Chapter 1- What's changed

This story is similar to SAO: Tales of the Coffin except there is one major difference Mikael was recruited by the Knights of the Blood Oath instead of Laughing Coffin. Please note I will be being starting this from the part where Lisa tries to recruit Mikael.

Mikael POV

About 3 months in the game I found myself in a forest training my skills, improving my sword skills and throwing skill. I was soon surrounded by an orange guild known as Loose Knife. They had threatened to kill me and take away Blazing Hope. All I did was laugh before I used a skill called Eternal Flame which engulfed the whole guild in flames, killing them. After that was don I heard clapping, I turned around to see a women wearing a black robe with Laughing Coffin symbol on it. She then said "My you are quite skilful with that blade. We could use someone like you in are guild." "Sorry but I'm not joining your guild" I told her as I turned away. "Oh that a shame" she said before whistling to the rest of her team to come out. "Well I guess we will be taking that blade of yours now" she told me before signalling her team to attack. I prepared myself for their attack by taking up a battle stance. Just as three of them came charging at me, suddenly a shadow rushed pass me and blocked their attack. "What the" the female said. "Now, now it not nice to attack someone just because they didn't join your guild" the shadow figure told her. I was then able to see the figure fully. They were clade in red armour with a white cape. Their shield was large and had a red cross. I then saw their face, he had grey hair and looked to be in his twenties. "Heathcliff to what do we own the pleasure" the female said to him. "Oh I was just taking a walk when I saw what this kid did and decide to talk with him" he told her. "What are you trying to recruit him into your guild" she asked him.

"Maybe all I am saying is I see something in him" he responded to her. "Well sorry but we can't allow that" she said to him as she took out her blade and took up a stance. "Very well if that how it's to be. Hey do mind helping me in this duel or shall I take them on alone" he asked me as he pulled his blade out of his shield. "Sure I'll help you fight them. You take down the leader I'll take the rest of them" I told him. He smiled and said "Very well if that your strategy." We then all charged at one another as the man Heathcliff fought against the leader while I dealt with the rest of them. I quickly disposed of them and was about to help Heathcliff out when I saw the way he was fighting. I don't know what it was but something was off. It was like he was moving outside the system while everyone else was moving inside it. I didn't take him long till Lisa was on her knees defeated. Heathcliff held his blade at her throat as he said "Now you are going to leave now or you will disappear from this world." "Of course" she replied as Heathcliff moved his blade from her throat as he turned towards me. Lisa got up but instead of walking away, she charged straight at him. I reacted quickly as I charged at her as my sword plunged through her chest. She soon exploded into crystal as I removed my sword. I turned towards Heathcliff as he stared at what just happened. "So what do you want" I asked him. "Well that should be self-explanatory but before I say, can I ask do you know who I am" he asked me.

"Sorry but I don't have a clue who you are except that your name is Heathcliff" I responded. "Yes my player name is Heathcliff but you may know me by a different name. My real name is Ahikiko Kayaba" he told me. I was suddenly enraged at what he just told me. I immediately struck my sword across his cheek as I demand "Why are you here, Kayaba. Give me one good reason why I should strike you down now." "My reason is simple. As you know I trapped everyone in this game but I wanted to give those people hope which is why I created the Knights of Blood Oath but I see that there may be another way to give the players hope" he told me. I removed my sword away from his face and said "Really and how's that" I asked him. "Simple, I plan to reveal myself as the final boss when we make it to a certain floor but if I did that then I need someone to take over the Knights of the Blood Oath in order to keep the player fighting for their freedom. I want you to do that Mikael. I have been watching you, you have the will to led these players to victory you just need the practise. If you join me not only will you be my vice commander but also I will allow you to train in the ruby palace to become stronger than any other player in this game" Heathcliff told me. I hesitated for a minute before I thought 'If I train on floor 100 hundred then I will have the strength to beat almost every boss we encounter which mean not that many people will have to die.' I suddenly remembered those we lost in floor three. "Fine I will join you but I am doing this for the players not you" I told him. "Very well lets go" he responded before pulling out a teleport crystal. "Teleport Ruby Palace" he said as we were instantly teleported.

The end of Chapter 1, this was interesting to write as I didn't know exactly how the plot would go and the only idea I had about this story was what if Mikael was a member of the Knight of the Blood Oath instead of Laughing Coffin. I took a while but I finally got the idea of what if Mikael became a sort of protégé to Heathcliff and that he was being trained to beat the game. Now granted when we get to the end Mikael not going to solo and beat Kayaba himself, I'm keeping the tag team battle with Kirito but do that the events of reveal of Kayaba will be altered. In the next chapter Mikael begins his training in the Ruby Palace and meet Asuna.