SAO: I replaced him?

The night had settled over the town, cloaking it in a rare moment of peace.

As a settlement close to the labyrinth, the inn was usually quiet, but tonight, with the first-floor boss raid looming ahead, it was bustling. Conversations filled the halls as players huddled together, discussing strategies, checking gear, and sharing nervous excitement. Even so, most kept their activities indoors—no one was foolish enough to waste energy on side quests the night before a battle of this scale.

Among them, a handful of players—those with a deeper understanding of the game—were engaged in an entirely different discussion.

Specifically, what the hell was Morin thinking?

---

Inside a private room on the second floor, Asuna was glaring at Morin, her arms crossed, foot tapping against the wooden floor.

"Morin, why did you let that idiot Kibauo join the raid team?" she demanded, her frustration clear.

Morin, lounging comfortably against the bedframe, gave her a relaxed smile, fully aware that an annoyed Asuna was also an adorable one.

"As much as I want to punt him off the edge of Aincrad, I can't just ban him from the team without a good reason," he explained. "That would make me look like a tyrant instead of a leader, and I'd rather not have my own guild questioning my decisions."

Asuna let out a sigh, her brows still furrowed. "Ugh, fine. But if he causes trouble, I reserve the right to stab him. Just a little."

"Noted," Morin replied with a grin.

Then, without warning, he reached out, gently pulling her into his arms before capturing her lips in a swift, unexpected kiss.

"Mmmph—!?"

Asuna stiffened, caught completely off guard, before she began weakly pushing against him. Her hands, however, lacked any real strength, as if her body had decided that resisting was optional.

When Morin finally pulled away, Asuna's face was a brilliant shade of red. She buried her head against his chest, avoiding eye contact as she caught her breath.

"Y-You're impossible," she mumbled.

Morin chuckled, stroking her hair. "Get some rest, Asuna. We've got a boss to kill tomorrow."

---

The Next Day – The First Floor Labyrinth

The entrance to the labyrinth tower loomed ahead, a massive structure that spiraled into the sky like the backbone of a forgotten god.

Unlike the fields outside, the labyrinth was a relentless gauntlet of narrow corridors, staircases, and monster-infested chambers. Even veteran players had to tread carefully—staying too long meant being worn down by endless battles. But this wasn't a normal expedition.

With Morin, Asuna, Kirito, Diavel, and even Heathcliff leading the charge, the assembled players cut through the maze with near-effortless efficiency. They carved a path through goblins and rogue knights like a hot knife through butter, their momentum never faltering.

Before long, they arrived at their destination.

The Boss Room.

A towering set of ancient doors stood before them, adorned with eerie carvings that depicted goblins in various scenes of battle and conquest. The weight of what lay beyond sent a shiver through the group.

Morin turned to face the gathered players, his voice steady and commanding.

"Alright, listen up! The Goblin Lord has four health bars and fights with a battle axe and shield. He'll summon three Goblin Guards to start, and if we kill them too quickly, he'll just summon more—up to three times."

A few players cursed under their breath. Dealing with one massive boss was bad enough, but a near-endless supply of minions? That was going to be a pain.

"As if that wasn't bad enough, once his HP drops low enough, he'll switch weapons and enter a high-speed attack mode. So don't get complacent!"

Morin's gaze swept across the crowd, locking eyes with Kirito and the other beta testers. "The closed beta info should still be mostly accurate, but things might be different now. Stay sharp!"

Then, raising his sword high, he shouted:

"We're taking this boss down and opening the way home!"

The battle cry that erupted in response was deafening.

"FOR FREEDOM!"

"FOR SURVIVAL!"

"FOR LOOT!"

"...Seriously, Klein?" Kirito muttered, shaking his head.

---

With morale soaring, Morin pushed open the towering double doors.

The room beyond was engulfed in darkness—until, suddenly, vibrant neon-red light spilled across the walls, floor, and ceiling. Glowing symbols flickered to life, illuminating an ornate throne at the far end of the chamber.

Sitting atop it was a massive, crimson-skinned figure.

The Goblin Lord.

Standing at nearly four meters tall, the boss looked like a fusion of a goblin, a troll, and a sumo wrestler. His grotesquely oversized belly made him seem almost comical—until his piercing red eyes locked onto the raiders with unmistakable malice.

With a thunderous roar, he stood up, gripping a massive battle axe and a shield big enough to flatten a horse.

Then, with a single guttural command, three Goblin Guards—each decked out in full armor and standing at nearly human height—materialized at his sides.

As the Goblin Lord let out another roar, his minions rushed forward.

Morin smirked.

"Alright, everyone! Stick to the plan! Team One, with me—let's dance!"

With that, the battle for the first-floor boss had begun.

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