Chapter 1: The Reaper's Birth

My name is Yuri Fumikawa. I know it sounds like a girl's name, but I'm a guy. It sucks, and I'm always teased about it at school. I'm a massive gamer, and probably always will be. I was also one of the first people to buy a NerveGear, and beta test Sword Art Online. it was such a fun game, I had to preorder it. Boy, did I not know what I was getting into...but, I was one of those who lived. Anyways, most of the weeks leading up to the game's release is unimportant, it's mostly who I became in the game that is important here.

The day I was preparing to log in was the most grueling wait I've ever had. I was so impatient, the clock couldn't move fast enough! When 11:45 rolled around, I smiled widely. I hopped onto my bed, and hooked up the NerveGear. Everything was set. My parents were out at work, so I had all day. I watched the clock in the corner with bated breath. As soon as it hit 12:00, I said those words that changed my life forever: "Link Start!"

I felt my consciousness leave my body, and saw menus fly past me. Then I came to the character creation screen, and received the notice [Beta Character Data Detected! Would you like to us this data instead?] I confirmed, and was put back into my old avatar. It was a tall, athletic male body with long silver hair and emerald eyes. It felt great to be back!

I went through the process of selecting my skills and saw a new weapon that intrigued me: [Scythe]. I figured why not, I mean I can always take the weapon change quest later. I picked it, along with woodcutting. I didn't wait long after getting everything set up and equipped to run right out of the main city, and into the wilds.

As a boar charged me, it froze and I received a popup in the center of my vision. [Tutorial: Scythe Skills!] Hello, player! We are pleased to inform you that you have acquired a unique weapon! The scythe is a weapon unique to you! The attacks are much simpler than using a sword. This weapon is one that allows for much more creative attacks, and you are the one to develop your Swords Skills unlike normal weapons. At first, you will only have one Sword Skill available to you: an attack that can be used to decapitate your opponent. Work hard, and as you use and reuse some attacks and combos, they will become Sword Skills! Good luck, Player!

The boar unfroze and I gave a frustrated sigh. One Sword Skill? I'll have to develop some soon. I thought of only once stance that could be used for decapitation, and crouched while holding the scythe to my right. The blade began to glow purple and I swung, and the boar was cut in the snout. I watched its health drop from full to almost empty, and brought the scythe down in an overhead slash. The boar shattered, and I watched my EXP bar fill up 3%. I pursed my lips and accepted the loot confirmation. I got a boar pelt, and a handful of money.

Suddenly, I felt my body grow light as I was force-teleported to the main city, and saw the sky fill up with the red notice, reading: [Server Announcement] I watched as a giant avatar showed up and announced that we would be unable to log out until the game was completed, as well as that we would die in real life if we died in the game. My jaw dropped, and my avatar vanished, revealing my normal body. I was an average height boy, with blue eyes and jet-black hair. I grumbled some complaints as the giant avatar faded.

I noticed a panic start to build, and turned and started to run down an alleyway that led away from the center of town. I saw a boy with jet black hair and eyes running down the same alley. I barely paid him any attention as I ran out of the city and into the wild. I scratched the back of my head, and decided to go to the next town. Harder mobs, but better rewards. I ran towards the next town, but got sidetracked when I saw some male players, three in all, harassing a female player. Already?! Damn... I snuck up on them as best I could and listened in.

"Come on, girlie! Just party with us, and we'll leave you alone!" The first said, clearly the leader.

"Yeah. We could use someone like you in our party." The second one, who seemed rather bulky.

The third one didn't seem as sure, and was hanging back. He was scrawny, and I considered taking him, but decided against it.

"No! You guys are creeps in real life, all you do is try to grope me and make me date you!" The girl said. She had green eyes, and beautiful white hair.

"So? Can't you see you're outnumbered? We could always force yo-" I cut the leader off mid-sentence.

"Like hell you will." I said calmly. "Listen here, punks. I suggest you get your asses as far away from here as you can."

The leader made a snort-like sound. "You? You, a scrawny little wimp, are gonna stop us?"

I was unfazed as I drew my scythe. "Girl! What's your name?" I hated saying it like that, but I had to.

She seemed stunned. "Uh...my name? I'm Kotomi..." She said.

She's an indecisive type... I thought to myself. "Right. Kotomi-san. I need you to do me a big favor and get back." I said. What the hell am I even doing?! Do I want to die this early?

She nodded and ran a little ways away, and the leader glared at me. "Well, well. Seems we got a goody-two-shoes. It'll be fun killing you."

I was in motion before I realized it. I leaped up and spun, catching the right shoulder of the leader, and slashing the chest of the bulky one. They were utterly shocked to see that I had hit them in one try. As I landed, I hung my head. "Now listen here. My name is Yuri. Remember it if you want to live." The boys looked at each other, confused. "Morons...I'm telling you to run! Run, or I WILL kill you!" They turned and ran away from me, passing Kotomi without a second glance.

"W-wow Yuri-san... that was amazing..." Kotomi said as she approached.

I turned to the scrawny one who had been hanging back. "And who are you?" I said with dark glint in my eye as I held the dull side of my scythe's blade to his neck. "Better talk fast, boy. I'm very displeased."