Sword Art Online: Clash of Wills
Chapter One: Kirito's Log #1 – Minor Setbacks
Author's Note
This is a story that I don't have any particular plans for, really. The first chapter is short, it's ill-conceived, makes several characters act completely against their canon personalities, gives Kirito a blatant wish-fulfillment and eventual Mary Sue role, and has so much more that others will consider to be flaws.
However, the enjoyment for me in this piece will be mostly because I exploit these flaws with no shame, something most writers would never even think of doing. But that's just it, though; I'm not doing this one for fame. I'm just doing it to have fun and escape the stress that I have going on right now. If you guys like it, too, then I'm glad, as it gives me a sense that I'm at least doing something right.
Still with me? For those of you who are, thanks for sticking with me up until now. Since you've done so, you shall be rewarded with a list of things to expect in this story.
One: this one is by far the most important. I'm going to make serious changes to several characters' backgrounds and personalities. I'm adding even more canon characters into the SAO frenzy, with the excuse that it trapped a hundred-thousand people instead of the original ten-thousand.
The prime example of this will be our not-so-lovable main character, Kirito. In this story, he will be a snarky, egotistical, complete Mary Sue of a sarcasthole who takes nothing seriously other than his journal entries. I'm taking certain personality traits from the SWEAbridged Kirito, while adding my own changes at the same time.
Two: as I said above, Kirito will be a complete Mary Sue, though it won't be as bad at the start. Think: glass cannon build, and you'll have pictured his early stages.
Three: the game mechanics have been altered slightly, mostly in terms of weapon choice, weapon mastery, and the delayed acquirement of even the most basic of Sword Skills. You'll see more on that soon enough.
Three: this one mostly applies to the immediate future of this story, really. The first four to five chapters will be agonizingly short, but they will all feature different characters as the narrators. These are mainly to set up the personalities and motives of some of the main characters early on, all in the form of journal entries. You'll see why that's such a big thing fairly soon.
Four: after the legitimate story starts, action will most likely take a backseat to exploring the characters as they develop over time, with the occasional journal entry thrown in by one of the characters to prove that point. Remember, just because Kirito doesn't take anything seriously, it doesn't mean that the others around him are the same. Some of them may start out paralyzed with fear, or so depressed that they want to commit suicide. This story won't be lighthearted or ridiculous all the time, as some of the characters just don't think that way.
And finally, five: if you've read through all this and aren't bothered by it too much, then I'm sure you'll love this story! Enjoy!
I suppose I should've been more affected by this. I should've been freaking out, or feeling paralyzed with fear. Or maybe even considering suicide. After the rather draconian proclamation by the God of this virtual world no more than an hour before, no one could blame me for any of those things.
But I'm not like that. Even if death has become a part of the equation, even if the nature of this whole world has been changed by his words and the meaning behind them, it won't stop me from getting exactly what I came here for. I came here to immerse myself in a world other than my own so real, so lifelike, that I could forget about my real life like it was merely a dream.
And, by God, I will get my money's worth. With the knowledge that participating in this game's closed beta tests provided me, I won't need to worry about actually dying. All I have to do is adapt to the situation, play it a bit safer for a while until I build up a large level margin between me and everyone and everything else. By then, I'll definitely know enough to play like a badass without risking my life.
Really, the absolute consequence of death upon defeat only adds to the stunning realism of this game, only makes it that much more like real life. That is perfectly fine with me; the more realistic, the better the experience.
And not being able to go back to the real world? Well, it's not like I would if I wanted to, or even if I have to; the hospital I was probably just admitted to about fifteen minutes ago will provide adequate medical care while I work on beating this game. In other words, there is a zero percent chance of my death in any circumstance imaginable.
And so, I laid out a mission plan for two whole weeks in no time flat almost immediately after bidding Klein farewell. That's precisely why I'm rushing for «Horunka Village» as I write this little diary that will one day record my greatest achievements; I need to get my ideal starting weapon, and the quest for it is just a few maps ahead of me.
In summation: SAO is a prison for one-hundred-thousand people, myself included? Fine by me. SAO just got even more realistic because its whack job creator decided to play God? Sounds like something worth telling friends about when I get back. The ultimate consequence for losing to this game – no, this world – ending in your death, your avatar and soul's erasure from the real and virtual world forever?
Bring in on.
If you're reading this, then I've probably already cleared the game and retrieved the data for this first ever journal entry from the local memory of my «Nerve Gear». With this entry, you'll definitely find a lot more, each one even more badass than the last.
All detailing the adventures of the kid with the ultimate ego and the power, skill and brains to back it up – in other words, me, Kirigaya Kazuto. But my VR buddies called me something else.
Kirito.
Kirito's Log #1 End
