Author's Notes
Hi! I'm Devil Hunter (not my actual name lol). I'm an aspiring author who's writing a book that'll hopefully be published in the coming years. I like to let ideas simmer and leave them alone. While I do that, I get other ideas, and, well, we get this story.
Let's get one thing straight. In my opinion (feel free to disagree), Sword Art Online is a terribly written anime. As is SAO II. Alicization was a slight step up, but it wasn't set in Aincrad, which is where all the potential is. I was so disappointed by SAO Progressive when I bought the manga that I stopped reading it.
I believe we all deserve a serviceable story set in Aincrad. There's just so much to explore, so many themes, messages, experiences. That's why I'm writing this story. Because Reki Kawahara can't seem to learn from his mistakes. Kirito being a detective and deus ex machina does not equal a good story.
Anyway, This story is 100% canon. No AU whatsoever. Everything you saw/experienced in the show will go untouched. Some creative liberties will be taken since SAO is such an expansive world, but they will be small, such as new locations or skills.
Last thing, there's another story with the same title (The Death Game by WebofSpidey7245698). I feel this title fits with what I am trying to convey. So I will keep it, and I also encourage you to read that story as well.
Now, I present to you, The Death Game.
Chapter 1 (Link Start)
Silence. Blank expressions. Still bodies. Warning signs dissipating. Fists clenched. Teeth grit. Sweat beading. Uneven breaths. Hands shaking. Throats knotting.
"No!" a voice yelled out.
An uproar took over the crowd. Some people shoved to get out of the plaza. Some stood, remaining frozen from the news they were just given. Some questioned why they looked different. Others conversed in a panic with their friends.
One had to get out.
A girl hyperventilated. She placed her hands on her forehead, but felt the absence of heat. She grit her teeth as hard as she could. The girl shut her eyes.
She screamed. A low-pitch scream that was so intense that it almost became high-pitch. Her vocal cords turned raw from the vibrations. Her ears rang not only from panic, but from the blaring noise that escaped from her.
The girl kept screaming. As if something would happen.
THE DEATH GAME
Hyperventilation. Mixed with crying. All while running.
Two young men chased after the girl.
"Hoshi! Wait!" the brown-haired boy hollered.
She ran down the stone road. Starting City's entrance lied ahead.
"Stop! It's not safe to go out there!" the dark-haired boy said.
"I have to get out of here! There has to be a way!" she said aloud.
They reached the town's entrance. Hoshi sprinted out.
"Hoshi!" the dark-haired boy said.
The two boys followed her out of Starting City. They made up a bit of ground, but she was still ahead of them. Hoshi continued her dash up the dirt road, breathing deeply every step she took.
A boar positioned itself in her path. She noticed it and stopped. It charged immediately.
Hoshi turned to the right and ran off the road, continuing her heavy breathing.
"Do something, Echo!" the brown-haired boy said to the dark-haired one.
Echo drew his sword and positioned it over his shoulder as he hastily followed Hoshi. He focused on the boar then lunged a large distance quickly forward. His sword a shining blue, he sliced the boar, leaving a red trail in its hide.
A moment later, the boar burst into glimmering pixels.
Hoshi turned around at the bursting sound. She stared at the lustrous triangles floating up into the ether.
"Hey," Echo said whilst snapping his fingers. Hoshi was broken from her momentary trance. "We need to get back into The Town of Beginnings. You guys aren't prepped for going outside yet."
The brown-haired boy turned around, facing away from them.
Hoshi looked away and locked her vision on something in front of the brown-haired boy.
"Look, I know-" He ceased speaking. Echo noticed her looking away and turned his attention to what her eyes were set on.
"I'm gonna need you to give me your loot," a man said with his sword pointed at the group.
"Arthur, back up toward me," Echo requested of the brown-haired boy.
Arthur grit his teeth as he complied and drew his sword.
"Hoshi, you too. Stay close."
She placed herself behind Echo.
"And why would we do that?" Echo interrogated the rogue swordsman.
"Now that our lives are at stake, items and col are more important than ever for survival. I'm sure someone like you knows that perfectly well," the swordsman said to Echo.
"Someone like me?"
"You executed that skill flawlessly, and the way you command your two companions as if you know what you're doing... I'd say you're a beta tester."
"I guess that means you're messing with the wrong guy then," Echo stated.
The swordsman scoffed. "Even so, you have two newbs next to you, and you're gonna have a hard time defending them both at the same time."
"Pretty sure I'm not a newb, asshole," the brown-haired boy said.
"Oh yeah? How come you didn't go to the girl's rescue? No attempt at a sword skill? You let your friend do all the work while you lagged behind. I sure hope you're a newb. At least being one gives you an excuse to suck."
"Screw you!" he retorted.
"Are you gonna drop your loot or what?" the rogue swordsman questioned.
"How about you turn around and leave?" Echo suggested.
"Last warning." The rogue swordsman readied his sword behind him.
"Get ready," he said to his companions. "Looks like we don't have a choice."
Hoshi's face contorted in fear. She drew her sword slowly as her hand trembled.
The rogue swordsman charged at the group, sword trailing behind him. Echo and Arthur assumed defensive stances. After closing the distance, the rogue swordsman lunged at them. However, he did not swing his blade.
Echo swung his sword out of reflex, striking the rogue in the back. As a result of lunging forward, the rogue ended up in front of Hoshi. He cocked his arm back to charge up a sword skill.
Hoshi's eyes widened, arms frozen.
A sweep of light rushed upward, canceling the rogue's skill. Arthur's sword skill sent the rogue's blade into the air. The rogue looked up at his sword as he clenched his teeth.
He then tightened his muscles and shut his eyes when a beam of light burst through his chest. Echo left his sword buried in the rogue's chest. He wrapped his arms around him tightly.
The rogue struggled to get free from Echo's hold.
"Okay! Okay! Stop! I don't want your loot anymore! Just let me go! You're gonna kill me!"
Hoshi dropped her sword and placed her hands over her mouth. Arthur watched with blankness on his face as the rogue flailed around.
All of the muscles in Echo's face were tightened as he let out grunts from the sheer effort he put into his vice grip. The rogue wailed in terror while he pried at Echo's hands.
The rogue's HP dwindled into the red. Whilst holding his vice grip, Echo observed the expressions on his companions' faces. His face relaxed into a state of remorse and immediately let go of the rogue.
Once free from the vice grip, the rogue began pulling out the sword. "Get it out! Get it out!"
When he removed the sword from his chest, the rogue burst into pixels of light.
Any expression left on Hoshi's face was erased. Glimmers reflected in Arthur's lifeless eyes. Echo stepped back in disbelief as he watched the lustrous triangles float up into the sky.
He noticed something else whilst looking up.
His cursor turned red.
Echo placed his hands on his forehead and through his hair.
Without any motion in his face, "Echo?" Arthur spoke up.
Echo closed his eyes and yelled, "dammit!"
Hoshi placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder. She gripped it tightly and unevenly.
"Why did I follow you idiots!?"
Arthur replied, "woah, Echo, what are you-"
"Look at the icon above my ahead. Fucking look at it!"
Hoshi and Arthur laid their eyes upon a red cursor.
"Do you have any idea what that means!?"
They did not say anything, only staring at their furious companion.
"I can't go into Starting City. Or any city for that matter. I'll have to sleep on the grass outside like an animal," he said in a false calm. "Keeping one eye open for enemies when I sleep every single night from now on."
He scoffed as he turned and placed his hands on his hips.
"Barely any contact for help, barely any access to food, less places to grab life-saving items, no guilds for me to join."
Echo placed a hand on his forehead and shook his head.
"Constant danger anywhere I go, players misunderstanding and looking at me like I'm a diseased dog."
He turned to them.
"All because I tried to help a couple of newbs."
He stepped toward them. Arthur reflexively stepped backward, but was stopped by Hoshi's frozen body.
"You made my chances of dying in this game so much higher than it needed to be. If only you didn't run off into danger. But hey, screw the strangers who give a shit about people, right?"
Hoshi spoke up, "Echo... I-"
"Shut your mouth," Echo retorted. Hoshi's eyes widened. "This... This could be my last day because of you..."
Echo's face contorted. "You know how lucky you are? You get to go back to The Town of Beginnings and choose to live there in safety until the game gets cleared. I can't. I simply can't. All because I'm red now. Just like that."
"Echo, you still have us. We can help you in any way you need to."
Echo smiled in amusement as he looked away shaking his head. "You know, you're really funny, Arthur. You plus help. What does that equal?"
He waited for his response.
"It equals a dead player," he gestured to the place the rogue used to be, "and the banishment of another," Echo stated.
He turned away from them and picked up his sword. He stood in place without saying anything.
"Echo, we're sorry this happened," Arthur said. "We didn't mean to put you in a position where you'd be forced to kill someone."
"I didn't even mean to kill him! I was just- I was just trying to defend us! I didn't- Argh! I should've let him go sooner!"
Arthur took a step toward him. "Echo-"
"Don't." He turned to them, sword gripped tightly. "'Sorry' won't help me survive. And since you took away my chances at survival, I'm gonna take yours away too."
Echo approached them with sturdy footsteps.
Arthur extended his hand out, "Echo! I- We can figure something out!"
"I already have," he said, charging a sword skill.
With widened eyes, "no!" Arthur jumped out of the way when Echo struck down.
The sword skill flashed blue and made the dirt erupt into the air upon contact.
Hoshi gasped. "Arthur!"
Echo's eyes switched to her. "Oh right. You're the one I should really be going for."
"Run, Hoshi!" Arthur stated aloud, pulling on her tunic.
The pair began running away from their companion. They ran toward The Town of Beginnings. As Hoshi ran, she cried and breathed heavily. Rivers cascaded down her cheeks while a riptide of despair coursed through her being.
Echo followed furiously trailed behind them. He positioned his sword above his shoulder. It glowed blue. Hoshi looked back.
A flash. Arthur turned around. Hoshi fell over. Her right leg disappeared into glimmering pixels. She let out a blood-curdling scream, tightly gripping her leg. She began hyperventilating at the sight of her lost limb.
Arthur roared as he unleashed a sword skill unto Echo, knocking him off balance. He then planted his boot on Echo's chest to kick him away. Echo grunted as he tumbled to the ground.
The very instant he fell, Arthur turned to Hoshi and sprinted to her. He tossed his sword on the ground and picked her up. She placed a hand on his tunic, gripping it harshly whilst hyperventilating.
"It's gone. I- I can't- I can't...-" she did not finish her racing thought.
"Don't look at it! Just focus on me!" Arthur commanded.
Hoshi continued staring at her missing leg.
"Hey! Look at me!"
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. Still breathing hard and uneven.
"Don't take your eyes off me. Just focus on me and nothing else, okay?"
"...O- Okay," she said unevenly.
The distance between them and Starting City was now very short. Arthur saw the NPC guards at the entrance making their way toward him.
A red slash imprinted itself on Arthur's back, knocking him over. Hoshi yelped as she hit the ground. Arthur flipped over onto his back.
Eko stood above him. He reversed the grip on his sword and drove it through Arthur's chest. He grunted through gritted teeth as he grabbed the blade protruding from his torso.
"You had to make me do all the work, didn't you?" Echo said angrily. "If only you trained more with me when we met, I wouldn't've had to do everything! But no, you'd rather make friends!"
"I wanted to play this fucking game! How were we supposed to know we'd get trapped in here!?" Arthur yelled back.
Echo drove his sword deeper into Arthur. His health now withered yellow, nearing red.
Hoshi cried out, "No! Please don't!"
The NPC guards arrived and focused on Echo.
"Get the red player away from the city and its citizens!" an NPC guard ordered.
Echo's eyes widened. He took a slash to the chest. And another slash, knocking him off balance.
Arthur pulled the sword out of his chest. He ran to Hoshi and picked her up again. He turned back toward Echo.
An NPC charged a skill and struck down just in front of Echo. An explosion ensued, sending him further back.
"Begone, criminal! You will never gain access to The Town of Beginnings!"
Echo picked himself up onto his knees. He rested the knuckles of his hand on his forehead whilst clenching his teeth. Tears formed, but were absorbed by his shut eyelashes.
"Why did this have to happen...?" He asked out loud through the knot in his throat. "I just wanted to play a fucking game..."
Hoshi and Arthur stared at their former companion, expressions blank.
Echo, misty-eyed, looked past the NPCs at the pair.
No one said a word. Only exchanging expressions.
Arthur turned and made his way toward The Town of Beginnings.
All Echo could do was stare at his former companions.
Arthur panted. His footsteps rapid. Stone buildings whirring by. Hyperventilation. Sobs.
He stopped and looked around to find many people hastily moving about. Some wandering aimlessly. His head ached and spun. The girl in his arms continued her crease-inducing grip on his tunic.
In the distance, his eyes locked onto a group of people near a water fountain. They stood atop the little wall that kept the water in. It looked like they attempted to beckon people over.
Arthur turned and sprinted toward the group at the fountain.
As he ran, "you're gonna be okay, Hoshi! I swear you will!"
Hoshi kept her face buried in his chest as her tears dampened her cheeks.
When he got closer, Arthur yelled out to the group at the fountain, "Hey!"
The group ceased their activity to turn and look at him approaching in haste. They saw a girl in his arms with a missing leg.
"Help us!"
The young man standing on the short wall hopped down. He wore a dark blue headband. As Arthur reached them, the young man walked in front of his group.
He addressed them, "what happened?"
"Our friend...-" Arthur stopped himself and stared at nothing. He continued, "we... were attacked, and... she's badly hurt, and...-"
"It's okay, she's in a safe zone. Her leg will grow back as her HP regenerates," he said.
Hoshi instantly turned her head toward the boy wearing a blue headband. "It will? Oh thank god..." She breathed in deliberately to calm herself.
"Here, sit her down on the fountain."
The group members separated and made a path for Arthur to walk through. He walked to the fountain and sat Hoshi down on the little wall.
"Drink this," the young man said, offering her a blue potion. "It'll help you heal faster."
She looked up at him, eyes still damp. Hoshi took the potion and consumed it.
"My name's Lycan. These people here are my guild. We're the Broken Butterflies."
Arthur remained standing as he watched glowing pixels build onto Hoshi's leg. She noticed and caressed her leg.
"I'm Arthur. This is Hoshi."
"Glad to meet you."
"I saw you beckoning people over and thought you'd help us. You did. You have my thanks," Arthur replied.
"Of course. This game isn't, well, a game anymore. It's gonna be scary for people who are solo or newbs. So we thought we should take people in. And we'd be happy to have you both, if you want of course."
"You knew her leg would grow back." Arthur said simply.
Lycan raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. And?"
"Are you a beta tester?"
"Yup. Lucky, I know. But the knowledge I've gained from the beta is really gonna help us survive."
Arthur said nothing. Instead, he stepped in front of Hoshi and knelt down to her level.
"Hoshi. Join up with them. Lycan knows what he's doing. His group'll keep you safe."
"Arthur?" Her eyebrows furrowed at his statement. "What are you doing?"
"I have to go."
"What?" she uttered bitterly.
"Group up with them and survive 'til the end, okay?"
"Why aren't you joining with me?"
Arthur looked down for a moment. Then back at her, "I have to make sure that... what just happened to Echo... doesn't happen again," he said with pain in his eyes.
"But... But...-" she stuttered.
Arthur rose to his feet.
"Please stay with me," she pleaded. "I want you to be safe too... And you won't have to worry about history repeating itself if you're with a group."
"Grouping up would be nice, but... I can't devote the time. I'd rather spend it getting as strong as I can to make absolutely sure it doesn't happen again."
"Please, Arthur..."
"Stay safe, Hoshi."
Arthur turned around and began walking toward Starting City's exit. Hoshi grit her teeth as she teared up once again.
After making a fair distance away from her, he said to himself, "Mom, dad. I hope so hard that I'm making the right decision..."
Lycan placed a hand on Hoshi's shoulder. She looked up at him. "I don't know anything about either of you, but it seems like he cares about you."
Hoshi simply nodded.
"Ryuza," Lycan called to one of his friends.
A girl stepped forward. "Yeah?"
"Can you take Hoshi here and get a room for her at the inn, please? I think she could use a break from what she just went through."
"Good idea, sure."
Ryuza stepped in front of Hoshi and bent forward to meet her eyes. "Hey," she said kindly. "I'm Ryuza. I'm gonna take you to the inn so you can rest. Is that okay?"
Hoshi nodded.
"Great. You know, I can be your friend if you like. Do you wanna be friends?" Ryuza asked with a warm smile.
Hoshi dawned a weak smile. She nodded. Ryuza gently grasped Hoshi's hands.
"Come here, lovely. I'll take care of you."
Ryuza helped Hoshi to her one foot. She hopped to Ryuza and leaned her weight against her.
"We'll be back at the inn pretty late," Lycan stated. "Hoshi won't be the only one in need of help. Don't wait up for us."
"Okay." Ryuza began leading Hoshi toward the inn that was nearby while she hopped on her growing leg, which was just under half-recovered. "Come on, Hoshi."
Following a short walk, the pair entered the inn. Inside were booths, a bar, and tables laid about. Hoshi looked around the interior that was cozily lit by lanterns. Ryuza walked up to the NPC standing in front of the bar.
"One room for the night please."
"Sure!" the NPC exclaimed with too much joy. "That'll be 50 col please."
Hoshi watched Ryuza open her menu to make the transaction.
"You're really kind for doing this," Hoshi said. "I'll pay you back when-"
"Oh no, no, don't worry about it, Hoshi. Really, it's no big deal."
The NPC summoned a key to her hand. "Your room is 2E. Enjoy your stay!"
Ryuza smiled warmly at Hoshi, "c'mon."
The pair climbed the set of stairs in the back corner of the inn. They walked down the hallway full of rooms until they reached 2E.
"Here it is," Ryuza stated.
She inserted the key inside but did not turn it. A green light appeared above the keyhole, signaling that the door had been unlocked. Ryuza turned the knob and pushed the door open.
"Ta-da," Ryuza chimed.
Hoshi hesitated, looking at her leg. It had grown all the way down to her shin.
"I...- I think I can walk," Hoshi said.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I still want you to hold my arm though," she said chuckling.
"Sure, I've got you," Ryuza said kindly.
Hoshi limped into the room with Ryuza holding onto her arm. Ryuza closed the door behind them. She looked around, surveying the bed, the desk, and the bathroom.
"Wow... It seems so..."
Hoshi paused. Her expression turned melancholy.
In a near whisper, "real..."
Ryuza eyes flared slightly at Hoshi's words.
"Hey. What's on your mind?"
"I sit at a desk just like in real life. I have a bathroom just like in real life. And... I sleep in a bed just like in real life..."
Hoshi paused for a moment. Ryuza dawned a look of concern.
"This...- It's our life now. It wasn't real before. But now that we can die here... it's real..."
Ryuza placed her hands gently on her shoulders. "Hoshi, let's sit on the bed."
She led Hoshi to the bed. They sat down together.
Ryuza took some audible deep breaths. She placed a hand on her forehead. Hoshi turned to her when she could hear Ryuza breathing out loud.
"Hoo. Sorry, I- I'm uh- I think I'm panicking a little," she said with a nervous chuckle.
"Now that I'm taking a moment to take it all in, I-" she closed her eyes. "Um, sorry."
Hoshi embraced Ryuza, resting her head on her shoulder.
"Don't be sorry, Ryuza. Just breathe."
Hoshi inhaled and exhaled out loud in a uniform fashion. Ryuza copied her breathing pattern. They breathed deeply in unison, calming one another. The pair did so for a moment.
"What's your favorite color?" Hoshi asked.
Ryuza's breathing slowed. "Um, heh. Powder blue..." she said with a small smile. "The color of moonlight reflecting off day-old snow on a cloudless night."
Hoshi smiled as well. "I love that."
"What's your favorite color?"
"Green. 'Cause it's cool, I guess," she said chuckling.
"And I love that," Ryuza said with a slightly brighter smile.
They both exhaled in unison. A moment of peace and quiet ensued as they looked out the window into the whirring night.