Author's Note: Here is a little side project of mine. My other stories I'm sadly having writers block. One of them I do have a completed chapter I'm just not liking the way it came out. So going back and correcting it and reworking it is being a hassle. I will work on it as fast as I can to get it out for you guys that follow that story.
This is my first T rated story I've written so please let me know if I put in something that would be considered M. I know the general things that would make something T vs. M ratings. I do use lite language in here and I probably will in the future. If the words I use are considered more than what would be in something T or PG-13 rated please let me know so I can quickly correct the chapter. Thanks and hope you enjoy.
Lastly I don't own anything that is related to Sword Art Online. The only thing I claim are the OC's in my story.
Today was the launch day of Sword Art Online. I couldn't have been more excited as I was one of the one thousand people that were able to beta test the game. In just one hour I will be able to go online along with the other people in the ten thousand of us that have the game on launch day. Currently I'm just a normal fifteen year old boy that can't get enough of his video games. Everyday I would play something, though SAO would be my first real MMO I have actually played. In the past I have played game of the Elder Scroll series and even the Bloodborne series that had an MMO-esk aspect to them. Yes I also know they are quite old games for our time but hey I like some of the older games.
Though I am surprised I even managed to snag a copy of this game I mean I hardly even tried. Sure I loved the beta but I wasn't planning on standing in line for days to get this game. Legit I had just walked into some hole in the wall game shop by my parents house, just hoping on the outside chance they would have a copy of the game for me to download. By my luck they had one last copy. So yeah I lucked out, I guess. Now looking back I kind wish I wasn't lucky that day to get the game. Though I wouldn't had met my closest friends if I hadn't received a copy.
My online name is Vlad. Yes it isn't anything to damn original but hey I like it. My avatar has white hair, ocean blue eyes, tan complexion. Real life I have black hair and black eyes but I also have tan skin. In game I am also a male if you didn't know by my avatar name. I mean I'm not one of those guys who like to play as a chick in a game. I mean I can maybe see in a third person game but anyway I digress. My hair in game, like in real life is shoulder length that comes across my face leaving my only my left eye open. Yes I know it sounds like some gothic or punk hairstyle but it's just the way I like it.
Well for this game I think I'm going to go the archer route. I know there is no magic in the game, which I did find a little strange but whatever. In the beta I was ranked in the top three in archery. As a swordsman I was also up high but no where near this one kid, hmmm his online name was… ahh Kirito. That's it, I do hope I meat him online this time around. Though no one came close to his swordsmanship. He was ranked first as a swordsman and also got to the highest floor. I believe it was floor ten and he did this all as a solo player. Yes I played solo but I could only make it to floor eight before the beta shut. If we paired up, I wonder how far we could have gotten. Hmm lets see if we meet.
Well it appears to be time for the game to launch. Everyone wish me luck. Quickly I put my helmet on. One more minute. One more. Come onnnnn and booom. There we go, "Link Start" With that I felt my eyes shut as my VR headset launch me into the virtual world of Aincard, in Sword Art Online. I loaded in and oh my god the world is busy but also beautiful. Quickly I began to look around but then I take off to the first areas to start to farm for experience gotta get a thousand Cor and two levels to get my first bow and twenty arrows. The first bow is a simple junky longbow and the arrows are basically twigs. It's the only bow and arrows you can get on this floor though.
After a couple of hours I have the requirements needed to get my bow. Quickly I ran to the shops and purchased my weapon and then I headed back out to farm my brains out. On the way back out I saw two players slaying some boars. It looks like the one with black hair is teaching the red headed one the basics of the combat system with a sword. You know I may not be that experience in these kind of game but it is nice to see things like that. It reminds me of when I first logged in and someone helped me out in the beta. Now lets check my abilities. Hmmm… Ok at level five with a bow I unlock the ability to fire two arrows at once and at twenty five I can unlock firing three arrows at once. If I farm fast enough I should hopefully be level fifteen overall by the time I get to the first boss.
After a few more hours I was forced teleported to the center of the starting town. "Oh what is it now?" I hissed out.
"Hello everyone as some may have noticed. In the menu screen there isn't a log out button. That is because I the creator of the game built it that way. Everyone here is trapped until all a hundred floors are cleared. Now if you die in this you will die in the real world. If the helmet that you are wearing in the real world is tampered with then you will die." Oh shit he's right, there are pieces in the back of the helmet that if the safety is disabled could shock you, frying your mind. "Now everyone I have put a item in your inventory, if you could be so kind and pull it out that would be nice." Everyone compiled and all it was, was a simple mirror. Quickly though I felt a change happen to my body. It wasn't much as my avatar was my actual hight but I felt my hair and eyes change colors. I can't described what it felt like or how I did, all I can say is that I did. What I did realize is that my avatar or me I guess now, changed to what I looked in the real world.
"Well this should be interesting to say the least." Was literally all I can whisper to myself. I began to look around and see the others change. Shortly I began to hear people complain about things. Stuff like, 'you're not a girl', or 'you're not a certain age', or 'you're not such and such hight'. Honestly it was like how dumb could people be? Why on earth would you look like, tell information about your real self or even have your real name for your avatar? Shortly though I noticed a black hair boy take off and followed by a red hair guy. I decided to follow suit. That is when I realized this boy or guy what ever you call him is none other that Kirito. "Hey Kirito can I just tag along with you until we get passed the first boss. Oh I forgot to tell you my name, it's Vlad."
He looked at me like he was thinking and then his look turned to one that seemed recognized me. Which was confirmed when he spoke. "Oh you're Vlad, that archer that was miles above everyone in the beta." I nodded but wouldn't put what he said that way but I am usually pretty modest. "Hmm I like to fly solo so I don't know."
I spoke again. "I'm not saying we need to friend each other or even be in a party if you don't want. I know from the beta you like to fly solo and so do I but I think for the first floor going together wouldn't be to terrible of an idea. Afterwards we can decide on what to do. This 'partnership' if you wanna call it that, will just be for helping in grinding levels on this floor as of now. Nothing more and nothing less. That is if you are ok with that."
He didn't respond for a while beginning to pounder on what I was saying. "Fine, I can work with that. This a professional partnership, strictly for grinding levels to get to the boss. Once we beat the boss the partnership is open for reconsideration for the next floor."
"That works perfectly for me."
The red haired guy next to me began to speak now. "Hey Kirito, I can't go. I have friends that are still in the middle of everyone back there and I can't just leave them like that. I wish you two the best of luck and please don't die as I wish to see you in the future."
"That's fine, Klein but you better not die on me either. Vlad, lets go." With that the two of us turn and went and the red head turned the other way and did the same. I wish everyone the best of luck in this game. May as many people as possible survive to the very end.
It has been two months since this death game began and the first floor has yet to be cleared. After the first month two thousand people have died. Whether that be by suicide or suicide attempts in leveling up or taking on the boss. Most though were from people jumping over the railing and out of the world. For Kirito and I though we had managed to farm up a crap ton. I am level fifteen in archery so, yay, I can fire two arrows at once if I want. I was able to upgrade my arrows on this floor, so they are now a little stronger than twigs but not by much. Kirito is about the same with his sword. I'm only level five with my sword. I don't mind a sword but I think I'm going to switch to a short sword maybe even a long dagger. Not to sure yet but the normal sword that Kirito is using isn't my style for when I don't use my bow.
Man though do I wish the bow I had when I was in the beta. What I'd give for that monster. Now our clothing attire has changed. Kirito has kept with a all black look. While I have gone for a white attire. It is nice that this is a game and the clothing dousing really get dirty. I'm wearing a white zip up sweatshirt. The zipper is i black along with the trim. It has a high collar and but no hood sadly. I have white jeans and white sneakers. I painted my bow white along with my quiver. The strap on it though I keep as black. On my hands I wore white glovers. On my right hand though I had my ring and pinkie finger exposed. Really what I wore was nothing fancy but was a slight flashy as white did stick out.
Today Kirito and I are going to a meeting of a bunch of people to discuss how we plan to defeat the boss and progress in the floor number. As we sat down a girl with a red cape sat on the left side of Kirito, about ten feet over. The man in the middle began to speak. I had seen him before in the beta test. He's trying to help the new comers. The guy running this meeting name is Diavel and well he's relatively cool. I'm glad to see people with our experience from the beta trying to help the new comers that are trapped in here with us.
The person on Kirito's left seemed like she had some sort of idea of what they were doing. I couldn't see her weapon, so it could be anything. The man in from of us said we should get in group of six. "Kirito, hey I know we're a group but you want to ask the person next to us. We could possibly need another person and well everyone else is paired up. Anymore than one or two max, would be way to big of group." Some guy with spiky hair came up and started complaining about how the beta testers haven't been helping at all and should apologize to everyone that is alive for everyone that had died. Claiming it to the beta testers fault for not helping. I could only shake my head at his nonsense. If only he knew how much we have been helping. Yes we have taken a good amount of the tougher monsters but that was for the safety for the new players that were trying to fight monsters that were to far above their skill level. Some people had actually died. Also there was a tutorial book, that gave information about everything in the game and have been getting updated daily. Over three quarter of those updates come from us, beta testers. Also those booklets were given out by us, beta testers.
A larger black male figure stood up behind the guy complaining. Then he retorted the spiky hair fellow and said everything on how the beta testers are actually helping us. Though he only mentioned the stuff about the booklet that was given out. It was enough to shut everyone up. While this was going on I was talking to Kirito. It was about asking the figure to his left to join us for this fight. He was reluctant but finally gave in. He sighed, "Fine, Vlad." Then quickly he slid over. "Miss, hi, I was wondering if you would like to join a party with my partner, over there, and I?" Oh yeah Kirito and I did end up forming a party after the first month.
"Sure" That was all she said and Kirito didn't even respond. No name's were shared only thing that was done after her response was a party invite. She quickly accepted and left right as the guy said we are to meat in the center of town at ten the next morning. Afterwards we left and Kirito and I split up. I went my way and he went his. Over the past two months we have gotten closer. We are definitely acquaintances but we are not friends. Our agreement was that our relationship was to be kept professional and that is what is has been.
The sun had finally set as it had approached eight o'clock. The town square was so busy and alive. There were people hanging out, having a party and so much more. They all looked so happy. I knew I could get happy but I don't know. I just can't seem to make a smile especially because I know a good amount of those people are coming with us tomorrow. Then a good amount of those people are under level and well are probably not going to make. They're acting like there isn't a care in the world and that they worried about tomorrow. They're hanging with friends and possibly family. Some will never see their friends and loved ones again too. As I see this I began to think again. I don't think I've smiled once since the announcement was made on the opening day. "I will do my best to keep as many of you guys alive as possible tomorrow so that you can return to your friends and loved ones. That's a promise." I whispered to myself.
As I began to walk more I noticed someone is tailing me. Why would someone be following me? The person is wearing a dark cloak, the hood is up so it covers the person's face. It is also big enough so I can't tell the gender of the person. Quickly I run a few blocks before I darted into an ally. As soon as the person passed where I was hidden I grab their arm and pull them into the ally. I put one of my left forearm against their neck and my right hand over there mouth. Then I press them into the wall of a building to keep them still. "So when I move my hand away from your mouth, you gonna yell?" The persons shakes there head to the side. "Good. You yell though, I'll tie you up and leave you in a place that no one can find you for a few days." Then she nods. "Ok who are you and why are you following me?"
The person in front of me took off her hood. Thus show that this person was a female. She had blond hair that was in a pony tail that went down to her shoulders. Also though she had bang that she can use to cover her an eye. Her eyes are an ocean blue. Honestly her eyes are very beautiful to look into. She had a more pale complexion compared to me. She wasn't that sickly white color though. "I… I... I'm Seras. I was following you because you seem to know what you are doing in this game. I'm new to these kind of games so I was coming to see if I can join you. As I slowly began to follow you though I began to lose my nerve to ask you. I know that I can't offer you much in terms of combat at the moment. I'm only level five with a bow and two with a sword. But I promise that I will work my butt off if you allow me to be in a group with you."
To say I'm baffled is an understatement. I mean this girl, who I will say is quite beautiful, has been following. Only to ask me if she can be able to… well, follow me and entail learn from being with me. The question now though how would Kirito feel about this? I know he isn't one for groups. Our duo will probably end after the boss battle but for now though I don't know if he will be ok with it. But I'm not ok with leaving someone who is weak to fend for themselves in this world. It's to dangerous and could lead to their death. You know what Screw it. "Seras, fine you can tag along with me. I'm with two others, though one of them, the one I was initially with, isn't one for working in groups. So he may not like this initially so just be cool and I'll make him be ok with it. Got it?"
With a nod she began to speak. "Thank you. Thank you, my master." Ok that is just creepy. Please don't call me your master.
"Umm Seras."
"Yes Master?" I cringe again at her calling me her master.
"Please don't call me, 'Master.' It makes me feel… strange. Yes, strange would be the right word. Just call me... just call me by my name, Vlad."
She then shakes her head. God I know where this is going. "No, I will and already do owe you my life for allowing me to come, follow and learn from you. So it is only fair that I will call you Master."
"Even if I order you as… your… Master not to call me that. You still won't follow that one order, correct?"
"Yes my Master that is correct. Though I will follow any other order you give me." I just give a sweat drop expression then drop my head holding it in my hands as I shake it. This is going to be one long game.
"Fine. Ok, come on we're heading by to the hotel we are staying in. You can get a room there. Be up and read by eight so our group can fully get to know each other. At ten tomorrow we are meeting in the center of town to join a bunch of others to take on the boss. Understand?"
"Yes Master." I cringe yet again at that. This is going to be one long partnership with her, no matter how long it last. Ugh why couldn't she just call me by my name? Would that have been to easy to want? Now I feel like some freak. Please let this phase of our relationship past quickly. That's all I can hope full. Lastly I sigh as I look up to the night sky one last time before I head into the hotel.