Sword Art Online: Battalion - ソードアートオンライン: 大隊

by OtakuFiend

Though Akihiro is one of the players in the death game still breathing, he will forever be haunted from the unveiling of the true reality of Sword Art Online. He and his two friends, like everyone else, strive to survive and ensure the end to the game is still in sight. However, an idea is spawned, and it will either help or hinder their journey. The guild, Battalion, was formed.

SWORD ART ONLINE
-BATTALION-
ソードアート·オンライン: 大隊

---

"Link start!"

Those would be Akihiro Kimura's last words he can remember in reality before he jumped into the death game. He was waiting for nearly an hour in line for the game for what he thought was going to be a spectacular and breath-taking experience. He did get his breath-taking experience, just in a different approach; a completely, unexpected approach.

"But I ask all of you to understand that Sword Art Online is no longer a simple game. It is a second reality. From now on, any forms of revival in the game will no longer work. The moment your HP reaches 0, your avatar will be gone forever.

There was no way Akihiro could resist being scared out of his mind himself after hearing all that was announced by the one-of-a-kind turned ruthless Akihiko Kayaba. Why? he would start asking himself. Why? Why? But there was no answer. Not one. Right now, it was fight to live, or live to die. Nothing could ever change that.

---

Akihiro was staring up at the massive, cloaked figure floating in the blood red sky; the same character from the announcement of the game's true reality. He was petrified, shaking violently, but somehow still standing. After a time-period of silence, the cloaked figure spoke with a voice of the grim reaper.

"The moment your HP reaches 0, your avatar will be gone forever and at the same time, your brain will be destroyed by the NerveGear..."

Then the voices came along, surrounding him. Whether distant or nearby, loud or soft, he could hear them.

"Did you hear that, Akihiro?"
"You will die."
"Your brain will be fried, boy!"
"Die…"
"Zero HP."
"Die…"
"Gone forever."
"Die…"

Suddenly, the screams could be heard; screams of every other people suffering in the death game. It was easily overwhelming and intense. The ringing in his ears started. Then the ground beneath his feet shook. The terror of this place was vast and pressurising him, toppling Akihiro over and down to his knees. He shut his eyes hard with his hands on his ears. He was trying hard to resist, but there was no way to make it stop; he had to go through it all.

"If you die here…"

Akihiro could still hear the voice of the cloaked figure. Covering himself up was useless. He was still trembling, but he slowly lifted his head off the ground to see the airborne nightmare. As he opened his eyes, the monster roared.

"YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY!"

Suddenly in an instant, the figure darted right at Akihiro. By the time dark of the hood and the unforgettable eyes completely occupied his perception, it was already too late for Akihiro to scream.