Authors Notes: Hello and welcome to my story. Now, information, this is my first so don't expect too much from it and this is a Sword Art Online Fanfic so disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online please support this official release and the upcoming seasons blah blah blah and yeah you get it. Okay first of all this is a self-insert, now I know what you're thinking it's one of these Kirito gets sidelined things, I get the dual wielding and I get the haram. First of all no so we're sticking to canon but the only thing I'll add into this 'new' sword art online is the bow and arrow, and second of all I didn't say I could take one of the haram members away did I? Mwahahahaa! Anyways I would appreciate the help if you showed some criticism but HEALTHY criticism so no badmouthing me ok? And also ITALICS are usually the thoughts of my character unless specified. Plus anyways I might just drop this story and just go with the one I mentioned a while ago

Chapter 1: The First Day of Survival

Sword Art Online: The Rogue Hunter

November 6th, 2022 _

I was sitting on my chair reading a small manual on the box I had next to me. It was my brand new tech the NerveGear, I was so giddy just by looking at the thing I was excited about it but before I had gone to start setting it up, I went downstairs to feed my dog, Hunter and let him out of the house. I rubbed my dog's neck as it started to fall to the ground and enjoy the time we had with each other. I smiled before letting him eat his food and petting him one last time before letting him roam outside to do his business. I then went to wash my hands then started to set up my new NerveGear.

It was around 12:30 after I set it up. I read online that Sword Art Online was going to start at around 1 o'clock, I wasn't really sure why it was supposed to be at that time but I realized that maybe it was a good choice by the devs who wanted to start the game off as I was starting to get hungry. After a big lunch enough to last me until dinner I was told to calibrate myself by patting my whole body, I started wondering why we were supposed to do this because wasn't only our consciousness supposed to be transported into the game? I chose to ignore that and continue the process.

My mind slowly started to go blank and time seemed to slow down as I thought about what brought me to this point. I have been a gamer all my life with some sports on the side to keep fit of course, such as archery and soccer, plus a hobby of trying to come up with random moves with knives it wasn't effective but I did learn how to connect my moves and flow smoothly between my slashes, I kept rambling on in my head on memories for a while.

The time came when we had to say two words and those were the words that would change the lives of all the people who would've said them in that exact moment. "LINK START!" Pillars of colors started coming at me at first it looked like I was falling but then the things necessary for me to proceed such as my 5 senses were ticked off one by one in the affirmative. I eventually came to the 'customization menu' it asked whether I was male or female I was thinking about it trolling others in a female persona but I quickly decided against that and chose to pick male and take a quick view at… myself? Wow… so that's what the calibrations were for… cool… I just decided for a quick hair style change along with a dye for my hair making it jet black from my natural brown and blonde-ish color that it had. That was about it I looked good enough not amazing but well enough for the average male. It finally asked me to make a name for my 'Avatar' so I quickly thought of one coming to the conclusion that the name Athlan was suitable and had a good ring to it. It also had a small part of my name within it, and with my selection finished I chose accept and I went on to the world of SAO.

Eventually I arrived in the middle of this town square wearing the starting clothes which were a basic leather tunic along with a shirt of randomized color I fortunately got dark red my favorite color to match up with the nice and dark black, I got excited when I thought of the equipment I would receive and the future and what it would look like, I shook my head and headed off to the first shopkeeper to get myself a starting dagger and hopefully a nice long bow. When I checked there was no bow which saddened me at first but then I thought of the MMORPG series that required you to evolve to get new and better weapons but considering that they at least had a dagger suited my minimal needs. I was choosing to be an AGI and STR build but the former being the most devoted to. I took the chance to spread out the two skill points given to us at the start doing 'One-Handed Dagger' and 'Blade Throwing` to be able to use dagger sword skills and use throwing knives and picks, respectively.

After getting most of what I needed which were a basic dagger and also a bunch of throwing picks. I headed out and made sure that I was ready for the boss fight that I assume should happen in about one week depending on my progress, the progress of the players, and coordination between them but I was to find out that it would not take a week but a month.

I was out in the field where the starter mobs usually spawn I didn't see a lot of people around very few getting some grinding in I managed to get a hand of the sword skills and how to activate them.

I spotted a Frenzy Boar just a few meters ahead I immediately ran towards it dagger in front preparing to thrust at the animal. I aimed for center of mass going for where the heart was located, slowly my dagger had a faint glow saying something was charging up. When I closed in for the kill my dagger was glowing a dark red and then I unleashed a sword skill that I didn't know I had and the dagger plunged deep into the Frenzy Boar until the hilt. The boar's health quickly dropped then the Boar shuddered and shattered into a thousand little crystals. I got the results screen it was basically my materials received and the EXP and the currency of this world called col which I received a low amount of considering that most of the weapons on this floor were pretty cheap.

"Well I best get back to it there won't be much time until a massive amount of players will start venturing out of The Town of Beginnings to get most of the monster fields out here."

Later on while practicing I saw two people one slightly shorter than the other and the other tall and look like a samurai from the olden times. It seemed like the shorter one was teaching the possibly older and taller one how to activate sword skills. I was just watching them from a distance a few meters away from them behind a tree I thought "Maybe if I observe these two I might be able to learn a thing or two…" While I was watching them I had learned a thing or two from the shorter one which was that timing is key for executing most of the skills which let you feel it charge up then explode forward attacking your target which would cause a lot of damage. "I wonder how that would work for ranged weapons such as bows or knives…"

Eventually the shorter player seemed to notice my presence. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards my location. "Step out now and tell me your intentions before you get hurt!" I was surprised he managed to find my exact location but now I got caught I couldn't do anything so I stepped out to greet the two players.

I said very quickly with my hands up "Woah! Woah! No need to be alarmed I was just observing you… -erk I mean I was try to learn things from you by observing t-the things you were doing! That didn't come out right!" The taller samurai seemed to be much more outgoing and friendly when he said "Oh was that all? I thought you were planning to attack us. Thankfully not, now I would like to invite you if you wanted to learn from mister Kirito here." 'Wow that quickly? This guy seems to be the type to be a type of guy who would befriend anyone…' I thought. The shorter one known as Kirito replied "Wait, what why did you invite him Klein?" The taller samurai-like man known as Klein said "Hey the more the merrier right?" Kirito sighed but nodded his head eventually.

Klein looked at me as if asking once more to join them and I hesitantly nodded. Kirito clearly still suspicious put his sword back in his scabbard and sighed "Well if you were here to learn we might as well hop to it before it gets dark, let's go." As he walked of I thanked Klein for helping me out he replied. "No problem just be sure to repay me, virtually that is." I laughed and agreed to what he said with a smile and continued to follow Kirito throughout the rest of the day.

Eventually we ended up next to a cliff while the sun was setting and enjoying the view that the game provided us. "I can't believe that were still in a game right now it all looks so life-like." Klein said, Kirito and I made a small sound as an affirmative. "Oh wait, I never did ask for your name did I? I don't believe I did…" I thought '... hmm oh yeah he hadn't ask for my name…" I said "Well you don't have to ask for my name again. My name is Athlan, I'm a complete newbie to VR games but I did have some Archery training in real life as well as some other experience to help me out in-game so I should be fine especially since I usually play solo in most MMORPGs." Kirito definitely muttered something but I was out of earshot. Then I asked "Now that I've been taught how to play, let me ask a question?" they both nodded 'good… I needed some reassurance didn't want to seem rude' "Okay good, is Kirito a Beta Tester? No harm done right?" Kirito then immediately replied "Yes I am a Beta Tester… If I wasn't going to say anything Klein was going to say something." Klein then grunted in affirmative. I laughed at the two for a small bit while we started talking for a while. I stared back at the crimson sky and admired the beauty that this game had offered us and the rest of the ten thousand players in the game.

Klein soon stands up and says "Hey… I have to go meet some of my buddies from another game we played together, I don't know what you two will be up to, but if you wanted to you could friend them, then hang out with us for a little while." At first I was surprised he even invited us, Kirito I understand but why me? Not that I would accept his offer I wanted to have some freedom during the start of this game before I would join or even create a group that I would stay with for a while or maybe even permanently which never crossed my mind throughout my whole stay in Aincrad.

I said in reply to the offer "I would like to friend you guys if I had the chance but that is pretty much it, I'll be playing solo throughout my time out there in the fields. I also wouldn't want to weigh you guys all down, but thanks for the offer." Kirito also declined the offer as well.

Klein then said "Oh that's okay no pressure I can introduce them to both of you next time. Oh yeah, Kirito one of these days I'm going to pay you back for all the help today. Well virtually that is… thanks for everything really…"

Kirito looked shocked at the amount of gratitude he was receiving from Klein and said "It's not a problem really, I mean it."

"Well either way I'll still thank you for this day. Really, and Athlan it was nice meeting you." Klein then held out his hand then Kirito and I shook it I felt the spirit of this man which said that he would fight until the end for his friends a characteristic that I would come to like about this guy. "Well I best be off." He walked off

Kirito said to the both of us. "Hey if there's anything you two need to know or need help on in the future just message me okay?"

"Yep, will do and also before I forget would you two like to become my first friends in this game? … I wouldn't mind if you would decline it." I sent both Klein and Kirito a friend request and they both received a prompt saying 'Yes' or 'No'. They both pressed yes and officially to the system we were considered friends. I was kinda glad they did, I always had a problem when making new friends.

"There we go now we are all officially buddies." Klein said "Well see you all later I have to log out." He walked off.

Kirito and I turned back to face the cliff of the plateau that we were standing on before a minute later we both heard Klein's voice again. "Huh?" "Hey do you guys have same issue I have? I can't seem to find the log out button anywhere."

Kirito said while checking his own menu "It should be in your main menu or your options it should say 'Log out'… eh? Yeah you're right it's not there must be some sort of glitch, hey Athlan are you having the same problem as well?" I checked my own menu and confirmed that even I had this 'glitch' on my menu.

"I bet the devs are freaking out right now." said Klein

"You will too, look its 5:25 didn't you say the pizza was coming at 5:30?" said Kirito. Klein realized this as well and started to panic. "Ack! Really!? Oh no my Teriyaki Mayo Pizza and Ginger Ale!"

I asked "Haven't you guys tried contacting the Game Master or GM?"

Klein replied "I already have but He's not picking up. Is there some other way to log out?"

Kirito said "There is no other way to log out from SAO other than the log out option in the menu."

Klein started to jump around doing poses and shouting random phrases that he thinks would log him out but other than that it was to no avail. Kirito said "Forget it, doing that won't help our situation once you're hooked up to the NerveGear it will intercept the signals from our brains and send it to the machine so that what we move in the virtual world."

I added "The only other option to log out is for someone to pull off the NerveGear from our heads which will sever the connection between the signals from our brain and the NerveGear's microwave signals." Klein said "So what we wait until this bug is fixed or until someone ejects us from the game? Okay then so what about you two? I live alone.

I said "I live with my sister so I can wait for her to pull me out of the game." Kirito said "I live my mother and sister". Klein immediately asked us both "Wait you both have sisters? How old are they!?" Kirito and I both replied "Sorry my sister is a sporty type of girl she wouldn't be into you." Klein was definitely desperate "So what I don't care I still wa-" Klein was interrupted as Kirito slammed his knee into his nether region along with me hitting him square in the face.

Klein flew backwards tears in his eyes with a bruised face and a probably dysfunctional nether region. Although I did hit him that didn't stop me from laughing at him. He said "Ou- Oh wait getting kneed in the groin doesn't hurt" I was slightly saddened that it didn't hurt him that much but I at least I know that I wouldn't get hurt if the same happened to me. Although after the death game had started the pain that was being reduced or absorbed by the system had been removed and so if you got hit later on you would feel the full force of the hit, which was something that we had to get used too if we wanted to survive.

"Hey get serious don't you think it's weird that the devs haven't made any sort of announcement about this bug in the system?" said Kirito. "I was actually wondering about that myself but maybe it will be a public announcement given by the GMs" I replied.

Then the ringing of bells could be heard in the distance all of us looked in the direction of the Town of Beginnings and then we all stood still for a moment until our vision slowly faded to white. When my vision cleared up I found myself back in the town plaza right next to the avatars of Kirito and Klein. I asked "Hey guys what just happened why are we back here?" Kirito replied "Someone forced a teleport on us." More and more people started showing up I was getting claustrophobic I hate being near a large amount of people it was why I usually tended to stick solo. Then someone shouted "Hey look up there!" I looked into the sky and there was a red hexagon stating 'WARNING' and sometimes switching to 'system announcement' "I think they'll talk about the bug now." I thought

Klein said "Hey guys what the hell is going on?" The red hexagon then started to cover the entire sky red making the light around me glow red. Then slowly red liquid resembling blood poured out from the hexagon slowly forming a hooded figure with some coming out of the darkness within.

The figure spoke loud and audible "Attention Players and Welcome to My World" I immediately assumed this was Kayaba himself considering that he state that this was 'His' world. Then the Figure Stated "I am Kayaba Akihiko and as of this moment I am in complete control over this world." "I am sure most of you by now have noticed an item missing from your main menus – The Log Out button." I was waiting for him so say that 'this is being addressed' or 'This issue will be fixed soon' but… "Let me assure you all. This is not a defect, I repeat, this is not a defect. This is simply how sword art online was meant to be." I felt the need to move but the shock from hearing what he said 'This is not a defect' I was very, very worried what was going to happen next. I looked to my right and saw that Kirito's face was pale white, and Klein with his mouth wide open as he said "He's got to be kidding right?" Other players I heard in the background echoed his thoughts.

Kayaba then said: Players you cannot log yourself out of SAO, and outside interference will not happen. If anyone tries to remove the NerveGear from your head the NerveGear will dispatch a deadly microwave signal that will instantly fry your brain."

"He's got to be joking right Kirito?" said Klein and Kirito replied "He's not if the safety's switched of the transmitter can literally fry your brain like a microwave and don't even count on removing the power supply the NerveGear has an internal battery attached to itself." I saw Klein as he seemed completely demoralized from what he just heard. "This is completely insane" He said.

Kayaba continued "Despite my warnings families and friends of 213 players have taken off the NerveGear from their heads an unfortunate decision I might add. So as a result 213 players from this game have been vanquished and shall never return to neither the real world nor the virtual one."

I gasped "213!? Why? That's too many especially since we haven't gotten started."

Klein shook his head "That's too many… I don't believe it."

Screens started appearing around Kayaba as he stated "As you can see the media has 24/7 coverage of the situation as well as the 213 unfortunate deaths. At this point its safe to assume that the possibility of your NerveGear being removed have pretty much been extinguished. I hope that this brings you all a little comfort as you try to complete the game."

That was the first time I heard that we had to clear the game I knew that during the Beta Test they only made it to the tenth floor, and that information from the Beta may very well be unreliable. My thoughts were interrupted as Kayaba mentioned "It's important for all of you to remember this: There is no longer a way to revive a player in this game so bear in mind. If your HP drops to zero your avatar will be deleted from the system forever and simultaneously the NerveGear shall destroy your brain."

I realized I had held a breath for so long I was almost suffocating I let out a breath of terror. I realized that what I just heard was true and when it finally dawned on me I got scared, I felt like I wanted to run, but something inside me said to stay, fight and survive, something so wild and fiery burned inside of me, a phoenix that rises from the ashes. I looked around and saw that Kirito had the same resolve to fight and survive this death game.

Kayaba pulled out a holographic image of Aincrad and a red dot appeared and he pointed at it while continuing to state "Make your way through each dungeon and defeat the Floor Boss, and you will advance to the next level. Defeat the final boss of the 100th floor, and you will clear the game."

Most of the players were shouting "How can we believe you!?" and "What do you mean clear the game!?" I honestly was amazed at how stupid some of the comments were. Klein said "Clear all one hundred floors!? That's impossible! The beta testers only made it to one-tenth of the way!"

Kayaba continued to say "Well last but not least, I've left a gift for all of you in your item storage. Please, have a look. Sure enough there it was the item's name was 'Hand Mirror' I selected it and it spawned in my hand I took a look at my avatar's face but then I was engulfed in a bright white light. I panicked, I didn't know what was going on until my vision returned and I got a good look at... my face? "Oh… shit…" I muttered under my breath. I was confused at this point then I suddenly heard.

"Is that you, Klein?"

"Is that you, Kirito?"

I felt slightly left out but I guess it made sense they knew each other a bit longer than they've known me. Not that I cared the loneliness is something I've gotten used to already but still trying to prevent. For what it's worth I smiled knowing that they cared for each other atleast.

"But… How?"

Kirito said "The scan. There's a high-density signal device inside the NerveGear rig. It can see what my face looks like, but how's it know my height and body type?

Klein replied. "When you first put the NerveGear on, it had to do this... calibration thing." He continued as he started patting himself. "It asked you to touch your body all over like this, remember?"

"Oh yeah you're right makes sense now!" said Kirito

"But why would somebody do this? What's the point!?" Asked Klein

I pointed at the hooded figure and said "I think he's about to tell us."

They both looked at me then looked at the hooded figure emitting steam from the darkness within.

The hooded figure then stated "Right now, you are probably wondering why. Why would Akihiko Kayaba, developer of Sword Art Online and NerveGear, do this? Ultimately, my goal was a simple one. The reason I created Sword Art Online was to control the fate of a world of my design." I heard Kirito say something but I ignored it. "As you can see, I have achieved my goal. This marks the end of the tutorial and the official launch of Sword Art Online. Players, I wish you the best of luck." After Kayaba finished speaking he disappeared and the center of the town was silent.

I heard the shattering of glass probably from someone dropping his or her mirror on the ground. Then screams erupted from the gigantic crowd in the plaza. I almost didn't notice that Kirito and Klein had sprinted of in some random direction. I decided to follow them for the sake of my own life and my own curiosity. I arrived in a dark alleyway and saw two player probably them. What seems to be Kirito looked over who I think was Klein's shoulder and greeted me.

"Ah Athlan good to see we didn't lose you during the panic."

I replied "Getting out of there was for the best. I'm pretty sure the Brave ones will start to grind most of the mobs outside of this village so I was thinking of moving on to another one to prevent getting swarmed. Plus, I hate being around too many people and being in physical contact with them, I just get the chills or something.

Kirito then said to Klein "See Klein even Athlan has got the same idea. I want to go to the next village and I want both of you to come with me." Klein was clearly confused. "If what he said is true, and I think it is, the only way we're going to survive in here is by making ourselves as strong as possible. In an MMORPG, the money you can earn... the EXP... Once the game starts up, there's only so much of that stuff to go around. Look, the fields around the Town of Beginnings are going to be hunted clean soon. If we head to the next village now, we'll have an easier time collecting cash and points. Don't worry, I know all the paths and places we should avoid. Even if I'm level one, I can get there easy."

Klein seemed to get the message and said "Thanks, but... you know those friends of mine I was telling you about... we stood in line for a whole night to buy this, and... They're back at the Plaza, somewhere... and I can't leave 'em. Sorry. Can't ask a guy I just met to risk his life for a bunch of strangers, can I? So, don't worry about me. Get your ass to the next village. I'll be fine! Last game I played, I ran a guild, so I'm more than prepared. And with all the stuff you taught me, I'll get by, no sweat!"

Kirito seemed surprised that Klein would go so far just to protect his friends. As I watched, I felt a lot of respect for Klein going this far to help his buddies out. He was someone in the Future that I could rely on. Kirito then turned to me and asked. "Do you want to come with me?"

I accepted his proposal and he said "Thanks, just follow my lead and we should be able to get to the next village by the end of the day."

"Hey Klein if you get into trouble just message me okay?" said Kirito as he started to rundown the alleyway with me in tow.

Klein answered in affirmative and added "Kirito! I..." Kirito stopped and turned around I was a bit father than he was but I turned as well. "Hey... Kirito. Um, you look better like this. Way cooler than your avatar. You too Athlan I didn't know you were foreign you better tell me about it sometime." I was slighty annoyed by that but ignored it. I was not foreign, just a mix of blood.

Kirito replied "Yeah, and I think that scruffy face fits you ten times better, too."

I replied "Yeah, sure, I'll tell you about it someday."

Kirito started to run down the alleyway once more before he turned around one last time to see that Klein was no longer there. I have a feeling that he felt guilty about leaving the guy. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the same but I think he's taking it harder on himself than he should be.

As we exited the town I found myself lagging behind him from time to time before I would catch up again. It looked like he was running away from the guilt that was slowly catching up to him. I'm pretty sure it'll hit him the moment we arrive in the next village.

Suddenly, two wolves spawned on the path we were headed on. Kirito unsheathed his sword and I did the same with my dagger and throwing picks. I saw Kirito easily kill the first wolf, and I was about to the same with mine.

I aimed my throwing picks and pulled back with my arm, the picks then started to glow a pale blue and then I let go of two picks and they both hit the eyes of the Wolf which cried out in pain. I charged with my dagger at the ready to finish the job. I stabbed the wolf in the neck and then it started to glow and was about to shatter to pieces I jumped over the wolf while pulling my dagger out which with the momentum of my leap sent the wolf flying forward in the air as it shattered into pieces and died dropping both of my throwing picks which I picked up from the ground while recovering from my leap. I continued to run with Kirito to the next village.

"I will not be conquered by this game!"

"I will Live on to Hunt my Prey"

I raised my dagger and pointed it towards the sky.

"And my prey is you! Kayaba Akihiko! I'll hunt you down! And finish you off myself!"

There! That's my first chapter to my story that I'll most likely continue to write as long as nothing happens to me or my schedule. My schedule for uploading will be at least one every other week or once a week I don't know but writing something like this is going to be a challenge and will occupy my time so please forgive me if I deviate from the schedule thanks!

Reminder: This is my first story, so this will most likely get better over time but I'm not exactly sure.

Next is some points I need to make

Canon is sacred I will not deviate.

That doesn't mean I can't take one of the Harem members i.e. Lisbeth, Silica, Sinon, Leafa, etc you get the point or even the mysterious Argo which is a favorite of mine from the SAO games and such because of her charm and honor.

This should be obvious but this is a self-insert and the character is modeled after me, some facts here may be slight changes from real life just to make sure I don't give personal info, I'm sure you all understand. There will obviously be Characters flaws with my character to make the narrative go smoothly and to give some depth to my character.

I've only seen the Anime so I'm basing my knowledge on that. If you point something out in the future I'll keep it in mind.

This story will only extend to the Aincrad Arc if I find that a lot of you guys like this then I'll continue to the next Arcs as well.

This story will be written in First Person unless I forget then enjoy some Third Person.

That should be most of what I need to address any question PM me and I'll talk to you about it.