Hey guys PyroDagger here, yeah another fanfic, but this one is about two things I know pretty well (I still need to get through SAO2, and Alicization (And I'm probably gonna watch SAO Extra after I'm done with those two), but eh this mainly concerns the first Arc of SAO). So I should have a much better writing this one unlike the others which are still in Writing Purgatory. So anyway like the summary says this is pretty much SAO but Phantasy Star, except instead of it following Kirito, it's gonna follow my OCs, and it takes place in a more realistic future. Kirito, Asuna, and all the other important SAO are still here they just don't play as much of a major as they did in SAO. Anyway with that out of the way I'll see you guys at the end, bye.

Episode 0: Entering the Virtual World

Xavier: (Thinking) It's gonna open any time now. Then I'll be able to finally play it... Phantasy Star Online 2. Reviewers, and Beta Testers say that it's the best game on the NerveGear. I've gotta try it.

(He looks at the computer, the time is 4:59 PM, and the day is July 4th 2022 - Independence Day. Xavier then takes a deep breath before putting on the NerveGear, and lying down on his bed)

Xavier: *Deep Breath* Link Start!

(Xavier sees a bootup sequence just like the one in SAO, before being brought to the Character Creation Screen for PSO2. The Character Creation Screen looks to be a combination between the one from PSO2, and Alfheim Online)

Xavier: Holy crap! This is amazing! This isn't anything like I was expecting! If I'm this amazed by a simple Character Creation Screen I wonder who far my jaw will drop once I get into the real game.

(Xavier then hears a woman's voice)

Guide: Hello there New Player. Please pick your Class, Race, and Gender. Then enter the name of your Character.

(Xavier is then given a list of 6 Classes to choose from, each one represented by their icons from the real PSO2)

Hunter:

Weapons - Sword, Partizan, Wired Lance, Gunblade

Class Summary - Hunter is a class boasting high HP, and defenses, as well as skills suited to melee combat, and holding enemy attention

Ranger:

Weapons - Assault Riffle, Launcher, Gunblade

Class Summary - Ranger is a long-ranger class with a fair amount of R-ATK with access to skills that may assist themselves, and others deal more damage to weak points; it uniquely has the ability to see Traps on the field

Force:

Weapons - Rod, Tails, Gunblade

Class Summary - Force is a long-range class with high T-ATK, and access to Techniques of all Elements, though alone it only benefits Fire, Ice, and Bolt.

Braver:

Weapons - Bow, Katana, Gunblade

Class Summary - Braver is a close/long-range class with high S-ATK & R-ATK.

Bouncer:

Weapons - Dual Blades, Jet Boots, Gunblade

Class Summary - Bouncer is a close/long-range class, it boasts high S-ATK, and high T-ATK.

Summoner:

Weapons - Takt, Gunblade

Class Summary - Summoner is a long-range class, with a focus on raising, and supporting Pets which attack for them.

Xavier: Alright. I'm gonna go with... Braver. Seems to be a decent Class.

Guide: You have chosen the Braver Class. Now choose your Race.

(Xavier is then presented with 4 Races to choose from, each represented by a default appearance)

Human:

Race Summary - Humans have good HP, and either good S-ATK & S-DEF, or good T-ATK & T-DEF depending on the gender the player chooses. Neither gender has particularly low stats. They are geared towards the Hunter, and Fighter Classes.

Xavier: Fighter Class? I didn't see a Fighter Class in the Selection... Hmm... Maybe it's only accessible once you enter the game, or maybe it's gonna come in an Update. Either way it seems kinda weird that they would mention it here.

Newman:

Race Summary - Newmans have good T-ATK, and either good R-DEF, or good T-DEF depending on the gender the player chooses. But they have low HP, and DEX. They are geared towards the Force, and Techer Classes.

CAST:

Race Summary - CASTs have good HP, S-ATK, R-ATK, and DEX. Along with either good S-DEF, or good R-DEF, depending on which gender the player chooses. But they have low T-ATK, and T-DEF. They are geared towards the Ranger, and Gunner Classes.

Deuman:

Race Summary - Deumans have good S-ATK, R-ATK, and T-ATK. But have low HP. They are geared towards the Braver, and Bouncer Classes.

Xavier: Guess I'll go with Human. Good Stats, and high HP with no terrible Stats. Seems like the perfect option for someone who's just starting out.

Guide: Now choose your Gender.

(Xavier is then presented with the two Genders the game offers)

Xavier: Well since I'm a guy I'll go with Male.

(He then takes about 10 minutes to customize his Character)

Xavier: Alright. I'm done with my Character.

Guide: Great! Now that you have picked out a Class, and Race, enter the name of your Character in the "Name Entry Menu". Be warned though, you can't change a Character's name once you enter the Tutorial Field.

(The Name Entry Menu then pops up in front of Xavier)

(Xavier takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes, before remembering a conversation he had with his friends the week before)

One Week Ago...

(The four of them are hanging out in a field near their school. It's a mainly grass field, with a sandlot of the middle of it usually used for Soccer. Near the front is a 1 Foot tall narrow slab of stone, with an extra two inch slab on it at he end, this is part of the field where Xavier, and his friends hang out. Behind the slab is a fence separating the main field, and a Track & Field, on the side of the field is another fence separating it from an area usually used by Tennis Players, and beyond that area is one which is the closest to resembling a park. About a foot away from the slab is a small square filled with sand, and features a tall tree, one of two in the field, the second one being a couple feet away from the opposite end of the slab)

Xavier: Hey you guys heard about the new NerveGear game coming out next week?

(Xavier is a lanky tan skinned 14 year old Half-Puerto Rican/Half-American boy, with short brown hair, and glasses, wearing a regular t-shirt & pair of jeans, along with sneakers)

Brandon: You mean Phantasy Star Online 2 right?

(Brandon is a 15 year old Asian boy, with short black hair, a few inches taller than Xavier, and Emmanuel, wearing a similar t-shirt & jean combo to Xavier, along with glasses, and sneakers. Also unlike the other boys who's hair lays flat, Brandon's hair stands up)

Xavier: Yep.

Rob: Yeah, we all pre-ordered it.

(Rob is a 15 year old Mexican boy, a fair bit taller than Xavier, Emmanuel, and Brandon, with short black hair)

Xavier: Oh cool. So did I.

Emmanuel: Awesome. We should be able to play the game together when it comes out then.

(Emmanuel is a 14 year old Puerto Rican boy, with short black hair, similar in height to Xavier, wearing a similar t-shirt & jean combo to Xavier, and Brandon, along with glasses, and sneakers)

Xavier: Alright. Oh but we should decide on our Character Names, and tell each other them that way we know how to look for when we get past the Tutorial Quests.

Rob: He's right. Okay then, I'll go with Nate. As usual.

Emmanuel: It's easy but it's too common. You sure no one's gonna take it by the time we're done creating our character?

Xavier: Actually you'd be surprised. Nate's such a common name that not a lot of Online Players would use since they usually go with something more eye catching, and recognizable, and then there are others who automatically assume the name's taken so they don't go with it. When you think about it, a simple name's a perfect name for an Online Game since there's about a 75% chance it hasn't been taken depending on what common name you use.

Brandon: He's got a point. And besides we're gonna be amongst the first people who play the game, along with Beta Testers.

Emmanuel: *Shrug* I guess you're right.

Rob: Alright, Nate it is then. How about you guys?

Brandon: Eyeless Jack.

Emmanuel: Grand Jet.

Rob: And what about you Xavier? What name are you gonna go with?

Xavier: ...Ramesys.

Emmanuel: Alright then it's settled. We hop on the game around 5 next week, make our characters, beat the Tutorial Quests, and meet up in the lobby.

Flashback ends...

(Xavier then opens his eyes, and enters in the name... Ramesys. After he enters the name a Menu pops up asking him if he wants to proceed, Xavier presses the "Confirm" Button)

Guide: Alright then! You are good to go! Remember to Read & Follow the Instructions & Rules, if you need help there's always someone at Sega who can help you, don't be afraid of dying because it's not real, and one last thing... Remember to have fun!

Xavier: *Grin* Alright! PSO2... Here I come!

Cue Crossing Field:

watch?v=vI8W_XYT29Q

(I know it took out the first part of the Link, but you can still access the video by just plugging the Link into the Search, and having Google automatically find the video)

Xavier: Next Time... The World of Phantasy.

Episode Ends...

Hey guys PyroDagger back here. I know this had little to do with SAO, or PSO2 (With this just being Xavier creating his character, and having a Flashback) but the point of Episode 0 was to introduce the setting, and most of the main characters without jumping off into the "Dying In Game = Dying In Real Life" shtick like SAO did (Don't worry that's still gonna happen, I just didn't want it to be in Episode 0). And the reason I put a Link to Crossing Field (SAO OP1) is because I want this somewhat feel like an actual Anime (or something akin to that). I'm also probably going to be dealing with PSO2 Arc the same way SAO dealt with Sword Art Online (With it being a 15 Episode long arc, and having 2 Years pass with that span of Episodes), or I may it depends on how I feel about it. So yeah that's all I have to say for now, if have you anything you want to say just comment it. Also I'm gonna be writing this story on Wattpad as well, so if you want some visuals you can go there. Anyway I'll be heading out now, see you guys back here for Episode 1, bye.