The blue lights faded quickly from my eyes, reveling a roaring crowd of people. They were bunched up, they seemed to be panicking. As my vision became clearer the world turned red. Panels covered the sky; they were displaying the text "System Announcement". My brows rose and a stepped back. The panels were dripping down in to a blood red glob. Slowly it formed in to the figure…a very large figure. It towered over us, like a massive building. Its shadow covered us like a blanket. "It's the Game Master!" someone yelled. The crowds' noise began to raise. He began to talk. The Game Master reveled to us that he was the maker of the game and Nervgear. He also explained that the only way to leave SAO was to die and dying now meant you die in the real world. I quickly turned around and rushed for an exit, others began to the same. My legs carried as fast as the game would allow. Soon I ran straight in to a barrier, I flew back and landed on my bottom. "Damn…" I mumbled. Standing back up I brushed off my clothes and turned back the Game Master. "I've placed a gift in all your inventories. Take a look…" he said. I opened up my menu and accessed my inventory. 'A mirror' I thought raising a brow. When it appeared in my hands I noticed my avatar was different. It was more…like me. The once short brown hair that shrouded my eyes was now my long slicked backed brown. I also shrunk in muscle tone; I'm not very fit in real life.

"Only when a player beats floor 100 will you be free to leave."

The crowd rose in noise again. In the beta I barely made it to floor 3, going up to 100 is going to take all I got. I'm sure most players were thinking the same as I was.

"I'm lowering the barriers. You may start the game." The GM said before fading away in a flash of red.

Quickly I spun around and ran down the street; I pulled up my map while running. Being a beta tester gives me knowledge of this game, more than most. I have to get the most loot early in game to keep me safe and raise levels quickly. As I drew closer to the exit I heard another player following me. My body came to a halt and I spun on my heels to face the other. The player didn't stop; instead he fell right on me. We both fell to the ground causing lots of dust to fly up.

"Aye!" he yelled pushing off of me.

The player stood and dusted off his clothes then flicked back his hair. He was covered in the same clothes as I but a green undershirt instead of red.

"You ran in to me man…" I said standing up; he was slightly taller than I.

"Well you stopped!" he exclaimed

"Whatever…Why were you following me?"

He hesitated and put his weight on one foot, crossing his arms. "Well…You so happen to be headed to great loot spot."

The player was right. My destination was filled with great loot for beginners, or survivors. I kept a straight face trying not to lose my cool.

"You must have been a beta tester." I said.

"You to…am I right?"

My words were hesitant to come out. Reveling my status to this guy might cause some un-needed attention down the line. I nodded lightly, trying to be discreet about it. The male smirked.

"Wanna party up?" he asked.

His question brought deep thought. Teaming up sounds like the only way to survive this world. Playing the beta Solo was hard enough but now its Death Game it seems like the only right thing to do. But then again I know nothing about his player other than he did beta testing.

"Sure."

He smiled and slapped my shoulder, my nimble body nudged over with his hit.

"Name is Tonka." He said extending his hand to me.

"Riku." I responded locking my hand with his.

I and Tonka began our journey to the small village north of the Town. On the way I came to like Tonka. He was rather immature at times but he had this aura of happiness, like he could bring joy to the saddest person. What he thought of me? I don't know. But I'm glad I accepted his invite.

While walking I noticed how beautiful Aincrad really was. Even in this 'Death Game' one can truly see the beauty of this world. From the green grass under your boots to the bright sun shining down on your armor you could tell this world had lots to offer. In the end I could tell that this was going to be over looked. My companion does not care for the world; he wants the fighting to begin. "I look forward to the boss battle." He told me "I want to lead the charge and get the final hit bonus."

My eyes shifted towards him. The more he talks the clearer I see his intentions. He only wants to abuse his beta knowledge. Most players won't know about the boss's moves or even the final hit bonus.

I stop and grab his arm, his body tugged forward and back. His head flew back to me.

"What?"

"We can't abuse our knowledge Tonka."

He pulled his arm out of my grasp. A chuckle ringed out of his mouth.

"Why not Riku? We were testers! We can easily become ahead of them."

"The only way we can beat these floors is if we work with the new players!" I snapped back.

Quickly all I have said about Tonka became a lie. He wasn't a joyful person. He only wanted to become stronger and stronger to better his own standing. If he was to have his way he would use the players to better his own life. Something I couldn't live my life with.

"If you can't see the potential in this then why am I partied with you?" he asked raising his hands in the air.

I shook my hand and looked down.

"You just want to use people to become stronger…" I gripped the handle of my blade "…And I can't allow that."

Tonka stepped back when he saw my hand move up to my sword. His next words were hesitant to come out.

"Look around. You're out here with me Riku. You left Town Of Beginnings to gain a head start."

A quick exhale came from my nose. I was out here with him, trying to better myself. I was even reluctant to tell him that I was a beta tester. When the game started, I was focused on myself. Just like Tonka is now. I might still feel that way but I never intended on abusing the other players and taking it all for myself. Tonka wants to do just that.

"I am. But I'm not going to abuse everything along the way. I wanna be something in this world. A power hungry player is not going to be my label."

Tonka stiffened and regained his composure. He finally raised his hand to the hilt of his blade.

"I only see one of us moving up in the game…" he said opening up a menu.

Tonka sent me a dual invite. Dueling is a way to fight another player. If you kill another player outside a duel match your icon switch's to orange and if you keep doing it stays orange. Tonka sent me a "Total Loss Mode" type. This means we fight till HP hits zero. And in this game now, it means the other dies. I finger slowly crept towards the prompt.

"Go on and accept if you are not too scared." Tonka called out.

My finger tapped accept and Duel images appeared over us. A countdown started in between me and my opponent. The sun was just going down and the wind picking up, blowing my hair back. Tonka took a hunched over stance as I kept standing position.

9…8…7…6…5…4…3…1...