Chapter 1, The Black Swordsman Begins
I wonder if Klein is ok… This thought passed through my mind yet again as I traveled further from the Town of Beginnings. I had seen a few wild boars and a couple caves, the gleaming eyes of goblins flickering in their shadows. Those eyes, glowing brightly, tinged with red, as if they were living rubies filled with blood lust, brought back Kayaba's words to me, causing a shiver to run down my spine. "This is a game, but it isn't something you play". I continued to hold onto the belief that this was all a stunt, clutching at that hope as if it was my only salvation. Deep down, I knew it was not possible. Some part of me realized that every word Akihiko had said was true. Even though I knew it was true, I refused to believe it.
I continued my journey, ducking into the woods a few times to pick off low level foes, earning experience and col. My inventory was very bare, not much besides the starter gear and col. Should I try out one of those caves? I looked back to the hill that held the bright eyes of the goblins, weighing the risks and rewards of a quick adventure. Just a peek. If I can't handle them, I will come out. I headed back that way, the disembodied pupils following my progress then vanishing as I got closer to the cave entrance. Hmm… They must be waiting to ambush me inside. Where's that… I checked my inventory again, finding one of the few items I had bought in the town of beginnings, a portable orb that cast light. Here we go. Let's see what I have to deal with.
The results were almost instant. I activated the light, tossing it a little ways into the cave, and seeing a score of small figures scurrying off to the shadows, two of the figures much larger than the others. Looks like they live with their big brothers. I ducked under the overhang, stepping into the aura of light, my shadow distorting as I moved. Seems like the cave is bigger than I thought. Well, time to go a little deeper. Picking the orb up and clipping it to my belt, I pushed deeper into the darkness, following the sounds of scuffling feet and slashing at enemies just out of reach. Panicking slightly, I raised my sword in front of me, looking around before calling out a challenge, unsure if they would understand what I said. "Well? Come on out. Show me what you can do." That's when I heard the grinding. I turned, looking back the way I had come, to see the small bit of light that I had entered from getting smaller and smaller, soon becoming a crescent moon. Then, with a thud that seemed to say, "Welcome to hell", the light vanished and I was trapped.
As that thud echoed and faded throughout the cave, I became aware of a new noise, a soft chanting like sound. The figures I had seen run from the light before I entered now came to stand at its edge, watching me and showing all their grotesque glory. The two larger creatures I'd spotted earlier walked forward, entering the circle of light and barking out a unintelligible command. Torches around the edges of the cave burst to life, shedding light on the small nightmare that faced me. "This is a game, but it isn't something you just play". The larger of the two stepped a bit closer, reaching to it's waist and pulling out a crude, but deadly looking curved scimitar. "This is a game, but it isn't just something you play". As the Goblin Commander lunged at me, it's name and HP popping up, a red diamond spinning lazily over his head as if indifferent to the danger I faced, I began to feel what I hadn't felt since Akihiko Kayaba delivered his ultimatum to the players of Sword Art Online. I felt fear.
AN: Any of you reading this who are enjoying it, please let me know. And if you have any ideas, go ahead and tell me. Ill see if I can work them in if you tell me. Thank you for reading my story, and please look forward to chapter 2, The Struggle Begins. This first chapter is intentionally short. I was not sure if anyone would like it, but if anyone enjoying my work so far, continues to read, all chapters after this will be full length.
Sincerely, KiritoYakuza