... W-What...? Come on Yari, it's us! Alex and Hiro, who else? What... Did you hit your head or something?" Now he was getting scared, this really wasn't a funny joke. She hadn't died, if she had she wouldn't be here right now, so what gives? Why couldn't Yari remember them? Or was she just in shock? 

Everyone had quickly caught wind of what had happened here, and in no short order the party began to fight amongst itself. Then again it might be more correct to say the party began to fight against Nero, as all hostilities were quickly focused solely on that one boy. So he was responsible for this, for somehow bringing Yari back to them? If he were able to so much as lift a finger right now Suto would probably be groveling before Nero and showering him with thanks, but this was just too much. His friend had been dead, yet now she was here, and somehow Nero had been responsible for it? They were told once someone died they were killed in the real world, so how was their friend here now? Watching as things began to escalate all Suto could do was stare at his friend, wondering if it truly was her, or perhaps some imitation that the game had created. It might explain her not knowing anything, no way could the game fake all of her memories like this. Yet deep down he refused to accept that explanation himself, more wanting it to be the genuine article than anything.

Finally the infighting was brought to a halt by Heathcliffe, though no doubt hostilities would persist. Happy though Suto may be the others did raise fair points, why hadn't their friends been saved? He didn't mean to be ungrateful or anything, yet with so many lives lost why was their group the one spared anguish? He had no part in the matter and yet he couldn't help but feel responsible, looking around at everyone else with a frown before lowering his gaze. There was no way this would go over smoothly, he could already tell. They could worry about the potential backlash later, for now he was more concerned with helping his friend.

"Yari... It's me, Suto... And Fitch, we're your friends," Suto explained, smiling sadly as he took a step forward. When Yari stepped away defensively he halted himself, his lips trembling as he extended out a hand for her, "Come on... We've been friends forever. Before this game, before any of this, the three of us have been friends for years." How could she forget all of that? Everything they had done, the countless hours spent goofing off together and everywhere they had been. Feeling a definite dampness on his cheeks Suto made no effort to hide the tears, chuckling nervously as he reached out, "We're your friends... Don't you remember?"