3rd Person POV

[The fight continues]

Koharu: Almost there!

[Maverick and Asuna fight side by side]

Maverick: Asuna! This is it! On my mark!

Asuna: Ready!

Maverick: Ready...GO!!!

[Maverick and Asuna prepare their combo]

Maverick: HOLY SWIPE! THIS IS FOR HURTING MY FRIENDS!

Asuna: MIRAGE THRUST!

Maverick: FLAME WAVE! THIS IS BECAUSE EVERYONE GETS MONOLOGUES BUT ME!

Asuna: STAR SPLASH!

Maverick: FIRE SLANT! THIS IS BECAUSE I WANT TO PROTECT EVERYONE!

Asuna: BROAD HIT!

Maverick: THIS IS BECAUSE I'M PISSED OFF FOR BEING STUCK HERE! CRIMSON SQUARE BURST! BURST SKILL!

[Illfang is defeated and he vanishes]

Koharu: Is it over?

[Maverick breathes heavily out of exhaustion]

Asuna: Nicely done.

Agil: Congrats! This win was all on you.

Maverick: You think?

Diavel: That was quite the battle. I guess I had no place in it...

Maverick: Well...

[Kibaou stomps towards Maverick]

Kibaou: Tell me! Explain to me why exactly you lied to us all, and to Diavel! If you had just told us 'bout all that from the start, Diavel would never have been in danger...None of us would have!

Koharu: Maverick saved Diavel. How can you take that tone of voice?

Kibaou: I'm not talking results here! I'm talking methods! This guy put Diavel in danger and then steps in to take all the glory!

Fighter: You don't think...Did he use Diavel as bait to avoid the boss's attack?

Fighter: What about those sword skills? Where did get those?

Fighter: That also isn't the sword you start off with! Where did he get it?

Fighter: He's one of them testers! He knew exactly how the boss would attack and made sure only he knew how to get the last hit! Whoever wrote that guidebook must have been in cahoots with him all along!

Asuna: You guys...

Diavel: Everyone, please! The truth is...

[Maverick is livid. He faces the crowd with cold eyes that were very intimidating]

Maverick: All you do is cry beta this and beta that, but you know what? I don't want to be lumped with those newbs.

Kibaou: What now?

Maverick: Most of the 1,000 players who got picked for the SAO beta were newbs who hardly even know how to level. They were even worse than you lot. But not me. I wasn't like them. During the beta, I got further than anyone else. I knew about that katana attack because I've fought katana wielding mobs higher up. I never thought I'd see it on this level but thanks to our happy-go-lucky knight of a leader here, I was lucky enough to get by without a scratch.

Diavel: Maverick...

Maverick: I know stuff our good knight here never dreamed of. All sorts of stuff. Stuff that would surprise even the info brokers.

Kibaou: Whatcha trying to say? What kinda tester are you? I know you must be some kinda cheater or something!

Fighter: A beta cheater! This dude's a "beater" he is!

Maverick: "Beater" huh? Fine. I'll take it. I'm a "beater" then. Now stop lumping me in with those other newb beta testers.

[Maverick equips the new armor that he won from the drop]

Maverick: I'll go activate the Teleport Gate to Floor 2. Feel free to follow along if you want to die to new enemies up there. And before I go, that's how you deliver a monologue!

[Maverick leaves]

Koharu: Maverick, wait!

[Maverick turns to Koharu]

Koharu: Don't leave me! Wherever you go, I go as well!

[Asuna steps forward]

Asuna: So will I!

Maverick: Fine. I could use the company. Thank you.

[The three leave the boss room]