Kirito was sitting on his bed throwing a ball at the wall. As the ball bounced once more he gets a call on his phone. He glanced over and grabbed it. It was Asuna. He swiped the screen and picked up. "Hey what's up?" He asks. "You free today?" She asks. This was sudden because it was usually Kirito to ask for dates and such. What gives all of a sudden? "Ok. Yea I'm free all damn day damn near" Kirito said as Asuna said ok over the phone. She told him it's important and they need to find a place where they won't be easily watched. This made Kirito question what is happening but decided to go ahead with the out of the moment lunch. Soba it is. Kirito grabbed his jacket from off of his computer chair and grabbed his scarf and headed out. His sister was on vacation with some of her friends, they went to Okinawa for the week. He turned off his light and locked the house door.
The air was cold and bitter, he could see his breath even. Kirito lifted up his scarf to his face and walked to the meeting spot. It was getting cloudy as he saw Asuna sitting on a swing at the park. The same place he met Sinon. "Ok I'm here" He said. Asuna stood up and nodded. They walked down the street as they saw lights already coming on. Soba was her idea but she really didn't think and just chose something. But what was going in her head? Kirito is perplexed by her emotions all of sudden. Is this a marriage proposal or is she asking him to finally sleep with her. But doubt that's the reason.
They arrived at the Soba shop as they opened the door. The lively chef greeted them and his son got their orders. Since they both were hungry they got the XL bowl. Costly but hearty. After they pay and sat at the table Asuna got the drinks and then she began to talk. "It's about a thing I saw on 2chan. I know that's not a reliable source but. Many have claim that the Aincrad servers have gotten revived somehow. They never were shut down in the first place. Various accounts dictate that something sinister in lurking in the ghost town of the game. People suspected it's just AI but others claim it's a cult who have hidden themselves in the game. Whichever they are a threat. My morbid curiosity wants to explore Aincrad once again to get to the bottom of this. But if there is danger, I'm gonna need the black swordsman by my side" She finished as Kirito was stunned. Aincrad still online? Cults? What the hell? Just then the chef brought out two giant bowls of noodles with a added treat on the side. The chef was really nice today which the son explained he always does that to customers. They broke their chopsticks and began stirring the broth. "So what is your thoughts?" Asuna asked him. Kirito ate some noodles then looked at her. "I dunno. This screams suspicious. What if this 2chan user is secretly the cults leader or something? I thought that build was destroyed, it's abandonware now" Kirito said which it's true. Anything below Aliziation is not playable since the devs scrap previous versions for security reasons. How could this be possible? Unless someone didn't uninstall every version of SAO. "Trust me I was confused as well, but the source is credible since I met the person. He's in your school. Named Kyharou. He showed me screenshots he took while inside, he saw figures watching him from afar and strange symbols drawn all over the world. Candles and sigils all over. This isn't no joke Kirito. Whatever brewing down there it's getting stronger and one day it will infect Aliziation as well. Killing SAO and potentially turn on the feature again" Asuna said. Kirito ate a egg as he looked at her. "Fine I'll join. But we have to take precautions. We don't wanna end up dead, because I dunno if this cult has turned on the special feature yet. We need to keep on the safe side" Kirito said.
After lunch they headed into Akihabara and everyone was looking at the jumbotron it was a news broadcast of a murder. "18 year old Kyharou was found dead in his room while a VR headset was next him. Police suspected suicide but there weren't any weapons near him to do such thing. Heart attack is out of the question. The police will investigating this incident further, some theories may relate to a recent 2chan blog made by Kyharou discussing possible cult behavior in the once beloved Aincrad expansion of SAO. Of course fine people of Tokyo, this all could be a hoax or a misunderstanding but stay safe out there" The news reporter said as everyone was shocked as Asuna and Kirito we're stunned. Stood in their places. Now Kirito is more scared now. Kyharou dead. Days after the message of the cult. Did they kill him inside the game? This doesn't make sense? Using a video game as a murder weapon. Unfathomable. Then he remembered other teenagers were found dead also recently in their rooms much like Kyharou. But those were different. They were in a different position. They we're upright smiling and holding a letter. He remembered the family read the letter and it was about ascending to heaven and shall the god Daymos grant safe passage. The blood of the ravens seep inside of their veins as he was sacrificed for the good of the people, the coven and the Lord. Similar letters were found as well. Leading to believe a cult was in charge.
At home Kirito looked at his VR headset contemplating. Asuna was on Skype as she nodded. Kirito sighed and turned on his PC as a wallpaper of a anime girl as plastered. He clicked on several folders then he reached "Old Builds" which means old versions of SAO. He never uninstalled any of them. The Aincrad icon appeared underneath his pointer. Kirito's heart was racing as he had nightmares before doing this. He double clicked on the application as the words "Please place your VR headset on" we're plastered. Kirito obliged as he placed it on. Suddenly the familiar colors appeared before him. The words "Welcome to Sword Art Online" shot past him. Guilt and uncertainty was in him. Also nostalgia but this won't be a happy trip down memory lane. This will be a survival mission, uncovering the so called cult of the raven in SAO. He was in the login menu as he saw Asuna next to him. They both nodded as Kirito logged in under his Level 99 account. In a instant they beamed into the square but it was as they imagined. Empty and full of images and words and symbols. This wasn't the Aincrad they remember. He readied his black sword as Asuna did as well. They were about to walk into hell itself.