ã€ŠRE;Sword Art Onlineã€‹


 Prologue

    A massive castle, built from a grey metallic stone stronger than steel and harder than diamond, floated majestically in an endless sky.

    That was all this world was.

    It took a month for skilled craftsmen to survey its vast expanse. The base floor alone was as large as a continent, big enough to hold an entire country. Above it, 100 floors stacked on top of each other, reaching into the sky like an unbreakable fortress. The sheer scale was beyond imagination¡ªit was impossible to guess how much data this world contained.

    Inside the castle, there''s another world. Clear blue skies stretched across each floor, filled with landscapes as diverse as the real world. Towering forests, rolling plains, shimmering lakes¡ªeach floor was unique, home to countless towns, villages, and creatures unknown to reality.

    But only one stairway connected each floor to the next. These stairways lay in deep inside dungeons, guarded by swarms of powerful monsters roaming. Finding and conquering them was a no easy matter. However, once a floor was cleared, a [Teleport Gates] unlocked, linking that city to all lower levels. This allowed players to travel freely¡ªif they lived long enough to use it.

    For two years, many had fought in this colossal castle. And currently on this 74th floor we¡¯re at war. with the frontlines pushing even higher on this dungeon floor, there¡¯s approximately six hundred thousand battling for to survive, the name of the castle was [Aincrad];

    A floating world where only swords decided one¡¯s fate.

    Otherwise known as¡ª

    [Sword Art Online]

    A grey flash of steel cut through my shoulder.

    The thin green line at the top left corner of my field of vision shrank slightly. At the same time a cold hand passed over my heart.

    the HP bar.

    ¡°My HP was 1530, down to 1226. That¡¯s still over 80%, but... no. I¡¯m 20% closer to death is a better way to put it.¡±

    Below it, my blue bar flickered. MP: 1500 to 915.

    ¡°60% left... not good. I can only use a few more skills. I need to save enough for my ult skill to make sure¡±.

    I use [Dash] skill, retreating backward just before the enemy¡¯s sword even began its swing.

    My MP bar remained untouched, but beneath it, my grey stamina bar ticked down from 100 to 90. It regenerates at a steady rate of 3.5 stamina per second, but every action counts in battle.

    I quickly reviewed my movement options.

    [Dash IV] ¨C A quick burst of speed covering 6 meters. Grants 50% armor, costs 10 stamina, and has a 1.5-second cooldown.

    [Roll IV] ¨C A short, evasive maneuver of 3 meters. Provides 15% armor, costs only 5 stamina, and has no cooldown, making it useful for continuous dodging, but not ideal because it leaves me vulnerable of attacks.

    [Blink IV] ¨C The ultimate escape tool skill. It offers perfect invulnerability, letting me phase through attacks¡ªeven area-wide ultimates. Ignoring damage entirely but it has a 25 stamina cost, an 8-meter range, and a punishing 3-minute cooldown. A last resort, meant for emergencies.

    Every move I made was a trade-off between distance, protection, and stamina management. I couldn''t afford to waste even a single step.

    ¡°Haaa...¡±

    I forced out a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The [body] in this world didn¡¯t need oxygen, but the one in the real world or rather the body lying down in the real world, would be breathing heavily. My hands would be soaked in sweat, my heart pounding against my ribs off the charts.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Of course.

    Even if everything around me was just a high-quality rendering of a virtual reality world, even if that shrinking HP bar in my vision was nothing more than just numbers that showed my hit points, the fact remained¡ªI was fighting for my life.

    When you think about it like that, this fight was extremely unfair. The enemy before me¡ªa humanoid figure with dull shining arms covered in dark green scales, a lizard¡¯s head, and a thick, powerful tail¡ª was not a human, nor was it really alive and it didn¡¯t fear death. It didn¡¯t hesitate, even if I cut it down. It was a digital lump that the system would replace regardless of how many times it was killed.

    ¡ªNo.

    This Lizardman Lord (a Level 82 monster) wasn¡¯t just a disposable enemy. The AI controlling it studied my movements, adapting with each second. But unlike a real warrior, it would never learn from its past mistakes, never carry its experience into another battle.

    That made it different from me.

    So, in a sense, this lizardman was also alive, a single being unique to this world.

    ¡°...Right?¡±

    The lizardman hissed in response. Its fang-lined mouth twisted into a grin showing the sharp fangs, as if it had understood my words.

    There was no way that it would have understood the word that I had muttered to myself.

    This is reality, everything here is real. There''s no virtual reality or fakery, no illusion¡ªonly life and death. I shifted my one-handed longsword to waist height, my fingers tightening around the hilt as I watched the enemy.

    The lizardman adjusted its stance, raising the buckler in its left hand while pulling back its curved scimitar in its right.

    A cold breeze whispered through the dungeon corridor, flickering the light of the torches. The damp stone floor shimmered beneath us, reflecting the eerie glow.

    Then¡ª

    ¡°Kraaah!!¡±

    A deafening roar shook the chamber. The ten-party raid team, roughly 40 to 50 players, froze. Their hesitation was clear¡ªthey wanted to run, to escape. But their feet refused to move. They had no choice but to fight.

    A voice¡ªstern, commanding, unshaken¡ªcut through the chaos.

    "Don¡¯t run! Maintain DPS! This is still winnable!"

    At the heart of the raid, a man stood firm with a long sword and a giant shield, his dark green robe longer than his waist with white lines on each edges swaying slightly with the movement of battle. While silver gauntlets and boots gleamed under the torchlight. A sturdy chestplate covered his torso, worn over simple brown combat gear.

    He looked like the kind of man who had three kids waiting for him at home¡ªbut there was no hesitation in his voice, only absolute confidence.

    The lizardman leaped.

    Some players turned and ran.

    The man¡¯s voice boomed across the battlefield.

    ¡°Group One and four! What did I just say?! Keep attacking, dammit! You are all not in the danger zone so stay there!¡±

    He didn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°Open your eyes Group three, eight and nine! Watch its movements! Are you all BLIND!? You all keep missing the signs!¡±

    ¡°Group seventh and five! Get the wounded out of here fast! Group two! Heal them all right now!¡±

    A brief flicker of torchlight illuminated his focused expression.

    ¡°He¡¯s good.¡± The thought flashed through my mind. ¡°He sees their mistakes instantly¡ªand corrects them before they even realize.¡±

    The lizardman¡¯s scimitar carved through the air, leaving behind a streak of blazing orange light¡ª

    [Fell Crescent]

    ¡°Group six! MOVE!!!¡±

    A high-class sword skill, covering four meters in 0.4 seconds. A direct hit meant death.

    But I was already moving.

    I baited the AI onto me to create this exact moment, stretching the distance between us to make it commit to this attack.

    I lunged forward.

    The scimitar¡¯s fiery arc slashed through empty air, barely centimeters from my face. The burning smell of the attack seared into my senses¡ª

    ¡°Ha!¡±

    My sword ignited in sky-blue light, slicing across the lizardman¡¯s thinly protected stomach. Red particles scattered through the air instead of blood.

    A sharp screech echoed through the dungeon.

    But I didn¡¯t stop. The system assisted me through the programmed movements and chained skills of slashes, chaining the next strike faster than human reflexes should allow.

    This is the most important element in battles in this world¡ª[Special Skills].

    My sword cut through the Lizardman¡¯s chest in a swift arc. Using the momentum, I spun my body in a full circle, driving my third strike deeper than before.

    ¡°Raarrgh!¡±

    The Lizardman Lord recoiled, letting out a guttural roar¡ªa mix of rage and fear. It raised its scimitar high, the orange glow of its next attack forming along the blade.

    But my chain skills weren¡¯t over. The sword, still in motion, suddenly sprang left, then upward, striking the monster¡¯s heart¡ªits critical point.

    A sky-blue rhombus traced through the air as my four consecutive hit skill landed in perfect sequence, [Horizontal Square]. The burst of light illuminated the dungeon walls, casting long, flickering shadows. And then¡ªsilence. The HP bar above the Lizardman¡¯s head vanished.

    The massive creature staggered backward, leaving a long trail in the dirt before its body collapsed. Then¡ªlike fragile glass¡ª It shattered. Countless polygons scattered in the air before fading into nothing. No corpse, no blood¡ªjust perfect destruction.

    This is the [Death] of this world.

    Instant. Absolute. Not even a trace left behind.

    I glanced at the raid team.

    ¡°He keeps the deaths to a minimum¡­ he¡¯s really good.¡±

    Someone muttered those words, almost in disbelief.

    I let myself a small smile.

    ¡°If this were just a normal game, that is.¡±

    But the smile faded as quickly as it came.

    Only less than fifty had died. A miracle compared to what it should have been. Usually, only two raiders would survive, maybe even none.

    Yet, it didn¡¯t feel like we won.

    The experience points and drop items appeared in purple text in the center of my vision. I swung my sword once, then twice, before sheathing it on my back. My body slumped against the cold dungeon wall as I slid down, exhaling deeply.

    My temples throbbed from exhaustion. I closed my eyes for a moment, forcing the ache away before opening them again.

    A digital clock flickered in the corner of my vision¡ª3:12 PM.

    I needed to leave the labyrinth before nightfall.

    ¡°Should I get started?¡±

    I muttered as I forced myself to my feet. For today, I had survived. I had escaped death¡¯s grasp once more. But tomorrow would bring another fight, another battle with no guarantee of victory.

    No matter how many precautions you take, no matter how many safety nets you build, one day, lady luck won¡¯t be there to save you.

    The only question is¡ªWill this game be cleared before I pull the ace of spades?

    If survival was my only goal, I could just stay inside a town, waiting for someone else to clear the game. That would be the safest option. Yet, I still came to the front lines every day, alone. Am I just a VRMMO addict who grinds endlessly, desperate to increase his stats?

    Or¡ª

    Am I just a fool who still believes that this world can be freed by the swing of his sword?

    I let out a quiet, self-mocking chuckle.

    Then, with a steady step, I turned toward the labyrinth¡¯s exit.

    As I walked, my mind drifted back.

    Back to that day.

    Two years ago.

    The moment when everything ended¡ª

    ¡ªAnd began.

 Chapter 1: A New World

    The year is 2049¡ªthe era where humanity has finally perfected full-dive virtual reality. A world where you can feel the texture of objects, smell the scent of the air, taste food as if it were real, and immerse yourself in a hyper-realistic digital environment with graphics unlike anything ever seen before.

    October 6, 2049. Less than Four hours left before the release.

    On the rooftop of a high school, a lone boy with black hair sat near the edge, the wind gently ruffling his uniform. His gaze was fixed on his phone screen, watching a live stream. A faint smile played on his lips as the voice of a virtual streamer filled his ears.

    "Guys, don¡¯t be disappointed, okay? Like, come on. Stop crying!" his tone was playful and jokingly.

    The chat immediately exploded with messages.

    "LOL"

    "You abandoned us!"

    "Cheater!"

    "Liar as always, dude! LMAO!"

    The black-haired boy chuckled to himself as the streamer tried to calm the chaos.

    "I know you¡¯re all excited! It just so happens that today is a collab stream, so I had to push things back a bit. But, but, but! I promise you¡ªI¡¯ll be playing Sword Art Online tomorrow! So don¡¯t miss out, okay?"

    The chat continued to spam reactions, but the streamer ignored them and wrapped things up.

    "This is your boy, Hamikaze Ouri, and I¡¯m out! See ya! Tomorrow... hey, be there, okay? I¡¯ll stream SAO! Bye!!!" the stream ended.

    His thumb swiped to another news feed.

    On the screen, a reporter stood in front of a towering building, the SAO developers¡¯ headquarters, Argus corporation.

    "Sword Art Online has already reached 1.5 million downloads worldwide since its closed beta! With just four hours left until its official launch, excitement is at an all-time high. This is shaping up to be the most popular MMO on the market today!"

    The broadcast then cut to a street interview. A female reporter hurriedly approached a young man with messy red hair, walking along the sidewalk.

    "Excuse me, sir! Do you have a moment?"

    The red-haired man turned with an excited grin. "Oh! What''s your name? I¡¯m Tsuboi Ryoutarou, 19 years old¡ª"

    The reporter blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his enthusiasm then she cuts him off from speaking. "Uh¡­ I¡¯m from Channel 7 News, but¡­ may I ask, do you know about SAO?"

    The man beamed from ear to ear, practically radiating excitement. "Of course! Who doesn''t know SAO?! If you don¡¯t, you must be living under a rock!"

    He puffed his chest proudly. "I pre-registered as soon as it was announced, and I spent all my entire month¡¯s allowance just for it! I can''t wait to log in!"

    Can I get your numbe¡ª"

    The reporter''s voice cut off as the screen switched to another segment, leaving the red-haired man mid-reaction.

    He locked his phone and slipped it into his pocket, turning away from the screen. He walked down the hallway, his footsteps light yet distant. There was an invisible wall around him¡ªsomething about his presence made him hard to approach. Other students passed by, chatting and laughing, he just passed them by and ignored them like they weren¡¯t there.

    He entered the classroom. The teacher hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and the room was filled with the restless hum of students talking over each other. Without a word, he sat down at his desk near the side of the window, pulled out his earphones, and tuned out the noise.

    A few minutes later, the teacher walked in, clapping his hands together. "Alright, class! Open your books to page 96."

    The teacher called his name. ¡°Kazuto,¡± he didn¡¯t react. Then again, louder this time. ¡°Kazuto Kirigaya!¡± Still nothing. With an exasperated sigh, the teacher walked over and pulled an earphone out of his ear.

    Startled, he looked up. "Ah¡ª"

    "Since I was late today, I¡¯ll let you off the hook. But don¡¯t let it happen again, Kazuto."

    The lesson continued, but he found himself staring out the window, his thoughts elsewhere.

    The bell rang.

    As he packed his things, he overheard a group of classmates chatting near the door.

    "Hey, are you guys playing SAO later?"

    "I think I¡¯ll pass. Someone invited me to karaoke." He smirks and waves his hair, to boast his looks.

    "Lucky you!" he groans and nudging him playfully.

    "What about you?"

    "Nah, I¡¯m stuck with homework. Plus, my mom won¡¯t let me play because of my test scores." He sighs, slumping his shoulder in defeat.

    "Ah, that¡¯s a bummer, man. I¡¯ll pray for you." He smiles, patting his friends back jokingly.

    Kazuto wanted to join in. He opened his mouth while looking down on his desk, hesitating.

    "Ah¡­"

    His voice barely left his lips before he swallowed the words. No one noticed. The conversation continued without him¡ªlaughter, playful complaints, inside jokes he wasn¡¯t part of.

    By the time he realized it, the room was empty.

    Alone.

    He walks down the hallway, his gaze fixed on the floor with every step. A heavy silence lingers around him, drowning out the distant chatter of students passing by. His shoulders slump ever so slightly, his expression unreadable¡ªyet, he was so disappointed to his self and he feels defeated his expressions can''t be paint.

    He stops in his tracks, gripping the strap of his bag tightly. The words he couldn¡¯t say earlier finally escape his lips in a whisper¡ª

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m free, and I can help you in the game.¡±

    But there¡¯s no one around to hear it.

    and his own voice echo, leaving only an empty hallway.

    He walked down the crowded streets of Akihabara, his eyes fixed on his phone, earphones snug in his ears, drowning out the city¡¯s noise. Neon signs flickered, and the air buzzed with the energy of excited gamers.

    Posters plastered across game stores showcased bold letters: ¡°Sword Art Online ¨C The Next Evolution of VRMMORPGs!¡± A massive LED screen on a nearby building played a promotional trailer, displaying breathtaking landscapes and intense battles, hyping up the release.

    For a brief moment, he glanced up at the screen. The name "Kayaba Akihiko" flashed across it.

    The man who created an entire world¡­

    He exhaled with a tugging smile, and kept walking.

    He finally reaches his house and he hurriedly took of his shoe before dashing upstairs to his room. Dropping onto his chair, he powered on his monitor and checked the countdown¡ªtwenty minutes left until launch.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    With a heavy sigh, he leaned back, opened his browser and navigated to a opened a familiar forum. 8-Kun, one of the most infamous sites on the net. Is a notorious to¡ªan unfiltered hub filled with countless categories ranging from celebrity gossip, entertainment, gaming, and pop culture to the downright bizarre. Discussions could be insightful at times, but more often than not, the place was chaotic and unhinged.

    It was the kind of site where brilliant game theories and in-depth meta-analysis sat right next to conspiracy rants and flame wars. A wild, lawless frontier of the internet.

    His fingers moved instinctively, searching for a specific name¡ªSupremeOverlord.

    A well-known speedrunner, SupremeOverlord was popular in the gaming community. His name sat at the top of the leaderboard across multiple titles, his in-depth meta breakdowns and guides helping countless players optimize their builds. If there was anyone who could crack SAO¡¯s mechanics early, it would be him.

    But as he scrolled through the posts, his brows furrowed.

    Last update: One week ago.

    ¡°¡­No new updates, huh?¡± he muttered, resting his chin on his palm.

    I had been hoping for an early advantage, maybe even a theorycrafted build to start with. But for SupremeOverlord to go silent right before launch¡­ that was unusual.

    Still, it wasn¡¯t like he needed a guide to enjoy the game. He smirked slightly and closed the forum.

    Without moving his head, his eyes shifted downward at a thirty-degree angle, glancing at the launch timer once more.

    Just nine more minutes.

    Bored, he tuned into MeTube, scrolling through SAO-related news. It didn¡¯t take long to find a familiar face¡ªthe same reporter from earlier. This time, she was interviewing one of the game¡¯s developers, Satoshi Iwata.

    "Where¡¯s Kayaba Akihiko?" she asked with a bright smile, leaning slightly toward the mic.

    Iwata let out a short laugh, though his answer carried a hint of uncertainty. "He¡¯s in his office, as serious as ever. Probably fixing some last-minute bugs."

    The reporter chuckled. "Your promotional video was incredible! I watched it, and I was completely blown away. The story looks exciting, and the combat system seems really deep."

    Iwata nodded; his expression full of pride. "We have a very dedicated team behind all of this project. Our writers have done an amazing job, and I have no complaints about their work. The team put so much effort into crafting a complex combat system. And for those who prefer something different, they can immerse themselves in the game¡¯s story-driven missions, where the AI responds in an incredibly lifelike manner. If you ask me, it''s more than just a game¡ªit¡¯s a second world, a place players can call home. We even enhanced sensory experiences like taste and smell, allowing full immersion even without engaging in combat."

    The reporter¡¯s enthusiasm grew. "I couldn¡¯t agree more! No wonder SAO has gained such massive popularity worldwide. Is there anything else fans should look forward to?"

    As the interview continued, his attention wandered.

    While listening to the interview, he was reading Kayaba Akihiko¡¯s long list of achievements. As he flipped through some papers, the edge of a page gave him a sharp paper cut.

    Blood beaded at the tip of his finger.

    Yet, he didn¡¯t even flinch.

    A soft voice suddenly called out to him, snapping him from his thoughts.

    "Brother, I''m heading to the dojo for practice!"

    He glanced up outside of the window just in time to see his younger sister dash out, as she ran outside of the house.

    Turning back to the screen, he saw the game is ready to go.

    He exhaled slowly.

    "Alright... it''s about time."

    He placed the NerveGear on his head, securing it snugly before plugging it into his PC.

    Lying back on his bed, he exhaled softly, his gaze shifting to the transparent display projected onto his visor.

    4:59 PM.

    The faint outline of his bedroom wall was still visible through the interface.

    A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

    Then, he closed his eyes.

    [LINK START]

    A blue login screen appeared.

    User Name: Kirito

    Password: ************

    Log In.

    A moment of darkness¡ªblurry at first¡ªthen a sudden burst of brightness. His vision adjusted as the familiar world came into view.

    Kirito looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers before clenching them into a fist. A confident smirk crossed his lips.

    "I''m back... to this world."

    At the center of the plaza, where the players popped into the game one after another around him, the city was alive with activity. Newcomers glanced around in awe, their eyes adjusting to the breathtaking world before them.

    Players bustled through the streets, chatting, trading, gearing up and preparing for their adventures. The hum of conversations mixed with the clinking of armor, the distant sounds of blacksmith hammers, the scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat drifted through the air and the occasional sound of pings of system notifications.

    The Town of Beginnings, capital of the Renteia Empire

    The grand capital of the Renteia Empire, stood as the heart of adventure. Towering stone walls surrounded the city, their banners fluttering in the wind, displaying the empire¡¯s golden crest, cobblestone roads led to towering spires, were guild halls and grand taverns.

    I strolled through the bustling city plaza, where new players materialized one after another in flashes of blue light. The streets were packed, yet the game ran smoothly¡ªno lag, no frame drops, no delays. It was astonishing how detailed the world was. The crisp textures, dynamic lighting, and lifelike animations made it easy to forget this was a game.

    ¡°This game was beautiful¡± I muttered to myself.

    I want to try the NPC¡¯s interactions, I¡¯m curious about it, at the corner of my eyes I saw a stall nearby and I decided to test it out.

    The fruit stall was a simple wooden setup, with a sturdy counter made of aged oak. A faded canvas canopy stretched above, shielding the vendor and his goods from the sun. The stall¡¯s front was lined with woven baskets, each filled with vibrant fruits¡ªred apples, golden pears, and bright citrus oranges stacked neatly in pyramids. The scent of fresh produce mixed with the faint aroma of wood and earth.

    Behind the counter, a wooden crate held additional stock, while a chalkboard sign hung at the side, listing prices in neat but slightly smudged handwriting. A small iron lantern dangled from one of the stall¡¯s posts, unlit for now but ready to provide a warm glow when night fell.

    The vendor himself stood with a practiced smile, his calloused hands arranging the apples with care, occasionally wiping one with a cloth to keep its shiny red skin appealing.

    A middle-aged man with brown hair, stood by a wooden stall lined with colorful produce.

    "Sir, my fruit here is the best! Freshly picked this morning," he announced proudly.

    I smirked, a mischievous thought crossing my mind. "Hmm... hehehe"

    The NPC tilted his head. "Hmm? Something wrong, sir? My fruit is top-quality and reasonably priced!"

    Feigning curiosity, I pointed at an apple. "Really? Well, how much for this?"

    "The apples are only 25 silver, and the oranges 18 silver¡ªa fair deal, don¡¯t you think?" The vendor beamed brightly.

    I raised a brow and replied with a deadpan tone, "Oh, wow¡­ so reasonable. I totally thought this was cheap."

    The NPC¡¯s expression changed ever so slightly, but he remained cheerful. There was a brief flicker in his eyes¡ªa micro-reaction.

    I peeked at him with my right eye. An almost human response¡­ to sarcasm?

    "Sir, I assure you, the quality is worth the price," the fruit vendor insisted, keeping his sales pitch steady.

    I smirked. Let¡¯s push this AI a little further. I wonder if I can haggle in this game.

    "Hmm¡­ but I saw a stall down the road selling apples for 15 silver."

    The NPC¡¯s smile stiffened and sweat a little. "That¡­ that must be a mistake, sir. No other vendor sells at such a low price."

    I folded my arms, amused. "Are you sure? Maybe you should lower your price a little, you know, for customer satisfaction?"

    A vein twitched on his forehead. He was forcing himself to stay calm. "Sir¡­ again, my fruit is of the highest quality and fairly priced."

    Wow. What a realistic expression. But what if¡ª

    "Can I take a bite to see if it¡¯s really top quality?" I added sarcastically.

    ¡°¡­ ¡°

    The NPC¡¯s face darkened. "No. Absolutely not." A sharp, stern rejection.

    I snatched an apple and run away with it, and I took a bite.

    A high-quality apple delivers a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, making each bite refreshing and satisfying. As your teeth sink into the firm, crisp flesh, you hear a slight crunch¡ªan unmistakable sign of freshness.

    The first burst of juice is cool and invigorating, coating your tongue with a natural honeyed sweetness, followed by a subtle tang that tingles at the edges of your taste buds. The texture is smooth yet slightly grainy, melting in your mouth without any unpleasant mealiness.

    The aftertaste lingers with a light floral note, reminiscent of fresh autumn orchards, leaving you craving another bite.

    Wow this apple is so good. "I really can''t believe I can do this! Hahaha!"

    Then¡ª

    "STOP! STOP RIGHT THERE, THIEF!"

    I was surprised and turned around. The NPC vendor was sprinting after me, his face twisted in fury.

    What the hell?! He''s actually chasing me?!

    He grinned ¡°let¡¯s see how far you can go.¡±

    He bolted and go through every nook and corner of the streets, weaving between players, past vendor stalls, and weapon shops. The bustling city blurred around him, but he didn¡¯t care¡ªhe was too caught up in the rush.

    As he ran, players turned to look at him, their gazes drawn not just by his speed but by the carefree, bright smile on his face.

    It was the brightest smile he had worn in years, for the first time in a long while, he felt truly alive. This moment¡ªthis world¡ªit was exhilarating.

    Every step, every turn, every breath filled him with pure excitement.

    And even though, somewhere behind him, the exhausted NPC vendor was still struggling to catch his breath¡­

    Kirito laughed.

    "This is truly the best VRMMORPG ever!"

    My stamina bar began to drop, bit by bit.

    Wait¡­ sprinting consumes stamina? That wasn''t in the beta test.

    ¡ª

    A few minutes passed.

    I glanced back. Alright, he must¡¯ve despawned by now¡ª

    "Stop¡­ please¡­ stop and pay for that¡­ apple¡­"

    What?

    The NPC vendor was still there, panting heavily, drenched in sweat.

    He fell to his knees, desperate. "Sir¡­ please¡­ pay for the apple¡­" His eyes were teary.

    I stood frozen.

    A sudden blue notification window popped up.

    <hr>

    KARMA

    2 - 98 / 100

    ? SYSTEM WARNING ?

    If you do not pay the vendor, your karma will drop, and you will become a rogue player.

    <hr>

    ¡°Wait¡­ what?!¡±

    I frowned. This wasn¡¯t in the beta.

    The NPC vendor begged "My family¡­ this is our livelihood. If I don¡¯t get that silver, I won¡¯t be able to feed my children¡­"

    For a moment, I actually felt guilty¡ªuntil I reminded myself.

    This is just an NPC.

    ¡­But damn. That felt too real. And I didn¡¯t even think I get a system warning, they really improve a lot in this game.

    I sighed, rubbing the back of my head. "Alright, alright. I was just messing with you."

    The vendor¡¯s face lit up instantly. "Of course, sir! That will be 25 silver."

    I raised my hand, extending my index finger toward the air. With a light tap and a quick scroll down, a thin, blue translucent window popped up in front of me.

    [Inventory].

    Rows of items filled the screen¡ªmostly potions and scrolls, each labeled with their effects: Attack Speed, Extra Damage, Movement Speed, Crit Rate. The scrolls included Armor Defense Debuffs, Life Drain, and Damage Debuffs, along with a few extra Green-Grade gears.

    My gaze shifted to the silver coin icon next to my gold counter¡ª150,000 silver.

    I tapped the silver icon, typed 25, and watched as the amount materialized in my palm. Without hesitation, I handed it to the NPC vendor.

    "Thank you, sir! For your patronage!"  The NPC cheerfully thank me and his voice is full of gratitude. With a wide grin, he turned and jogged back to his stall, almost skipping with excitement.

    And I took another bite of the apple.

    Crisp. Juicy. Almost¡­ too real.

    I chuckled to myself.

    "Man, this game really is something else."

    As I¡¯m chewing the apple, I noticed something at the corner of my eye, under my status window.

    my stamina bar was regenerating fast.

    A buff?

    Sure enough, the apple had granted a Stamina Regeneration Buff. By 5 stamina per-second

    "Huh¡­ so even food has effects. Not bad."

    The red-haired man fallowed me, he was out of breath, hands on his knees as he gasped for air. "Wait... Please wait!".

    A man with shoulder-length red hair, his outfit consists of a red and beige long-sleeved tunic with a dark belt securing it at the waist. He wears black fingerless gloves, which add to his rugged, adventurer-like appearance. His pants are dark, fitting snugly, and tucked into sturdy boots with straps.

    Kirito raised an eyebrow, then smirked sarcastically. "Huh. Didn¡¯t think I had another NPC following me.¡± Did the system actually mark me as a rogue player? That¡¯d be a pain in the ass.

    The red-haired man straightened up and shouted, "I¡¯m not an NPC! I¡¯m a player!"

    I blinked. ¡°Oh?¡±  then I folded my arms. "Alright then, what do you need from me?"

    The red-haired player steadied his posture, took a deep breath, with one hand on his hip, exudes a laid-back yet charismatic personality and locked eyes with him.

    "You move without hesitations and you know every corner of the street. You are a beta tester, right?"

    He met the red-haired player''s gaze without hesitation, kirito posture relaxed yet firm. His arms were loosely crossed, weight shifted slightly to one side, as if the question didn¡¯t faze him in the slightest. There was no tension in his stance, no flicker of doubt in his sharp eyes¡ªjust a calm, almost amused expression, as if kirito had already expected the question.

    I confidently answer it, "Yeah. I am a beta tester."

    The red-haired man¡¯s face lit up with excitement, a relieved smile spreading across his lips.

    "Can you give me some tips on how to level up fast? Maybe a good grinding spot?" He rubbed the back of his head. "It¡¯s my first day in the game, you see."

    Kirito hesitated for a moment.

    Before I could respond, he suddenly stepped closer and grabbed my shoulders. "Come on, man, I¡¯m begging you! Help a newbie out!"

    I blinked, momentarily speechless.

    Then, as if realizing how desperate he looked, he quickly straightened his back and let go. "Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself¡ªI¡¯m Klein, by the way." He grinned confidently.

    Kirito stared at him for a moment.

    Then, with a small smirk, he placed his hand on his waist, puffed out his chest slightly, and looked Klein in the eye.

    "¡­I¡¯m Kirito."

    The world of Sword Art Online has begun.

 Chapter 2 A new acquaintance

    Floor 1: Town of Beginnings ¨C Outer Wall of Renteia, West Field

    "Ahh... ha... UWAAH!"

    The sword sliced through the air¡ªand hit nothing. A split second later, the blue boar¡ªsurprisingly fast for its bulky size¡ªcharged forward with full force.

    BAM!

    The impact sent him flying through the air before he tumbled down the grassy hill, rolling like a ragdoll. After getting hit by the boar''s flat nose he finally came to a stop, groaning in pain, clutching himself. "Argh... my crotch¡­ damn it..."

    I burst into laughter, unable to hold it in.

    Klein¡¯s roughly handsome face twisted into an unsightly grimace, his expression somewhere between confusion and frustration.

    "Hahaha! Stop, stop! You¡¯re killing me with that reaction!"

    ¡°That bastard¡­¡± Klein grumbled, still holding his lower half like he¡¯d just suffered a fatal blow.

    I shook my head, smirking. "Cut it out, Klein! Come on, it''s not that painful¡­ is it?"

    He suddenly paused, processing what I had just said. His exaggerated reaction came to a full stop.

    ¡°¡­Yeah, you¡¯re right. It isn¡¯t painful at all.¡±

    I sighed, pressing my fingers against my forehead.

    "Klein, the pain system in this game is only at 4%. You can still feel something, but it¡¯s just a light bump."

    Klein dusted himself off as he stood up. "I couldn¡¯t help myself, huh?" He scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly.

    He resumed and kept swinging, using the same sword skill over and over again, yelling with each strike.

    His movements were still clumsy, but he seemed determined¡ªmaybe he thought spamming the skill would help him improve.

    I let out a small sigh and looked around, deciding to leave him to it for now.

    The endlessly stretching plains were bathed in a warm red glow as the sun began to dip below the horizon. To the north, a dense forest stood in the distance, its shadow stretching across the land. To the south, a sparkling lake reflected the fading sunlight, shimmering like liquid gold. Far to the east, I could just make out the tall stone walls that enclosed the city. And to the west, the sky seemed limitless, fading into an ocean of golden clouds, drifting lazily toward the horizon.

    We stood on the vast plains stretching west of the Starting City of Renteia, located at the northern edge of the first floor of the colossal floating castle¡ªAincrad.

    Normally, there should have been countless players scattered across the field, battling monsters and grinding for experience.

    But due to the sheer size of the area, not a single one was visible.

    his legs are started to shake.

    "Seems like he''s a little dizzy." I sighed again. "Not like that. The first movement is important, Klein."

    He furrowed his brows, glancing at me with a slightly annoyed expression. "But Kirito, even if you say that... I can''t do anything about the fact that it''s moving."

    The blue boar suddenly lunged forward.

    Klein, caught up in our conversation, left himself completely open¡ªforgetting that the boar was still aggressive toward whoever attacked it.

    I stepped in without hesitation.

    In an instant, I took a stance and activated [Dash], closing the gap in a blink. My sword flashed as I unleashed [Quick Slash]¡ªa clean, precise strike.

    The boar shattered like fragile glass, bursting into countless polygons that vanished into thin air.

    "See that, Klein? This is how you do it."

    Kirito glanced at his loot and began explaining.

    " Here''s what I got from that, Wild Boar Fang. This one is just a trash loot item you can sell it to the NPC vendors, it¡¯s not worth much, only 15 silvers."

    He tapped the screen lightly, pointing at another item.

    "Now, this¡ªBoar Thick Skin¡ªis a bit more useful. It¡¯s a life skill item used for knitting carpets. You can put it on the market for 20-30 silver, or sell it to vendors for a lower price¡ªabout 11 silvers."

    Then, as he scrolled further, his smile brightened as he pointed the last item inventory.

    "And this¡ªBoar Meat.¡± He smirked. ¡±You can cook this with salt and other ingredients to make some food! And it actually tastes pretty good." his expressions sadden a little, ¡°But you could sell it to vendors at 13 silvers, or you trade it to players"

    Kirito turned his head slightly, giving off a cool, effortless vibe¡ªor so he thought.

    Klein¡¯s eyes widened in awe. "Whoa! You¡¯re so cool! How¡¯d you do that?!"

    I felt a little embarrassed, scratching the back of my head.

    "Hmm¡­ how should I explain this?"

    I crossed my arms, thinking for a moment before speaking.

    "It¡¯s not like you go ¡®one, two, three, then strike.¡¯ It¡¯s more like¡­ you gather a bit of energy, and then¡ªas soon as you feel the skill activate¡ªBAM! You just let it flow, and you feel the hit land on the monster."

    Klein blinked, his face full of confusion. "Bam, eh¡­?"

    "¡­Heh?" I cleared my throat. "That was just a simple combo of basic skills. Anyone can do it, including you."

    Klein suddenly leaned in, throwing an arm around my shoulder, his face way too close for comfort. His eyes practically sparkled with admiration.

    "Hey, teach me, Master Kirito!" he said jokingly, flashing a grin and a wink.

    I sighed, my smile turning a bit awkward. "Alright, alright¡ªjust get off me first, dude."

    ¡°First open your skill library¡±

    ¡°How do I do that?¡±

    Kirito stood with a relaxed posture, one hand on his waist while the other tapped lightly in the air, helping Klein visualize the process.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll explain it thoroughly. You can access it like this¡±, taps the air. ¡°first, Inventory by tapping and scrolling down your finger like this you can access it, and for Character Equipment¡¯s tap and scroll up, and the Character Skills tap and scroll left, Menu is tap and scroll right.¡± I nodded. ¡°Got that, that should be easy.¡±

    Klein gave a confident nod. "Oh, that¡¯s easy enough." He tapped the air and scrolled left; his Character Skills appeared. "There. I can see it now."

    "So, to share what¡¯s on your screen, tap the eye icon in the top right corner. Once you do, you can share your skill library, allowing other players to view them." I pointed at Klein¡¯s menu.

    Kirito continued, tapping on Klein¡¯s skill window. "These are the basic attack skills that all players start with. And these greyed-out boxes here? Those are your special skills. You¡¯ll unlock them once you reach Level 3."

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Klein furrowed his brows. "Alright¡­ but how do I actually activate them properly?"

    Kirito nodded, already expecting the question. "If you begin the correct motion, the system will take over and execute the sword skill for you. Watch closely, Klein."

    He took a stance, Kirito¡¯s expression turned serious, then. His sword began to glow, a faint streaks of light tracing along its edge. In a flash, he executed [Penetrate I]¡ªa quick, short-distance thrust that seemed to blur through the air.

    "This skill has 1.2-meter dash range and it deals 45 attack damage, this has a 7% Crit Damage bonus, and costs 4.5 stamina. The cooldown is 25 seconds."

    Klein watched in silence, taking in every movement.

    Kirito shifted his stance, preparing for another demonstration. "For this one, the important part is your upper body¡ªspecifically, your shoulders and arms."

    A sudden gust of wind swept past as he executed [Quick Slash], his sword cutting through the air in a clean, precise arc.

    "This is [Quick Slash]¡ªa fast single strike with 55 base attack damage, a 2% Crit Chance, and a 1.5% Crit Rate. The cooldown is much shorter¡ªonly 0.7 seconds. The damage scales with your gear and stats, but it costs 15 mana."

    Klein watched intently, absorbing every detail.

    I turned to Klein with an amused smile. "Now, try it on the Blue boar."

    Klein shuddered, caught off guard. "EH?! What?! Now?!"

    "Yeah, don¡¯t be shy," I replied sarcastically. "Use [Double Slash I]."

    Before he could protest further, I bent down and picked up a small pebble from the undergrowth. Holding it above my shoulder, I moved deliberately¡ªjust enough for the system to detect the motion of a sword skill.

    The pebble began to glow faint green, a clear sign that the system had registered it. Then, without thinking, my left hand moved on its own, and the pebble shot forward, tracing a thin line of light through the air.

    Smack!

    It struck the boar right between the eyebrows and show my damage number.

    *Ggiik!*

    The creature squealed in fury, whipping its head around toward me, its aggression now fully locked on.

    "Now, you don¡¯t have to worry," I added casually.

    Klein took a stance, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply.

    I watched him, barely holding back a chuckle.

    "This guy is so dramatic."

    While muttering under his breath like some kind of spell, Klein raised his cutlass, gripping it tightly in his right hand.

    I cocked my head, casually blocking the boar¡¯s charge with my own sword, and shouted a reminder to him. "Remember, Klein! Motion¡­ motion¡­ they''re not training dummies!"

    Even though I was teasing him, I understood exactly what he was feeling¡ªbecause unlike him, I had already spent two months immersed in this world.

    Klein¡¯s eyebrow twitched in irritation. "Damn it, Kirito! Don¡¯t distract me!"

    I smirked, but I let him focus.

    Even though the blue boar, officially called [Frenzy Boar], was just a level one monster, Klein had already lost almost half his HP, reckless swings that left him open to counterattacks. Well, even if he died, he¡¯d just respawn back at the [Starting City], but running all the way back out here would be annoying.

    Inhale, exhale.

    After taking a deep breath, Klein lowered his stance, raising his sword as if resting it on his shoulder.

    This time, the system registered his pose correctly, and in response, the arcing blade slowly began to glow.

    Then¡ª

    "Ha!"

    With a sharp exhale, Klein¡¯s sword flared with energy, and he lunged forward¡ªhis movement sharper, more precise¡ªcompletely different from before.

    This was it.

    Swish¡ª!

    A crisp slicing sound echoed as his sword cuts through the air, this was [Double Slash I], a basic skill with two consecutive attacks. 30 attack damage at first slash and 25 attack damage in second slash with a crit chance of 2%, and a crit rate of 3%, a 1s cooldown, the damage scales with gear and stats same with [Quick Slash]. The mana costs is 20.

    Klein''s one-handed curved sword slashed cleanly into the boar¡¯s neck, causing its HP bar to drop by half. Without wasting a second, he followed up with [Quick Slash I], his blade cutting through the air in a swift, precise strike.

    The final blow carved through the last of the Frenzy Boar¡¯s HP, reducing it to nothing.

    "Guekk¡ª!"

    The creature let out a pitiful cry before its large body shattered like glass, breaking into polygons. Bright purple numbers flickered in the air, showing the experience points we gained.

    Klein¡¯s face lit up like a child on his birthday, his excitement overflowing. "Ye~a~h!" he struck an over-the-top victory pose, a huge grin stretching across his face as he raised his left hand.

    Without thinking, Kirito raised his hand, meeting in a satisfying high-five, the sharp clap echoing through the field.

    And it was only now that he was experiencing the exhilarating feeling of defeating an enemy with his own hands.

    Kirito said with a slight nod. "Congrats on your first kill,¡± Then, crossing his arms, he commented ¡°that boar was, is as weak as slimes in other games.¡±

    Klein froze, his triumphant expression cracking. ¡°Huh? Seriously? I thought it was a mid-level boss or something.¡±

    Kirito let out a small chuckle, as if he¡¯s enjoying Klein¡¯s misery a little too much. He laugh ¡°of course not,¡±

    Klein¡¯s short-lived celebration quickly turned into disappointment, his excitement fading.

    Kirito added, "Now, you need to learn the escape skills¡ª[Dash I], [Roll I], and [Blink I]. Mastering these basic skills will keep you alive out here."

    Klein was speechless.

    "Oh yeah, I almost forgot¡ª[Parry I], [Block I], and knowing when to use [Buff I] correctly."

    His grin turned slightly sadistic. "You''re gonna love this part... grinding."

    Klein¡¯s face immediately drained of color, his expression turning pale and lifeless, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

    "...Damn it."

    I patted his shoulder with a smirk. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll tank it."

    -

    Some time passed.

    The sound of heavy panting filled the air, sweat dripping down Klein¡¯s face.

    Finally, seemingly satisfied, he let out a big exhale¡ª"Phew."

    With a thud, he collapsed onto the soft grass, arms spread wide, letting the gentle breeze wash over him as the blades of grass swayed.

    I watched him for a moment before sighing and sheathing my sword on my back, my smile turning slightly forced.

    Klein stared blankly for a while, taking in the vast stretching plains around us.

    I found myself doing the same, my gaze drifting across the breathtaking scenery before us.

    "But really... no matter how many times I look around like this, I still can''t believe this is inside a game." Klein smile softened, his expression calm and full of appreciation as he took in the sheer beauty of the world.

    I shrugged. "Well, even if you say ''inside,'' it''s not like our souls were sucked into the game or anything. Our brains are just processing what the NerveGear sends instead of using our real eyes and ears."

    Klein suddenly shot up seated on the grass, puffing out his chest and pouting like a kid.

    "You might be used to it now, but for me, this is my first time doing a FullDive! Isn''t it awesome? Seriously¡­ it''s a relief I was born in this era!"

    I smirked. "You''re exaggerating."

    But as I laughed, I couldn''t deny it¡ªI completely agreed with him.

    NerveGear.

    That was the name of the hardware that powered this VRMMORPG¡ªSword Art Online.

    Unlike the old generations of gaming devices¡ªthings like flat-screen monitors, handheld consoles, and even early VR headsets¡ªthis machine was in a league of its own.

    The NerveGear wasn¡¯t just an upgraded interface¡ªit was a full-dive system. A single, streamlined device that covered the entire head and face, cutting off all external sensory input.

    Inside, it was equipped with countless signal transceivers, capable of accessing the user''s brain directly. Instead of using eyes to see or ears to hear, the NerveGear bypassed them entirely, sending electronic signals straight to the brain.

    But it didn¡¯t stop there.

    The NerveGear stimulated all five senses¡ªsight, sound, touch, taste, and even smell. It created an experience so realistic that once inside, the line between reality and illusion blurred.

    All it took was slipping the device on, locking the strap under your chin, and speaking the activation command¡ª "Link Start."

    The world immediately faded to black.

    For a brief moment, everything was silent.

    Then, a glowing, rainbow-colored ring appeared in the darkness¡ªonce passed, the body was left behind, and the mind was transported into a world made entirely of data.

    A world that felt just as real as the one they had left behind.

    So...

    More than half a year ago, this machine which started selling in 5<sup>th</sup> of January, 2049 successfully created a Virtual Reality. The electronics company which created the Nerve Gear called the actual act of linking to the virtual reality...

    FullDive.

    A total disconnection from reality¡ªa state so immersive that the word "full" was no exaggeration.

    The reason was simple.

    The NerveGear didn¡¯t just simulate the five senses¡ªit hijacked them completely. It didn¡¯t just send fake sensory signals; it also blocked and rerouted the signals that the brain sent to the body.

    That was the key to moving freely in a virtual world.

    If the body still responded while in FullDive, then the moment a player decided to "run," they¡¯d likely crash headfirst into a wall.

    But because the NerveGear intercepted the commands from the brain, Klein and I could move our avatars freely, swinging our swords without restraint.

    At this moment, we weren¡¯t just playing the game.

    We had completely leapt into it.

    The sheer immersion of this experience was addicting¡ªso much so that gamers like me could never go back to the old ways of gaming.

    Touchscreens? Motion sensors?

    They were nothing compared to this.

    Klein stared at the wind sweeping through the plains, his gaze drifting to the castle walls in the distance, his eyes glistening with actual tears.

    I noticed and ask. "So, SAO is the first game you''ve played on the NerveGear?"

    Klein, looking like a calmly handsome battle-worn warrior straight out of the Sengoku period, slowly turned his head toward me and nodded.

    "Yeah."

    If he wore a serious expression on his face, he had an impressive bearing about him worthy of an actor from a historical play.

    Of course, this was far from his real appearance in the outside world.

    This was just an avatar¡ªa digital body crafted from customization menus and preset options, nothing more than data given form.

    Of course, I looked like a ridiculously handsome protagonist straight out of a fantasy anime.

    A tall character with a well-built, athletic physique, lean yet defined, with light abs subtly visible beneath my gear.

    My sharp, dark eyes held a look of focus and quiet thoughtfulness, framed by thin, well-shaped eyebrows that added to my composed demeanor.

    My face was youthful yet mature, carrying a serious yet calm expression reflecting a sense of quiet determination, and a smooth light skin. My jawline was straight and well-defined, giving me a sharp, striking appearance.

    My medium-length black hair was slightly messy, with uneven strands falling naturally around my face, effortlessly adding to my cool aesthetic.

    Everything about my appearance gave off a sense of quiet confidence¡ªthe kind that fit perfectly for a character in a virtual world.

    An image of the person I wanted to be.

    Klein continued in his low, vigorous voice, which (of course) was completely different from his real one.

    "Well, to be exact, I pre-ordered the hardware in a rush right after pre-registering for SAO. The NerveGear sold out ridiculously fast, you know? It¡¯s a miracle I even got one on launch day¡ªotherwise, I would¡¯ve had to wait half a year."

    He let out a small sigh before adding, "Guess I was really lucky I saved up my entire month''s allowance..."

    Then, his gaze shifted to me, a hint of envy in his eyes.

    "Well, if I think about it, you were ten times luckier when you got picked for beta testing. They only chose five thousand players worldwide!"

    I shrugged. "Ah, yeah... I suppose."

    He kept staring at me.

    I Feel a little uncomfortable, I unconsciously scratched my head.

    I quickly shifted the topic to hide my awkwardness. "Ah, you¡¯re level 2 now, right?"

    Klein blinked, looking momentarily dumbfounded before nodding. "Hmm! Yeah, I¡¯m level 2."

    I nodded. "Alright! Let¡¯s check your skills¡±

    Klein furrowed his brows, trying to recall the process. "Hmm¡­ how do I do it again?" He hesitantly raised his finger, muttering to himself. "First¡­ tap and scroll left."

    A light blue menu screen suddenly appeared in front of him.

    His eyes lit up. "There! I got it!".

    I remembered it like it was yesterday¡ªthe excitement and enthusiasm that Sword Art Online stirred when it was first announced across the media.

    The NerveGear had revolutionized gaming, bringing the dream of FullDive to life. But despite the groundbreaking hardware, its early software lineup was underwhelming.

    Most of the first games were simple puzzles, educational programs, or environment simulations¡ªfar from the thrilling experiences gamers like me craved.

    For those of us addicted to true gaming, it was frustrating.

    NerveGear can truly render a virtual reality.

    But in those early games, you could only walk 100 meters before hitting an invisible wall¡ªa huge letdown for anyone dreaming of true immersion.

    For hardcore gamers like me, who had already tasted the thrill of being inside a game, it was inevitable that we would start craving something bigger.

    We weren¡¯t just looking for another single-player experience.

    We wanted a true network-based game¡ªone that would let millions of players log in, train their characters, fight epic battles, and fully live inside a digital world.

    In other words¡ªwe were waiting for a VRMMORPG.

    And just when that anticipation reached its breaking point, the first-ever VRMMORPG was finally announced.

    Sword Art Online was the first game to prove it.

    A game set in a massive floating castle with 100 floors waiting to be conquered.

    The players lived in a vast world filled with forests, lakes, and endless challenges¡ªrelying only on their swords, skills, and determination to push forward.

    Their goal was simple, yet daunting: find the route to the upper floors, battle through countless monsters, and ascend endlessly toward the top.

    The NerveGear didn¡¯t just simulate a game.

    It had the power to render an entire reality.

    A second world, a place we can call it home.

 Chapter 3: Missing Button

    Mage and bow classes a staples of any fantasy MMORPG, had been boldly excluded from this game leaving only melee-based class.

    Instead, an almost endless variety of combat techniques, known as Sword Skills, had been introduced.

    This wasn¡¯t just a design choice¡ªit was part of a deliberate plan to make players fully experience the sensation of real combat through FullDive technology.

    Skills were diverse, ranging from life-skills like smithing, leatherworking, and sewing to everyday skills such as fishing, cooking, and even playing music. This allowed players to do more than just adventure through the vast world¡ªthey could actually live in it.

    If they wanted to, and if their skill levels were high enough, they could sell their crafted items to market place and make silvers, buy a house, and even live as shepherds in the countryside instead of fighting on the front lines.

    As more details about the game were revealed, the excitement among gamers only grew.

    For the beta test, only one thousand testers were chosen.

    It was said that over one hundred thousand people¡ªhalf of all NerveGear owners at the time¡ªhad applied for a chance to experience the world''s first true VRMMORPG.

    Luck was the only reason I managed to squeeze through the narrow selection process and get picked.

    As a beta tester, I also received an extra advantage¡ªearly access to the game before its official release, allowing me to get a head start over regular players.

    The two months of beta testing felt like a dream.

    At school, my mind was constantly occupied¡ªanalyzing my skill set, equipment, and items. I even spent hours on the infamous 8-Kun forums, comparing my theorycrafting to the strategies posted by SupremeOverlord.

    The moment the final bell rang, I would sprint home, dive into the game, and stay logged in until dawn.

    But in what felt like an instant, the beta test came to an end.

    When my character was reset, I felt as if half of my real self had been cut away.

    All that remained was a small beginner¡¯s gift¡ªa token of my time in the beta, and a reminder that my journey was about to begin again.

    And now¡ªNovember 6, 2049.

    After months of anticipation, Sword Art Online officially launched its online service at 5 PM.

    Of course, I had been counting down the minutes in class, waiting impatiently for school to end. The moment the final bell rang, I rushed home, waited the agonizing 20 minutes¡­ and logged in without even a second¡¯s delay.

    When I checked the server status, over nine hundred ninety-five thousand players had already logged in worldwide and counting.

    It seemed that everyone who had been waiting for this moment felt exactly the same way I did.

    All over the internet, announcements flooded in¡ªSword Art Online had broken records with the highest pre-registrations, downloads, and sales in MMO gaming history.

    Within seconds of its release, copies had sold out instantly¡ªa phenomenon that had already started two weeks prior, creating such a massive buzz that even news outlets covered it.

    Streamers were going wild, generating enough hype to make headlines.

    That meant that nearly everyone who managed to get a copy was no casual player¡ªthey were dedicated gaming addicts, ready to dive in.

    Klein¡¯s enthusiastic behavior only confirmed that fact.

    Klein was still reading through his skill list, trying to understand the buffs abilities and effects attached to them.

    Before I could guide him properly, teaching him how to use his skills and taking him to the Outer Wall of Renteia, He started begging me for help.

    That was new to me.

    no one had ever approached me like this before, the way he talked and joked so casually¡ªit was almost amazing.

    I was so lost for words, I didn¡¯t even know how to react.

    "Ah, er, then... why don''t we go to the weapon shop?" I tried to sound cool, but instead, I ended up sounding like some generic NPC.

    To be honest¡­

    I never really got along with people in real life¡ªand in games, maybe even less so.

    During the beta test, I met a few players, but I never got close enough to anyone to actually call them a friend.

    We walked through the narrow alleyways of Galetia, a small marketplace tucked away in the corner of Renteia.

    This was where players could buy high-damage white-grade gear and weapons, with a max damage of 9 or 10.

    The NPC in charge of the shop was named Darathos.

    I wondered what kind of personality he had. Would he be a grumpy old blacksmith? A shrewd merchant? Or maybe one of those overly enthusiastic NPCs who acted more alive than they should?

    Around the corner, a shop was embedded within a stone structure, its aged stone bricks giving it the appearance of an old yet well-maintained establishment. The worn but sturdy walls suggested that it had stood the test of time, blending seamlessly into the cityscape of Renteia.

    A large, arched opening served as both a workspace and storefront, allowing customers to walk up to the counter and browse the selection of weapons and armor. The semi-open design made the shop feel inviting, letting passersby observe the blacksmith¡¯s craft in action.

    Above the entrance, a wooden signboard proudly displayed the words ¡®Darathos Smithing Shop¡¯, with a hammer symbol carved into it, clearly marking its purpose.

    The atmosphere felt like a classic medieval blacksmith shop, but with a more urban, European-inspired aesthetic, fitting perfectly into the city¡¯s design.

    Klein¡¯s face lit up, his mouth hanging open in pure amazement.

    "Wow! This is incredible! I can¡¯t believe how realistic and detailed this place looks!"

    His eyes darted around the shop, taking in the aged stone walls, the glowing forge, and the neatly displayed weapons. His excitement was almost childlike, completely absorbed in the atmosphere.

    Yeah, of course, I''m impressed too. No matter how many times I look around in this game, it always amazes me, the interior was just as stunning as the exterior.

    The shop was dimly lit, with a warm orange glow radiating from the blazing forge, casting flickering shadows across the aged stone walls. The atmosphere perfectly reinforced the traditional blacksmith ambiance, making it feel as if we had stepped into a living, breathing medieval workshop.

    In the back of the room, a sturdy wooden door stood slightly ajar, possibly leading to a storage area or the blacksmith¡¯s private quarters.

    Despite the confined city space, the workspace was compact yet efficiently arranged. an anvil, workbenches, and metal tools are visible, emphasizing the shop¡¯s craftsmanship. Weapons, armor, and various smithing tools were neatly displayed, giving the shop a practical, well-used feel.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    The contrast between the forge¡¯s warm glow and the cool stone walls created a visually striking balance, making it clear that this was a place for players to buy, repair, and upgrade their weapons and armor.

    At the counter, a shopkeeper or perhaps the blacksmith¡¯s assistant¡ªleans forward with a welcoming, slightly mischievous grin, as if ready to negotiate or chat with a customer.

    Her long, sky-blue hair cascades down her back, its silky strands catching the warm glow of the forge. Soft, modern bangs frame her face, complementing her bright blue eyes, which hold a mix of warmth and confidence.

    Her fair skin and gentle smile make her appear approachable, yet there¡¯s a certain sharpness in her gaze¡ªsuggesting she¡¯s no pushover when it comes to business.

    She wears a white, form-fitting top, accentuated by a brown corset-like design secured with golden clasps at the front. Over her shoulders, she sports light brown leather armor, matching the bracers on her arms, giving her the look of both an adventurer and a skilled artisan.

    A brown leather belt cinches her waist, holding a small pouch on her left side and a dagger or short sword on her right¡ªpractical tools for someone working around weapons all day.

    Her brown shorts, secured with a darker leather panel at the front, offer both mobility and durability. They pair seamlessly with her dark thigh-high stockings, which add contrast to her outfit.

    On her feet, she wears sturdy brown knee-high boots, their slightly wider tops giving them a rugged, well-worn look¡ªideal for long hours at the forge or quick movement when necessary.

    Atop her head rest a pair of silver goggles with brown leather straps, hinting at her role¡ªperhaps a blacksmith, engineer, or skilled artisan. The blend of practicality and style, infused with fantasy and steampunk elements, makes her stand out as more than just a simple shopkeeper.

    With a playful glint in her eye, she waves, flashing a smile.

    "Hello there, my valued customers! How may I help you today?"

    Klein¡¯s face flushes red, his mouth opening and closing as he stumbles over his words.

    ¡°Ah¡­ uhm¡­ ea¡­ huah¡­.¡±

    The blacksmith¡¯s assistant tilts her head slightly, amused by his reaction. With a confident step forward, she closes the gap between us, her voice smooth and welcoming.

    ¡°We have high-quality weapons here at the shop, and we can repair any damaged gears and weapons,¡± she says with a warm smile.

    I try to focus on her words, but my eyes dart everywhere¡ª the counter, the forge, the ceiling¡ªanywhere but her face. My heart beats a little faster as the faint scent of metal, leather, and something sweet fills the air.

    "She smells nice."

    Wait.

    Crap! I said that out loud!!!

    The blacksmith assistant blinks, momentarily stunned. A small, awkward smile forms on her lips as she leans back just a bit, giving me a curious look.

    Klein, still flustered, looks at me in pure betrayal.

    "I''m Maeve! If you need help or if something catches your interest, just ask at the counter. See ya!"

    With a playful wave, she turned away, leaving me standing there, completely drained.

    I sighed. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d feel this way in a game... but right now, I just want to log out and cry.

    I didn¡¯t expect they¡¯ve added another NPC here, that caught me off guard.

    With her delicate features, petite frame, and striking looks, Maeve could easily pass as an idol. She appeared to be around sixteen to eighteen years old by her looks.

    Before I could recover, Klein stepped closer and suddenly grabs my shoulders, his face twisted, dead serious in an exaggerated look of frustration.

    "Hey, Kirito, don''t get ahead of yourself just because you''re a beta tester!"

    I forced an awkward smile, raising my hands slightly in defense.

    ¡°C¡ªCalm down... Look over there there¡¯s a high-quality white gear"

    That¡¯s what happened before we ended up forming a party and I began teaching him the basic combat of a sword skills. And which led us up in to this current situation.

    "Are you done checking your skills?"

    Klein had this side to him that just grew on you. And honestly, I didn¡¯t find it uncomfortable either. Thinking that I might be able to get along with him, I opened my mouth.

    "So... what do you want to do? Keep grinding until you get used to it?"

    "Sure! ...is what I want to say, but..." Klein''s eyes flicked to the bottom right of his vision¡ªhe was checking the time.

    "...well, I should log off and eat. I ordered some pizza for 6:30."

    "Pretty thorough," I muttered, momentarily at a loss for words.

    Klein puffed out his chest.

    "Of course!" he declared proudly. "I promised to meet up with some mates in the [Starting City] soon. I could introduce you to them, and you could register them as friends. That way, you¡¯d always be able to send messages. How about it?"

    "Errr... Hmmm..." I mumbled, unsure how to respond.

    I got along with Klein pretty well, but there was no guarantee it¡¯d be the same with his friends. There was a good chance I wouldn¡¯t click with them, and if that happened... things might get awkward with Klein, too.

    "Should I...?"

    Sensing my hesitation, Klein shook his head.

    "Ah, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m not trying to force you or anything. There¡¯ll be other chances to introduce you later."

    "...Yeah. Sorry, and thanks."

    As soon as I thanked him, Klein waved it off with a grin.

    "Hey, hey! I should be the one thanking you. You really helped me out. I¡¯ll pay you back sometime soon... Mentally."

    Klein smiled and took another glance at the clock

    .

    "...Well, I should log off for a bit. Thanks a ton, Kirito. See ya around."

    With that, he extended his hand. In that moment, I couldn¡¯t help but think¡ªthis guy would have made a great leader in another game.

    I reached out and shook his hand.

    "Yeah, see you around."

    We each let go, parting ways for now.

    That was the point where Aincrad, or Sword Art Online, stopped being just some fun game for me.

    Klein stepped back a bit, put his right index fingers, taps and scroll right.

    This was the action that opened the main menu window. Immediately afterwards, there was a ringing sound and a shining purple rectangle appeared.

    I moved a bit, sat on a rock, and opened my menu too. I started moving my fingers to organize the items that I''d gotten from fighting the boar.

    Then...

    "Eh?" Klein said in a strange tone. "What''s this...? There''s no log out button."

    I stopped moving my fingers and raised my head at that.

    "No button...? No way, look a bit closer," I said, a bit confused.

    The swordsman opened his eyes wide and pushed his face closer to the menu.

    The rectangular, transparent light-blue screen hovered in front of him, wider than it was tall. On the left side, a series of neatly arranged buttons displayed various menu options.

    At the very bottom of the menu, there should have been a familiar button¡ª[LOG OUT]¡ªthe one option that allowed players to leave this world and return to reality.

    As I was turning my head to the inventory that listed the items I had gained over hours of fighting, Klein started speaking in an unusually high voice.

    "It''s really not there. You take a look Kirito."

    "I told you that there''s no way that it''s not there..." I muttered with a sigh as I tapped on the button and scroll right, to go back to the menu screen.

    The main menu window reappeared, displaying the familiar layout. To the left of the silhouette, which still had plenty of settings of the game, a long column of buttons stretched downward.

    Without thinking, I moved my hand down¡ªa motion that had already become second nature.

    And then¡­

    My body froze.

    It wasn¡¯t there.

    Just as Klein had said, the [LOG OUT] button¡ªthe one that had been there during the beta test, the one that had been there right after I logged in¡ª

    Had completely disappeared.

    I stared at the empty space for a few more seconds, then scrolled through the menu, making sure the button hadn¡¯t just been moved somewhere else.

    Klein looked up at me, his expression practically screaming, "Right?"

    "...Not there, huh?"

    I let out a small sigh. "Yeah, it''s not there."

    Even though I felt a little annoyed to admit it so easily, I nodded.

    Klein, still oddly calm, rubbed his stubbled chin, thinking.

    "Well, it''s the first day, so these kinds of bugs can happen. The dev¡¯s are probably crying their eyes out by now with the flood of error reports," he said with a shrug.

    I smirked. "Should you really be standing around like that? Didn¡¯t you say you ordered pizza?"

    "Ah¡ªcrap, that''s right!"

    I couldn''t help but chuckle as I watched him panic, flailing his arms like a man whose dinner was slipping through his fingers.

    Meanwhile, I opened my overfilled inventory, the screen flashing red from carrying too many items. I tossed out a few things I didn¡¯t need and walked over to Klein.

    "Argh! My anchovy pizza and ginger ale...!" he groaned dramatically.

    "Why don¡¯t you just report it to the devs? Maybe they can force-log you out."

    "I tried! No response! And it''s already 6:25! Hey, Kirito¡ªthere¡¯s gotta be some other way to log out, right?!"

    After listening to Klein¡ªwho was now waving both arms frantically¡ªmy face stiffened.

    A sudden, groundless fear crept up my spine, sending a chill down my back.

    "Let''s see... to log out..." I muttered, deep in thought.

    To return to the real world and back to my room, I have to: open the main menu, press the ''Log Out'' button, and press ''Yes'' on the window that popped. It was pretty simple but¡­ aside from that method, I wasn¡¯t aware of any other way to log off.

    I slowly looked up at Klein, his face towering above mine, and shook my head.

    "No... there''s none. If you want to log yourself off, you have to use the menu. Apart from that, there''s no other way."

    "That''s impossible... there''s got to be something!"

    Klein suddenly started shouting as if he was denying my statement.

    "Return!¡±

    ¡°Log out!¡±

    ¡°Escape!"

    But of course, nothing happened. There were no voice commands in SAO of that description.

    After Klein shouted this and that and even jumped around, I told him.

    "Klein, it''s useless. Even the manual doesn''t have anything on emergency access terminations."

    "But... this is just stupid! Even if it''s a bug, I can''t even go back to my room and my body when I want to!" Klein shouted with a bewildered expression on his face.

    I totally agreed with him.

    This was impossible. It was complete nonsense. But it was indisputably the truth.

    "Hey... what is this? It''s just really weird. Right now, we can''t get out of this game!"

    Klein gave a desperate laugh then quickly started talking again.

    "Wait, we can just turn the power off. Or just pull the Gear off."

    As I watched Klein move his hands as if he was trying to take off some invisible hat, I felt the anxiety returning.

    "That''s impossible, both of them. Right now, we can''t move our bodies... our real bodies. The Nerve Gear intercepts all the signals that our brain is sending here," I tapped the back of my head, "and reroutes them to move our avatars here."

    Klein slowly closed his mouth and put his hands down.

    We both stood speechless for a while, each lost in thought.

    To reach the FullDive state, the Nerve Gear intercepts the signals that our brain sends down our spines and translates them so that we can control our avatars in this world. So however wildly we swing our arm about here, the arm of my real body (lying on my bed right now) wouldn''t move an inch, ensuring that I wouldn''t hit my head against the corner of my table or anything.

    But because of this function, we can''t cancel the FullDive of our own free will right now.

    "...So unless the bug is fixed or somebody in the real world takes the Gear off, we have to wait it out?" Klein mumbled, still a little dazed.

    I silently nodded in agreement.

    "But I live by myself. You?"

    I hesitated for a moment before deciding to answer truthfully. "...I live with my mom and my younger sister. Just the three of us. If I don¡¯t come down for dinner, I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯ll force me out of the Dive."

    "What? H-How old is your sister?"

    Klein suddenly turned to me, his eyes sparkling with interest.

    I sighed and pushed his head away.

    "You''re awfully calm right now, aren¡¯t you?"

    His curiosity didn¡¯t waver, but I ignored it and continued.

    "She¡¯s in a sports club and have no interests in games, so she¡¯s got nothing in common with people like us. But more importantly¡ª"

    I spread my right arm, shifting the conversation. "Don¡¯t you think this is weird?"

    Klein shrugged. "Well, yeah¡­ but it¡¯s just a bug, right?"

    "No, I mean it''s not just a bug, it''s a ¡®can''t log out bug¡¯. It''s a big enough problem to bother the operation of the game itself. Like your pizza in the real world is getting colder every second, it''s an actual economical loss, isn''t it?"

    "...A cold pizza... That''s as meaningless as hard natto!"

    I ignored these meaningless comments and kept talking.

    "If it''s like this, the operators should take the server down and log everyone out, whatever the cause. But... it''s been 15 minutes since we first noticed this and there hasn''t even been a system message, let alone taking the server down. It''s just too weird."

    "Hmm, now that I think of it, you''re right."

    Klein rubbed his chin with a serious expression, intelligence sparkled in his eyes.

    I started listening to Klein, feeling a little strange about talking with someone whom I''d never meet if I erased my account.

    "...The company which created SAO, Argus, is a company that''s famous for being considerate of its users, isn''t it? That¡¯s why everyone rushed to download it, even though it''s their first online game. But if they screwed up like this on launch day¡­ well, that¡¯s a huge deal.¡±

    I nodded. "I agree. And SAO is the first VRMMORPG. If something goes wrong now, they might slap regulations on the entire genre.¡±

    Klein and I exchanged glances, both letting out a deep sigh.

    Aincrad¡¯s seasons mirrored reality, meaning it was early fall here as well.

    I tilted my head back, inhaling deeply¡ªthe cold, crisp air filling my lungs. Even though I knew it wasn¡¯t real, the sensation felt convincingly natural.

    About 100 meters away, I could make out the light purple underside of the 2nd floor, barely visible from where we stood. My gaze followed its uneven surface, tracing the jagged edges upward until I spotted the massive tower¡ªthe Labyrinth, the only path leading to the upper floors.

    Its entrance loomed in the distance, an imposing gateway to the challenges that awaited beyond.

    It was just past 7:00 PM, and the thin strip of sky visible between the towering structures burned red with the fading light of sunset.

    Despite the uncertainty of our situation, I couldn¡¯t help but stare in silent awe. The endless plains, bathed in the golden hues of the evening sun, were breathtaking. I found myself speechless in front of the beauty of this virtual world.

    For a moment, I forgot everything.

    Right after that...

    The world changed forever.

 Chapter 4: Trap

    Ding, ding¡ª

    A sharp chime rang out, clear and insistent¡ªalmost like a warning bell. The sudden noise made both Klein and me jump in surprise.

    "Ah¡ª!"

    "What the¡ª!?"

    We shouted at the same time, eyes wide as we exchanged confused looks.

    A pillar of blue light engulfed us both, the glowing veil shimmering around our bodies. Beyond the blue haze, the plains blurred, as if reality itself was being pulled away.

    I had experienced this before in the beta test. This was a [Teleport]¡ªbut I hadn¡¯t used an item, nor spoken the proper command.

    Did the developers force a teleportation? But why? And why didn¡¯t they warn us?

    Before I could process it further, the blue light pulsed¡ªgrowing brighter, stronger¡ªand then, everything went dark.

    When the light faded, my vision cleared again.

    And the endless golden plains were gone.

    This was somewhere else entirely.

    A large medieval-style plaza with tall, ornate pillars and archways in the background. A large road paved with stone, streets surrounded by street-lamps and the huge palace radiating a dark light a fair distance away up ahead, the area is filled with people.

    The clock tower has a golden dome on top and a visible clock face showing a time close to 7:00. The crowd consists of numerous individuals, dressed in dark-colored outfits. The sheer scale of the gathering.

    This was the starting point, the central plaza of the Starting City, Renteia.

    A massive gathering of people filled the circular plaza, all centered around an imposing clock tower that loomed above.

    I glanced at Klein, who stood beside me, his mouth hanging open in awe. Then, I turned my attention to the bustling crowd surrounding us.

    Looking at the bunch of stunningly beautiful people, bright blue flashes flickered endlessly, marking the constant new arrivals, they appeared one after another wearing backpacks, armor, and casual fantasy-style clothing, with a variety of equipment and different hair colors, they were no doubt other players like me.

    There were about a few hundred thousand and thousands, still more kept pouring in, their forms materializing in the plaza as the teleportation effects shimmered around them.

    It was likely that everyone who was logged on right now had been forcefully transported to the central plaza.

    For a few seconds, everyone just looked around without speaking.

    Then a few mumbles and mutters could be heard here and there; it started to get louder.

    "What''s happening?"

    "Can we log out now?"

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t they take care of it quickly!¡±

    Scattered murmurs and complaints echoed through the plaza.

    The bell chimes stopped.

    As frustration grew, the murmurs turned to shouts¡ª

    "Is this some kind of joke?!"

    "Get the hell out here, Devs!"

    The crowd stirred restlessly, agitation rising.

    Then suddenly¡ª

    A voice cut through the noise, sharper and louder than the rest.

    "Ah¡­ look up!"

    Almost instinctively, Klein and I tilted our heads skyward. There¡¯s a strange sight greeted us.

    The bottom of the second floor, kilometers above us, there was a red hexagonal screen.

    When I looked closely, I could see that the pattern was made up of two phrases crisscrossing each other: the words [Warning] and [System Announcement] written in red.

    I was surprised for a moment but then thought, "Oh, the developer is going to begin informing us now," and the tension in my shoulders eased a bit, and you could feel everyone waiting to hear what was going to be said.

    However, what happened next wasn''t what I had expected.

    The hexagonal warning Scattered around, spreading all over the first floor covering the plaza, the sky becomes red.

    The chatter died down.

    From the in-betweens of the pattern warning, a liquid that looked like blood started oozing down slowly.

    Its movement was unnaturally sluggish, as if emphasizing its viscous, heavy nature. Yet, it never touched the ground. Instead, it forms together in mid-air, the dark substance twisted and congealed, shifting into a distinct shape.

    Klein was stunned and confused and muttered ¡°what is that?¡±

    What emerged was a towering figure, nearly twenty meters tall, floating ominously in the air¡ªan entity draped in a massive hooded robe that shrouded its form in darkness, the flowing crimson robe, adorned with intricate gold trimmings, cascaded around its frame, the fabric appeared weightless yet imposing, its edges lined with ornate patterns resembling royal embroidery.

    The hood is deep and shadowed, completely obscuring the figure¡¯s face, making it impossible to see any facial features.

    Behind the figure, the sky is bathed in an eerie red glow, with hexagonal patterns faintly visible, countless players stand in stunned silence, their gazes locked onto the floating entity.

    No, that wasn''t exactly right. From where we were looking, we could easily see into the hood, there was no face. It was absolutely empty. We could clearly see the inner cloth and the gold embroidery inside of the hood. It was the same inside the robe, all we could see inside the edges were shadows.

    I''d seen that robe before. It was the same clothing that the Argus employees who worked as developers during the beta test had always worn. But back then, the male Dev¡¯s had a face like an old sorcerer with a long beard and the females had an avatar of a bespectacled lady. They might have used the robe because they lacked time to prepare a proper avatar, but the empty space inside the hood gave me an unexplainable feeling of anxiety.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    The countless players around me must have felt the same.

    "Is that the Dev?"

    "Why doesn''t it have a face?"

    There were a lot of whispers like these.

    Then the right sleeve of the huge robe moved as if to silence them.

    A pure white gloves almost skeletal hands barely visible beneath the fabric. But this sleeve, like the rest of the robe, didn''t cover any sort of body.

    Then the left sleeve slowly lifted upwards, then with its two empty gloves spread out in front of hundred thousand players, the faceless person opened his mouth, no. It felt like it did, then a low, calm, male voice resonated from high in the air.

    ¡°Players, I welcome you all to my world¡­¡±

    I couldn''t understand it right away.

    My world? If that red robe was a Dev, it certainly had godlike powers in this world enabling him to change the world at will, but why was he pointing that out now?

    Klein and I looked at each other, dumbfounded. The anonymous red robe lowered its arms and continued talking.

    ¡°I am Kayaba Akihiko. Right now, I am the only person who can control this world.¡±

    "What...!?"

    My avatar became rigid with shock, and a lump formed in its throat (and perhaps my throat back in the real world as well) for a second.

    Kayaba - Akihiko!!

    I knew that name. There was no way I didn''t.

    This person, both a game designer and genius in the field of quantum physics, was the one responsible for raising Argus (which was just one of many small companies a few years ago) into one of the leading companies in its field today.

    As a hardcore gamer, I respected Kayaba deeply. I bought all the mags that featured him and read his few interviews until I almost knew them all by heart.

    almost see him in the white overalls he always wore by just hearing his voice.

    But he had always stayed behind the scenes, refusing media exposure. He had never even been in the game, so why was he doing something like this?

    I forced my mind to start moving again, trying to make sense of the situation. But the words that came out of the empty hood almost seemed to mock my efforts to understand.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already noticed that the logout button is missing from the main menu, but this is not a defect in the game.¡±

    ¡°I repeat, this is not a bug, it¡¯s a part of Sword Art Online system features¡­¡±

    "Part of... the system?" Klein muttered brokenly.

    The announcement continued in its low voice as if to cover the sound.

    ¡°You cannot logout of SAO of your own will, until you get to the top of this castle¡±

    This castle? I couldn''t understand this phrase at first.

    Then the next thing that Kayaba said blew my confusion away.

    ¡°And also no one on the outside can shut down or remove the NerveGear, the attempt of removing it or pulling the plug of the NerveGear....¡±

    A moment of silence.

    The silence of hundred thousand of people was overwhelming. The next words came slowly.

    ¡°The signal sensors in your NerveGear will emit a strong electromagnetic pulse, destroying your brain and stopping all of your basic functions, thus ending your life.¡±

    Klein and I stared at each other for seconds in shock.

    I too, It was as if my mind refused to believe what I had just heard. But Kayaba''s short statement pierced through my body with a ferocity that was both hard and dense.

    Destroy our brains.

    In other words, kill us.

    Any user that turned the Nerve Gear off or unlocked the clasp and took it off would be killed. That is what Kayaba had just stated.

    People in the crowd started muttering, but there was no one shouting or panicking. It was either that everyone, like me, couldn''t understand it yet, or refused to.

    Klein raised his right hand slowly and tried to grasp the headgear that would be situated there in the real world. As he did, he let out a dry laugh and started talking.

    "Haha... what''s he saying? That man, has he gone nuts? He''s not making any sense. The Nerve Gear... It''s just a game. Destroy our brain... How is he going to do that? Right, Kirito?"

    His voice broke at the last shout. Klein stared at me intensely, but I couldn''t nod in agreement.

    The countless signal transceivers in the NerveGear''s helmet emitted small electromagnetic pulses to send virtual signals to the brain.

    They might call this the newest ultra-technology, but the basic theory was the same as a certain household appliance that''s been used for over 80 years in Japan¡ªthe microwave.

    If there was sufficient output, it was possible that the NerveGear would vibrate the water particles in our brains and cook it with the heat from the friction. But...

    ¡°...theoretically it''s possible, but... he must be bluffing. Because if we pull the plug on the NerveGear, there''s no way it can emit a strong pulse of that type. Unless there''s some form of battery with a huge storage capability... inside....¡±

    Klein already guessed the reason why I had stopped talking.

    ¡°There... is,¡± he said, his words almost a scream with a hollow expression on his face. ¡°Thirty percent of the gear''s weight is in the battery. But... that''s totally crazy! What if there was a sudden power outage or something!?¡±

    Kayaba started explaining, as if he had heard what Klein had shouted.

    ¡°To be a little more specific, disconnection from an outside source of electricity for 10 minutes, being cut off from the system for more than 60 minutes, or any attempt to: unlock, dismantle, or destroy the NerveGear. If any of these conditions are met, the brain destruction sequence will start. These conditions have been made known to the government and the public through mass media in the outside world. on that note, there have been several cases where the relatives or friends have ignored the warnings and tried to forcefully remove the NerveGear. The result¡­¡±

    Suddenly a several floating pop-up screens appeared surrounding him, showing and displaying various pieces of information, appears to be news reports of several media, warnings, including a livestreams of outside event currently happening right now, and identification cards of person who died.

    The metallic voice took a short breath here.

    ¡°...regretfully 103,235 players all over the world have already exited this game, and the real world, forever.¡±

    A long, thin scream was heard. But most of the players couldn''t or refused to believe what they had been told, and just stood there slack-jawed or with a wry smile on their faces.

    "This has to be a joke, right? RIGHT?"

    "He¡¯s bluffing! He has to be!"

    "No way... no way... I have a family waiting for me!"

    My head tried to reject what Kayaba had just said. But my body betrayed it and my knees started shaking violently.

    I stumbled back a few paces on my weak knees and managed to keep myself from falling.

    Klein fell on his backside, his expression lifeless.

    103,235 players have already...

    That phrase repeated over and over again in my head.

    If what Kayaba said was true, over hundred thousand people globally have already died?

    Among them, there would have been beta testers like me. I might have even known some of their character names and avatars. These people had their brains burnt and... died, is that what Kayaba was saying?

    ¡°...don''t believe it.... I don''t believe it,¡± Klein, still sitting on the ground, started saying in a strained voice.

    ¡°He''s just trying to scare us. How would he do such a thing? Stop kidding around and let us out. We don''t have time to play along to your sick opening ceremony. Yeah... this is all just an event. An opening show, right?¡± Inside my head, I was screaming the same thing.

    But as if to dispel our hopes, Kayaba''s monotonous voice resumed its explanation.

    ¡°Players, there is no need to worry about the bodies you left on the other side. As of this moment, all TV, radio, and Internet media are repeatedly reporting and streaming this situation; including the fact that there have been numerous deaths. The danger of having your NerveGear taken off has already all but disappeared. In a moment, using the two hours I have provided, all of you will be transported to hospitals or similar institutes and be given the best treatment. So, you can relax... and concentrate on beating the game.¡±

    ¡°What...?¡±

    Then, at last, violent shouts left my mouth.

    ¡°What are you saying!? Beat the game!? You want us to play around in a situation like this!?¡± I kept shouting, glaring at the red robe that had oozed out of the bottom of the upper floor.

    ¡°This isn''t a game anymore!!¡±

    Then Kayaba Akihiko started announcing quietly with his monotonous voice.

    ¡°But I ask all of you to understand that Sword Art Online is no longer a simple game. It is a second reality.... From now on, any form of revival in the game will no longer work. The moment your HP reaches 0, your avatar will be gone forever. And at the same time...¡±

    I could guess what he was going to say all too clearly.

    ¡°...your brain will be destroyed by the NerveGear.¡±

    Suddenly, an urge to laugh out loud bubbled up from the pit of my stomach. I forced it down.

    A long, green, horizontal line shone at the top-left corner of my vision. As I focused on it, the numbers 531/531 overlaid it.

    Hit points. My Health Bar.

    The moment it reaches zero, I will die¡ªthe electromagnetic waves will fry my brain, killing me instantaneously. This is what Kayaba had said.

    This is without a doubt a game, a game with your life at stake. In other words, a death game.

    I must have died at least 100 times during the two months of beta testing. I had re-spawned with a slightly embarrassed smile on my face in the palace north of the main plaza, the Black Iron Palace, and ran off into the hunting grounds again.

    That was what an RPG was: a sort of game where you keep dying and learning and leveling up. But now you can''t? Once you die, you''ll lose your life? And in addition... you can''t even stop playing?

    ¡°... no freaking way,¡± I muttered softly.

    Who in their right mind would go out onto the field with those conditions? Of course, everyone would just stay inside the city where it was safe.

    Then, as if reading my mind and maybe every other player''s, came the next message.

    ¡°Players, there is only one way to be freed from this game. As I have said before, you must get to the top of Aincrad, the one hundredth floor, and defeat the final boss that resides there. All players still alive at that time will be immediately logged out of the game. I give you all my word.¡±

    hundred thousand players stood in silence.

    It was then that I realized what Kayaba meant when he said, get to the top of this castle.

    ¡°This castle¡± meant the huge monstrosity that imprisoned all of the players on the first floor, with ninety-nine more floors stacked on top of it, towering into the sky in which it floated. He was talking about Aincrad itself.

    ¡°C-clear... all 100 floors, without dying!? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Klein suddenly shouted. He got up quickly and raised a fist up to the sky.

    ¡°And how do you want us to do that? I heard that getting up was crazy hard even during the beta testing! How the hell do you expect us to clear all 100! not even dying a single time!?¡±

    This was true. During the two months of beta testing, the hundreds of thousands of players that had taken part only managed to get to the sixth floor. Even if thousands of people had dived right now, how long would it take to get through all 100 floors?

    Most players who had been forced here would be asking themselves this rhetorical question.

    The strained silence eventually gave way to low murmuring. But there was no sign of fear or despair.

    Most people here would still be confused about whether this was a real danger or a seriously warped opening event. Everything Kayaba had said was so horrifying that it felt unreal.

    I craned my head back to look at the empty robe and tried to force my mind to accept this situation.

    I can no longer log out, ever. I can''t go back to my room, my life. The only way that I would get them back was when somebody defeated the boss on the highest floor of this floating castle. If my HP reached zero even once during that time¡ªI would die. I would die a real death and I would be gone forever.

    But...

    However much I tried to accept these as facts, it was impossible. Just eleven or twelve hours ago, my sister had woken me up, and I had eaten the breakfast my mom made before heading to school. No matter how grey my day was, life had never been that bad. I had shared a short conversation with my sister, then walked up the stairs of my house¡ªjust like any other.

    Now, I can''t go back to all that? And this is¡­ now the real reality?

    Before I could process it further.

    Then, the red robe that had always been one step ahead of us swept its right glove and started speaking with a voice void of all emotion.

    ¡°Then I will show you evidence that this is the only reality. In your inbox message, there will be a gift from me. Please confirm this¡±

    As soon as I heard this, I tap and my fingers swipe to right to open the menu, as and scroll upwards in search for the inbox. All the players did likewise and the plaza was filled with the ringing sound of bells.

    I pressed the message on the menu that appeared and the item was there, at the top of my inbox list.

    The name of the item ¡ª Hand Mirror

    Why did he give this to us? Even as I wondered, I tapped on the name and pressed it.

    Immediately, there was a tinkling sound effect and it materialize the object in my hand, a small, rectangular mirror appeared.

    I grabbed it hesitantly but nothing happened. All that it showed was the face of the avatar that I had gone through a lot of trouble to create.

    I cocked my head and looked at Klein. The samurai was also looking at the mirror in his hand with a blank expression.

    ...Then.

    Suddenly Klein and the avatars around us were engulfed in white light. As soon as I took this in, I was surrounded too and all I could see was white.

    Almost two seconds later, the surroundings reappeared just as they had been...

    No.

    The face in front of me wasn''t the one I''d gotten used to.

    The armor, made of interlocking metal plates, remained the same. The red hair was still there, but now styled into a spiky mohawk with a faded undercut, a thunder-shaped shaved line cutting through the side. and, his face had changed entirely. His once sharp but relaxed features had hardened¡ªhis long, sharp eyes now sunken. His delicate, high nose had become hooked, but this looks like a young college student.

    If the avatar had been a mature and carefree samurai, this one was a fallen warrior¡ªor maybe a bandit.

    I forgot about the situation for a moment and muttered.

    ¡°Who... are you?¡±