The blue world of the renowned yet secretive world of acceleration.
A world full of mysteries, yet full of digital data.
And world where everything is at pivot.
This is… Accel World.
How could there be a second, separate pivot that would determine the fate of the world?
"«Burst Link»!"
Travelling through the rough patchy streets of «Suginami», I instinctively grabbed on to my pocket as I utter the word that had changed my life forever. It's been all too long, yet, unlike people like «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» or «Scarlet Rain», I had never really stayed in the «Unlimited Neutral Zone» for so long – not even a month or so. It's not really a complaint, I thought to myself, but rather a pre-eminent warning. It's not like this blue-covered world was waiting for me to swallow everything whole. It's that… one-sided feeling of emptiness. As part of their quest to become «Level 9», Kuroyuukihime-sempai spent countless years inside the wide, endless world inside the «Unlimited Neutral Zone», just to tackle on several «Enemies» or fellow «Burst Linkers» for days just to get to such a level where the special «Fight to Death» rules apply. If one thing is to ensure my own survival in the cruel world of «Acceleration», it would to be smart, be fast, and be cunning. With my inevitable personal encounter with the «Chrome Disaster» and the countless events that had led me to such a thing, it would be easy to conclude that I am really, as she had said it herself, special. Well, notwithstanding the other 1,000 or so «players» with their special characteristics, Noumi was one such example, who utilized «Dusk Taker's» simply overpowered «special attack» to take my «Aviation» ability. Or maybe the other members of the so-called «Acceleration Research Society», who simply roam around the entire «accelerated world» using the «Incarnate System» and the «ISS Bug». Nothing was supposed to stop me on a free Sunday, right?
I waved my hand and checked my window, displaying the «Matching List», where around 20 or so players roam around through the «Global Net», either simply because they forgot, or because they always liked a challenge. It was funny enough how often he saw «Ash Roller» in the list quite recently, especially with the developments of the «Nega Nebulous». I wonder if «Lime Bell», or should I say, «Chiyu», has healed «Sky Raker's» legs yet?
"«Sapphire Controller»…?"
An unusual name brought up my attention. My pig avatar stayed inevitably the same, unfortunately. I should have sworn I'd design a «new avatar» soon enough. I heard the new MMORPG «RE:ALfheim Online», often called «REAL Online» or «REAL» has some pretty good custom avatars to choose from. I think I should actually set the date for its opening, just in case.
"Wait, wait, wait." I muttered to myself, with my head down in anguish. "Wouldn't this «game» hold off my advancements in «this world»?"
A sigh escaped my pig avatar. It was apparently one of the most anticipated MMOs of 2046. It's been said that it's been around 24 years since it first gotten into the «MMO Market», and was essentially the very first full-pledged «VRMMO» in history (at least, according to Wikipedia). Despite its shaky beginnings (unfortunately, the details of the scandals have been stripped off the «Global Net» for some reason), «ALO» had turned into the most successful «MMOs» of its time. It featured, at the time, a fully functional «Top-Down AI System», dubbed «Cardinal», which utilized a pretty slick «Bug fix System» which created «Quests», «EXP Abusive Sites», and such on its own. Rather than relying on a «Level System», which I loathed in the games I once had before «Accel World», they used a simple (to level up), yet surprisingly complex (tree) «Skill System» with spells, sword skills, unarmed skills, hate skills, and many others. By the time «ALO» held its last, revolutionary «Ragnarok» event on 2035, they had unlocked a matter of 100,000 different skills, some entirely player-made, some only unlocked with an insane amount of effort, while some were simply a matter of «random chances». The company behind «ALO», «Ymir», being quite the veteran MMO players who actually cared about give «ALO» a happy ending, had my respect when I found this.
Without me noticing, I have already pressed the «Duel» button.
"Hmm…" I stared at the player's current level. "…«Level 6»? I guess I could have a chance with that. Plus, I won't probably lose much in case I do lose."
My index finger lazily reached for the «Accept» button.
I knew this habit of mine will make me regret everything. However, what I didn't know was how I would regret that simple action – that one simple action…
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ronelm2000 presents
The Revived Legend of the Black Swordsman
-Side A-
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『Chapter 1: The Glittering Blue Sapphire』
My avatar transformed into «Silver Crow», and, with an instantaneous visualization, displayed the abandoned steel-looking city. As always, the sky flashed with a somewhat half nigrine, half rubiginous overtone. The spread out terrain that is the «Weathered» stage somehow glistened with its countless number of junk items. I heard Haruyuuki-sempai had a member called «Crimson Kingbolt» who utilized these junk parts; he'd surely love this kind of terrain if I were him. However, the focus is on the enemy. With a defensive stance, I used the «guide arrow» to pinpoint the location of the new enemy «Burst Linker».
"Yo,"
The squeaky sounding voice caught me completely off-guard. Is she like… 14? Moreover, I haven't seen her (this is judging by her voice) figure ever in the entire time I've been to «this world». Of course, it could easily be a mere coincidence, since I have met only, how much of the current population? Only around 140 or so, if I remember. As the dust cleared, her form gradually took a more concrete one.
"Just like the name, huh…"
It was no understatement that names in this world have very important implications. Take «Dusk Taker», «Sky Raker», «Cyan Pile», «Red Rider», «Scarlet Rain», or me, «Silver Crow», as an example. Such as that, this «Sapphire Controller» looked like a simple 14-year old girl. Her petite stature, which is a bit slightly over «Scarlet Rain's», was every bit more human than any of what I've ever seen before. If anything, this «avatar» was the most human of all, only covered by the fact that her entire body embodied a glittering sapphire. Her large, bright azuline eyes instantly reminded her of Kuroyuukihime-sempai's: a bit empty, yet shining with a passion anyone could mistake as carelessness. Her silky, long hair, while reflecting the color of her plain silk gown, reached up to her cobalt blue shoes. With a hand that didn't move as mechanical as any other he'd seen so far – much more like a human's, she extended them towards me, and made a gesture with her index finger. Was she… mocking me? Trying to make me attack? I further strengthened my guard, realizing that simple observation. Several «avatars», many of which I had already recognized as my own «watchers», far from the distance, seemed intrigued themselves. I shook off my own hesitation, and finally spoke out to the girl in front of me.
"Who are you?" I asked, nearly shouting with the distance between us.
She grinned, obvious by her humanoid form. Normally in a «fantasy MMO», this was a very normal move. In fact, I've seen so many «MMOs» where the character simply smiles all the way. I find it simply personally creepy that way, honestly. I've seen too much scenes from «MMOs» where the young girl suddenly «PKs» everyone with a dagger in her hand, all while smiling as she delivers the last blow and takes everything in his «inventory».
"Well," she sighed, and shrugged. "This is boring."
The counter displayed a t-minus 80 seconds.
"Well, it's your fault for simply just standing there."
The girl's provocative tone raised my hefty suspicions. First she simply stands in the middle of nowhere without a single defensive pose whatsoever, next she tries to make me attack, then he's provoking me. Based on these suspicious actions, I could safely conclude that she might be a «reflector» type of «avatar». Or, maybe, true to her name «Controller», she might try to anticipate my attack then go for activating some sort of «special move» that might turn me into a puppet. With these things in mind, I nodded back at the girl and started attacking with a simple jumping kick. Unexpectedly, however, she simply dodged it and shifted her upper shoulder to the right, without any sort of skill whatsoever. Losing my target, I quickly back flipped, regained my stance and run back towards «Sapphire Controller», this time with a blazingly fast 45 degrees side kick. Again, the after-image of her clearly displayed a miss. Was she utilizing her light weight body to dodge? It could be something like a «unique build» like «Cyan Pile», or Taku, who uses a long-ranged attack even though his color enhances «short ranged attacks». In this case, it might be a «lightweight short ranged illusion-type» of avatar.
"It sucks not to hit, huh?" she shifted several inches to the left, dodging my next few kicks. "Well, let's try something else."
She extended both her hands and shifted to the right. Never expecting this development, her rock steady arms met my chin with a jarring impact. The impact itself created several shockwaves the broke every glass it passed by, simply adding to the effect of a return strike. My HP, now chipped to a mere 70%, couldn't be compared to «Sapphire Controller's HP», which was still a full 100%. I almost couldn't bear the pain that had reached into my nerves, nearly driving me to faint: this must be that pain when a boxer hits your chin with a strong uppercut, only with around 10 times the strength. However, one thing was important: the «special gauge», which quickly rose to 100%. I could still do it. I could still turn the tables around, only by the power of flight. Activating my «Aviation» ability, my engine-like fins finally grew into semi-transparent wings, and, with a single flap, I flew high above into the clouds, and rushed towards «Sapphire Controller» with a bullet-speed meteor-like kick, aiming directly for the head. However, she, too, had anticipated it. She waved her left hand sideways and, as if following her movements, a large boulder straight from the ground readied from to intercept my kick.
"That's nothing!"
I declared at the top of my lungs. I hit the boulder with all my might and crushed it into several pieces. However, the as the dust cleared, I found no sign of the short long-haired girl. With the boulder loosening my impact, I was able to barely stop my attack and back spin right into a corner, but still: the sign of the girl who may just beat me with a time out disappeared like a mist. A short fear enveloped my soul, something that I was only able to feel when fighting «Dusk Taker». But, sure enough, it wasn't the fear of losing my «Aviation» ability. It was something else.
"«Reaver Uppercut»!"
A voice from the back shrieked and shook my entire body. It was «Sapphire Controller», who had dashed and hit exactly at my left fin. The sound of a large crashing sound and breaking glass further confirmed my very suspicions.
"She's fast!" I bit my lip (mentally) as I endured the pain that followed directly after, and as my HP chipped down to 60%.
With my intuition, I could already see that she aimed for my right wing, and had basically incapacitated it for the remainder of the fight. She had basically rendered my own special ability pretty useless. Of every fight I've ever encounter, I've never seen such a calculative attack. It was as if everything was pre-calculated. Could this be the true meaning of a «Controller»? Saving my own self from inherent fear, I quickly shook my head in utmost denial. It should be impossible. One, fighting games, like the «Accel World», have already been deemed as an obsolete genre from the rest of the world, save the very old «Arcades» and «2D or 3D consoles», which means, from the standpoint of someone like «Kuroyuukihime-sempai», he would have to have around at least 2 years straight in «this world» to develop such skills, simply looking through every possible attack, defensive, and evasive methods. It could be simply be possible if she had the time, but, judging from her «avatar», she looks like someone who has to go to school every day. Second, I noticed from her every attack that everything she did had to have the perfect timing in order to actually do everything she did just now. That means that she would know both the cool down, recoil, and timing of all our attacks. It could be possible if she had personally encountered me before, but the fact that I haven't could mean that she would have to have information on me, possibly by looking through the «memory files» of at least around 3 people who knew about me. Third, her reaction speed is godly. It easily equated that of the reaction speed of the «Kirito» guy whom I had battled with around yesterday or so. Does such a girl actually exist, save for, most likely the «Kings», who may have accumulated a godly amount of «Dexterity»? Is it possible that she was «faster than me»? Fourth, she had predicted exactly what I was to do, as if she knew it. She knew that I will mistake that girl for someone who has a «weird build» or someone who has an «overpowered special attack». But how could that be? Did she know what was in my mind? Does her power involve «mind reading»? Yet, looking at the window, her «special gauge» had only been 90%. The attack she used to block me must have used that power. A fast explanation would most likely be that she has an «invisible string» just like how the «5th Chrome Disaster» used it to «fly around the city». But did she predict that conclusion from me as well?
"I think you should stop thinking about it and rather enjoy the fight, Ha-… «Silver Crow»," she pointed at the counter, which displayed a t-minus 40 seconds.
"Crap!" I panicked, completely ignoring the fact that she seemed to know my RL name. "Then, I just have to defeat you within 40 seconds right?"
She had literally disabled my «Aviation» ability. However, it will never stop me from touching the sky. I had thought of using the «Incarnate System» against her, but, considering what is happening within this realm so far, I simply can't use it, not in a public fight like this. However, maybe there's a way to camouflage it. My mind focused on my wings, the wings the «system» had already given me. Just like «Raker-san», who used the «Incarnate System» to enhance her «Enchanced Armament», I should be able to do that too without the spectators noticing it. I dashed towards the target with a loud bang, at the same time activating my «Aviation» ability with the «Incarnate System». Applying what I've learned from «Scarlet Rain's» short tutorial on the «basics of Incarnate System attacks», my left fin glowed and forced my wing out, completely nullifying the girl's effort.
"Eh," the girl said, simply standing in place, looking dumbfounded by my form. Perfect! It doesn't matter whether it was feint or not, this simply SHOULD hit it.
I spin around, flew a meter to the sky and activate a simple «Speed Boost Incarnation», noted by «my shining wings». However, unless you have a critical eye, you can never notice this change in luminosity, thus still applying the very strict taboo of «the 6 Kings». My distance between the target's head and mine has now instantly closed to 5 inches, more than enough to activate my «Head-butt» skill.
"HAAAA!"
My body had been ready to brace the impact of our crashing heads. However, a few seconds in, yet I haven't felt a single impact. What happened? I took the moment to look carefully. My body, seconds before hitting the ground, had been stopped midway. No, scratch everything. It wasn't just me who stopped. It's more like the entire world stopped in its tracks. Everything stopped, just like a full physical Burst. Even I, with a speed of over 150 km per hour, had stopped. Even the vectors that formed my impact was frozen it its place, unaffected by everything else. Then, why can't I move? I tried twisting my head to the left. As if time itself was stopping me to move, the scenery remained its static image of me pressing into the ground.
"As if I'll willingly die by my own ability!"
My fingers moved. Slowly but surely, I realized that I could now move my wrists. My mind, focusing on letting myself simply move for the hell of it, had enabled me to move my left and right arm. However, touching the vectors that make up my «Head-butt» ability would probably chip my HP to 0, so I tried moving my head and shoulders instead. The sound of cracking bones seemed to have stopped me midway, but I eventually dismissed the sound itself. Until finally, only my feet wouldn't move in place. I could try moving them right now, but then, how could I not hit the vectors down near the ground if I were to simply move them? A short tsk escaped my voice as I move my left feet, then with a short, nearly silent crack, I finally moved my right feet.
"Eh, so you finally did it, huh…"
The first voice I noticed was the girl who was SUPPOSED to be right in front of me, who has now right before me, separated by the vectors forming my «Head-butt» ability. She showed a large grin, as if she was noticing something I haven't noticed yet.
"Wait…" realizing I could already move my body, I should have theoretically touched the ground by now, "…eh?"
The girl laughed, "Well, this is interesting. C'mon now, move."
"You're saying that but…"
But how? Judging from my position, it seems as though I can't touch the vectors forming my own ability. I wonder why? Despite this, I was able to find myself crawling out of what seems to be an indigo whirlpool of some sort. As soon as my hand reached for the last trace of the so-called whirlpool, however, I slipped, as though it was a sign that I will really fall when I "stepped" on "that". I shaved off the last of my suspicions and simply went for the drop, falling right on the hard ground. My wings seem to be static in place, forming the static image of what should be me inside that impact. It was a really stunning scene, in my honest opinion. No wonder half the guys I meet on the «Global Net» simply wanted to see my «special attack». Speaking of falling, did my HP decrease? I instinctively checked on my HP gauge: 50%.
"Hmm, it did decrease after all…" I scratched my head.
"Actually," she pointed at her own HP bar. "The fact is that you had successfully hit me with your head-butt. Right now, I'm at literally at 0 HP. GJ!"
She gave me straight thumbs up. I'm not sure whether to smile or anything at this point, especially when my «Silver Crow» avatar doesn't really display emotions or my mouth unless it's absolutely necessary. Not that it had actually given me any such inconvenience. Actually, «this girl» might as well be the very few ones could even display emotions at this «fighting-centric game».
"Well," I scratched my head, and then tilted them. "I'm really glad you could give me your congratulations… but what is this?"
'This' referring to the fact that HP doesn't decrease here.
'This' referring to the fact that time is literally frozen here. It could easily be compared to «Lime Bell's special ability» «Citron Call» that reverses time in an object, but this here doesn't just slow time, time is literally frozen in this! Here, I can easily see the «spectators», who seemed to have completely been flabbergasted with the trick I just did. I really hope they haven't noticed the «Incarnate System» at work, or I would have «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» scolding me again.
'This' referring to the fact that I can actually move in this space.
'This' referring to the ability she has been hiding all this time, something she couldn't notice due to the fact that her «special gauge» hadn't decreased one bit. Speaking of which, how much DID «Sapphire Controller's special gauge» decrease? With eyes of curiosity, I checked it for myself.
"10%..."
Did she consume around 90% of her «Special Gauge»? From what I last remembered, this «gauge was supposed to be a 100%. «Special Skills» like my «Head-butt» don't really consume much of my «Special Gauge», especially when my focus on my «Leveling Bonus» has been consumed on my «Aviation» ability. Apparently, «», or «Lime Bell», focused her «Leveling Bonus» on her own «Special Ability», and, boy, how did that «ability» save me twice! «Cyan Pile» seemed to focus his on the «range» of his «Enhanced Armament», while «Kuroyuukihime-sempai»? I have no idea.
"Actually, it consumed 500% of my «Special Gauge»…" she said, as she lifted up several boulders near the impact site. Her «Special Gauge» increased by 8%. It seems that even in this zone, you could still increase your own «Special Gauge».
"Does it mean that this is still «Accel World»?" muttering the word, I shook my head. "Wait, why should I be asking that?"
It should already be obvious that this is «Accel World», but the question remains. What is that girl's «Special Skill»? At first, I thought that it had something to do with «controlling objects» with her string. It would be obvious from her initial actions that she supposedly would have the inherently dangerous ability of «controlling people like a puppet». But, saying something like a skill that consumes 500% of your «Special Gauge» might not be overstating it. There are games where the «increase in gauge» occurs as the «decrease in gauge» also occurs. I've seen this in games, especially on the old «3D consoles», but I haven't personally encountered this mechanic in effect. Why? There's no reason for this to actually happen in «3D Consoles». For one, it is impossible for all characters to perform a «skill» while being hit. Second, it is impossible for players to activate it the perfect timing. Third, «Skill Costs» always consumed at a constant amount, even if it says it consumes 100% of your «Special Gauge», the constant rule of «damage becomes special gauge points» still apply, leaving you with a meager 1 – 9%. But with a game like «Accel World», powered by the advanced quantum technology of the «Neuro-Linker», it shouldn't be a surprise that this was actually possible, but…
"Even if it consumes 500% of your «Special Gauge»," my hands found its way to my chin. "There wouldn't be a «benefit», unless the effect of the skill was dependent «Special Gauge Points» consumed."
She grinned, and took out something like «a chocolate swirling bread», and ate it at the tip. Without the prying eyes of the spectators or the seriousness of «this world», she could easily be mistaken for an innocent girl. I would wonder who her «Parent» is, and probably put her as the part of the scaling list of cuteness. Then, if I put it that way, «» might be A+, «Raker-san» might be a B, «Niko» might be a «B-P», and «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» might be an A++. I wonder what «Karen-san» would scale? She might as well have the X rating I guess, X for a wildcard. Wait, what am I thinking? I vehemently shook my head in denial.
"First things first," I lifted my head into the sky. "What is this world?"
"Oh, this world?" she munched through the bread, all while destroying boulders on the way. Her gauge is now at around 68%. "This is the «accelerated world» in 1000x acceleration."
"Eh?"
I couldn't believe my eyes. You could use Brain Burst in Brain Burst? Is this Inception now? She giggled at the sight of my confusion, and materialized a pocket watch in her hand. The pocket watch itself reeked of a mysterious aura, despite having a relatively simple medieval design. The chains in the stopwatch looked nothing like the chains in the real world, though, mostly because they didn't actually connect with each other, at least as a whole. Instead, only two circles are literally connected to each other at a time, forming an 8. On how each of those 8's is connected to each other, however, is a mystery. The second-hand and the minute-hand looked more like those old compass needles I've seen in «navigational-centric MMOs».
"In reality, however," the girl's «special gauge» finally displayed a full 100%. "«This world» isn't really the real stage. It's something like…"
"…the snapshot of our stage… just like how the «blue world» is a «snapshot of security cameras»." I said aloud. "Déjà vu, indeed."
"Technically this world something like a temporary placeholder for both of us, accelerating at a rate of 1,000,000x," she sat down and drew childish figures. Guessing the first picture, it looks like a «server» of some sort, connected to a larger «server» that seems to be the «accelerated world», and two arrows that specified some sort of transfer between them. "However, only very few people have the ability or the technology to process a «1,000,000x brain acceleration speed». It seems that I … have found my target."
"1,000,000x speed?" my voice was shaking. "That's just simply ludicrous."
I don't mind if suddenly «Brain Burst» can «accelerate» up to 1,000,000x, or how can that kind of thing be even possible, given the current advancements of technology, but what can you do with a 1,000,000x rate? You could basically live out your entire life inside this little snapshot called a world and spend… 2,737 years in it and only a day would pass in the real world. Three days' worth of such a speed would essentially outlive the entire «Unlimited Neutral Zone» timeline. Even more surprising is how «internet connections» can handle a speed of 1,000,000 times the brain rate. Either the developer of this «game» is a madman to consider this kind of power, or is somehow part of the military as, we, as his little experiment, can do literally anything we want. But in the end, I'm no conspiracy theorist.
"Well," «Sapphire Controller» stood up, and walked back towards the scene where I had defeated the «eccentric school girl». "That's that. I've tried to activate this ability around thrice now, and only now were you able to actually move. You can say I was impressed."
"Now," she checked the pocket watch. "It seems that we still have around 4 more minutes to talk in this world…"
So it's around 1 minute per 100% of your «special gauge»? It's not bad at all. In fact it could be a little overpowered for a game mechanic, but, considering she filled up her «special gauge» rather quickly, it's safe to bet that she purposely kept it as low as possible. Basically, by keeping it as low as she can manage, she can easily fill it up in order for the «opponent» to not notice anything. It's a nifty tactic, actually. Although, I have some doubts on how effective it would be. Being «Level 6», «Sapphire Controller» must have some kind of failsafe in case she couldn't bring her «special gauge» up to 100% in a short time. It would be a good tactic, in her case, to simply allow herself to get hit by the opponent to quickly get it at a 100%.
"Let me clarify myself." She cleared her throat. "I'm «Sapphire Controller»; just call me Safu-chan, 'k?"
For some reason, I reluctantly nodded without a single thought.
"My real power is not time freeze, but control." She explained. "I am able to distribute and redistribute my «Leveling Bonus» without any cost. This «Enhanced Armament», one of the rare ones I've accumulated in my traversals. It's so rare; it seems that I may as well be the only one who has it. It also has a second ability, only applicable when in the «Unlimited Neutral Zone», however, this will only be important later. For now, I'm officially recruiting you, Haruyuuki-kun."
"Huh?!"
Here, I thought I understood everything when she meant so far.
"Wait," I grumbled, confused at what she just said. "h-h-how did you know my name?!"
A smile covered her face.
"Oh, didn't know that there was a «stalk your opponent» as a leveling up bonus if you have the «Enhanced Armament» «Checkered Looking glass»?"
I tried to return the favor of her being extremely intuitive and asked several questions in successions.
"How many «Enhanced Armaments» do you have? How much did you pay from all those? What will this job entail?" my mouth fired words like a machine gun, "Do I have to join a «Legion»? Speaking of which, what «Legion» are you from? When did you get «Brain Burst»? How did you get to «Level 6» so quickly? Did you meet «Water Current»? So what's my so-called job? What do I get out of it? And if you aren't in a «Legion», would you like to be part of «Nega Nebulous»?"
"Let's see." I had to subconsciously record everything she would say. I really hope my «memory files» will record everything. "I have 10. I paid … did I really pay anything? It's a special job only suited for the strong-willed. No, because I'm not from any «Legion». A week ago: I had to always check for the «Matching List» every 10 seconds to get me to this level pretty quick. Geez, this «leveling system» is pretty intense. I don't know that girl. Your job involves stuff you may not understand until we get there. You get «this item», and the truth about «Kirito»; I don't know what I'll do with my remaining «Burst Points», however… and for the last question. No. I don't belong in this world."
If «Silver Crow» had a visible mouth, his mouth would be wide agape right now. How did she answer every question I just said? More so, she didn't even flinch, stuttered, or even took a moment to doubt her own words. One by one, I try to divide everything she just said right now… She has 10 «Enhanced Armaments»… she didn't pay for them. Wait, she didn't?
"20 seconds left." She frowned. "I guess we need to get back to our positions. Like what's been said, you've already won and my HP is already at 0, so, again, GJ. Who would have thought that I'd actually be beaten by someone in my forte sooner or later?"
I'm not going to comment on it any further, and going to set aside my disbelief. I jumped and tried to reach for the «empty space» that I can hold onto for some reason. However, as my body held this so-called «empty space», I felt «it» bouncing for a second. What was «it», anyway? If I think about it carefully, «Accel World» closely follows reality right? So, going back to physics, what would be a reason for «air» suddenly becoming some kind of «collision-aware and touchable object»? Could it have been some kind of «heavy air»? I shook my head and continued on crawling and trying to remember the last position I had before I found myself frozen.
"By the way," even knowing how only 10 seconds remaining, I still asked it anyway. "Why can I touch «this»?"
She put on a smile, as she positioned herself 10 millimeters before my head, outside of the large impact-like vector.
"«rapid air compression»."
With that, everything turned white for a moment, resuming everything.
[Part 2]
It's been around two or so days since that «incident», yet I can't still take my eyes off of that truly wondrous scene for some reason. You can say that I missed it, myself. The feeling of exhilaration, as the «mysterious Burst Linker Kirito» simply shifted, merely milliseconds before my attack could hit him, and the feeling of a friendly battle, something I have barely experienced quite recently, with the trouble inside the «Unlimited Neutral Zone» and all, and the feeling of actually having someone that could be faster than me – it was all brand new, and refreshing. If possible, I wanted to meet him again. But how could it be possible? When I first and last saw him, he looked more like a «ghost» than a real «Burst Linker», and he didn't even have a «meaningful name», «color», or even a «level». It's as if he was an «intruder».
"An intruder huh," I awoke from my bed with a painful head.
My head still hurts from the «revelations» that had haunted me since yesterday. After the fight, I tried finding «her» again, checking the «Matching List». Nothing. There isn't even a trace of her, nor instructions of when we'll meet in the «Unlimited Neutral Zone». It's simply just weird. Plus, I was still trying to decode everything she said so far. As I would expect, the record appeared in the «memory explorer», but I even had to pause a couple of times just to get each of her messages.
First, the fact that she had 10 «Enhanced Armaments», all without paying, and all in 7 days at the most, would simply throw away all my efforts into the «trash bin». It took me around 2 weeks before I got to «Level 4», and here she's saying she got to «Level 6» in a week. Either she's lying or she has played enough games to simply know every ins and outs of fighting games. Also, where would she get «Enhanced Armaments»? From other players? From the «Unlimited Neutral Zone»? Maybe her Parent gave her enough points to «Level 4», then spend 7 days straight getting those «Enhanced Armaments»? Since she has that unique ability that allows her to change her «Leveling Bonus» at will, she could easily change her stats to suit each and every situation, whoever her opponent may be. Even still, it would usually take a month or so to level up from «Level 4» to «Level 5» and/or «Level 6». Even if she took 10 years to search and defeat various «Enemies», could she have done it alone? Moreover, how could she defeat an «Enemy» solo? Aren't those «Enemies» quite large creatures that require «other players»?
"Ah, this is getting confusing," My head rattled at the thought of pursuing this alone any further. "I'll need «Kuroyuukihime-sempai»'s advice."
Preparing my own things to school, my other hand, kept on typing onto the «virtual keyboard» as I type a new message to «Kuroyuukihime-sempai», accurately depicting the situation as I am right now. Ignoring the wiles of my own mother, I clicked the «Send» button, dashed to the exit and turned off my «Global Net Connection» as I rushed to «name of school».
I suddenly remembered part of what she had said. She said she was watching at the «Matching List» every 10 seconds in order to get to «Level 6» right? Then, is it safe to say that she's a hikkomori? That would explain many things, from the fact that she got to «Level 6» in a week, and the fact that she got around 10 «Enhanced Armaments» in a week could also be explained by her taking 10 hours in the «Unlimited Neutral Zone», eating for a few minutes, then back at the «Unlimited Neutral Zone» for another 11 or so hours. Sure enough, one could be a little too lucky to get that much (excluding the one she had when her character was created, of course). Anyway, the first priority should be to explain the situation to «Kuroyuukihime-sempai». I'm sure she'll come up with something.
Without me noticing the time, it was already around 12 am. I could have simply tried connecting to the «Global Net» again and simply go around defeating random enemies on the way, but something tells me that my current win-lose percentage of 80% is enough for now. I dragged my small, fat body towards the usual place where I and «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» would usually meet. It's easy to say that it had been something no less than a memento of our relationship: I became her «Child» ever since I sat on that same table.
"Kuroyuukihime-sempai!"
I waved my hands, displaying a happy expression.
"Ah, Haruyuki-kun." Her calm expression was priceless. "I already read «your message»."
She quickly took the usual 1 meter long «XSB Cable» and connected without much delay from either party. I was starting to wonder if my embarrassment regarding «XSB Cables» had disappeared completely. No, I was sure that I didn't care anymore about the culture revolving around «XSB Cables». I guess this is one of the eventual «consequences» of having «your reality flipped, warped, and turned inside out».
"So," without fail, her thoughts reached mine quite quickly. "This «Sapphire Controller» you encountered… does it strike to you as odd?"
"Well," I instinctively blushed the second she stared at me. "S-She's quite something… well, first, she said she had only started «Brain Burst» 7 days ago, yet is now at «Level 6», has 10 «Enhanced Armaments», and apparently, she doesn't belong to any «Legion»."
"That's quite a rare case of a natural talent you have there," she twisted her arm and dragged her index finger down. "Apparently, I have never encountered that girl either. It is entirely within the realm of probability to be able to reach «Level 6» in a week, especially as a «solo player». In fact, if I had known better, you would have done the same as well – if not for the endless amount of troubles that the «Nega Nebulous» has encountered so far."
I sheepishly laughed.
"So, what was her purpose?" Kuuroyukihime-sempai's voice sounded a bit more assertive. "I had assumed you asked her somehow."
I nodded with certainty.
"She said…" I tried to imitate her squeaky childish voice. "Your job involves stuff you may not understand until we get there. You get «this item», and the truth about «Kirito». «This item» probably referred to the ultra-rare «Enhanced Armament» she has, something like a «Pocket Watch»."
"The truth about «Kirito»," her face turned a bit serious. "What does it have to do with the so-called job she's offering you?"
I scratched my head, thinking about it. What DOES «Kirito» have anything to do with the job she offered me? Could it be that she wants me to track this «Kirito» guy? Second, what is the «truth»? Who is «Kirito», really? I have long speculated what the mysterious «Burst Linker» could be. He might be a «time traveler», an «esper», an «alien», or a «slider». Wait, wait, wait, wrong anime. One probability I have entertained, though, would be the probability of being a real «ghost», since there has always been stories regarding the theories behind «Neuro-Linker».
One crackpot theory that somehow made sense was the theory that «quantum-based virtual reality hardware» was already done by 2028, and that the Japanese government was using it to create «Bottom Top AI» to replace the humans in fighter jets. However, there has been no viable proof of that even existing in the first place, and, even during the «AI Revolution of 2032» back in the early years of «Neuro-Linkers» and «quantum-based AIs and VR», it has been determined that «Bottom Top AI» should have the same rights as a humans and be treated accordingly, and thus there should have been no official attempts of duplicating the quantum states in your brain (the «Nuero-Linker» itself does not copy quantum states) to create a perfect copy as a «Bottom Top AI» and using it for military purposes. Since then, «Bottom Top AI» has been developed by several computer scientists all over the years, supported by several global companies such as «Leilblich Pharmaceutical», «Mirco-Apple Corporation», and other young local companies such as the then-new «Neo RECTO Corporation», «ALICE Corporation», and «ICU Artificial Intelligence Laboratories» until finally in 2034, the first full-pledged «Bottom Top AI Human» was developed. However, it would most likely be viable if somehow it did exist, only behind military confidentiality.
"I really don't have that much of an idea," I responded. "But, there is one thing: she offered me the job when I was able to keep up to her «pocket watch's special ability», which accelerates time by 1,000,000x."
"1,000,000x" Kuuroyukihime-sempai's tone died out. "So that thing did exist huh…"
"That thing?"
"There has been a recent rumor of a watch that exceeds the limits of «Burst Link»," Kuroyuukihime-sempai explained. "It all started around a week ago, and has actually spread throughout the entire «accelerated world». The fact of the matter is: every «Burst Linker», save for the ones we're fighting against, have an interest in actually «accelerating faster than the limit», so such a rumor like a watch that exceeds that said limit would have been pretty normal. But, the fact that you yourself have experienced it, then the rumors must be true after all."
She reached for her tea, and eloquently sipped it.
"If you could obtain this «item», then it would be crucial to our plans." Kuroyuukihime-sempai's deduction was flawless. "However, it wouldn't be safe knowing that she has a … how you call it … troublesome past. It would be best if we could find out who her «Parent» is, or information about her IRL."
It was just as «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» had said: we aren't sure who this girl is. We aren't even sure where she came from. There is that slight probability that she's actually part of the group «Dusk Taker» and «Rust Jigsaw» belong to. There's also the probability that this is part of another one of «Yellow Radio's plans» again. There's just as an «equal possibility» that we're looking at something bigger, something related to «Accel World» itself or something a lot smaller, something similar to a trap to lure me into uninstalling «Brain Burst».
"Should I try to contact her again?" the question popped in my head.
"If you have an idea," Kuroyuukihime-sempai shrugged. "Then we wouldn't be having this conversation longer, would we?"
My hands reached for the «Message» option in my «Neuro-Linker», and opened the usual «Inbox» pop-up. Who am I kidding? Somehow, I was expecting «her» to actually send me a message. Is that how much I trust her now, that I'll be able to tell when she'll message me that instant? I may be a hopeless dreamer, but surely, based on how she talked, that she has good intentions. Somehow, she was telling me that this job has a good purpose. I swore to myself one simple thing: to know more about her the second I receive contact. But, isn't that simple enough?
"A message has appeared." I quickly relayed my thoughts to her.
My eyes blinked in surprise. I really DID trust her now, didn't I?
"What did it say?"
"Let's see…" I opened the message. Three simple words appeared at the bottom of the Subject Title.
I'm going there.
Those were the very words that can easily pierce my heart. I can't even conjugate a clear sentence of thought to say to «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» right now.
"Oi, Haruyuki-kun!" Her own words snapped me out of my own confusion.
"She said, 'I'm going there' "
"What?"
She deserves to get an award in English right now, because that was just the exact tone, intonation, and accent of a regular North American resident.
"Yo."
Both our heads turned to the door into the closed hallways of «Umesato Midlle High School». Surprisingly, there was no major difference between the girl's figure or voice, except for the fact that it was a lot less blue, and that her «color» hair fluttered naturally as she walked towards the table we were at. Her unusually large ahoge, however, defied the laws of aerodynamics. The girl's beauty mark, just before her left eye, seemed to outshine her otherwise fair complexion. She wore casual clothes, something unheard of in a school like this, but, instead of demoralizing her, it simply enhanced her child-like stature. As if suddenly stunned by her beauty, Kuroyuukihime-sempai suddenly held my hand readily, and approached the target with a critical eye. Something seemed unusual, however: her «Neuro-Linker» looked brand new.
"Sapphire Controller, correct?" she casually said.
"And Kuroyuukihime-sempai, correct?" she replied with a question, and innocently smiled, taking the first step. "Let's all talk at that table you had set up, yes?"
She had an entirely different aura from anyone I've seen so far. How should I say it: she had the real aura of a normal school girl? She was nothing like Chiyu, who, with me and Taku, make a pretty good team, or «Yuniko», who looked like a regular school girl with a nice personality, who simply hides her rather vicious side. Something tells me, however, that it was an intentional move. Surely, you can't say she is, in any way, shape, or form, a traitor, or have dangerous or malicious intentions. Just a few moments ago, we were practically begging for her to come, yet, she's here, and we're on a greater guard than ever. For one, she shouldn't be able to know where we attend school, because I did tell her anything. And how did she knew where exactly we are, at this time, or how she knew «Kuroyuukihime-sempai», it was all insanely weird, and accurate. One question could only be asked: who is this girl?
As the girls set up places at the usual place where I and Kuroyuukihime-sempai usually seat at, I saw «Safu» positioning herself right in the middle of both of us, right before the window. She quickly handed two «XSB cables» to each of us, and positioned them right at the «Neuro-Linker». She set them up in an unusual pattern: she missed the slot to her «XSB port» thrice. Again, the feeling of dissonance lingered even more. It was like when I saw that «Neuro-Linker». There wasn't much resistance in the end, however. Consequently, Kuroyuukihime-sempai kept a close eye on her actions.
"So," Safu kept on clicking the different buttons in her «Neuro-Linker Interface». "Tell me everything you want to ask, right here, right now."
Again, she initiated the move of "Ask now, no asking later" policy.
"Alright," Kuroyuukihime-sempai initially jerked for a bit at the girl's surprising move, but calmed down and handed a cup of tea to her, before asking, "Did you really have the «Neuro-Linker» since birth?"
I silently gasped, So that's what that feeling of dissonance came from!
It wasn't as surprising, however, how Kuroyuukihime-sempai had figured it all out so quickly. It was the very first rule of having «Brain Burst»: you must have «Neuro-Linker» since birth. But she had never shown even a sense of having familiarized with the controls themselves. Yet, the question of 'How' remains. How does one override the first and foremost rule of «Neuro-Linkers»? It is virtually impossible to «lie» to a «Neuro-Linker», because it accesses your entire «memory» in your «brain» and digitalizes them. This includes basic details such as «birthday» and «documented real name». The only way for that to be actually possible would be to «crack open» the «Neuro-Linker», and actually reprogram a new «VR machine» to function like the real one. I haven't seen how the «Brain Implant Chip» works, but, with how they operate, it seems that they too, are limited by that single condition. So is such a thing even possible? Does anyone in this world have the capacity to create a «4th Generation VR Machine» that entirely emulates the «Neuro-Linker», which by itself took the efforts of so many global companies? And how do you lie to a machine that accesses your brain?
"Eh…" she smiled innocently, "… so you can tell, huh?"
Kuroyuukihime-sempai conveniently placed her left arm on table and her hand on her chin.
"It's actually possible huh…"
"But… how?" I tried to keep my voice from shaking.
"It's simple really," she leaned over her chair. "I simply edited the game client to disable the age check."
Hacking in 2046 was never the same as hacking 30 years earlier. What was once filled with intense luck and persistence, trying to brute force what was once a password for hours on a 2D laptop was now long gone. It was on an age where «programmers» were essentially the same as «hackers». Those who had the ancient knowledge of the word «architecture assembly» became the very gods of «Neuro-Linker hacking», who have made possible things normally inaccessible to man such as «pain enhancers», «dream makers», «emotion grabbing», «thought reading», etc. One of the very applications I had to get from the black market, which was basically a simulation of a gun and bullet, was one of those results. Thus, there's always a high chance that the man who developed «Brain Burst» must be someone who could manipulate the «Neuro-Linker» so well it would be possible to even remove «memories» related to it upon uninstallation.
"Were there other things that were changed in your client?" I asked.
"Among other things," she blinked and focused her gaze at Kuroyuukihime-sempai. "Several suspicious functions were deleted in the client, such as «removal of memories», «copy install limits», and «inability to reinstall the program itself»."
"But," Kuroyuukihime-sempai gazed at me and back at her, instantly spotting her indifferent expression, "Even if what you say is true, it would be just as easy to patch the server to fix those bugs."
"True," Safu smiled. "But it's not like I'm planning to stay…"
"You mean…" Haru's voice was cut off by her declared statement.
"I plan to uninstall «Brain Burst» after this."
Nothing was ever sadder than to see a «Burst Linker» leave. It was sad when the 5th generation «Chrome Disaster» had to be beaten simply in order to achieve peace in this accelerated world. How did I really feel when I saw «Noumi's face» when he saw me, and simply brushing everything he had done so far as nothing, just because he had forgotten all about «Brain Burst» and everything related to it? In the end, it was a bit disheartening when «Noumi» had to pay with all his crimes… or should I say that it was disappointing that I have never saw «Noumi's face» when he would realize that he can never «accelerate» ever again. It was «inherently worrisome» whenever «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» would have to fight another «Level 9» and possibly risk losing all her memories of me. However, the thing that might worry me the most is «what if we both fail». No, that will never happen right? But, she had the capacity to fight. She was even a lot faster than I was. Yet, she's willing to throw it all away?
"Why?" With a weak voice, my voice was still assertive. "You could have been a great «Burst Linker»…"
"Because I don't belong in that world, I can't," She sipped the last of her tea.
"What do you mean…?"
My mouth went agape, but the girl simply budged her chair. Her composite eyes caught a glimpse of the outside world.
"I mean what I mean."
"Very cryptic, are you?" Kuroyuukihime-sempai still has kept her composure in spite of this.
"No," she shook her head. "I do mean what I mean. I don't belong in «Accel World». Unfortunately, as much as I love «fighting games» in general, I have a better duty to serve… and people I care about to protect. And tea and cakes to sip."
Was the last part really necessary? That really sounded like coming from a Slice of Life anime.
"Besides," she pressed a few buttons in her «Neuro-Linker interface», "It's not like it's going to take long. It's just going take a day or so."
Kuroyuukihime-sempai heaved a sigh.
"Okay."
Safu's smile shimmered.
"Thank you very much; I'll take care of him as you do, Sa-… Kuroyuukihime-sempai."
Sa…? Wait, does she know her name? Even people at school call her Kuroyuukihime; I've never seen anyone say her real name out of the blue. Even the school records and her «Real ID» display her alias and not her real name. But why is that? Was her name that intriguing? I quickly shook off these thoughts and tried to focus on the two.
"However," Kuroyuukihime-sempai stood up, with her glaring eyes trying to penetrate Safu's very soul. "How much do you know about «Kirito», and what does he have to do with your job?"
That very second, a premonition covered my very eyes, trying to consume me whole. 3 years ago, when I was watching one of the Sunday afternoon retro anime slots, a certain anime caught my attention. Sure it was partly boring, but it had its moments of shine right there and there, coming from an anime company now renowned for its marvelous masterpieces. Back then, when the stakes were higher for it, they released shows with quality far ahead of the current media. People, arguably, were worshipping their direction, while many others were criticizing them at every corner, for their every action, even up until now. But why did this came to me? Did it have anything to do with this girl? I can't put my hand on it, as if «something» is stopping me. It can't be «Chrome Disaster» right? I've already seen it separate into «The Destiny» and «Star Caster»; it should be impossible that such a curse could be back in «this accelerated world», «The Beast» inside me being the only remnant left, although I'm not even sure of how to describe it myself. It was only Safu's straight voice that snapped me out of my over-thinking.
"…Everything," she continued, "as in everything, and the fact that this knowledge will be needed to save this world."
"Save…?!" Haru's voice leaked out.
"Jaa ne~"
With a squeaky voice as clear as day, an unpredictable echo pierced through the two flabbergasted figures.
[Part 3]
"Oi, oi,"
A certain someone was already in front of me as I walked mindlessly through the hallways. Her irreplaceable cute face never seems to end in radiance, and neither is her never-ending wit.
"Oh, Chiyu," a flaccid answer escaped my lips.
"I've heard from Kuroyuukihime-sempai," a peeved Chiyu sandwiched her two hands on my face. "What were you thinking? Is that girl even to be trusted?"
"She does seem to have the innocence of Utai, «Ardor Maiden»," I couldn't help but sheepishly reply. "B-Besides, she doesn't seem to have any malicious intent towards us."
I continued on, taking small steps towards our classroom, Chiyu following suit.
"It's not like I didn't mind," Chiyu smiled. "You always seem to get into all sorts of troubles, you know…"
While inherently unbelievable, I have, inevitably, been into all sorts of troubles just too lately. Or you could also say that my entire «existence» is based from these «troubles»: from the issue with Taku as the old «Cyan Pile», to «Scarlet Rain, Cherry Rook, and the 5th Generation Disaster Armor», to «Dusk Taker», to me becoming the «6th Generation Chrome Disaster», and now the ever recurring problem with the «Acceleration Research Society». Sometimes, I wish I could just freely spend 10 of my points and spend a month in the «Unlimited Neutral Zone» simply to take a break from this complicated mess. I'm very sure she won't like it, however.
"I know…" the words slipped through my mouth, "…even if it's such a pain if it became a trouble in the end, don't you think I'm fated to such a thing?"
"That's not true!"
The fitting image of Chiyu lowering her hips and gazing with me eye to eye froze me.
"I think that it's still possible to live a normal life, you know… in spite of what happened and what's still happening…"
"You really think so…? Do you really think, in spite of how serious this game has turned out to people like me and Taku and Kuroyukihime-sempai, it's still possible to live such a normal life?"
These were my honest questions.
"Why not?" Chiyu's easygoing answer was always a refreshing change of pace. "I don't see why any of these should change what we think. I'm starting to doubt if Fuuko-chan really taught you properly."
"I-It's not like I…" I instantly blushed at the fact that Chiyu knew the training I had with «Sky Raker». "…anyway, what do you mean…?"
"Did you forget?" she heaved a sigh. "It can't be helped. Here's a clue: the truth about the accelerated world…"
That very instant, I knew what it meant. What is my truth? Didn't we believe in bonds, in friendship, in hope beyond the future? What is the truth of the world? These questions continued to pop in my head. All throughout as I progressed in «Accel World», I had acquired my own truth, didn't I? Didn't I believe in such a thing called a "Truth"? Didn't I even accept my own "darkness", the «Beast» inside of me?
A thin, yet reassuring smile covered my face.
"Thank you, Chiyu."
The two stepped in in the classroom, with faces that glanced at the two before continuing on to class. In the midst of the ever-noisy class, a stood-out Taku raised an eyebrow to me. A warm, permeating feeling of bliss touched my heart, something I've always felt within my 2 friends, but only now Im able to realize it as a miracle in itself. I was sure that there are people worst off than me, and, maybe even Kuroyuukihime-sempai had the dark past of her own.
Then after the last period…
"So, Haruyuki," Taku gave a thin smile, "You're really going to go, huh…"
"Well," I sheepishly replied, "I-It's not like she has an ounce of malice in her. I can certainly feel that whatever she has planned out, it wouldn't be anything inherently bad. It'll probably be over before you know it, you know…"
"Well," Taku sighed. "Be sure to be there on Saturday, at the very least."
"Oh. C'mon…" Chiyu retorted. "It's not like Haru's going to be kidnapped or something, right? And besides, that girl's going to be in his arms again, right?"
That girl, Chiyu, you're referring to, is Kuroyuukihime-sempai. At least give her an ounce of respect.
"Don't worry," I responded. "I'll do just that, Taku, Chiyu."
With that, the three separated at the hallway fork, with me stepping towards the senior year tables, and with Chiyu and Taku making their way home.
"But," I quickly muttered, "What did Safu mean by 'saving the world'?"
Saving the world could always mean different things: it could mean that she's saving the «accelerated world» from something – a bad entity undisclosed so far. But, could there be any other antagonists other than «Black Vise» and his group of thugs? I doubt that in such a world where «acceleration» is everything, people would have even the never to simply try to ruin it. Even the «Radioactive Disturber», in spite of his plan of trying to assault «Scarlet Rain», never intended to ruin this precious world in the first place.
"Still," I quickly turned to the right as I approached the unpopulated aisle full of round tables. "I have no idea…"
Kuroyuukihime-sempai's question flashed again before my very eyes.
How much do you know about Kirito? Everything.
Speaking of which, what did «Kirito» have anything to do with this mission? Could it be that «Kirito» is a real Burst Linker, not a ghost? Is he even «defeatable»? Who is «Kirito» anyway? Well, it's not like anything could come up with me simply asking so many questions in vain, but it was inevitable.
"Haruyuki-kun," her ever-soothing smile welcomed me into her table. "Let's go."
"Umm… Kuroyukihime-sempai…" I muttered as I approached her. "…about Kirito."
"Eh," she calmly nodded. "I know. I think I should be the one explaining…"
"Eh."
For some reason, I was totally surprised. Why was that? For some reason, I didn't expect this development, a voice saying to me – you should be surprised. But, I'm not someone who can predict people's actions, aren't I? I quickly shook my head in denial and quickly sat at one of the chairs. I can already see Kuroyukihime-sempai's mix of emotions: it was obvious that she was somehow hesitating, but she could also see the worry in her eyes, and the blushing of her cheeks.
"Umm…" for some reason, I had spoken to her with an unprecedented courageous tone, "…if you should say it, you should say it. I don't mind at all."
"T-Thank you, Haruyuki-kun," she had calmed down, and directly stared at me, "You should know what Sapphire Controller was talking about. This is… about the mysterious Burst Linker you encountered, Kirito, isn't it?"
"She did mention it, didn't she?" Haru quickly recalled. "She said it had something to do with him, but… I have no idea how it is…"
"You see…" Kuroyuukihime-sempai explained. "Kirito is no ordinary Burst Linker. What you described as Kirito last Friday, isn't a Burst Linker."
"Eh…"
I couldn't understand what Kuroyuukihime-sempai had in mind. It's safe to say that I could not at all comprehend how can someone simply break into the system and participate in a «Burst Link battle», or even break into a server no one knows. However, Kuroyuukihime-sempai had stopped right then and there, and a short sigh of relief escaped from her.
"So," she paused for a short moment. "If you find a fault in her words… «Log Out» immediately."
I nodded affirmatively, "I'll do that."
"But, first," she sat down, opting me to do the same. "Let's chat for a bit."
A thin smile escaped my lips.
"So," I sat down as my ears eked several other students, talking about mostly me and Kuroyuukihime-sempai. "Uh… is there anything else we need to talk about, sempai?"
"Well, uh…" All of a sudden, I can clearly hear the stuttering in her voice. "W-Well… you see…"
She twirled her fingers and hit a virtual button, causing a light peach ticket of some sort to float from Kuroyuukihime-sempai's palm to mine. Judging from how the Neuro-Linker rendered the virtual ticket, it took the form of a thin sheet of paper, with a broken lines separating around a third of the ticket. Etched within the ticket was two copies of a serial number, a series of symbols and letters – around 5 figures worth.
"W-W-Wait," I flipped over and hit the back of my head on the hard tiled floor. "I-Is this for real? Isn't this the new World Heart Carnival in Akihabara?!"
"Umm… actually…" Kuroyuukihime-sempai scratched her head. "I actually invited Fuuko-san and Megumi-san as well, if you don't mind. Actually, we had somehow won a school-wide ticket for a new photo-based promo in the senior's virtual network. Apparently, Megumi-san was able to get ahold of my bikini suit in Okinawa and posted it on «Flickbook», instantly gaining around a million likes. I had no idea where those likes came from, but it seems that I 'won' the price."
I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh and make myself a fool in front of the other people, who seemed to have gotten used to us «direct linking» without an etch of embarrassment, "Well, it seems that friend of yours is quite a clever girl."
"I'm not even sure when she'll stop…" she etched a thin bitter smile, "But, I personally think its better this way, don't you think? In truth, I don't know any more what to think of her past. Even since the Okinawan incident, it has been bugging me… what was Megumi before?"
"Huh?"
I couldn't follow that at all.
"… Megumi seems to be an «ex-Burst Linker»."
"Eh?" My expression blanked out. "You mean she's almost like Noumi now?"
"Yes, it shouldn't come as surprising knowing everything about it."
"But…"
For some reason, I wanted to talk to her; to the sempai's friend. I wanted to defend the 'her' who was once in «Brain Burst» - the one who will never come back again. Even though I felt no sympathy as I ended my fight with Noumi for good, I still felt a lingering sadness for all the other «Burst Linkers» out there. Could «Chrome Falcon» have wanted a Blissful Ending to his suffering, not knowing even his own lover? The answer immediately crossed my mind, but I shook my head in denial.
"Anyway, how did you befriend Megumi-sempai, anyway?"
An immediate answer came to mine, but it was Kuroyuukihime-sempai who spouted it.
"It was rather the opposite, actually…"
A straight 'eh' came out of my mouth, "Megumi-sempai actually has the guts to do that, huh."
"Don't underestimate that girl, «Haruyuki-kun»," Kuroyuukihime-sempai raised her voice a bit. "She's was probably the only one who kept me anchored to reality all this time, you know."
"In the end, I can't really say anything about her." I said, trying to get on the safe side of things. "She seems to be a good friend to you, but well, whenever I meet her, she has this quite a scary face, you know… it's almost like she wants to kill me or something… it was cruel."
Kuroyuukihime-sempai giggled, "Well, I guess you can say that it's pretty normal for her to be like that. Not that I blame her, but she's her. Even if she was an «Ex-Burst Linker», it wouldn't be a real excuse, would it?"
"Well, not really…" I sheepishly laughed the matter off. "It's not as if-"
[You have New Mail!]
The grey monotone pop-up appeared in the center of my vision. The message, obviously, was from that girl, «Sapphire Controller». She even seemed to cover her name too with her Accel World alias. I carefully clicked on the «Read Message» button, with Kuyoyukihime-sempai looking serious, knowing my face.
"She's texted me to meet with her… in the «Unlimited Neutral Zone» with you."
[Part 4]
"Ready?"
Her voice transmitted from «Safu» to me sounded like retro radio waves.
"Ready, «Haruyuki-kun»?"
Kuroyuukihime-sempai's voice was just beside mine: a voice as stern as the night, and as clear as day.
"Yes," I nodded.
"«Unlimited Burst»!"
Kuroyuukihime-sempai and I transformed into our Duel Avatars «Black Lotus» and «Silver Crow» simultaneously. With a sudden flash, the wide horizon of «Dark City» spawned up through the entire arena. What are we doing here? The thought quickly crossed my mind, but was sliced by the presence of a familiar face just a few hundred meters after us two. Kuroyuukihime-sempai's figure froze for a few seconds, apparently quite in a partial shock as I was when I first saw the very human-like image of her.
"Let's go." «Sapphire Controller» kept a rather straight face, sending chills down my spine.
We hesitantly followed «Sapphire Controller» through the endless charade of fake buildings and figures that looked quite similar to their real life counterparts. It didn't take long before we couldn't even recognize the scenery anymore, but one thing's for sure: it seems that we have reached Tokyo. until we reached a rather safe point - it seemed to portray a rather large monochromatic griseous skyscraper, which seems to have imitated the 2010 generation designs, whose minimalist designs have yet to falter in popularity.
My head quickly turned left and right, looking if there are other «Players» in this area, and continued on. Just beyond the visible distance, the sound of crackling buildings echoed through the area like crumbs of biscuits. While, inside the supposedly vacant building, as the three seemed to meander through the endless stairs and labyrinths, the sound of demolishing buildings gradually dissipated, until only silence, and the sound of our metallic joints clashing with one another remained. Finally, the two reached a certain room – a glowing floating ship-like block glimmered through the entire room, enough to give a mysterious aura to it. The plain azure walls themselves give a divine feeling – a feeling that these are one of those things in «Accel World» that must never be touched. Even Kuroyuukihime-sempai simply stood beside me without a word.
"So," «Sapphire Controller» broke the silence with her squeaky voice, "What do you think…?"
"This is an amazing find," Kuroyuukihime-sempai spoke in a forcibly calm tone.
"Wow…" I couldn't help but say it. It really was something really no one could possibly find in the middle of nowhere.
"Even if the building were to be destroyed," the girl at the front spoke with certainty, as far as first impressions go, "this room will never be destroyed."
"Because it's on a separate room, isn't it?"
"It's pretty much so," the glimmering sapphire girl nodded. "Well, not to mention that the room itself is suspicious enough – it has the engravings of several other games you all might be familiar with."
I quickly scouted at the engravings throughout the artifact. AA, BB, CC, UW...
"AA…BB…CC… AW" I muttered. "Accel Assault… Brain Burst… Cosmo Corrupt… Accel World?"
"Hmm…" Kuroyukihime-sempai sounded a bit more concerned. "… didn't the hacker who had penetrated the school network mention something like Accel Assault?"
"I also remembered Green Grande – the Green King," my head seemed to have spun, as if forcing myself to remember it. "He mentioned something about Accel Assault being Trial #1, and Accel World being Trial #2, and Cosmo Corrupt being Trial #3. What does this mean…?"
My mind was a bit fuzzy, but I still remembered the "talk" I had with the Green King.
"About that," «Sapphire Controller» curled her lips and made a faint smile, "If I hadn't known better, I'd quickly assumed that those acronyms are somehow connected to each other."
"Are they not?" Kuroyuukihime-sempai asked, almost comically.
"Indeed, they are."
"Then," a question popped in my mind. "Why are we here?"
Indeed, it was a settling scene, and it was something anyone could easily avoid. But why does it have to be here? Is there something special in this place worth the trouble? As «Sapphire Controller» continued to encircle around the blocks of light figurines, a new acronym started to appear, glowing in a red light.
"W-What's that…?!"
"Finally," «Sapphire Controller» sighed. "I should have sworn it was around this time."
The words, REALO, appeared right in the red block. The entire artifact-looking server pulsated with a mysteriously fluctuating light, while the very carvings that formed it glowed in a bright neon cyan light. The humming sound of a newly booted up retro 3D PC resounded in my ears, almost like nostalgia, but I quickly shook off the fact. I glanced at the block again – it had been replaced by clear alphabet words: GG.
"It's here," she flimsily searched her pocket, (I mean, does that uniform actually have a real pocket, in reality?) and took out the same time stopwatch she used during that fight. My heart pulsed at the sight of it, as if it wants me to use it. My entire body was pulsing in an irrationally increasing heartbeat. Somehow, I'm being forced to be worried – but why would I be?
"I guess I need to explain, huh," the hands of «Sapphire Controller» gently touched the artifact, causing it to glow with a light green aura before descending back into the usual light cyan aura. "As you see… «Kirito» isn't a Burst Linker – well if he was I wouldn't be here right now, would I?"
She stepped closer… and closer, until our noses touched one another.
"«Kuroyuukihime» already knew everything from the start," she whispered.
"Now then," she jerked backwards and into the block. "Can I ask what 'REAL' is in Japanese…?"
Eh? Isn't this question a little bit too sudden? Also, wouldn't real be jitsu in Japanese? It doesn't make sense at all.
"I see," Kuroyuukihime-sempai replied with certainty. "REAL Online… it's basically a game… A real game… a game of reality… Therefore, the real code name is genjitsu no gaamu – GG"
"G… G…?!" I touched the artifact… or I would have if «Kuroyuukihime-sempai» didn't block it with her blade. "Then… it's all a pattern…?!"
"Apparently so," Kuroyuukihime-sempai confirmed. "AA… BB… CC… GG… then, where would DD, EE, FF be? What made UW different from the rest of them?"
"The better question would be what UW mean…"
"Well, well, then…" she let out a grin, "Let's start rebuilding the «past»."
«Rebuilding the Past» is nothing like I imagined it to be. It's not as if every person in history took a record of every past event and covered it in a 1 ZB SQD (Solid Quantum Drive). Even until now, there has been recent uproars in the Internet community regarding the new law being passed all over the world. The law was called something like «Commoditization of Memory Law», which allows anyone to sell and/or buy «Memory Files» from other people for a rather large sum of money. It also bans all possible methods and loopholes for other people «catching and decoding» - as they call it – «Memory Files» from other people. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense, really. Well, in this case, «Burst Link» itself has been erasing the memories of people that have permanently left this world: even if such a law would pass, it wouldn't simply make sense that someone will be able to scoop up this application from anywhere, being secretive and all. In fact, it already fails the first rule of the «VR Law of 2032», that is – having 0 pain.
"As you can see… this VR world... is part of the series of special quantum worlds designed by 3 major scientists. Well, one of those scientists – Kayaba Akihiko – created the very first VR machine, the «NervGear»."
The hand of the sapphire gem touched the relic once again, this time seemingly pressing something. As her hands slipped through the object, the runes and lines around the entire room pulsated like a heartbeat, piercing through our bodies like shaken cards on a pyramid.
"«NervGear»?"
My heart skipped a beat. It was the conspicuous VR that nobody really talked about in detail, other than it became increasingly obsolete by 2024 and replaced by the «Amusphere», a rather good portable «VR device». The said gear lacked the «VR feel» of the «NervGear», but had a lot more security features and performance upgrades. It was said to be the leading series of VRs before the emergence of the «Nerve-Linker».
"Yes, the same gear that «Kirito» once used… isn't that right, «Sayu-chan»?"
She… really knows everything!
"T-Then... B-But what does it have to do with what I need to do?!"
"Wait, «Haruyuki-kun»," Kuroyuukihime-sempai readied her blade as one of them stopped me from making a step. "Something still doesn't make sense…"
…Maybe this will change things for the better.
For a second, I thought I heard «Sapphire Controller's voice» out of nowhere. Even the voice did not seem to come from anywhere else but "everywhere". What was that? Was it a premonition? Telekinesis?
I felt my spine chilling, as if something is about to happen.
Something bad.
Something I might lose for good.
"It was the event that shook the world." « I can't believe the youth will easily forget the «relics of the past». This generation is quite a shame from mine, where everything was still accessible." A stopwatch materialized out of several small particles of light. It was the very same «Stopwatch» I saw back then.
"Now, «Haruyuki-kun»… Come… and see the event that occurred 24 years ago – the legend of the Black Swordsman… the legend in the «death game» called «Sword Art Online», the first real «VRMMO»…"
All of a sudden, Kuroyukihime-sempai's hands moved aside, as if encouraging me to press on. I myself was magnetized at the object… as if… I want to use it. However, another personality behind me was telling me to back out – to stay away from that girl. However, my reason aside, I stepped forward, step by step…
"H-Haru….yu…ki-kun…no…"
Something is calling out to me at the back, it was Kuroyuukihime-sempai. However, I continued to slowly step forward, nearer and nearer to her. I didn't turn back to see her face… or you could say that I couldn't. Even my own consciousness is trying to shut me off… What's… happening to me?
"There, there, Haruyuki-kun… come closer… just like I tell you to."
My hands finally reached the «Stopwatch». My mind… completely numb, stared at the new item that appeared in my «Neuro-Linker» interface that mysteriously appeared in my screen.
"NLI (Neuro-Linker Item) «Alpha Reverse Stopwatch» acquired. Do you want to use it?"
My shaking hands steadily tried to reach at the Yes button. I could already hear Kuroyuukihime-sempai screaming, but for some reason I can't even think of anything but put my hands at the yes. Such a thing has never happened to me before.
Could this be an ability of «Sapphire Controller»?
It could be.
It wouldn't be impossible.
Then… what am I doing?
I… can't think of anything.
I'm…not allowed to.
But…how?
How is that even possible?
I had fully pressed the button. My mind swiveled, and my entire vertigo twirled backwards, as my vision fully blackened out – even more black than the avatar of «Black Lotus», or the darkness I felt when I encountered «The Beast». It was pure black – a perfect void. Even the memory I had a few moments ago was slowly disappearing. I had already forgotten what I just thought a few moments ago.
"I'm…sorry… Kuroyuukihime-sempai."
As I said that, my consciousness faded away.
[End of Chapter 1]
Notes:
It's 11:57 PM Friday here… ticking away until 12:00 AM, the deadline for this. Why did this happen? Well, I stumbled across Madolche and was so psyched when I learned about the "new cards" that I spent nearly a week getting a deck for it. Really. Sorry…. XD
Well, at least I finished it… now for Chapter 2.
