Dragon Saga Online
A Sword Art Online x Dragon Saga crossover by LookinGoodYamcha

Author's notes: The following is a somewhat experimental fic aiming to rewrite the popular light novel Sword Art Online, specifically the first major arc of its famous anime adaptation. I use the term 'rewrite' lightly because this is not so much an attempt to redo the original canon as it is to take SAO's basic ideas and apply them to my own story set within an adaptation of the somewhat-obscure MMO game, Dragon Saga.

A bit of background; I watched SAO in its entirety during Fall of 2015. Beset with a horrible ear infection, I was able to marathon the entire series in my downtime. Although I did genuinely enjoy most of it, I, like many viewers, had plenty of criticisms about the show overall. Sword Art Online did, however, reignite the spark for my on-and-off interest in MMORPGs. Particularly Dragon Saga, the hidden gem I'd been introduced to in early 2010. SAO's fast-paced action gave me a craving for something more input-heavy and reflex-intensive than the standard RuneScape fare I usually gravitated to, and Dragon Saga was just the game to scratch that itch.

Anyhow, a combination of these factors inspired me attempt to 'fix' the complaints that many viewers held toward Kawahara's original work. Thus, this story will re-imagine SAO in a sense. Fans of the original show will recognize most major plot points and story beats, and each character here will fill a role that the original cast did.

Rest assured, this fic is coming from a fan of the show, albeit a fan with criticisms. I'm not a "hater" in any sense, and this story should be considered a re-imagining rather than a full-on rewrite. That being said, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter One – The World of the Divine Dragon Lord

6th of January, 2022
Houston, Texas

"Mantine! What's the hold up? Take the fucking flag back already!" The voice of a boy no older than twelve crackled through a small wireless headset, which was hardly visible under the long, dark, thick hair of its owner; a seventeen-year-old boy reclining in his office chair, playing the latest installment in the Halo series. He rather enjoyed the sci-fi FPS franchise that had been going strong since before he was born, and given that the winter holidays were still in full swing, he and his circle of online friends were not hindered by school as they had been for most of last year.

He sighed, stretching his lanky legs out, and rested them on a second, smaller office chair. "If it'll shut you up…" With a subtle grin and a few flicks of buttons and sticks, he guided his player character back to his base and into the capture zone. Just as the ingame announcer signaled, "Flag captured. Game over. Victory.", the boy received a party chat invite from two of his long-time online friends. He hit a button on his controller and accepted them.

First was Kindon. Hailing from Northwest Philadelphia, he'd heard every 'Fresh Prince' joke to the point of embracing them. He'd met Mantine a few years ago through Halo. Following him was Kite. He was from the United Kingdom and had become acquainted with the two through a Banjo-Kazooie game. They both tried to speak over one another, but Kite was the first to make himself heard. "Finally, he joins! Been tryna reach you all day, bellend! Do you just, like, not check your messages anymore?"

Mantine scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly, knowing full well his friends couldn't see the gesture. He had been playing all day and, whether he meant to or not, ignored his pals' invites the entire time. "Sorry, brah! Must not've seen 'em!" he replied in a fairly deep, relaxed voice.

"Sure!" replied Kite sarcastically. "Hey, how far are you in the Pokémon LP?"

Kindon chimed in. "Yes! I want to know how my precious Freshus is doing!" Mantine had recently obtained a microphone and proper recording software, and proceeded to try his hand at video let's plays. His game of choice was Pokémon OmegaRuby, as Pokémon was another franchise he and his friends were interested in.

"Oh, I just uploaded part eleven! Didja not see? Freshus is just fine!" he replied, referring to his starter Mudkip.

"I'll check it out later, Mantine. Kite and I just got Dragon Saga and we've been playing like, all day. Actually, we were wondering if you wanted to join us. Pleeease?" Kindon offered.

"Oh, shit! I'm zonin' out all the time... it unlocked yesterday, right?" asked Mantine, remembering to check if his pre-order download had finished.

Dragon Saga Online was the first Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online RPG, or VRMMO to be released outside of Japan. Microsoft and Apple had given third-party developers permission to release special NerveGear headsets that were compatible with certain PC games. Developed by a company called Portal, Dragon Saga was unique in that it allowed full immersion in every aspect. The game was entirely controlled by one's own nerve stimulations, and one could feel, smell, and taste things within the game world using FullDive technology.

Though it was indeed a marvel of computer science, games like these had been released using Japan as a sort of 'test audience' for a few years. Only now were they making headway in other regions, and online gamers everywhere had been spending many a night foregoing sleep to stalk the game site for updates. Yesterday, the lines of eager fans trailed out the doors of any outlet who sold the game, and the physical copies had been completely sold out by the next day. Mantine had to settle for a digital download, but he didn't care, as this was an experience that seemed far too wondrous to pass up.

"Hop on with us in a bit, will you? We're already like, level 25! You've gotta catch up. You won't believe what you can do in that game, bruh!" Kite said excitedly.

"Honestly, Mantine… it's the perfect game for you!" added Kindon.

Mantine rose from his chair and stretched his tall body. "Okay, you've won me over… I can actually get on now, I think. Lemme go ask gramps." He fumbled with his wireless headset before excitedly tossing it on the bed, and strode into the living room. "Hey, Poppa! Is it cool if I play my new VR game with my friends for a bit? I think everything's done for the night anyway. Oh! Don't worry, it's not one of those subscription things, I bought it!"

He was relaxing on the couch, watching a Cowboys game. He smiled back at his grandson and took a sip of Sam Adams. "Ah, sure! I was just gon' hit the sack after I watched the game, anyway. Just don't stay up too late. I wanna go to Café Cappuccino tomorrow mornin'." he replied in a typical Texan drawl.

"Hah, like I'd pass up that offer! 'Night, man!" Mantine said, running excitedly back into his room. He snatched up his mic and told his two friends, "'Kay, I'm back. Yeah, I'll be on in a few. You guys got the NerveGears all set? I think I finally figured mine out, haha."

"Yup!" they said simultaneously. With that confirmation, Mantine tapped his console's off button with his toe and synced the NerveGear headset with his PC. As he lay down in his blue bed and prepared to immerse himself, he smirked. "Hmph. Level 25? They say that like it's somethin' to be proud of." With this vocal command, the Gear activated and began to stimulate Mantine's brain. At first, he saw what looked like the hyperspace scene from Star Wars, then the game menu was laid out before his eyes.

He signed into the account he'd created on Portal's website and marveled a bit at the character creation menu. "Hmm, color me impressed." He stuck his finger out, prompting a text box to appear before it.

'NAME ENTRY'.

"Well, I guess I'll go with Mantine. Not like any of the good names are taken yet. Heh." Of course, Mantine was not the boy's real name, but he commonly chose it for most online communities and as such, most of his friends knew him by it. Simply put, the name was derived from a manta ray Pokémon from his favorite series.

After browsing each option with great intent, Mantine finalized his character. At the suggestion of Kindon and Kite, he chose the Warrior class. This class used a fairly standard sword and shield combo, although the swords were almost big enough to give certain Final Fantasy heroes a run for their money. These could eventually reclass into Knights, making for an effective tanking class that could still deal respectable damage. The combination of familiar weaponry and high health made it seem like an attractive starting class.

Mantine relaxed for a bit as he watched the game's introductory cutscene. A typical wise-sounding elderly man told the tale of the Divine Dragon Lord's world, El Grego, where humans and dragons lived in harmony until one day the black dragon Elga decided to wage war on humanity. With the help of the dragons, four heroes sealed him off in a barrier, but now the threat of his re-emergence was ever present. It was a fairly standard medieval fantasy story, but Dragon Saga was unique in that unlike most MMOs, it had a story and in fact could be effectively 'beaten'.

When the cinematic was over, Mantine found himself in Odella, Town of Beginnings. He peered at his surroundings, awestruck at the new world into which he had just emerged. "Dayum! This is just the starter town? I tell you, Lumbridge ain't got nothing on this!" he said, sizing up the town's centerpiece; a grand water fountain. He approached it and reached his hand out. Sure enough, he felt the unmistakable sensation of water coursing over his gloved hand.

Seeing this, he took the time to look over his own avatar. It didn't look that much different from his real self; it was a tall, thin young male with basic silver armor on. Replacing his usual black hair were long locks of periwinkle blue, fashioned into a silken ponytail that ran the length of his back. In the front were rough-cut fringe bangs that nearly covered one eye.

"Oh, there he is!" Snapping Mantine out of his daze was a familiar voice accompanying a chat icon on his heads-up display. As they promised, Kite and Kindon were waiting for him by the blacksmith's shop. Kindon played an Infiltrator, an advancement of the Thief class. Like the knight, it was melee-oriented but focused more on intricate combo strings and clever trickery. His character also looked more or less the same as his actual appearance, with long, brown hair flowing in a straight fashion. His armor consisted of gray cloth wrappings and pieces of metallic plating covering some vital areas. Each of his hands grasped jagged, navy-blue katars that took on a lighter hue towards the tips.

Kite, on the other hand, had chosen a Marksman, which was an upgraded type of Archer. This class forewent bows in favor of crossbows and could snipe from great distances with pinpoint accuracy. A large crossbow was holstered on his hip; the same color as Kindon's weaponry. His character however, was the subject of Mantine's stifled giggling. Although certainly male, Kite's avatar appeared rather androgynous, sporting feminine curves and voluminous rose colored hair. The tight, layered leather armor didn't help things, either.

"Bahahaha! Wow, Kite! You really pushed the character creator to its limits! You sure made one hot chick!" cackled Mantine. Kindon, despite having seen it before, joined in on having a little fun at his friend's expense. "Aww, Mantine! Don't give her such a hard time, she put hours into that character!" he said with a chuckle.

Kite did a snort laugh, knowing his friends only spoke in jest. "Hey, it's probably better than anything you two could get! We should head out soon and get started. Mantine, why don'tcha accept all the red quests around here so we can help ya out? Those are the mandatory ones, anyway."

As Kite had described, many of the town's non-player characters, or NPCs, had bright red exclamation marks floating a few inches above their heads. Mantine darted around Odella speaking to each NPC and adding their quests to his log menu. As he ran, he noticed that within the game, he was not bound by most normal physical limitations. He could run without tiring, dash on the ground, and even perform great leaps and midair sword combos. After getting a basic feel for the combat, Mantine joined his two comrades and exited Odella to Windia, the game's first combat area.

Before they knew it, the sun had began to set over the virtual world. Striking down giant mutated spiders, sheep, wolves had passed more time than they'd thought! The trio was relaxing on the roof of a house in Windia, gazing up at the orange sky. Kite edged himself over to Mantine and put a hand on his shoulder. "Soooo? Whatcha think?"

"It's a lot to take in at once, man. Thanks so much for showing me this game, guys, really. Honestly, I love it so far! Gotta tell you though, the hitstun is killer! I thought I was good at Melee, but this… I'll have to take time adapting. Can't wait to get as good as you guys… Oh, hey! Has anyone beat the game yet?"

Kindon raised his head up and turned to Mantine with a raised eyebrow. "Kind of a stupid question, man. It's barely been out a day! Why do you ask?"

"Hmm…" Mantine put his hand on his chin and looked upwards. "Let's do it. Let's be the first ones to clear Dragon Saga." His companions looked at him with an air of surprise. "I know it seems like a crazy feat, but I think if we really put our minds to it… if we really get good, yeah."

Kite smiled at him. "Ah, Mantine, I can see the stars in your eyes. If that's the case, how 'bout we form a guild?" Mantine and Kindon both nodded eagerly at the idea. "I'd give you the honor of being guild master, but you gotta be at least level 20, and it's not like you have the money yet either way."

Mantine nodded again. "Fine by me, brah! I don't want to wait! I think you'll make a great leader, Kite!"

With his friend's confirmation, Kite opened up the guild menu, prompting a name entry box to appear. "Hmm, never thought about what we should call it."

Kindon piped up. "How about Mudkips, guys? For Mantine's LP!" The group murmured in agreement, and with a flick of Kite's finger, the Mudkips guild was officially founded. The word "Mudkips" appeared below each of their usernames, and their armor transitioned to a blue-and-orange color scheme, to match the color of the eponymous Pokémon.

Mantine stood up from his position and pointed his sword to the sun, its rays reflecting off the silver metal. "Now, I'm not one to get sentimental with you guys… certainly not over a game, but this is the start of something new for us, don'tcha think? Yes, the first chapter of the glorious Mudkips! I can see it now; the three of us crawling through damp grass, climbing rocky, rugged mountains, crossing the raging seas, wandering about in dark caves, and sometimes, even getting a little homesick.. Here, the rules of the real world don't apply. Our weapons alone can take us anywhere…"

"I guess it's a way to get out of the rut of my daily life, if anything." said Kindon, getting up with a stretch. "I always did like your outlook on life, Mantine." The three did a simultaneous fist bump, celebrating their newly-formed guild. "But if it's all the same to you guys," he continued, "I'm gonna turn in for the night. Lord knows my brother will have a conniption if he can't hog the PC all night."

Kite echoed his friend. "Same. I'm gonna hate myself if I miss the retro gaming trade tomorrow."

Mantine sheathed his weapon. "Oh, sure man! I was actually gonna head myself. I've got half of a garlic-chicken pizza I need to go ham on before the night's over. Thanks again, guys! Peace!" With this salutation, Mantine reached out a finger and opened the menu, scrolling down through each option.

"Uhh, noob question here, where's the logout button? I don't-" inquired Mantine as he double checked the list of options.

Kindon walked over to him. "Should be right there at the bottom. See?" He opened his own menu to show his friend.

There was no logout option.

Kite fiddled with his menu a bit before coming to the same conclusion as his friends. "Ah, must be some sorta bug. Y'know how these games are when they first release; no one cares about putting out a finished product as long as they make that bank."

"Augh! My pizza! Everyone knows those things are no good reheated! And I'm gonna miss Café Cappuccino tomorrow, no! Isn't there, like, some other way to logout? There's gotta be a failsafe or somethin'!" exclaimed Mantine as he collapsed to the ground.

Kite shook his head. "Nope. Remember, these things are connected to our nerve centers. This ain't Halo." He thought to himself for a moment. "Shit. I'll contact one of the GMs, see what they can do."

Before he could even begin composing a text message, Kite was teleported out of sight. Kindon quickly befell the same fate. Mantine gasped. "Wha-" was all that came out of his mouth before he too was automatically teleported. He appeared back at the fountain in Odella. One by one, players began popping up all around him. He quickly sifted through the crowd and located Kite and Kindon. "Yo, what happened?" They shrugged at him in unison.

Players continued to warp in until everyone on the server crowded the town square. A flash of crimson light engulfed the town, turning the orange sky red. Emerging from the resulting mist was a giant projection of a man. The best way he could be described is looking like Jack Nicholson, complete with dark sunglasses, slicked-back hair, and a devilish grin. He held a silver cane and wore a long, flowing crimson robe. The crowd became restless, with gasps and panicked inquiries of what was happening drowning one another out.

"Good evening." The mysterious figure's deep, booming voice silenced the entire crowd. "I'm all too sure that each of you gamers out there have noticed you no longer have the ability to log out of Dragon Saga. Let me assure you, this is fully intentional."

The crowd protested in confusion, only to be silenced by the man's voice once again. "Allow me to fill you in. My name is Eugene Wesley. If that name sounds familiar, it is because I am in charge of the American servers for Dragon Saga Online. In truth, I decided to turn this revolutionary game into an experiment. First and foremost, I will lay down some ground rules for you all. Dying in this game no longer results in such trivialities as a simple loss of EXP and respawning. When your character's health reaches zero, the NerveGear will release microwaves directly into the brain, effectively killing the wearer. Attempting to physically remove the headset by an outside force will produce similar results and is not advised. No, only when the game's main quest is cleared will I allow you to return to reality."

The panic within the crowd reached a fever pitch, rife with screams and cries for help. Mantine turned to Kindon and Kite with gritted teeth. "Come on... this guy can't be serious, right? It's gotta be some kinda elaborate troll!" he reasoned, trying to convince himself more than anything. The trio stared back at the towering robed figure in steadfast defiance, but their blood began to run cold. It certainly didn't help matters than the Town's peaceful, light music continued to play over the grim announcement.

"Rest assured" he continued, "my funds have allowed me to dispatch the most skilled doctors to take care of your physical bodies. Likely as I speak, you are being moved to the nearest hospital. Nutrients will be fed into you intravenously to maintain your bodies, and you will be watched over at all hours. I am not a cruel man; rather I simply wanted a world in which I was deified. Where I controlled the fates of its population. With this game, I have achieved my lifelong goal. To clear the game, you must reach Black Claw Nest on the far end of the Continent of Chaos. If just one person can clear the game, you will all be free. On this, you have my solemn promise. Ah, one final thing."

He pointed his robed arm toward the large, black wall displaying the high scores. Each name was erased until the list was cleared, then reshuffled until the numbers were gone and every player was listed in alphabetical order. "The hiscores have been repurposed into a more practical use. Upon death, a player's name will change to red and display the time and cause of death. I hope that leaves you with some extra incentive to clear my game. I have divulged to you all can; I must bid farewell."

With those words, Eugene disappeared in another flash of crimson. Fear began to wash over the crowd. Then fear gave way to full-blown panic and hysteria. The other players scattered in all directions, screaming and trying to find other ways to log out. Many of them bumped into the Mudkips and knocked them to the floor, and others were nearly trampled in the confusion.

The three of them all scrambled to their feet and hid in the dark, quiet alley where thieves initially began the game. As much as they didn't want to admit it, they were just as afraid as the rest of the unwitting players. However, it was here, in this alley, that the guild collected themselves and, over the course of the next hour, talked each other down until they could hash the dire situation out.

"...sounds like a plan. We'll hit up every quest we come across, then." confirmed Kite. "If what that man said is true, it looks like bosses are gone for good once they're defeated. I've got a feeling we'll need every last ounce of experience to keep going."

Mantine nodded sharply. "There's no denying how bad this looks, I know. Don't get the wrong idea... deep down, I'm quakin' in my boots... but as long as I live, I'll continue to be the source of positivity you know me as! I don't know about you two, but what he did to us is making my blood boil... so let's do our part to humiliate him."

Kindon shot the blue-haired man a fierce gaze. "If you don't stop that, you're gonna get me all worked up, you know that? I may joke about it sometimes, but I'm completely serious here; I've felt for a long time that my life has been near-worthless. If we save this game... this world, I- er, we'll be remembered as heroes for the rest of our lives. If I die, I'm gonna die a hero... but that's not happening!"

Kite put a hand on each of his friends' shoulders. "Positive, I like it. Look, we'll get the best rewards if we head out for Advanced Windia and get all the red quests done in the mission map there. As a team, I think we can hold up okay. Let's not waste any time!"

With that, the Mudkips sprinted out of Odella and made a beeline for the game's first mission map. These were tougher than standard combat maps, but Kindon and Kite could remove the major threats until Mantine was up to speed with them.

As the trio ran down the worn-looking road, Mantine said to himself, in the most angrily defiant tone he could muster "Get ready, Eugene. You're going to suffer for what you've caused today. We can win!"

On the former hiscores, a few of the names around Mantine's began to turn red and cross out.