I like crossing the most

Chapter 588: Top Eight Announced
When the two men were deciding the winner, there were two people dueling in the stands at the exit of the arena.

"As expected, a one-handed sword is more advantageous in a fighting arena like this."

"Then do you want me to give in to you a little?"

"No, if you were to be modest to me, it would embarrass me."

"……Yeah."

Kirito nodded.

He felt that Agil and Asuna in front of him were somewhat similar, both of them were unhappy about showing mercy.

"Then I'll do my best."

"...No, you better not let me lose so badly."

"Don't you still want me to let go?"

Kirito couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Some people are just hypocritical. They say please do your best, but in the end they still beg for mercy, just like Agil now.

"how?"

"what?"

"The duel just now. If you, a player who ranks among the top few in the strategy group, were to comment on it, what do you think of the duel just now?"

"It's ok."

It's ok……

You have to know that the two people who just dueled on the field are members of the strategy team. They represent the top battles in Aincrad, but even so, they are still okay in Kirito's eyes.

Agil shrugged. "If it was anyone else who said that, I would definitely refute it, but if it was you, Kirito, I would... So, what's the reason? It can't be that you think they are not strong because their skills are much worse than yours? After all, they are members of the Clearing Team. If they knew, they would cry."

"No, Agil should also know the reason why Rutt and Andy were able to join the strategy team. Besides, their strength in the strategy team is also below average." Kirito shook his head.

Agil remained silent.

It's not that he didn't express his opinion because he thought it would offend talented people, but in fact his own ability was not that strong, and the fact that he could become a member of the strategy team was similar to those two people.

After a pause, Kirito said, "There's something wrong with their duel."

"What's wrong?"

"Well... to put it simply, they are not very good at dueling, and the proficiency of the skills they chose is also a bit problematic. Of course, this is not very good when compared with the top dueling players. For Root and Andy, the duel just now was already very good."

"You mean... the difference between PVE and PVP?"

"Yes."

In SAO, most monsters have set weaknesses, and hitting them accurately can cause huge damage. Players call this a critical hit, and many players are addicted to it.

But there are drawbacks to this.

For example, when Kirito's one-handed sword skill reaches 150 proficiency, you can choose [shorten the stiffness after using the skill] or [increase the critical hit rate]. These two skills represent two schools respectively.

One thing must be stated.

SAO is essentially a level-breaking game. As long as you reach the 100th floor and defeat the bosses on all floors, you can leave this death game and return to reality. Therefore, many players choose [increase critical hit rate] - that is, the PVE style.

However, Kirito didn't want to fall into such a quagmire, so he chose the former - shortening the stiffness after using the skill.

Because of this, his PK ability is quite good.

It doesn't mean that a single skill can affect the overall style, but it is the result of the choices made by players every time there is a disagreement as the proficiency increases, which will also be the key to determining their strengths and weaknesses.

Of course, only in duels.

----

In the field.

After seeing the duel end, Sato Kazuma quickly came to the center of the venue and announced that Andy had advanced to the next round, while Root was unfortunately eliminated because he did not make it to the second round, which made many spectators who were optimistic about him angry.

Of course, those are just a small number of people, and many more players have yet to duel.

"The next one is——"

As he spoke, the names of the players kept floating on the huge blue screen in the center of the venue. Because it was completely random, even two favorites could easily meet in the first game and lose and miss the resurrection match, so this part was much more exciting than imagined.

Maybe it will be even more popular than the duel segment.

"Oh my! I didn't expect that the next two to duel would be these two!"

On the screen, the names of Koharu and Rinko were clearly displayed. Unexpectedly, this pair of good friends also met in the elimination round, which made everyone cheer.

The audience may think it is a coincidence and are happy to see this situation. However, Kobayashi, who knows that there is a behind-the-scenes operation, just thinks that Kayaba Akihiko has a very unspeakable bad taste.

Does he intend for all the next duels to be between good friends or couples?
So what should Kirito and Asuna do?
Without time to think, Koharu and Rinko stood in the arena.

Sato Kazuma didn't act like a referee, cheering for Koharu in front of more than 8,000 spectators, which made the audience condemn him. Unfortunately, Koharu was already in the mood and didn't react shyly or arrogantly. On the other hand, Rinko did the same.

"Yesterday we were celebrating our entry into the knockout round together, but we didn't expect to meet in the first round today."

"Yes, it's really unexpected."

"But I won't let you down. I will definitely be the winner in the end! After all, I've been familiar with this game since the closed beta!"

"That's not right, Xiaochun. You just got familiar with the game earlier than me, but that doesn't mean you are better than me. I will be the winner in the end."

Rinko, who seems weak, treats Koharu with a superior attitude, even though it was the latter who led her to play this game.

I don't know whether it was because of her inner persistence or for the sake of her final dignity, but Xiaochun bit her lip as if to cheer herself up and said:
"——The battle will be over soon!"

Rinko just smiled in response.

Then, the battle ended really quickly, but the difference was that the winner was Rinko, and in an absolutely crushing manner.

Obviously, Koharu is a sickle user with fast attack speed and powerful skills, and there is no problem with the connection and tactics of her skills. However, facing Rinko, a two-handed sword user with a medium to long-range attack range, she can't even get close to her. No matter what tricks she uses, they are all broken.

It's like the sickle user profession itself is not as good as the two-handed sword user.

wrong.

The sickle user (Koharu) is not weak, but the two-handed sword user (Rinko) is too strong.

Thinking back to the first level walkthrough, Koharu once said that Rinko was one of the top players in most games and that her talent was very strong.

Therefore, players like Koharu who have some but not much ability, even if they are closed beta testers who understand the game mechanics first, will be overtaken and completely surpassed by Rinko.

This is also what Kobayashi once said. SAO has been running for more than a year, and there will definitely be strong people with talent but not yet discovered.

The name of the winner, Rinko, was displayed on the huge blue screen.

"Lose, lose."

Koharu fell to her knees in disbelief.

Apart from family members, the time they have spent together is probably the longest. Even though she had expected this, Koharu still didn't expect Rinko to be so powerful that she had no power to resist at all.

But Xiaochun soon let it go.

She is not someone who cannot afford to lose. Besides, Xiaochun would rather lose to a friend than to other people.

"Congratulations, Rinko."

"Thank you."

Rinko smiled gently.

In real life, she is a loser, and is much worse than normal people in both study and sports. The only thing she can be proud of is that she plays games much better than most people.

But she didn't show off about it, at least not to Koharu, because Koharu was a friend who was willing to play with her even though she was a loser in real life.

The two of them were so affectionate in the arena as if no one was around, showing a true friendship first and competition second.

Sato Kazuma looked at the lily blossoming in front of him and didn't know what to say. He just saw Xiaochun lose in the arena and wanted to come up to comfort her and boost her popularity, but it seemed that he was not needed now.

Unexpectedly, after the two of them got out of the situation, Sato Kazuma's system sent an email from Koharu, asking him to accompany her in the evening.

"Why are you trying so hard..."

Sato Kazuma couldn't help but sigh.

Then comes the next round.

Darkness fights against a heavy axeman who is not a member of the strategy team, but his strength is also not to be underestimated.

This is a unique battle.

The female knight with the name of [Unbreakable Fortress] on the field, with her hopelessly powerful defense, forced the player in front of her, who was considered powerful by others, to surrender voluntarily.

Darkness was enjoying herself when she suddenly realized that the opponent was not attacking her. Then she saw the screen in front of her showing that she had won. She immediately shouted anxiously:
"Wait! Do you want to surrender? You spineless man, that's all you can do! Come on, let's fight again, you still have the strength! What are you afraid of? Come here quickly!"

The impatient berserker's appearance frightened the heavy axe player, who turned around and ran out of the venue after surrendering. I hope this duel did not leave an indelible shadow on him.

"That's enough, you hard-core perverted female knight, why did you scare me like that?"

"Wait, wait! Don't call me hard! Besides, I didn't do anything. I just took his attack!"

"That's the problem, idiot!"

Anyone who sees that no matter what attack they make, they cannot break the opponent's defense would feel desperate that they can't win at all. Sato Kazuma understands the feelings of the player who escaped.

As for the reviews...

“As expected of Miss Darkness, this kind of incomparable sense of security is worthy of being called a true knight.”

Beldia flatters Darkness.

Ever since he was saved by the perverted female knight on the first floor, he became a fan of Darkness. When he learned that Kobayashi and others conquered the fifth floor BOSS with the help of Darkness, the only tank, he even touted it as the [Unbreakable Fortress].

Yes, it was he who came up with this title.

Anyway, Darkness successfully advanced to the next round.

The next person to appear was Asuna. With her dazzlingly fast rapier skills, she defeated the one-handed sword player in the same strategy group. She had no intention of holding back her strength at all, and she only woke up from her dream after the duel was over.

I don't know if I just mistook the one-handed sword player in black armor in front of me for someone else.

Kirito's duel was also very fast.

Unlike the above mentioned people, Kirito's opponent couldn't even touch the corner of his clothes. Asuna and Koharu at least spent some health points, but Kirito reduced the opponent's health points to less than half without losing a drop of blood.

Kobayashi's superb swordsmanship made Kayaba Akihiko beside him... no, Heathcliff was so excited that he couldn't sit still.

The duel became somewhat dull after that.

First, Kirito, Alice, Kureya, Rinko, and the spear user named Smailu from the strategy team advanced to the quarterfinals with three undisputed victories.

Asuna's opponent in the third round was Darkness. It was supposed to be a very tense match. Even Asuna, who had maxed out her agility, was powerless against Darkness's superb defensive skills.

But what was unexpected was that the pervert Darkness voluntarily surrendered in order to withstand one more attack, allowing Asuna to enter the quarterfinals without any danger.

Darkness's opponent in the fourth round had no choice but to admit defeat, and the perverted female knight entered the quarterfinals.

In the third round, Agil met Kureya, a female knight who was equally strong in real life. She defeated Agil with an absolute advantage, forcing him to enter the loser group for the resurrection match. His opponent was Andy, who defeated his friend in the first round but was also defeated by Alice in the third round. In the end, Agil narrowly won and entered the quarterfinals.

Thus, the places for the quarterfinals were created.

Kirito, Asuna, Alice, Darkness, Claire, Rinko, Agil, and Smail.

"Hello everyone! After a day of competition, our top eight places are finally announced! They are the players behind me! Please cheer for them and applaud them!"

“Oh oh oh————!”ｘＮ

There was a loud cheer in the arena, and the eight people standing behind Sato Kazuma felt a little uncomfortable.

After all, the strategy team is actually quite mysterious, and except for Alice who is a well-known idol princess active in the public eye, the others are actually not used to having suddenly become celebrities.

Darkness crossed her arms across her chest, enjoying the pleasure of being the center of attention.

Agil was silent.

"I didn't expect to become a celebrity all of a sudden. I'm still a little uncomfortable with it."

"Yeah, I feel uncomfortable all over, too."

The one who responded to him was the socially phobic Kirito.

As a lone wolf player, he couldn't stand being stared at by so many people, but for the sake of the Soul Crystal that could revive him, he had no choice but to endure it.

"Come on, Kirito!"

"Come on, Kirito-nii!"

Especially since Xing and Silica below kept cheering for him, and Asuna's gentle but murderous smile from the side made him feel desperate as if he was being stared at by a wild beast and shrouded in the aura of death.

"Okay, audience! What do you think of today's duel? Was it exciting? Come on, cheer loudly and let me hear your answers!"

"Wonderful!"

"Answer me louder!"

"Wonderful----!"

"Very good. Then please don't forget, there will be an even more exciting quarterfinal match tomorrow, please come here to watch at the same time! Also, a reminder, for those who haven't placed a bet yet, today will be the last day! Cast your precious vote for the player you like! Dear audience, see you tomorrow!"

(End of this chapter)