A numbness passed over my body quickly, following a bright red wound drawn from my left clavicle across to my right hip bone.

This was Sword Art Online's «Damage Indicator», a wound-like texture overlaying your model's own texture after a direct hit on your avatar.

I clenched my teeth, flipping my longsword in a reverse grip to block the Lizard-man's follow up attack. The artificial but completely believable 'clang' as the swords clash echoed across the dungeon walls. The Lizard-man went reeling backwards after the clash, it's AI began re-evaluating its position, trying to find a way to gain the advantage. I look up at my HP bar at the top-left corner of my field-of-view, taking this short downtime to do damage control.

"Twenty percent..." I murmur, my eyes resting on the monster in front of me. There was eighty percent of my HP left... twenty percent closer to zero and in this world that meant Death.

The Lizard-man readied its sword. The argentate shine of its blade turned scarlet as it dropped into a pre-motion stance of a «Sword Skill». I shift my grip on my own sword, dropping it into a sheathing like stance at my right hip. The obsidian blade of my «Elucidator» began to glow yellow as my own skill started its pre-motion. I feel the «System Assist» take over as my skill reaches the end of its pre-motion and I take off towards the Lizard-man while i still have control. We meet in the middle as its own skill takes over. My teeth grind as the two blades meet in a shower of yellow and scarlet sparks, my blade knocking the lizard's skyward as my skill carried through with its first slash upwards, followed by another horizontal slash across its abdomen and finishing with a diagonal slash downwards.

The Lizard-man freezes for a short few seconds before shattering in a confetti like display of polygons. I swipe my sword outwards in a flourish not unlike a Samurai cleaning his blade before sheathing the obsidian blade in the scabbard on my back. «Sharp Nail» is one of the hundreds of «Sword Skills» in the death game of Sword Art Online, abilities that are capable of allowing a player to perform feats that are otherwise impossible. That skill in particular is exclusive to the «One-Handed Sword» category of weapons, a 3-hit combo.

I press my forefinger and my thumb together, bringing them downwards in a quick and practised motion followed by a jingle as the in-game menu appears. I check the item drops and experience I had amassed so far and close the menu.

"I should hit the next level in about a day."

There was nobody there to listen, but I spoke aloud anyway and made my way towards the entrance of the labyrinth. I was done with my progress for the day, electing to leave for the city before night fell.

I was on the 74th floor of the gargantuan steel castle of «Aincrad», the setting of the new VRMMO Sword Art Online otherwise known as the «Death Game». I had once again escaped the hands of death, to live for another night of respite before another long day of battles. Hoping lady luck is on my side for just a while longer.

One day this game will be cleared, the day we beat the 100th floor and end this «Death Game». I just hope I don't draw the Ace of Spades before then.

I could just wait it out in the safety of a village or safe zone, rotting away while the «Clearers» risk their lives everyday to beat each floor's boss fight.

But I don't. I travel to the «Front Lines» everyday, solo. Foolishly risking my life to raise my level and stats.

Is it because I'm an addict? Do I get some sort of twisted pleasure risking my life everyday to see those numbers rise higher each level?

...Or do I really think that I can beat this game and free everyone who is trapped here with my sword?

I look up and see the late afternoon light shine through the entrance to the Labyrinth. The familiar feeling takes me back to that day.

Two years ago, when this nightmare began.