Disclaimer: I do not own Accel World or any other works by the author Reki Kawahara. Any relation to actual people, locations or concepts and ideas belonging to similar fiction is purely coincidental. The only thing I do own is this story and its characters.

Login 01: Awakening

"All right everyone, today we have a new student joining us. She just moved here from Tokyo..."
The 'ooo's and 'aah's from the students indicated that they were impressed that they now knew someone from the Tokyo metropolis- even though the said person no longer lives there. The busty female teacher, Urahama Aoi, decided that it was time to bring the transfer student in, "Ok, you can come in!"
Ayumi opened the door and went for the centre of the board facing her new class. Calmly she began her self-introduction, "I'm Narajima Ayumi. I was from Tokyo before moving here. I practice kendo and hope to join Hirayama Junior High's girl's kendo club. I hope we'll be able to get to know each other better."

The teacher then stepped forward as everyone began talking among themselves, the topic of those conversations being the new girl from Tokyo, "Ok Narajima-san, you can sit over there next to Hideo-san."
Ayumi nodded as she walked over to the indicated table. It was at the back corner of the class next to a window facing outside. As she sat down, she turned to face 'Hideo-san'.
Hideo, which she assumed was his last name, smiled back. He was ordinary looking, so ordinary that one would never notice him in a normal situation. She returned the smile as homeroom started proper.

One week later, Ayumi had settled in and found out about the school's kendo club through friends she had made and the school network. It was Wednesday after school, Ayumi stood in front of a traditional building that seems to be composed of wooden panelling. A simple wooden sign read 'KENDO DOJO' in hastily hand-painted kanji. Even without entering she could hear the sounds of shinai being swung. She slid the wooden doors open. Within was a typical scene out of a kendo manga- groups of students swinging their shinai in unison. Within the large common hall were approximately thirty students neatly divided between boys and girls. She noticed that the girls were dressed white hakamas while the boys wore black.

"May I help you?" Ayumi was startled by the sudden question as she faced a petite short-haired girl wearing a dark blue tracksuit. "Oh sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm the manager for the Hirayama Kendo Club; Takeno Chiyu. Second Year. Are you here to observe?"
"Yeah...something like that. I might be interested in joining. I'm Narajima Ayumi."
"Oh thats great Narajima-san! You can take a seat and watch." She indicated to a row of six chairs against a wall next to her.

"Ok."

Ayumi sat down and watched the club practice, the students were led by another older student with short hair that was cropped at the sides who counted off their strokes while a middle-aged mustached teacher stood nearby resting both his hands on his shinai. After their last stroke, the older student rested his shinai, "Alright everybody, thats enough warming up. We'll split up into the boy's and girl's groups for specialized training. Before that Otama-sensei has something to say..."
As the teacher began to talk, the manager took a seat next to Ayumi, "Looks like you're interested in sempai."
"Well..."

Ayumi realized that her face was getting hot and bright red. If Takeno was aware, Ayumi was not sure but she answered her assumed query anyway, "Thats Kagama Gen. He used to be in our kendo club before he graduated and went to high school. Now sempai comes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to train us."
"Kagama Gen..."
"He's also normally placed in the top five in quite a number of Prefectural and National level junior kendo competitions." The teacher at that point had finished his lecture, mostly about how honorable kendo was, and everyone had divided into two distinct gender groups.
"You could say he single-handedly made the kendo club the way it is today. Even Otama-sensei is grateful to him."
"He sounds amazing."
"He definitely is...say did you know that his family owns a dojo?"
"Really? Where is it?"
"Its a traditional building next to the shrine gate, you can't miss it. Besides we always hold our weekend training there."
"Why? The school is still open on weekends for extra-curricular activities isn't it?"
"It is but the school network is usually locked on the weekends. Plus sempai's father is there to teach us while his mother makes great snacks." Takeno started beaming when she reached the word 'snacks'. Soon, a commotion began erupting from one corner of the training hall. A crowd was gathering around the source, six older larger boys surrounding a scrawny, small-built boy.
"Come on, you agreed to spar with us right?"
There was fear in his eyes as he unsteadily held his shinai in a defensive position. His voice trembled with the same fear that was in his eyes, "But not with all of you..."
"Well thats the point, we are going to spar you! Its way faster then going one by one!"
Ayumi got up and started walking towards the group as Takeno went after her. Ayumi heard cruel laughter and the sound of bokuto hitting the floor. Takeno approached the nearest student, "Where's Kagama-sempai?"
"Kagama-sempai said he had to take a call."
"Then what about sensei?"
"He's in the toilet."
Takeno became exasperated as she shouted for them to stop, her voice barely audible over the six bullies' taunts as they drew closer to their victim. Suddenly Ayumi walked towards a male student carrying a shinai, "Can I borrow that?"
"Uh sure..."
Before he could continue, she had already snatched the bamboo sword out of his hand and began pushing through the crowd. Before she knew it, she stood between the bullies and the boy.

"Six on one isn't fair for a sparring match."
Ayumi held up her borrowed shinai and pointed it at the group of bullies.

"Eh...its none of your business. Get out of the way."
Ayumi stood her ground.

"Stubborn eh? Well then looks like we'll have to teach her some manners eh?"
One of the bullies raised his shinai to strike Ayumi's head, his strike was however blocked by her shinai. Before he could react, she deflected his shinai before thrusting the tip towards his throat. She calmly stopped mere milimeters before his throat, "What was it you were saying about teaching me something?"
"Tch..."
She withdrew the bamboo blade as he took a cautious step back, clearly being careful not to make her drive the point any further forward. The group immediately walked out, pushing aside anyone standing in their way.

As soon as they left everyone in the hall cheered, surrounding her and giving her congratualtions and compliments for driving them off.

"Wow, you actually told them off and made them stop...only Kagama-sempai could do that."
"It wasn't much Takeno-san, I just simply did what I felt was right."
"Plus you were so fast. I think it'd be great if you joined."
"That would be great..."
Before Ayumi could finish her sentence, the teacher had returned and order returned with him as everyone resumed their training. She took her seat and resumed watching the groups, Takeno smiled and went about her work as manager, preparing refreshing water for those who were thirsty.

Kagama Gen stood hidden behind the screen doors together with Himoru Negishi, his arms crossed while Himoru casually leaned against the wall, "Himoru, is this your idea of a joke?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You know what I'm talking about, instigating what just happened and making them target Takahashi-san."
"But I got to see what she is capable of at least."
"You didn't have to use the Kendo Club for this. Besides would she even accept even if Brain Burst accepts her?"
"I am sure she will accept, I can sense that she has a strong sense of justice."
"'A sense of justice'?"
"Yes, I believe that is something that Burst Linkers lack these days don't you think? Believing that something is so wrong that one has to do something to make it right."
"Himoru-san...I know you. You're far too practical to give your attention to someone for that kind of reason."
"Maybe...maybe not. All I know is that all the pieces are in the process of falling into place. Soon we'll be able to stand up to whatever the Yellow Legion has planned."
"Still...what on earth are they after..."
Suddenly their surroundings flashed once, turning Kagama's surroundings blue before the scenery changed. The school buildings retained the same structure but appeared to be made of metal, despite it being the late afternoon, the sky was dark and starless.

Kagama clenched his fists, calmly standing in the same spot he stood in reality. Large burning words decalred 'Here comes a New Challenger!'. His challenger was a slender red female figure with a long skirt that was open in the front revealing a mini skirt in a different shade of red. The name plates that had dropped showed that she was named Cardinal Derringer, a level six.

"I didn't think the legendary Nightmare Hydra would allow himself to be caught off-guard like this."
"I never liked that name. Anyway what do you want Cardinal Derringer."
"I just want to talk, Ebon Knight."

"Breaking into the school network just to talk? You certainly have a very warped sense of the effort to benefit ratio."
She laughed as she heard that statement, "Well whatever you wish to believe, I am just here to talk. Until the time runs out, you can ask me anything you want... you're welcome to do that as well Alabaster Master. That is the courtesy my boss is extending to you all."
From the roof of the nearby school block, Alabaster Master stepped into view, "Very well then, first question: Who is your boss?"
Cardinal Derringer chuckled abit as she answered, "Now that is a very direct question and if I answered that it would take out all the fun."
"So you won't tell us?" Ebon Knight his cocked his head as he asked, still weary of Cardinal Derringer's true intentions.
"All I can say is that we were once part of the Yellow Legion but now we are not."
"So your group split off...is that what you're saying?"
"Yes we did split off. Are you just going to keep asking boring questions until we time out?"
Ebon Knight took a small step fotward as he asked, "Ok then...why even bother with this Q and A?"
"Because the boss prefers an even battlefield, as much as our war involves weapons, knowledge is also one part of it."
This is a waste of time, Ebon Knight thought. He knew she was stalling for something but what could it be? He began to note his surroundings: her special meter hasn't changed at all, she was not moving, she had no shadow...
Immediatly he armed his lance - rapidly swinging it out and grabbing the handle, forcing it to lock into place and swung to his back. This action brought his lance into contact with what seemed to be thin air.

Cardinal Derringer's life bar grinded down by half as she flew through the air, creating craters as she skipped twice across the ground before ramming through a wall into a building. She shimmered into sight as the decoy disappeared.

"I didn't think you would figure out my ability so quickly..."

"Its actually quite obvious if you take the time to think about it."

"Then it looks like I can't give you the time to think then."

She pulls out two short-barrelled handguns and fires two shots. One shot impacts Ebon Knight's armor causing a slight drop in health.

Ebon Knight aims his lance towards her, "Ebon Charge!"

Thrusters behind the lance fire as he charges, black energy surrounding the lance tip. Charging forward, the attack made contact with Cardinal Derringer's location causing a large explosion and a shockwave of energy to blast from the other side of the building causing it to collapse.

After a few brief moments, Ebon Knight emerged from the ruins unfazed and without a scratch. He looked at Cardinal Derringer's life bar- it was left with barely a green sliver.

"That was close...even the wake of your Ebon Charge still causes this much damage. Plus you don't know how to treat a girl properly."
"You tried to shoot me in the back."
Ebon Knight turned to face Cardinal Derringer. She stood behind him some distance away, her armor cracked and crumbling. She limped forward several steps, "Looks like it was a mistake for me to hold back."
"Before I finish this...what is your group after?"
"Why we are after the treasure in your basement of course."
"What do you mean?"
"Looks like the time's up!"
"Wait!"
Cardinal Derringer raised her handgun and aimed it skyward. She fired off a white flare that flew into the sky before exploding in a brilliant burst of light.

"We won that duel but yet it feels like we lost."
After that flash, they had won the duel and had returned to reality. However Cardinal Derringer had not surrendered. In addition her health had not gone down to zero. Kagama Gen furrowed his brow, "At the same time we have even more questions..."
"Well Cardinal-chan has actually proven one thing, they are serious about getting into the Monasterie's sealed under levels."
"...and the fact that you're not dismissing this as recklessness means that you are taking this seriously?"
"Well my Legion is in danger after all."
"Then I'll put Chameleon on gathering information about this group."
"Then what about Narajima-san?"
"You seem rather fixated on her."
"Indeed I am...but seeing her in action just now has made you interested in her too."
"Her skill is definitely impressive and that parry and thrust was elegantly done."
"So see to it that your interest is sated by giving her Brain Burst."
Kagama sighed, "Fine, I'll do it."
"I knew you'd be up to it"
"Shut up."
Both of them laughed.

Ayumi ended up staying through the whole training session. By the time it was over and everyone was done with the cleaning, it was almost seven o'clock.

"So just pass fill that in and pass it to Otama-sensei tomorrow."

"Ok Takeno-san."

"Please, just call me Chiyu. All my friends do."

Ayumi smiled as she put the form into her sling bag. Before she got up Chiyu shouted to her, "Ayumi-chan, want to join us for dinner? Some of the sempais are treating. Also Kagama-sempai is going too. How about it?"

"I guess its ok since my mom won't be home too early."

"That great! Lets go together then!"

"Then let me get my bike..."
Ayumi smiled as Chiyu pulled her along while she grabbed her bag.

"Bye Ayumi, we'll meet again tomorrow."

"Sure!"

Ayumi had fun that night at the family restaurant, plus she got to know most of the sempais. The food was good too, having Korean barbeque was always good in her opinion. As everyone went their seperate ways, she began walking towards the train station. She heard the sounds of footsteps behind her, "Heading home Narajima-san?"
"Yes Kagama-sempai."
"How about I escort you? Its quite dangerous to go home by train at this hour."
"Ok, thanks sempai."
Ayumi smiled as Kagama matched pace with her. They passed through the gantries and walked up the stairs, "Narajima-san...you've been practising kendo since elementary school right?"
"Actually I started a few months before I got into elementary school."
"Wow that is young. Even I didn't start that young."
"So when did sempai start?"
"Sometime in elementary school. My grandfather always believed that everyone should be allowed a childhood. If you have a good childhood then you'll have something to look back on fondly."
"Your grandfather is a very wise man."
"Was a wise man. He passed away last year, one day after I graduated from junior high."
"Oh, I'm sorry sempai."
"Its ok, he wouldn't want anybody to be too bothered over something like his death."
They soon reached the top of the stairs and reached the platform, "Narajima-san, which way are you going? I'm going towards Shiharamaza."
Her heart skipped a few beats as she answered his question, "I'm going there too."
"Then it looks like you'll have my company abit longer."

Soon the train arrived, the car they got into was completely empty thus giving them a free choice of seats.
"Narajima-san, I heard about what happened today."
"If its about me almost hurting him..."
"No I'm not scolding you, in fact I want to commend you."
"R-really?"
"Really. Not many people have the courage to stand up for others and even fewer will act on their beliefs. You are a courageous girl."
"Thank you sempai."

"However in reality, courage has its limits but there is a world where that courage can become power."

"A world where courage becomes power..."

Kagama Gen open his bag and pulled out a rolled up direct link cable, "Ayumi, if you accept my offer, you can become a part of this world but if you do...there is no turning back until you're utterly defeated."

Ayumi stared at the cable in his hand, not even bothering about the social implications- she felt that it would not be an appropriate time to point this out, as she weighed his words for a moment before taking one end of the cable and connecting it to her Neurolinker. Kagama did likewise. Within a matter of seconds and several handswipes, a dialogue box appeared requesting for permission to start the transfer of a file: 'BB2039installer'. She pressed the accept button. Immediately, flames surged forth from an icon and surrounded her before they coalesced into a window with a progress bar. Two words stood out, which Ayumi muttered under her breath trying to absorb what she was getting herself into.

"Brain...Burst..."

"I believe the installer should be running now. This will be your last chance to turn back and return back to the world you always know, before Brain Burst shatters your perception of it."

Ayumi took in the weight of his words, a weight which was not enough to deter her from accept this gift as the installation was completed. She watched as the window disintegrated and its particles reformed into a single sentence.

"Welcome to the Accelerated World."

Ayumi switched on the lights in her room and fell onto her bed without bothering to change out of her uniform- her mother said she would not be home until next evening. She opened the file where she had kept the Brain Burst installer. She sighed as she thought about the rest of the train ride. She had felt so embarassed and tense at the same time, she blushed as her brain reminded her that she had never had a boyfriend before. She shook her head as she shifted her thoughts to the strange new icon in her application menu.
"Is this some kind of game..."

She remembered the strange warning which Kagama gave her, that once she must not log into the global network before the next morning. She was also not that familiar with VR-games, the only one she really enjoyed was the Last Samurai series, a series of sword-fighting VR-games, which her father introduced her to...

She sighed as she remembered her father, a sharp pang of guilt and anger welling up as she did. She had too many questions but she knew that the only way to get them answered was to ask sempai how to use it the next day. Eventually she fell asleep right on the bed.

[i]She was running through the dark forest, the forest that had become familiar to her. When that happened she was not sure but she continued running. The beast roared as it chased after her, crushing fallen leaves and snapping branches as it rampaged. As she ran heard voices.
"Ayumi-chan, your father will always be here for you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come to your entrance ceremony..."
"Sorry...your daddy has alot of work so I can't come to your birthday tomorrow."
"Sorry..."
Her anger grew as images of her father's absence at key events in her life simply fueled it. More images flowed and she ran harder, trying to run away more from the memories rather than the beast. She eventually reached a clearing on a cliff. In front of her were six swords, their blades driven into the ground. Upon closer inspection she realized they were rapiers, french swords with long thin blades. As she stared at the rapiers, she remembered Kagama's words,
"Not many people have the courage to stand up for others and even fewer will act on their beliefs."
She knew that he was right, that she had to act on her beliefs and these rapiers represented them. She pulled out two rapiers, one in each hand and faced her pursuer...[/i]