After hearing a knock from the door I said: “I’ll get it.” I opened the door and a young brown haired boy with brown eyes, which was probably twelve judging from his height went on his knees, crying. I helped him up as the young boy wiped his tears and said: “My friends and I… We found the boss room… It’s another trapped boss room like the one you faced.” The words he said caught everyones attention. Everyone stared at the boy, and I restarted the conversation in a more serious tone and said: “Give us more detail to work with.” The boy started talking: “My guild which was had a full party, of 6 players including me, were farming in the 7th dungeon today on the first zone of the maze there, when one of us got knocked back by a mob we found a secret passage, and the passage led to a treasure chest. My team mates and I rushed towards it in happiness hoping to find a good weapon inside the chest, however it was a trap. My five friends rushed in as the doors closed, judging from the size and the feeling it gave off it was definitely a boss. The boss… It had two huge ice war hammers. I think the only way to describe the war hammers would that it was the thunder god from western religion, Thor’s war hammer, Mjölnir. However, instead of it being made of metal and wood it was made of ice. Fully ice, and it was able to freely use ice. It made ice spikes, ice spears, ice arrows to attack my guild, it didn’t even engage in a close range combat battle with them… They were destroyed in a matter of seconds, some frozen some just killed.” Peaches went down on her knees, with a hopeless face and said: “No way… How are we… Supposed to face that?” Luke went to Peaches to hold her hand and said: “Remember our promise? I promise, I’ll get us both out and once we’re out we’re going to start a family.” Peaches’s eyes teared even more as she cried out: “Luke…” After that the red haired girl hugged Luke, as she said: “Please… Promise me you will.” Luke nodded, accepting her embrace. However, unlike Peaches, Hailey was much more confident. She looked at me smiling, and said: “Let’s win this together, Jason.” I nodded at her and said: “Yeah. Let’s do this, and then get out of this horror house. Once we do, we’ll do what Peaches and Luke are gonna do.” She nodded and said: “Yeah, and you still owe me that present.” I laugh and said: “I got it, I won’t die today. I promised to take you to see the stars and give you a present.

We looked at the boy, as Hailey tried to comfort him. She patted his back as she sat next to him and said in a gentle voice: “I’m sorry… But we can’t do anything for your friends, I’m afraid the boss already would have killed him. I promise though, we’ll retrieve their weapons for you.” The boy, erupted into tears as he went onto Hailey’s lap. Hailey patted him on the head and said: “Your friends are likely happy that you survived, it’s ok to cry. Cry it out and you’ll feel better, your friends wouldn’t be happy to see you be sad. So once you’re done crying smile, try to smile and look as happy as you can, it’ll make you feel better. Definitely.” The boy eventually was done crying and asked us while sobbing: “Are… You… Going… To… Raid… The… Boss…?” We all nodded, as the boy said: “Please… If you see my friends, save them. I know they’re not dead, please!” I sighed and thought to myself After crying that much, and needing that much comforting, you still believe that they’re not dead. It’s no use, but I guess it’s the least I can do to help this child mentally. Unless somehow his friends managed to survive in ice, in a corner without being slashed apart they could survive… However this possibility is highly unlikely due to the bosses having advanced artificial intelligence piloting them. I said to the boy after my brief moment of thought: “We definitely will bring your friends back if we see them, I swear that on my life.” The boy bowed down and said: “Thank you sir.” I helped him up and said: “No need to be so formal, stand up.” The boy stood up, gave me the map he and his guild made for the route to the boss room as I told him: “I’ll tell you the results of the raid, once we get back.” With that, the boy thanked us and left. I ordered everyone: “Everyone, go spread the news about the boss room, tell everyone to get all the clearers to clearer’s square by 2pm.” Everyone nodded, giving me the signal that they knew what to do. So we all exited from the room, as we all ran towards the teleporter and teleported towards the currently most visited cities by clearers. The news we had spread like fire in a forest, it was amazing how before 2pm most of the clearers were already in the cities probably after they were contacted by personal messages from friends. By 2pm, around 156 players that were the right level for fighting the boss, not including us had gathered into clearers square. I took my spot, as I said: “Thank you, you all for coming. Let us begin the strategic meeting for the 7th boss.” I started to describe the boss, with his abilities that were shown. Everyone was saddened by the loss of the 5 young kids in the front lines that were trapped trying to fight a boss. After the brief introduction of the boss I started talking more about the strategy as I said in a serious tone: “As you all know, I have been entrusted with the skill [Dual Wield]. I plan to use this skill, to benefit us all. The power and speed that [Dual Wield] gives me is enormous, however there is literally no defensive power for it, I can only use my sword to block attacks, and in this boss’s case it has the power to use projectiles, ice spikes from the ground and other techniques. So all the tanks will stand in front, as we switch continuously whenever the boss tires out on his attacks. There will be five tank teams, each tank team will tank until they are at 25% health and then return to the backlines to regenerate health. However, we must still watch out of the ice spikes it sends from the ground, so all clearers are to be careful of not getting hit by these ice spikes. All the attackers are to be careful, and try not to get hit by the boss’s melee attacks. Use your skill shots at the end, because the opening that the skill makes can be where the boss strikes. You all got that?” Everyone nodded, as I saw that everyone agreed with my plan, I began my short speech: “5 youngsters that once had futures outside of the simulation were murdered in the worst possible way, experiencing great horrors before death. Let us avenge their deaths, and move on to the next stage!” Everyone cheered as we charged towards the boss room.

As we went to the mysterious corner, we found a long grey stone path, with ice pillars beside the stone path. Our large army of clearers marched towards the boss room’s door, a giant ice door stood between us and the boss. As everyone arrived before the boss door I shouted: “If anyone wants to leave now, they can.” No one moved, so I shouted: “Are you ready?!” Everyone shouted: “Yeah!!!!” I opened the boss room’s door as we all charged inside. A second after I went in the door began to shut at a incredibly fast speed, I commanded the clearers: “I want 20 non shielders to hold the door down until everyone is inside, everyone else take formation. Go go go!” With that, 20 non shielders held on to the door trying to keep it open. When I looked around the room, it was a cavern made of ice with ice spikes in the edges of the room, with a mist in the end of the room, where I could only make out that there was a throne and the boss was there. On the top, there were icicles that looked like they would fall on us in any second. By the time the door was opened and stabilised to not shut by the 20 players, the mist had cleared. I saw it, a snowman. But this was no ordinary snowman, it was a Yeti.

It’s name was: The King of Ice, Bingyaoi. This yeti was enormous, wearing caveman like clothes, which showed his entire left breast. His fur was snow white, while having a ice blue face and skin. He was like a gorilla, just several times larger and wielding two ice made Mjölnirs which were also several times larger than us. The yeti pounded his chest as he screamed, causing icicles to drop on us. Since this was not planned, everyone went into panic as the Yeti came charging towards the shielders. Hailey was next to me, and I said: “We have to attack, we don’t have a choice.” She nodded and said: “Let’s go then Jason.” Luke and Peaches went next to me as Peaches asked me: “What’d you think you’re doing? The information we got weren't completely accurate, you could die out there.” Hailey replied for me: “If we die it doesn’t matter, we came here as clearers ready to sacrifice our lives. It doesn’t matter if I die, at least I can be with Jason.” I continued on: “But I’m sure we’ll make it alive, as long as I have dual wield and I’m alive I’ll continue protecting Hailey and myself without fail.” Luke said: “I’m coming with, you and Hailey always almost die, I’ve gotta prevent that this time.” Peaches continued on: “Yeah, I’m going too.” Luke turned over and held Peaches’s hand as he said: “Peaches… I’m sorry but, could you stay behind?” Peaches looked at him surprisingly as she asked: “Why?” He looked at Peaches with a teary look and hugged her while saying: “I don’t want you to die, or have the danger of dying… So please… Stay here.” She then patted his back as she cried out as well: “Do you know what would happen if you died, I wouldn’t be able to live anymore in this world… You are everything to me, so please, let me come with you and protect you Luke…” Luke nodded, as I said: “Now that you guys wasted some time talking like that, can we go get the boss? Listen, all we have to do is draw it’s attention while dealing some damage to it. So Luke and Peaches, you’ll go blocking it’s attacks while me and Hailey directly attack it. Got it? He nodded. I shouted: “Go!” We all leapt into the sky diving towards the Yeti. The Yeti shot out icicles at us, as I signaled Luke and Peaches to block it. Luke and Peaches, blocked it together, slicing through all of the Yeti’s attacks. After they blocked it, me and Hailey used Peaches and Luke as a platform as we leapt even further towards the monster. As we were in flight I heard Luke said: “Get em for me buddy.” Me and Hailey both activated our sword skills, I activated my ultimate sword skill Celestial Expansion and rapidly slashed 75 times in the span of 40 seconds, after I was done I shouted: “Switch! Don’t let the Yeti counterattack!” Hailey went as fast as she could, as she activated her sword skill.

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Several days ago, at night.

At the bed, before I changed my clothes Hailey came next to me and she said: “Wait Jason, don’t change yet. I want to practice with you outside, I’ve got a new skill to show you.” I nodded and I said: “Alright, let’s go.” We went outside to the grassy plains, while still inside the safe zone. Hailey asked me: “Are you ready?” I nodded as she sent me a training fight request, where once a player goes down to half health they will lose, and cannot fight anymore. In order to continue training, we bought 50 health potions with us, stored inside our inventories. I took out my Shen Wu Shidao only and Hailey said: “No… I want you to use both your swords.” I looked at her and nodded. If she wanted to challenge me at full power, I would grant her wish. I then took out my second sword, Lions Edge. Hailey rushed towards me, using her skill immediately yelling out: “This is my new skill! Shining Starlight!” Although I thought the name sounded horrible, I didn’t yell it out but at the same time I activated my own skill Double Infinity Slashes, by using two swords I could activate twice the number of my previous skills. Hailey’s continuous pierces were met by my slashes, however my 28 slashes were overwhelmed by the pure speed of her pierces by the 10th trade, I thought the combo was nearly ending… However, I was dead wrong. Hailey continued on attacking as we traded blow for blow, with her lightning fast speed by the time we went on to the 28th blow where my combo was about to end, we both had hit 3 hits on each other. Despite the bonus’s on the dual wield, I still could only match her in speed. Her graceful, yet accurate and lightning fast technique was overwhelming. I thought the trade had ended by the 28th trade, but it didn’t her sword kept on going and I was forced to try dodge them. One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven… Seven blows, and my health went to 50% and the duel ended.

I asked her: “When did you manage to get this skill? It’s so graceful and beautiful like you.” She blushed briefly and said: “Around after the 6th boss I was able to start doing it, just not rapidly. During the times when I scouted ahead, I used the skill to practice.” I replied: “So thats why you always were so tired after scouting…” She nodded, and said: “Could you keep this a secret to everyone? I don’t want to use it until the next boss fight.” I nodded and I said: “Yeah… I understand the pain of having everyone annoy you about it.” She laughed and said: “Well I’m not as anti social as you alright Jason?” I said: “Hey, I’m not that anti social.” We both laughed.

7th Boss Yeti Boss room

Shining Starlight was activated, as Hailey’s blade glowed blue as she attacked the boss with an amazing 35 strikes. After that, the Yeti attempted to attack us using ice spears, that came from a blue portal above him to attack us, we dodged the numerous spears but knew that we couldn’t dodge forever. The Yeti cared not for his only life, but only for our destruction. The AI behind the Yeti was probably programmed for aggressive use only. Everyone returned, and I yelled new orders in order to counter the icicles which fell from the skies. The shielders were now to raise their shields to protect themselves, while the attackers would rush towards the Yeti. However, before the plan took action I noticed the Yeti’s health and I gasped. It’s health was… 98%. After I noticed, I saw Hailey notice too, and she said: “Oh… My god… What is that thing?” After she said that, the Yeti punched the ground and ice spikes came towards us as I yelled: “Split!” Effectively, all the clearers split into two sides. After that I yelled: “Attack now!” Everyone’s swords glowed, as we charged towards the Yeti, using our sword skills. After a brief 10 seconds, the Yeti began to cast down spears on itself. I yelled out: “Retreat!” After that, everyone leapt back towards the shielder’s as the shielder’s provided safety from behind. However, the first line of shielder’s were low and had to rotate. I quickly yelled: “Rotate now! Before he attacks again!” Quickly, the second line of shielders came forward and got ready to defend against the Yeti. The Yeti roared as several blue portals appeared and ice spears came shooting down at the shielders.

Everyone instinctively leapt back, after a brief moment of pausing after deactivating it’s spears the Yeti sent down icicles at us. I yelled out: “Shielders group 3, block!” The 3rd shielder group leapt up to the skies and blocked the icicles as we charged towards the Yeti. However, without using our sword skills we couldn’t do too much damage to the Yeti, it still had 94% health. After more 10 switches the Yeti still had 54% health, we all were starting to feel the fatigue as the Yeti began another ice spike strike at us. I yelled out: “Split!” as several more of our shielders were hit by the ice spike and killed. After that, I noticed the Yeti’s weakness. Our only choice were to have all the shielders shield the attackers from the ice spear rain the Yeti summoned on itself while we used our swords skills. I shouted: “Shielders, this time when we attack, go towards the Yeti with the attackers, but leap higher than the attackers. The shielders obediently followed my lead as I said: “Attackers, use your sword skills, let’s go!” Every single one of us left leapt towards the Yeti. Blue portals appeared on top of the Yeti as we attempted to kill it, I yelled: “Block it now! Attackers, let’s finish this!” Everyone’s swords glowed, and a rainbow ring was made around the yeti like it was being imprisoned within it. Everyone used their strongest sword skills, and repeated using them except for me, as mine was quite long. By the time shielder’s couldn’t hold on the there was already numerous cuts on the Yeti, too much that no one could count how much there was. And once the Yeti casted a storm of ice spears on itself it was over. It’s own attack had killed itself, and it began to vaporise into ashes. Peaches managed to somehow get the last hit and she was rewarded with two ice hammers. And since the ice hammers were similar to maces, she was able to use them with ease. Peaches went over to Terry as she asked: “Could you help me upgrade this?” Terry nodded. At the teleporter at the town nearest towards the dungeon I told Luke: “Me and Hailey are spending this night to ourselves, see you tomorrow.” Luke nodded and said: “Have fun you two.”

After everyone in the clearer team went and teleported to Shinpong, I said to Hailey: “Well, let’s go. Let’s go see the stars together Hailey, just like I promised you.” Hailey replied with a teary look: “You’re the best… Jason.” I smiled as I took her hand, as I shouted: “Summon item, tent!” A tent bag immediately dropped in front of us, with sleeping mats and everything. I then told Hailey: “I’ll make dinner for us, I got supplies in my inventory.” We found a cliff nearby the town, while still being inside the safe zone. The area’s view was great, we could see the snow white trees behind us, while also seeing the frozen rivers of this part of the maze. At exactly 10pm, in the night Hailey said: “Look! Stars! They’re so beautiful Jason!” I replied: “I think you’re much more beautiful Hailey, much more.” She blushed and asked: “Really?” I replied: “Yeah!” While eating the meal which I cooked by making a bonfire, she said: “Your cooking skills have improved, a lot! It’s so good Jason!” I replied: “Nonsense, these food are no where near as good as your cooking.” She then said: “Well… I think they’re quite close.” Under the starlight, as we gazed upon, she looked at me and asked me: “So uh, what about the gift?” I replied while looking back at her: “I thought you’d never ask, summon item Ice Bauhinia!” I handed her the Ice Bauhinia into her hands as Hailey said: “This is so beautiful! I think I’ll put it on my hair!” I nodded, as she put the flower on on head, the pure white glow showed her beauty even more. Hailey then looked at me: “Thank you Jason, without you I would’ve never been able to see such a beautiful night sky!” I replied: “It’s my job to make you happy, after all I’m happy if you are.” After staring at the sky for a while I said: “Sometimes I wonder, if we would’ve ever met if it weren’t for this damned game.” She held my hands as she said: “No, even if it weren’t for this simulation, I would’ve found you in the real world and became your wife. We were meant for each other.” I replied: “I… Promise… I’ll propose to you once we return to the real world and turn 18. I promise we’ll survive this.” Hailey replied: “I’ll be waiting then.” As she came closer to me, as I also went closer to her. Our lips touched as we kissed under the night sky filled with stars.