Pokémon Breeder In One Piece!

July 9th.

The day the players decided to challenge the first-floor Boss room.

There had been attempts by smaller teams to claim the glory of being the "hero" who conquered the Boss, but after a few groups perished, such ambitions quickly faded.

A free informational booklet distributed by beta testers had made it clear: defeating the first-floor Boss, Kobold Lord, required at least 15 players at Lv.6 or higher.

This was due to the Kobold Lord's ability to summon a guard squad of three Lv.7 Kobold minions, each of which required one or two players to hold off.

Some either ignored the warnings or dismissed the information, only to pay the price.

9:00 a.m., Coliseum.

The small-scale coliseum was crowded with over 200 players.

"Quite the turnout. Madara-san's influence is incredible," Kirito remarked, scanning the crowd.

"Snea!"

Beside him, Sneasel observed the surroundings, noticing seven or eight other Pokémon and cheerfully greeting them as if they were old friends.

Over 200 players in attendance from a pool of 50,000 was a significant number.

In the original timeline, it had taken a month for the first floor to be cleared, by which time 90% of players had reached Lv.6 or higher. Despite 2,000 deaths, 8,000 remained alive, yet only about 20 joined the Boss raid. Most players avoided the risk of death.

Now, only a week had passed since launch.

Of the 50,000 players, perhaps 1,000 had reached Lv.6, the minimum level required to enter the coliseum. Out of these, over 200 had shown up.

Madara's call had spread just two days prior, meaning some players in other towns likely didn't hear about it in time or couldn't return.

Thus, a turnout of over 200 was remarkable.

Among the attendees, at least one-third weren't particularly interested in progressing to higher floors. They had no hope of clearing the game but came solely because of Madara.

This was thanks to Madara's meticulous planning.

After Madara and his four subordinates reached Lv.8, the current floor's level cap, he instructed them to assist mid-level players with potential in grinding for levels.

Additionally, equipment forged by Lisbeth as practice was sold at cost to low-level players, earning Madara widespread goodwill.

Combined with his formidable reputation, many had come to support him.

Izuna, however, was absent.

He understood there was no need for him to participate.

Even if neither he nor Madara joined, the remaining players would have no trouble defeating the Kobold Lord.

Although Kayaba Akihiko had strengthened the Boss compared to the beta, Izuna was confident.

No amount of buffs could withstand the assault of over 200 players.

Madara stood in the center of the coliseum, checking the time. Determining that no one else would likely arrive, he glanced at a green-haired man beside him.

The man was a unique talent in Madara's team.

A human resources manager at a media company in the real world, he had average combat skills but excelled in psychological fortitude and management, making him invaluable for future guild operations.

The green-haired man addressed the crowd:

"Thank you all for gathering here today. With your help, the first-floor Boss will be no match for us.

"This assembly gives us hope of returning to the real world and reminds us of the resilience of humanity."

He paused, scanning the crowd.

"I know some of you feel that this world is better than reality and don't want to leave, or perhaps you doubt we can clear SAO at all.

"But let me ask you this: Have you considered your current condition in the real world?"

The coliseum fell silent.

"Most of us are likely lying in hospitals near our homes, sustained by IV nutrition.

"You may have experienced moments of being 'disconnected.' That's probably due to hospitals moving our bodies, causing electromagnetic disruptions in the NerveGear."

"While we can theoretically survive indefinitely on IVs, reality is far more complex. Complications will arise over time.

"And if, in five or ten years, we manage to leave this place, what will our bodies look like? What about our families and friends?"

His words painted a grim picture, making the crowd visibly uneasy.

This sense of urgency was intentional.

Most people wouldn't act unless pushed. Among young gamers especially, a culture of apathy often prevailed. The green-haired man believed it was crucial to instill some pressure to encourage progress in clearing SAO.

After the crowd absorbed his words, he shifted topics.

"Enough of that. Let's move on to the beta players' information about the first-floor Boss."

He held up a booklet, briefly explaining key points about the Boss fight before closing it and addressing the group.

In his view, there was no need for excessive detail. With their numbers and strength, overwhelming the Boss was a given.

"If everyone's ready, let's head out."

Fifteen minutes later, outside the Boss Room.

Madara stood at the forefront and kicked open the massive iron door.

Beside him was a visibly nervous Lisbeth.

Inside was a grand, ornate hall. At the far end, a massive, shadowy figure sat on a throne.

"Let's go. This won't take more than three minutes. You four handle the guards."

Madara led the group forward without hesitation. Having faced the Boss during the beta, he wasn't curious about its appearance.

"Yes, sir!" his four subordinates responded in unison.

As they reached the hall's center, they entered the Boss's aggro range.

The figure on the throne leapt down with a deafening roar, landing before the 200-strong group.

At the same time, four smaller kobolds emerged at its feet.

[Kobold Lord Lv.10]

Standing over five meters tall, the Boss wielded a massive two-handed battle axe and carried a greatsword on its back.

"First wave, attack!"

Madara's calm command spurred the players into action.

Over 200 players surged forward, weapons drawn, ready to unleash their skills. Even Lisbeth, surrounded by so many allies, felt her fear evaporate.

Fear stemmed from insufficient firepower, and with their overwhelming numbers, a mere Lv.10 Boss stood no chance.

Madara was the first to reach the Boss, his speed unmatched.

His stat allocation heavily favored strength and agility, with no points wasted on durability or resistances. Only Izuna dared to adopt a similar strategy.

'Leaf Hurricane!'

Madara leapt into the air, delivering a powerful spinning kick to the Kobold Lord's face, sending it staggering.

The nearby players seized the opportunity, rushing forward to deal as much damage as possible.

But just as the battle seemed to be going smoothly, the Boss retaliated.

Despite its unsteady stance, the Kobold Lord swung its massive axe in a wide arc, targeting the surrounding players.

"All Trainers, use control skills!"

Madara reacted instantly, recognizing the Boss's intent from the motion of its wrist.

"Sneasel, Taunt!"

Kirito also noticed the incoming attack and commanded his partner to act.

"Snea!"

Sneasel darted in front of the Kobold Lord, slapping its backside and making a mocking face.

The Boss's aggro shifted to Sneasel, redirecting the swing toward it instead.

"Heracross, Push!"

From the side, Asuna directed Heracross to charge, while she stabbed her rapier into the Boss's waist.

"Heracross!"

Before the axe could strike, Heracross rammed into the Boss's leg with its powerful horn, toppling the massive creature.

The Kobold Lord crashed to the ground, giving the players an opening.

They swarmed the downed Boss, unleashing a barrage of skills. The Pokémon added their abilities to keep the Boss pinned.

In no time, the Boss's HP plummeted to 10%.

(End of Chapter)

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