"My name is Akihiko Kayaba and as of this moment, I am in control of this world."
What?
Something was off. Leonn looked over at Kirito and could tell he was having the same doubts. Between the enormous, red-hooded figure floating above them and the sky plastered with red hexagons with the words [Warning] and [System Announcement], this didn't feel like much of a welcome party. It was also way too crowded in this plaza. Kirito had mentioned that this could be a forced teleport, so the fact that the entire player population was in one place wasn't too surprising.
"I'm sure most of you have already noticed an item missing from your main menus: the logout button. Let me assure you, this is not a defect in the game. I repeat, this is not a defect. This is how Sword Art Online was designed to be."
"He's kidding," Sinon murmured off to his right side.
Looking to his left, Leonn saw similar expressions on Klein and Kirito. "I don't think he is…"
Kayaba then went on to show just how much forethought he put into this twisted plan of his. He'd gone and weaponized the NerveGear, effectively, by rigging it to fry a player's brain if it was removed. What was even worse was the complete lack of emotion or empathy when Kayaba mentioned the 213 players who'd already perished from their families removing their NerveGear. On top of that, death in game meant death in real life due to that godforsaken microwave interface.
"We have to clear all 100 floors to escape this death trap?" Sinon heard someone say behind her.
"Last but not least, I've placed a little present in the item storage of every player. Please, have a look."
In a matter of seconds, everyone in the plaza had pulled out of their inventories a small mirror. Lights and shouts began to fill the plaza, bathing it in a blue glow that rendered sight nearly impossible to the casual observer. When the lights faded, everything had changed.
"Is everyone ok?" Klein asked. He looked around at everyone to make sure they were alright before stopping abruptly. "Where's Leonn?"
Klein looked back and forth, pivoting himself to get a better look at those around him.
"... Right here, Klein."
Both Klein and Kirito couldn't help but stare. What used to be a rather large, over six-foot tall giant had been reduced to a young man about Kirito's height. He certainly had a little more muscle mass and weight on him compared to the black-haired swordsman, but he was now a shadow of his former self. Darker complexion, sporting a light beard, this 'Leonn' looked absolutely nothing like his avatar.
Leonn looked down, a half-smile crossing his face in an awkward attempt to hide his shame. He awkwardly started scratching the back of his neck, not really sure what to do with himself. "... Hey."
"Must've been that pre-launch calibration. That's how the game knows what we look like," Sinon said, breaking the obvious tension that hung in the air. Sinon herself had lost her blue hair and reverted to her natural brown, and her eyes had turned back to brown as well. It seemed that between herself and Leonn, she was the one who stayed more true to form when creating her character.
As the plaza's attention refocused on the giant red cloak above them, Kayaba then went on to explain his motives. It all seemed to blur together for Klein, Leonn, and Sinon. Kirito was the only one actively paying much attention, it seemed. Something about controlling the fate of a world of his own design.
As Kayaba wished everyone luck in his accursed death game, he disappeared and the sky returned to normal. As the thousands of players gathered tried to digest everything that had just transpired, silence filled the air.
It didn't last long.
Panicked screams took the place of stunned silence and there was a commotion as the player base collectively decided to lose their minds. There was shoving, pulling, and even a few unfortunate players getting trampled by the mob. It was a safe zone, though, so apart from the psychological trauma that would come from being trampled by a panicky mob, they were otherwise no worse for wear. Kirito quickly grabbed the attention of his new friends and ran out of the plaza. Sinon and Klein followed along, albeit with some confusion, but Leonn understood Kirito's reason for the abrupt escape. Now, more than ever, they needed to get a head start. The four didn't stop running until they reached an empty alleyway.
"Okay, listen," Kirito began once everyone had caught their breath. "I'm heading out to the next village. I want you all to come with me. We're going to need to become as strong as possible if we're going to survive in here."
Klein and Sinon looked confused, to say the least.
"I see where he's going with this," Leonn chimed in before turning to the newer two players. "The starter areas around the Town of Beginnings are going to be flooded with panicked players very soon who have absolutely no idea what they're doing. For all his mentioning of a 'tutorial,' Kayaba did absolutely nothing in the way of actually preparing people for what's to come. Experience and resources are going to be very hard to come by, very quickly. We need to stay ahead of the curve and go to the next town."
Klein, however, had other things on his mind.
"Thanks, but you remember those friends I told you about? They're still back in the plaza and are probably just as scared as everyone else." Klein's expression became uncharacteristically serious, almost stoic. "I can't just leave them."
Kirito, Sinon, and Leonn shared worried, uncertain glances between each other before turning back to Klein.
Leonn placed a hand on the shoulder of the red-haired man he used to tower over. "We understand. You take care of them, ok? Teach 'em what Kirito taught you and you'll be set."
"Stay safe," Sinon said, a remark that otherwise might have elicited a blush from the red bachelor were it not for the gravity of the situation.
"If you ever need help, message us," Kirito said just as he turned and began walking down the alley.
As Sinon and Leonn turned to follow, the maul wielder called over his shoulder. "Stay alive and find us when you all get on your feet. We're going to need to band together if we're going to beat this."
The trio almost made it to the end of the alley before they heard Klein call out.
"Hey! One more thing."
They all turned to get one last look at the rough-looking redhead.
"You guys look better like this, not like your avatars. Sinon, you look way cuter like this. Leonn, you're not big anymore but you still look strong. And Kirito? You just look cooler."
Sinon and Leonn were taken aback by the sudden compliments, so Kirito was the one to reply.
"Thanks, and I think that scruffy face of yours fits you ten times better too."
Kirito, Sinon, and Leonn started to walk down the alleyway once more, stopping briefly to glance back at Klein, only to find him gone. They looked at one another with some semblance of determination. Kirito sent around party invites to ensure they could all keep tabs on one another easily.
With that, the trio began to run out of the city as fast as they could, the orange sunset giving the empty streets of the Town of Beginnings an ominous and desolate air to them. Soon, the panicked screams from the plaza began to fade away and were all but gone when the trio exited the gates.
"Think he'll be ok?" Sinon asked, a look of worry etched on her face.
Leonn gave a pained smile as he looked at his best friend. "He knows how to handle himself now. We made sure of that. The only thing he needs to worry about is offending any girls he decides to hit on."
"...He's screwed," Kirito joked.
The trio laughed as they ran out into the field, but it was an empty, uncomfortable laugh, the kind of deceptive laugh meant to hide what they were really feeling. Each knew that it was entirely possible that they might not ever see Klein again. For that matter, any one of them could die tomorrow if they weren't careful. That grim reality seemed to set in with every step they took along this virtual dusty road, but it did not deter them. Quite the opposite, in fact, as each member of this unlikely trio wore an expression that could only be described as determined.
A flash of light burst forth from the road ahead, bringing out a large wolf. The three players brandished their weapons, ready for this cruel world's first test.
Sinon launched two throwing picks one after the other, striking it in the face and grabbing its attention. Snarling, the wolf bared its teeth as it ran towards them. Just as the wolf lunged with its jaws gaping open, Leonn stepped forward and swung his maul diagonally upward, slamming the wolf's mouth closed with a satisfying *crunch* and sending the wolf careening towards Kirito. Looking to take advantage of his companions' set-up, he quickly and efficiently sliced through the wolf with the flash of a sword skill, a ((Horizontal)). As the wolf shattered into a thousand pieces, the trio started their run again.
They were no longer playing a game. That dream died minutes earlier in that damned plaza.
Now? Now they were fighting to survive.