The day SAO came out was the day everything changed. On November 6th, 2022, SAO released with a limited number of copies totaling 10,000, which is quickly sold out. I was one of the few capable of obtaining the game.

The Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. The Nerve Gear was designed as a visual reality helmet-like headset that connects to the users 5 senses, thus giving them access to control and move their characters with their mind.

I entered the game the moment I had the chance, selecting my avatar's physical traits to be somewhat similar to my real traits outside the game. I close short black hair, with the back pulled into a ponytail for my avatar, while I really had long dark brown-black hair that was in stubborn messy waves. My dark green eyes remained the same within the game, and my clothes were the normal beginners.

Hunting was instinctively the first thing I started with, using daggers normally used for people classed as Rouges or assassins. Curved daggers fit in the palm of my hands better than the swords I tried out had, but it still felt awkward and not the perfect choice of weapon for me. A few more people were spawning in, trying to learn how to control everything, but the fields were still full of monsters that I took the liberty to kill.

I had been of the first to enter, the reason I managed to gain a few levels before all the people even entered the game. But all the while, I watched people from the branch of a high tree, my eyes searching every players face, searching for anyone familiar. The tree rustled with the breeze, allowing me a moment to take awe that this game made everything so real.

"Hey, you guy in the tree!" I glanced down, examining a girl waving to me. I remained silent, glaring at her. She was short for her age, probably would only reach my shoulder in height. "Don't ignore me! I need some help with the basic controls. You seem to know them well." She jumped, trying to reach the lower branch of the tree.

I scoffed, moving my gaze to the clouds, watching them carelessly drift along in the sky, even if they weren't real. The girl's whining reached my ears again, calling me rude. I pointed to a boy with black hair helping a red-head, "Ask them, they would be willing to help you."

"And you're not?" She asked. I gave her the look that answered her question. "But they're so far away! And you don't look busy." She grinned, reaching up to me.

"They're like 5 feet away…" I grumbled, not bothered to move from my spot. The girl huffed angrily and looked around the area.

"Fine, I'll go train with someone nicer than you!" She ran off to go bother someone else into helping her, making me sigh with relief, finally some peace… good riddance to her. I pulled out my curved black dagger, running a finger along the side before glaring at the weapon. I should find a different kind of weapon, unlike how the manual said, my 'skills' didn't work 100% unless with a certain type of weapon that suited me perfectly.

I twisted to turn around when a shriek rung through the air. A girl was teleported away, soon followed by many others. I frowned, looking around myself as blue glowed and teleported me away. I came to at the beginning town, hundreds of people here along with me. Warning signs flashed across the sky, and a figure formed together as a giant being in front of us.

"What's going on? Why were we teleported here? I was about to kill a boar-" Questions that had flung through the air were silenced as Kayaba Akihiko fully formed, his arms stretching out. He was strangely dressed in something I would expect a master mage or wizard to use.

"A game master…? Why doesn't he have a face? Is this an event?" Players asked aloud, clearly confused. I stayed back, close to the barrier than now held us in. Hiding within the shadows made me feel safer than being out in plain sight. Akihiko's may be face-less, but his voice was loud and clear.

"Attention, players. Welcome to my world…" My world…? I hid deeper within the shadows, my dark eyes glinting with reflected light. "My name is Kayaba Akihiko. As of this moment, I am the sole person who can control this world. I'm sure you've already noticed, but the logout button is missing from the main menu."

Well of course I had, but I thought it was only a temporary glitch. "But this is not a defect in the game. I repeat… this is not a defect in the game." I checked the main menu, catching no sign of the logout button. "It is a feature of Sword Art Online. You cannot logout of SAO yourselves. And no one outside can shut down or remove the Nerve Gear. Should this be attempted, the transmitter inside the Nerve Gear will emit a powerful microwave, destroying your brain and thus ending your life."

Some people started to try to leave the circle, but the barrier held them back. They were finally noticing that this was no joke. Players started talking amongst themselves, frantic and worried. Akihiko began speaking once more, silencing everyone. "Unfortunately, several players' friends and families have ignored this warning, and have attempted to remove the Nerve Gear. As a result, two hundred and thirteen players are gone forever, from both Aincrad and the real world."

What the hell? Two hundred and thirteen, damn this is only going to get worse. News articles began popping up as evidence. "As you can see, News organizations across the world are reporting of this, including the deaths." It was true, images of new reporters gravely telling the recent deaths flashed in a screen close to me.

"Thus, you can assume the danger of a Nerve Gear being removed is now minimal. I hope you will relax and enjoy the game. But I want you to remember this clearly, there is no longer a method to revive someone within the game. If your Hp drops to zero, your avatar will be lost forever. And simultaneously, the Nerve Gear will destroy your brain."

I clenched my fists tightly, rage boiling in form my core. What kind of person would do this? Akihiko had been something like a role model, but after this? For what reason did he do this?

"There is only one means of escape, to complete this game. You are presently on the lowest floor of Aincrad, Floor 1. If you made your way through the dungeon, and defeat the floor boss, you may advance to the next level. Defeat the final boss on Floor 100, and you will clear the game." Players yelled that was impossible, getting more fearful by the minute. "And lastly, I have added a present from me to your item storage. Please see for yourselves."

I opened of my item storage and pulled out a mirror, looking at my reflection of my avatar inside. A man yelled out, glowing blue. Then others all started, their appearances changing to what I supposed what their real self. Everyone lit up in bright blue, and I found myself glowing as well. A wave of air hit me and warm buzzing filled my ears. When the light died down, everyone gasped at the sudden differences of the people they thought they knew.

I looked back at the mirror at my real self. Dark brown-black waves in a natural but strange beautiful mess around my face. My green eyes were vivid and the scar along my jaw was as normal. "It was the scan", I growled.

The Nerve Gear covers your entire head with a high-density signaling device. So it could see what my face looked like. Out height and body shape was revealed when I first calibrated the Nerve Gear, and it made you touch your body all over. That's where it received all my data. I glared up at Akihiko, waiting for his explanation.

"Right now you're probably wondering 'why?' Why would Kayaba Akihiko, developer of Sword Art Online and the Nerve Gear, do all this?" Akihiko said which made me roll my eyes, sarcastic thoughts floating around my mind. "My goal has already been achieved, I created SAO for one reason… to create this world and intervene in it. And now, it is complete. Good luck, players."

Akihiko melted into red goo and into the sky, the warning signs disappearing and the normal virtual sky appeared. Silence spread around the area in shocked suspense, my hair fell over my eyes and I pressed my back against the barrier. Everything was real... If I die here I die out in the real world. Even if there is no one but my older brother and baby sister waiting for me. It was survival of the fittest, and I intend to live. There is no way in HELL would I let myself die that easily.

I gripped the scabbard of my dagger tight enough to turn my knuckles white. My eyes opened, this is only the beginning. Panic burst through the area, players crying and screaming. The barrier fell and I was the first out, running with long strides out of the town.

To become strong and to keep on living, I will do everything. If I must kill and destroy, so be it.

I ran at a lizard man, his spear coming straight at me. I yelled out and gathered my strength into my dagger, slicing the Lizard man in four pieces. It burst and scattered before vanishing.

This was my new beginning.

OOO