AN: This story will have a few things to know to help with the story at the beginning, most of these are used throughout the chapters. So if you don't remember what they mean then refer to a previous chapter or ask me in a PM :)

November 6th 2022 – All 10,000 players logged into Sword Art Online servers and learn of their new prison.

December 4th 2022 – 1st floor boss is finally defeated. The players hope is renewed., however 2,000 people have already died.

February 2023 – 25th floor is cleared. Over half of the Aincrad Liberation Squad members are decimated. ALS leaves the front lines.

Words to know:

Niisan – Big brother

Baka – Idiot or stupid

Honorifics to know:

Chan - Mainly used for females, usually for younger females. Names are usually shortened.

Kun – Used for male friends and relatives.

Other Notes:

Despite my want to use honorifics, most players don't call each other with them inside of games. Players typically just say each other's username. Some make an exception to that however.

Ka-chan – pronouned Kay-chan


March 16th 2023 – 17th Floor Towncenter

A little under six months had past since the day ten thousand players, looking for a new fun experience, became prisioners in a mans twisted idea of fun. Everyone handled the situation differently. Some killed themselves, some rushed the game causing them to die, but the majority held true. They stayed with and played the game as it was meant to be. And two of those characters were now on the seventeenth floor on a mission... well sort of.

"There aren't many shops on this floor Niisan. And the ones that are here aren't that usefull to us." A small girl named Kaori said. She was traveling in a now acustomed position, riding on the man's shoulders, the one she called her big brother. Kaori was no more than five feet tall and looked like she was about twelve or thirteen. She wore a full suit of smooth heavy armor on that honestly looked pretty funny, considering her size. Her jade tinted breast plate had a solid silver skull on the back of it. She wore a matching set of silver gauntlets and boots that both had a jade colored star on the top of them. Her blond, almost white, hair was in a single pony tail diagonally behind her head and lead about half way down her back. But the most unique thing about her, no doubt about it, were her eyes. The left, a strong jade iris, and the right, a silver iris.

"There's a good one around here that an old friend of mine recently opened. He chose this floor because of the lack of stores. 'Better buisiness' he said." The man, Aiden, replied to her with a smile. He was tall, probably around 6'2 and in his mid twenties. His short, vibrant, blond hair was sleeked back with a green streek straigh back his head. All while his strong yellow eyes looked down the road they walked on. He had a strong muscular build, that plus his height called for respect. Aiden wore an open green jacket that had the sleaves torn off at the shoulders. On the back of the jacket, a golden skull was branded in the center of his back. The jacket revieled his arms, chest and abs to their fullest, which considering his muscules, was a lot. His hands were wrapped up with several bandages going half way up his forearms, leaving only his fingertips exposed. His black pants had golden spirals leading down to heavy jade colored boots. Aiden was one of the lucky players who was able to recieve a unique skill. He completed the martial arts quest, thanks to Argo's information, and began only fighting with that, no other weapon. His dedication paid off, and he mysteriously got several other skills with it. Three different martial arts forms he could use to fight: Karate, Muay Thia and Jiu Jitsu.

"This isn't that weird stick of a guy who was trying to rip me off when we met is it?" Kaori asked acusingly to him.

"The very same Ka-chan. Don't worry, He knows how to take care of his friends. Just don't start a fight with him or anything." She scowled down at him and hit the top of his head, so he knew she was serious.

"Why? Do you think I'm going to lose or something?" Aiden gave off a hearty laugh at his small friends minor insecurities.

"On the contrary, I know you would demolish him. He's a good merchant but a lowsy fighter. That's why I'm trying to save him the humiliation." Kaori let out a sigh of acceptance.

"Fine. I won't start anything, let's just make this quick."

The two friends reached the door of the shop and Kaori hopped down from atop Aiden's shoulders, grabbing onto his hand. Upon entry the two got a rather odd welcome from the merchant. His name was Sten a very old friend of Aiden. Sten was about five ten and basically a stick of a man. He had a scruffy brown beard that looked more like he hadn't bothered to shave in a few days, rather than something he chose. His short, dark brown hair was spiked upwards. The strange merchant had decided curved blades was the way to go as he had a black bladed scimitar on his belt at the time. Complimenting his blade, he wore a tan leather armor set.

"Hey Aiden! How's it go-" The merchant stopped midsentance once he saw Kaori next to Aiden, simply staring at the girl.

"How's it go indeed Sten!" Aiden teased his friend. Noticing Sten's eyes fixated on Kaori, Aiden teased his friend. "You know it's pretty rude to just stare at a girl like that you crazy bastard."Aiden let go of Kaori's hand and walked over next to Sten, with only the counter inbetween them.

"Besides she promised not to beat the crap out of you for it!" Aiden exclaimed slapping Sten's back hard, causing him to stumble a bit, yet knocking him out of his fixed gaze. Kaori simply went to wander around the shop while the two men spoke.

"So Sten, how's buisness been so far?" Aiden asked his friend, despite the man still being somewhat hazy.

"It's uh... you know...it's a business." Aiden raised an eyebrow at the strange behavior.

"Hey. Are you feeling alright? What's gotten into you?" Aiden snapped his fingers in front of Sten's face, trying to change his awkward long stare from Kaori. "Look there's no reason to be scared of her, I already told her to play nice." Sten leaned on his counter, chin resting in his hands.

"Huh? What? I'm not scared, well maybe a little. B-but... but I think i'm in love with her!" Sten cried out. Kaori shivered in disgust while facing the corner.

"Baka." The disgustid girl mumbled to herself. Aiden bellowed out a laugh.

"You're joking right? There's no way I can let that happen. Besides she's not into sleezy merchants." Aiden teased his friend. Sten looked to the man with an annoyed glare and responded sarcastically.

"Hey thanks for the friendly support there Aiden. You're easily the best wingman a guy could ask for." Aiden crossed his arms glancing over to Kaori.

"Look there's a few things that make me say that. First you've only seen her twice and you weren't the nicest guy when you two first met. Second, you've got almost ten years on her." Sten sat up and looked at Aiden with a challenging face.

"Are you just stupid?" Aiden clenched his teeth.

"Be careful friend, I sure would hate to have to hurt you." Sten waved his hand around Aiden.

"You couldn't hurt me hear if you tried so settle down, I only mean love has no boundries." Sten clasped his hands together. "Didn't you pay attention when we had to read Romeo and Juliet?" Aiden stood up and looked to the ceeling, one hand scratching the top of his head.

"That's the one where everyone dies at the end because of some stupid reason right?" Sten sighed at his freinds guess.

"You may be really strong but you certainly aren't the brains of your operation are you?" He shot at Aiden. "That's Macbeth but nice guess. Romeo and Juliet is the one where the two lovers dissobey their family to be with each other." Kaori walked over to the guys.

"I think you mean it's the one where the two idiot lovers kill themselves because they're to dumb to check for a pulse." She imputed, letting Aiden shrugged at his counterpart. "Also," Kaori continued. "That's about every single one of Shakespears plays Niisan. Everyone dies at the end because of one stupid reason or another." Sten shoulders and head sank in defeat.

Kaori placed a single hand on the counter, "Dont worry Sten," she started talking and pat the counter twice. "I may not want to be with you, but your company is amusing. So I can at least be your friend." Sten looked up and noticed a friend request from the girl. His smile beemed bright enough to rival the sun.

"Thank you Kaori-chan! I shall do all I can to proove I'm worth your heart!" Kaori stuck her index finger up, signifying to 'hold on.'

"Don't do anything weird, Baka, or ill remove you. And not just from my friends list." Sten's smiled dropped to an uncomfortable one, with the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

"I see. Well on a different note, you two seem to be a rather impressive team. Kaori-san takes the beating while you do what exactly?" Sten questioned his friend. Aiden put his finger to the side of his nose with a large grin.

"The same thing I do in real life. I fight with my fists and feet." Sten leaned back against the wall, not really believing his friend.

"Uh huh. What ever you say there boss. And I actually use a laser gun." Aidens shoulders sank down.

"It's true, I've got a unique skill thanks to it too."

"Well I guess I'll just have to join you guys in your adventures to actually see for myself wont I?" Sten's cheeky smile shot to the duo. Kaori, not amused by his sly nature.

"If you're trying to join our party, then say so. Don't beat around the bush Baka." Sten's face showed an annoyed look, but an understanding one. He bowed his head and put his hands together above it.

"May I please join your party so we can all slay monsters together?!" Sten head a few beeps and then looked at his new notification, an invite from Aiden to join their party. He accepted the invite and lept into the air, fist thrusted high.

"Yahoo!" He cheared, feeling like he had just earned a great reward. Upon landing, something caught Sten's eye as well. "Hey wait a second. Are you two in a guild?" Sten asked looking at they symbol next to both their player icons. Aiden put both hands on his hips, now standing up straight.

"Yeah, we started it a few days ago. It's just us as of right now. This was actually the reason we came here today. We could always use a merchant in our guild. Care to join?" Aiden shot over an invite to Sten. Thinking only for a moment, he hit the accept. The new symbol appeared next to his name and he looked back to his new guildmates.

"Well then, as co-founder, allow me to formally accept you into «The Jade Skull»."


End of Chapter 1! This will be a story that's roughly eight or maybe nine chapters. I want to know what you all think of the use of honorifics, it'll pick up in latter chapters with more characters introduced. So remember to leave a review for me please! :D