"You have got to be kidding me right now." Harold hissed as he watched the red cloak of the game's creator vanish. The fifteen year old player was in shock, the game's creator had made it so no one could escape or log out without causing immediate death. Harold, however, had transported himself completely into Sword Art Online like in the movie ' Tron '. But that also meant that he couldn't escape as well. Though, he was grateful that he was the only Alpha tester in SAO, itself.
Harold quickly pulled his hood over his face as he left the panicking crowd of players, moving so fast that only those who had a skill for spotting could see him. Panicking would only make people do stupid things and that would lead to unnecessary deaths, that only lead to more panic and stupid decisions. Harold had seen this happen when he had entered the Beta phase of SAO, players had panicked and they died because of it. It could have been prevented, but he couldn't alone.
Through the next several months, the death count had jumped to over 2000 players and the first floor boss hadn't been found yet! Harold had seen the death count and hated the creator for it was his fault. Harold moved quietly around the town, his cloak rippling behind him. He had made a name for himself here, it had started as a rumor then his name was being spoken with such reverence that very few remembered his real name. Instead, he was given the name The Forgotten Echo and Harold had felt it fit his personality perfectly. He was also the only player that had rights to create any weapon he wanted because he was the only Alpha tester that SAO had, this gave him a massive edge when it came to battling.
Harold entered the tavern, Adventurers Beginnings , and made his way to an empty table in the back. The NPC waitress took his order and left, people started noticing he was there. Let them notice, he was in no hurry to leave and if they started a fight with him, well… "Is this seat taken?" A feminine voice asked, bringing Harold out of his musings. Shaking his head, Harold studied the girl, she was fourteen and was very beautiful, the armor she was wearing only added to her beauty. He also noticed the reaper on her hip and the dagger on the other side. ' She must have skills in quick attacks. ' Harold thought as he looked at her face.
She had light brown hair and shining violet eyes. The girl gave him a small smile before she said "I'm Sophia and you are?" Harold leaned forward so his head was in the light, before answering "I'm the one whose name was forgotten, not many remember my true name and only call me ' The Forgotten Echo '. Pleasure to meet you, Sophia." Sophia only raised her eyebrow before turning her head as his order was brought. Sophia ordered and the waitress left again, Harold eating quietly as she did.
"So, Echo…" Harold looked up and nodded, listening "They say that you're a rogue and a hacker, but if you we're then the security system would have logged you out permainity. So, what are you?" Harold sipped his drink, something akin to a fruit smoothy, before he spoke "Their jealous of my ability to create any weapon I want...They don't realize that I got this ability for being the only Alpha tester in SAO. Besides the fact that all of my levels that I earned previously were added to my levels now. If you're wondering, I'm level 500 nearing 501." Harold watched for Sophia's reaction, watching as she started laughing.
"Oh, that's so funny, the rumors...created because players were jealous of your ability and level." Sophia gasped and Harold chuckled as well. The two talked for several more hours until a drunken idiot started hitting on Sophia, the drunk only had two seconds before he was sent into the far wall, courtesy of Harold's fist. Harold helped Sophia out of the tavern, but not before paying for their meals.
The two parted after Harold sent Sophia a friend request so they could keep in touch. It would be a week later that the two met up again, at the place of the first floor boss. Harold had only entered the room and had found the fighting already going on. Activating his duel disk, Harold pulled Horde of Gyaos out and onto his disk. The Atlantean nightmares appeared and charged the boss itself, the players shouting in shock as the beasts flew into battle. The boss was even surprised, leaving it wide open for the Gyaos to attack. The monsters did, Harold knew they would but had been distracted by the scream of Sophia.
One of the boss's minions had Sophia at it's mercy, though it didn't live long enough to enjoy it. Harold activated his kaiju armor as he sped towards the minion, punching it into polygons when he reached it. Tossing her a healing crystal, Harold turn into his kaiju form, The Heart Eater , and charged the boss. The boss didn't stand a chance, Harold tore into the boss, braking the boss's weapon in the process. With one final roar, the first floor boss turned into digital polygons. Harold quickly turned back into his human form and run towards Sophia, pulling her to his chest. Her health was still in the red zone and the healing crystal wasn't working.
"No, No, NO! Not this time, I will not allow you to die, Sophia." Harold snarled as he let his magic flow into Sophia, slowly bringing her health out of the red and into the yellow. The other players were silent as this was going on, some in shock, others in worry. Harold carried Sophia bridal style out of the boss room and towards the teleporter to the second floor, ignoring the shouts that were aimed at him. Sophia was barely awake and murmured "Thank y-y-you, Echo." Harold pulled her closer to his chest, as he vowed to protect Sophia from this trap of death, if he dies in the process then so be it.