In the distant future of 2023, millions of players have been trapped in the VRMMORPG Sword Art Online. The only way to escape is to kill all 100 bosses. Four players have banded together to form a powerful floor-clearing guild.

Klein, the Salamander Samurai, who never thinks twice to help another.

Lisbeth, the Harmonious Blacksmith, the lewd but talented inventor.

Dragon Master Silica, a sweet and feisty girl with a pet dragon named Pina.

Kirito, the Black Swordsman, the previously antisocial hero.

These four heroes have formed a group, known as The Heroes of Aincrad. Together, they will clear the game and return to the real world.

This story is also about a girl named Asuna, a junior serial killer and Kirito is her next target. Despite helping him defeat Laughing Coffin, she thinks of nothing but his death.

When we last saw our heroes, they had just rescued a girl named Sinon from the murder guild, Laughing Coffin.

"Good morning!" said Kirito. The turquoise-haired girl stretched her arms. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at him before her eyes widened.

"Who are you? What are you doing with me?!" Sinon exclaimed. She grabbed a bow from her inventory and nocked an arrow.

"Hey hey!" said Kirito "Calm down! I didn't kidnap you!"

Sinon raised an eyebrow.

"Now, why don't you put the bow down, and we can have a nice friendly chat about our backstories,"

Sinon sighed and put her bow away.

"That's better," said Kirito, "Sinon, was it?"

"Yeah, and you're Kirito?" She looked at his nametag.

"That, I am. I'm part of a guild called the Heroes of Aincrad. So, how did you end up in Kuradeel's backpack?"

Sinon cleared her throat.

"I was... umm..." she struggled to think of an answer.

"You were minding your own business when Laughing Coffin showed up and kidnapped you?"

"Uh, yeah. How did you know?"

Kirito shrugged.

"It's kind of obvious if you think about it. Anyway, do you wanna leave now and resume whatever you were doing?"

Sinon thought for a moment.

"Did you say your guild was called The Heroes of Aincrad?"

"Uh, yeah why?"

"Are you looking for new members?"

Kirito gave her a funny look. New members? Well having more friends would be nice, but I should probably go over it with the others.

A little bit later, downstairs.

"Okay, Sinon, these are my friends!" said Kirito. They were all sitting in Agil's bar.

"Nice to meet you!" said Silica, "I'm Silica, and this is Pina!" she indicated to the enormous blue dragon outside. "Say hi, Pina!" Pina roared in their direction. Sinon winced.

"Uh, hey there, Pina,"

Lisbeth gave Sinon a good look before grinning.

"So," she said, "What kind of panties are you wearing?"

"W-what?!" Sinon blushed and made sure that her green dress was properly covering her.

Klein chuckled.

"That's Lisbeth, don't mind her. She does swing both ways though,"

"I sure hope you do!" Lisbeth said, her eyes glancing a little lower than Klein.

"Uh, my eyes are up here," he said

Sinon awkwardly chuckled.

"Oh yeah, I'm Klein!" he said.

She cleared her throat.

"So, aren't there five of you?"

"Huh?" said Klein.

"I think she's talking about Asuna," said Lisbeth.

"That was... a one-time thing," said Kirito. "Asuna isn't exactly on friendly terms with us. As in, she really wants to murder me,"

"Yikes," said Sinon. "So, what do I have to do to become a Hero of Aincrad?"

The guildmembers quietly huddled.

"Since when were we popular? We became a guild, like, three days ago," said Kirito.

"Never mind that," said Klein. "I really can't see a single reason we shouldn't let her in,"

Lisbeth rubbed her chin.

"I don't know, I haven't got a chance to touch her yet..."

"Even still," said Silica, "We should probably make sure she's on the same level as us,"

"Good idea," said Kirito. "Let's see how she does on a quest,"

"Seems good to me!" said Klein.

The four heroes turned to face Sinon.

"We have decided." said Kirito, "If you wish to join, you must bring us a rare item. The meat of a Ragout Rabbit,"

"A RAGOUT RABBIT?!" exclaimed everyone else except Sinon.

"You mean the fastest monster in the game?" said Lisbeth.

"A super rare type of bunny that can only be found on the 54th floor?" said Silica.

"Okay," said Sinon, "I'll do it,"

"WHAT?!"

"You know I was partially joking..." Kirito started, "Nevermind, I'll tag along too. I would hate to see any kind of misfortune befall you,"

"Man, you really have finished your character arc," said Klein.

"What's that about?" asked Sinon.

"Nothing," Kirito said quickly "Anyway, let's get going!"

54th floor

Asuna looked through her binoculars. A-hah! Kirito's just over there! I knew that he would try and kill the fastest entity in the game. Otherwise known as the Ragout Rabbit. Unless you count me, of course.

Wait a minute... is that a girl? And why is she holding his hand?

"Why are you holding my hand?" asked Kirito.

"It's been a while since I've been a nature walk," replied Sinon.

Kirito didn't question exactly how those two things were related.

That... that... idiot! Who does she think she is, horsing around Kirito-kun like that! Especially since he's mine! All mine!

Nevermind, if she's got a death wish, I'm perfectly willing to grant it.

Asuna grabbed a nearby vine and hopped off the branch she was standing on.

"HEY KIRITO!"

"Huh?"

Asuna swung with her foot raised and kicked Sinon in the face with the force of a swinging teenage girl.

"Sinon!" exclaimed Kirito. Asuna pulled out her knife and shoved it up to his face.

"Asuna!" He said.

"So who's first?" asked Asuna, and she approached menacingly, "You, or your girlfriend?"

"What the... Sinon's not my girlfriend! I mean..." Kirito blushed, "d-don't hurt her, she's... innocent,"

"Wow, and I thought only a girl could be a tsundere,"

"I am not a tsundere!"

"No, you're dead,"

Asuna was about to plunge her knife into Kirito's flesh, but she was stopped when something grabbed her leg,

"Get away from him!" exclaimed Sinon. She picked herself up and made Asuna trip.

"Ow..." Asuna drew her sword and Sinon drew her bow. Kirito grabbed his swords and lunged at Asuna.

Asuna used Forward Thrust on Sinon.

Asuna was stopped by Kirito.

Kirto and Sinon used Combo Attack: Moonburst Stream!

Kirito's swords glowed and he furiously smashed at Asuna, narrowly missing her every time. And Sinon launched a series of glowing white arrows at her as well. Every time she dodged an arrow, she got hit by a sword, and vice-versa.

"Now you're even doing combo attacks? You two are inseparable!" said Asuna.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" said Kirito, in between flurries of attacks.

Sinon winced but kept firing arrows.

Eventually, Asuna's health went into the red, and Kirito was about to finish her off.

"Well Asuna, it seems that you may be able to fight one person, but together, I and Sinon are unstoppable!"

Asuna's jaw dropped and shook her head.

"J-just shut up!"

"Wait, are you crying?" asked Sinon.

"N-no," said Asuna, flicking away the tiny tear on her face. She took advantage of her confusion and kicked Kirito in the chest, before dashing off.

"Ugh..." said Kirito, pulling out a healing crystal "So much for that test. Too bad we couldn't get the Ragout..."

"Oh yeah," said Sinon. She walked over to a nearby bush and reached inside.

"What are you..."

Sinon pulled out a small, fluffy mass with ears and paws. Kirito gasped when he saw it's red eye.

"What the... a Ragout Rabbit?!"

"I saw it over Asuna's shoulder, and shot it,"

"You did that... without me noticing... right over Asuna's shoulder?" asked Kirito.

"Yep,"

Kirito blinked.

"Welp, that's enough for me. Welcome to the guild."

Back at Agil's Bar/Inn/Shop.

"And that's how we got this rabbit!" said Kirito.

"I have to admit, it was quite a fun adventure," said Sinon. She smiled at Kirito. "I've always wanted to fight a bad guy,"

"Anyway, please kneel," said Kirito.

Sinon gave him a puzzled expression but obliged. Kirito took out Dark Repulsor and touched it to her shoulders.

"By the power vested in me, by having a really cool coat, I dub thee Sinon: The Lunar Huntress,"

"Woah," said Klein, "Going old school, eh Kirito?"

"Well, this is usually how this goes,"

"Thank you," said Sinon.

"Uh, you can rise now," said Kirito.

"Anyway, I'll go find a good price for this rabbit," Sinon got up and walked out the door. Once she was gone, Klein gave Kirito a grin.

"Well," he said, "Looks like someone has a way with the ladies."

Kirito didn't notice, but Silica and Lisbeth both blushed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Come on, I've seen the way you look at each other!"

"Seriously, we're just friends..."

"Right..." said Klein.

"I'm gonna go see if Asuna's tracking me right now..." Kirito awkwardly walked out the door.

Klein chuckled.

"Oh Kirito, ever the tsundere,"

"I AM NOT A TSUNDERE!" exclaimed Kirito from outside the inn.

As soon as Kirito was out of earshot, Klein turned to Lisbeth and Silica.

"Come on, tell me he doesn't have it for a certain girl who he spent the last three days watching in bed while she was unconscious,"

"He has been acting a little more friendly around the same time she showed up," Silica pointed out.

"And he wasn't triggered when I mentioned Sachi yesterday..." said Lisbeth.

"That guy is definitely up to his neck in it," Klein confirmed.

Klein: He's dizzy and he's dreamy

Silica: His head's up in the clouds

Lisbeth: His eyes are acting freaky

He's happy to see her

Silica: He sits away the days

Lisbeth: Waiting for her to wake up

Klein: You mention her around him

He giggles like a fool

Silica: He barely pulls his weapon out

During a boss battle

Klein: She's more than just a friend

Face it, she's got him down deep.

Lisbeth: Like he's turned

Silica: Or insane

Klein: His heart is in the brain

All: What has got him bothered so?

Silica: It's the code

Lisbeth: It's her body!

Klein: You can see it in his walk

Girls: Oh wait, Oh dear!

Good grief! It's clear,

All: He's in love!

He's in love

Pounding heart! Ringing Bells

Silica: This relationships gonna send us to hell!

All: He's in love!

He's in love!

Glory be!

Lord above!

Got to be, he's in love!

Elsewhere...

"So, why exactly did you want to join our guild?" asked Kirito, as he and Sinon walked down the street.

"I was looking for a guild," replied SInon, not saying anything else.

Meanwhile, Asuna was still spying on the couple from a nearby rooftop.

"That stupid girl won't leave him alone! And they even do combo attacks together," she said to herself, "No... it can't be. Then again..."