Kenshin and Alphard barely registered the Boss entering the room, instead focusing on the skeletons in front of them and trusting their friends and comrades to cover their backs. They started to care, however, when both warriors were bowled over by the resounding shockwave emitted upon its opening attack. Kenshin was the first to recover, leaping to his feet just in time to catch a descending axe meant for his girlfriend in his left shoulder. He responded in turn with a powerful five-strike Sword Art named <<Dual Splitter>>. The attack began with a straight thrust into one enemy’s throat followed by a 90 degree twist of the blade. This first part enabled Kenshin to end one of the skeletons immediately, sending its head rolling across the ground before shattering into sparkling blue pieces. But the man still had more moves left in the quintet. He crouched, slashing low, and spun 360 degrees, bringing his blade in for a second path at head-height while rising. This second stage left two more enemies severely injured, easily finished off by someone else. The Final blow in Kenshin’s Sword Art was much weaker in damage output but had a massive blowback effect. It was a simple hilt smash but it put the entirety of Kenshin’s body behind it and sent its target flying back ten paces at least. 

By this point, Alphard had also gotten back to her feet. She also felt the need to activate a Sword Art upon rising. She hooked her scythe on the nearest skeleton’s right leg and ripped outwards while standing and roaring all the way. The beast’s leg flew off while it fell backwards. Alphard was not done, however and she activated another Art. This one painted her shield a bright orange and brought it thundering forward into the falling skeleton. It flew backwards and sent one of its compatriots tumbling to the ground. Alphard stalked over to Kenshin, ripped the axe out of his arm, and pressed a healing draught into his hand. “Be a little more careful in the future, will you, lover? Also, thank you for saving my life.” She leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Kenshin’s lips. Just then, the Boss lost its second health bar. The giant materialized a huge iron-wrapped, stone warhammer and smote the ground beneath it. Kenshin and Alphard were ready for the shock this time and braced through it. As the dust cleared, the pair glanced over just in time to see Yari slowly dissolve into shimmering crystals while Fitch sobbed over her. 

Kenshin was absolutely floored. How could they have lost Yari? She was the glue that kept the team together and now she was gone? He remembered all of the time they had spent training to get him where he was, skillwise. It was devastating to think that he would never be able to see his dear friend again. Kenshin fell to his knees in shock, sword dropping from numb fingers. Alphard was similarly affected. When she had initially joined the team, some of the other members had some difficulty accepting her because of her orange Icon. Alphard would have left the team if it had not meant leaving Kenshin behind. Yari had come forward, though, and befriended Alphard and shamed the others into seeing the error of judging without knowing someone’s whole story. The two often trained together, sharing stories of past hunts and tips on surviving the hell that they had found themselves in. The scythe-wielder had grown to rely on their little talks for same-gender bonding. A primal roar of rage shook Alphard from her reverie. She glanced over to see Kenshin leaping to his feet with death in his eyes. Alphard could see that the mindless rage that had consumed her for so long had taken hold in him too. The thought saddened her, but she was determined to help him as he had helped her. Kenshin glanced to her and spoke in a scary calm voice, “Ayano. You and Me. We’re ending him.” The use of her real name sent a tingle running through her and Alphard felt a feral smile split her face.

Kenshin took off sprinting at the giant Boss with Alphard just behind. He dodged a sword sweep and jumped into a double-footed flying kick to the Boss’s left knee. Because he wasn’t a Martial Artist, the blow did no damage, but it did have force behind it. Force enough to buckle the Boss’s leg under it, sending it crashing to its knees on top of Kenshin. His health dropped sharply but remained within acceptable limits. Next, Alphard came crashing in and used the hooked blade of her scythe in its most devastating method. She buried the blade up under the Boss’s chin, sinking it up to the haft in soft flesh, and ripped it back out in a different path: straight through the giant’s face. It reared back in agony which freed Kenshin from under its knee. From the ground, Kenshin flung a throwing pick out of each hand into the Boss’ eyes. Now, blinded and with one of its heads hanging in two limp, lolling flaps, the boss was left with maybe three hits worth of health. One of the Knights of Blood leapt forward with a cry of “I’ve got him!” to finish off the monster. The pair let him go, instead striding over to where Fitch knelt and taking up positions to his left and right, between him and the other players. Kenshin softly expressed his sorrow and planted his sword point first in the ground. Alphard planted her shield and rested her scythe on top of it. Together, the two acted as silent sentinels, protecting Fitch from any who would disturb his grief.