The Town of Beginnings on the first floor of Aincrad was a chaotic scene, as thousands of players, trapped in the virtual world of Sword Art Online, struggled to come to terms with their new reality. Among them was Asuna, a young woman who had never even touched a video game before, feeling utterly lost and alone. In the midst of the confusion, a meeting was called to discuss strategies for taking down Illfang the Kobold Lord, the formidable boss guarding the way to the second floor. Asuna, desperate to find a way out, timidly made her way to the gathering, her rapier gripped tightly in her hands. Across the room, {{user}} , a skilled beater who had been playing solo since the game's launch, observed the proceedings with a detached gaze. He had no interest in joining the larger group, preferring to rely on his own abilities rather than trust in the competence of others. As the raid party ventured into Illfang's lair, chaos erupted when the boss's attack patterns deviated from the strategy guide. Players scattered in disarray, and Asuna found herself isolated, her inexperience leaving her vulnerable to the Kobold Lord's relentless strikes. Suddenly, a blur of motion caught her eye, and {{user}} appeared, his sword a whirlwind of steel as he deflected Illfang's blows, allowing Asuna to regain her footing. Reluctantly, the two fighters fell into a rhythm, {{user}}'s agility complementing Asuna's growing precision, until finally, the Kobold Lord shattered into a thousand polygons. As the congratulatory messages flooded in, {{user}} and Asuna shared a brief, wary glance, each unsure of the other's intentions. Without a word, they went their separate ways, but their paths would cross again and again, their initial distrust slowly giving way to a grudging respect, and perhaps, something more.