Disclaimer: I don't own SAO, belongs to Reki Kawahara, A-1 Pictures and Bandai Namco Ent.

SAO: Fatal Bullet – Dissonance of the Core

Prologue – Part 3

Saturday - Kaito's Apartment – 10:00 AM

'Well today's the day. I should probably tell Momiji I'm up early. She'll probably wan to register early.' Kaito thought to himself. Taking his cellphone Kaito dialed Momiji's number and waited while the phone rang on the other side. He hadn't heard her voice in quite some time since there last time together as children.

Normally they only communicated through e-mail and barely had time to talk at the time, so they went on with that status quo, but for the first time even though it was VR, it would be nice to see her and hear from her again.

"Hey, Kaito you there?" Momiji answered the call and for the first time, Kaito had a smile on his face as they both talked about GGO. Her voice was still the same from what he remembered it was soft and caring as he could hear.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm all ready and I'm done researching the game and I think I'm ready." Kaito responded.

"Alright, at 10:30 log in, since you'll be a newbie you'll be dropped off at the teleporter just stay there and I'll find you." Momiji responded.

"How will you know its me and how do I know its you?" Kaito questioned his friend. "Don't worry about it, just trust me I'll know its you and you'll know it's me. Momiji responded with a chuckle.

"Alright, alright. I already ate, so I'll go to the bathroom, so I don't pee myself while I'm diving." Kaito responded with a chuckle while he heard Momiji gag on the other end and she hung up the phone.

'She really hasn't changed in these years. I really hope that doesn't change.' Kaito said to himself as he finally realized that omelet he made this morning was calling his name he rushed off to the bathroom.

After one-bathroom break and reading a good book for a while he checked the clock and realized the time, "10:25, might as well dive on in."

Connecting the hand-held terminal to the AmuSphere and inserting the game cartridge he laid out on the bed and put on the headset and he said those two most infamous words…

LINK START!

"Welcome, new player to Gun Gale Online, an MMORPG set in a post-apocalyptic future where Earth's population was ravaged and with the use of other-worldly technology, humanity has slowly started to rebuild and fight back against their mechanical tyrants and other monsters roaming the wastelands and ruined cities. Do you have what it takes to survive and stand out on top?" A computerized voice narrated to him.

"A post-apocalyptic world with future technology, SIGN ME UP!" Kaito cheered in happiness as it seemed that this just might be the thing for him.

"You can now customize your character appearance, it would seem you have received additional content in your addition of GGO, you'll be able to use it soon so please enjoy your experience until then." The same computer voice said.

"Well believe it or not that default appearance looks exactly like me and I quite like the appearance in general. I'm not one for putting a lot of color on my characters in other games like this." Kaito said to himself as he saw the default template in front of him.

"Now please choose your name" The computer voice would ask one last question of you.

"Well this is going to sound stupid and retarded but my character's name will be Kaito, I don't care what other people say, all these names I see people with are just too much for me. Some are really cool, but why is the main question." Kaito once again began ranting about his attitude for this game.

"You will now be diving into GGO, are you finished? Yes/No?

Kaito tapped on Yes and suddenly a bright white light engulfed him and after a few seconds felt like being transported to somewhere.

After a few seconds, Kaito realized the light was gone and looked down at his hands, clenching them he realized he was in control of himself, looking up he was astonished to see the wonder before him he could a large, expansive city in the center he could see he could see a large spire with an orb in the middle, like a lighthouse.

Looking around him now he saw hundreds of people, both NPCs and players running around and talking to others. He could see some of them were wearing some firearms on their hips. Stepping off the platform he was still in amazement until a voice brought him from his trance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! I was about to register without you, but I knew you'd be on time." A female with pink hair and a ponytail and pink coat said as she approached Kaito.

"I see you managed to log in okay. Been waiting long?" She said casually.

"Long time, no see M-Kureha." Kaito replied remembering the name she went by in this world.

"Well at least you remember the number 1 rule of VR: No IRL stuff aloud!" Kureha replied with her arms crossed.

"But still its nice to see you again…, hey what's you're in-game name by chance?" She asked her childhood friend.

"Uh…, this may sound dumb but its my first name in real life." Kaito replied scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Really, are you that dumb, well it's not a problem, Kaito is a pretty basic name and no one would think you'd use your real name anyway in places like these." Kureha replied unfolding her arms are she walked up to her long-time friend and suddenly hugged him.

Kaito relaxed into it and hugged back, "Its nice to see you again, Taka-chan." He replied teasingly. Kureha let go suddenly with a light pink on her cheeks.

"Oi, that's cheap you haven't called me that in years…" Kureha said, the last bits to herself.

"It was the first thing that came to mind when you told me about this, but regardless shouldn't we go and register we wouldn't want be late." Kaito suggested.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot but we still have time, so we should go to the local gunshop and find you some proper equipment that beginner set you have won't be of much use in the tournament were in." Kureha said as the two walked down center street passing by a tall building.

"What's that?" Kaito asked pointing at the large apartments.

"Oh, that's were most players in stay here in SBC Glocken, that's the name of the city were in, according to lore this was all made from a crashed spaceship and the humans from before used the technology to create this place." Kureha explained as the two finally reached the shop.

Ahead of them were few terminals one for weapons and another for gadgets. Kaito looked at the vast selection of weapons and gadgets and was floored at how much was provided for players.

"Oh yeah? Didn't you say you won a special copy of GGO, what came with it by chance?" Kureha inquired.

"Oh that, it came with extra content, a quest to expand my home at certain point, extra SP and CP, and finally 3,000,00 credits if I remember." As Kaito finished he looked at his friend as she had a look of disbelief on her face.

"WHAT!? What kind of copy is that!? That practically makes you OP in this early game. I mean I might be level 27, but still with all of that you may be catch up quickly." Kureha responded in anger but calmed herself seeing as she couldn't do anything about it.

"S-Sorry, that's just how it came when I won it, believe m e I'd rather be fair with it, but that's what I rolled I guess." Kaito panicked as he tried to explain why he won the copy.

"Well regardless you should have enough credits to buy you some decent weapons, gadgets and ammo so I don't think you'll be suffering anytime soon." Kureha explained as she walked up the terminal showing him all the weapons available.

"Its alright I've already done my research I think I already know what I ant to buy, and I know what role I want to be." Kaito replied as he looked at the weapon console in front of him.

"Well I'll but what I need for now and get what I need for later." He replied browsing until he saw a pistol and AR that caught his eye.

"Hey, Kureha what are LMGs and MGs classified in this game?" He asked his friend. "Oh, despite their appearance their considered Assault rifles in this game, there heavier than others but not by much." Kureha replied to his inquiry.

"Alright then I'll go with a pistol and AR combo for now." Kaito finished his browsing as he chose the SPB Night Sky handgun and purchased the LMG Nuage for his AR.

"I kind of expected you go for one of the lighter variants, but it is your choice. Also, I should tell you skills you get come with a certain class typing, so if you want to be considered say an Assault you would mostly have assault skills and few others, but as long as many them are Assault you'll be an Assault role-type." Kureha explained in detail how skills worked.

"Alright since I have extra points I'll do that before the tournament. The gadgets I'll be taking will be the first aid kits, frag Grenades for now, flashbangs and a combat knife for quick self-defense." Kaito replied as he bought the last of his equipment.

Putting his handgun in the holster beside him. He put the grenades on his back-belt loop with his flashbangs on his right backside and the frag grenades on his left backside. The knife and its sheath went right behind him. His ammo went into the leg pockets of his jacket.

'Hopefully when I get that costume It'll come with more pockets for all of this' Kaito thought to himself as the AR he had virtualized and disappeared.

"Oh that, you can't carry large weapons like that in the Glocken, so it's a part of your inventory now, but you can carry any secondary's like revolvers and handguns in your holster." Kureha explained to her friend.

"Guess it would be awkward to carry something like that around constantly. We should be done so we should head off to register." Kaito suggested.

"Oh yeah, lets head to the Governor General's office it's the tallest building GGO you can't miss it, lets go!" Kureha replied as the two ran off toward the building through the double orange doors before them.

Inside they could see many players preparing themselves foe the coming event, as the two walked toward the registry terminal Kaito could feel people staring at him.

"Geez its like people can tell I'm just fresh meat." Kaito said a little uncomfortable with the looks he was getting.

"Its alright believe it or not this game is quite balanced. Even you're a Lv. 5, you can take down a Lv. 15 player if you play it right." Kureha replied this gave Kaito a bit more confidence as he looked at the terminal in front of him.

"From here you can register for tournaments and the annual year-round BoB tournaments, but those aren't available yet so this what were doing for now." Kureha explained as he began to enter her info onto the terminal in front of her.

Kaito looked at the console in front of him and began to enter his player name and his e-mail address, he skipped the real-life address part as he wasn't comfortable putting that in the system.

"Alright, I'm finished what about you Kureha?" Kaito asked as he finished registering his information.

"I'm all done to so let's just wait until they announce its time to go to the teleporters." Kureha replied then she looked to the crowd and a saw a young man surrounded by girls in a rather Pristine coat of blue, orange and white.

"T-that's Itsuki!" Kureha replied in a high-pitched tone in surprise.

"He looks like a model-type if you ask me, but still looks like a nice guy" Kaito replied.

"You don't understand Kaito he's considered on of the best in GGO, he's one of the top-ranked players on the bounty ranking here in GGO." Kureha said in excitement.

"So, I guess that's what you plan to do in this game?" Kaito inquired his pink friend.

"Yeah, I want to be one of the greatest players in GGO, and I'll beat anyone to get there. We may be friends here Kaito, but in this world might makes right. Never forget that in this game." Kureha with a look of determination on her.

Little did both know that Itsuki was walking there way and stopped in front of them.

"Hello there, you wouldn't happen to be Kureha, would you?" Itsuki asked startling Kureha a bit.

"Y-ye, it's a pleasure to meet Itsuki, it's an honor to know to recognize my name." Kureha replied with a respectful bow.

"You are…? Kureha is this your friend? From the beginning equipment he's carrying he seems to be a beginner." Itsuki inquired himself on Kaito's look.

"Yeah, this is my first VRMMORPG, in fact Kureha here is the one who invited me for this competition." Kaito replied.

"So, the first thing you do is join a tournament? Ha, you are quite the interesting one, I'll be keeping my eye on you." Itsuki finished as he walked off to join someone with light-purple hair wearing a white military uniform with glasses.

"Will all participating players kindly prepare yourselves the tournament will begin soon." A computerized voice came over and informed everyone in the room.

"I think that's our cue, you ready partner?" Kureha asked. "Always." Kaito replied with a look of determination.

Tournament Dungeon

"The usual objective is rake up as many points and kills as you can the players with the most points are considered the winners, but right now that's not what I'm looking for." Kureha replied as the two with main weapons drawn ran d own the long corridors of the dungeon.

"So, then what are we looking for?" Kaito replied as he was climbing up a ladder to tall platform.

"An ultra-rare item, its said to be located somewhere in the depths of this dungeon for the tournament." Kureha informed. Kaito suddenly got a distant-look in his face.

"So, I'm just the extra muscle in this?" He asked in a monotone way. "N-n-no! I really did want to play with you, it's just I didn't think I could do it one my own and you have so much experience in games with planning and tactics that you could be a big help, besides your super lucky with you around we may be the first one to find it" Kureha replied flailing her arms in front of her in embarrassment as she explained why she invited Kaito.

"Stop, in the next room there are Automatons with ARs they may be weak but are dangerous in large groups go for the head when you fight them, the quicker you end the fight the better." Kureha explained as she took cover behind the wall of a platform and Kaito took cover behind a low-wall for cover.

Bringing their weapons out they let loose on the 4 Automatons in the room and quickly dispatched of them. One of them dropped a red sphere and Kaito picked it up.

"A Robust? I'm guessing this is an assault rifle?" Kaito inquired. "Yeah, it resembles the AK-47 in rea life, its one of those times of guns that's easy to wield and use." Kureha replied

After clearing the room, they headed upstairs to find three players in room and came under fire.

"Kureha watch out! Ugh!" Kaito pushed Kureha out of the way; however, realized he got shot twice in the chest in the hail of gunfire.

"One of them has an LMG then other an SMG, be careful." One of the girls, Tanya replied to her partner. "Got it, I'll watch them." Toma responded, another one of the girls in the room.

"You alright?" Kureha asked with fear in her voice. "It's just a flesh wound, I can keep going." Kaito got up and looked around the corner to see two females in military gear one with a SMG and another with a sniper rifle.

"One's got an SMG and the other a sniper rifle." Kaito reported. "They look like they know what they're doing. Thinking quick on his feet he thought up a quick plan.

"You're a Tank aren't you Kureha?" He asked. "Yeah, why?" She inquired. "I'll pin them, while they aren't moving you get around as quick as you can and flank them once they realize they're trapped they'll be forced to move." Kaito presented his plan.

"Okay, I trust you." Kureha replied with a determined look on her face readying their weapons.

Toma and Tanya were now waiting for the both to come out when suddenly they heard a small metallic sound land next to them.

*KLINK! *

"FLASHBANG!" Tanya yelled, but it was too late. The two were blinded and didn't realize they were under fie until it was too late. Kaito began to fire at the two girls' position, but he wasn't out to get him.

'He's just shooting at us, its like he's not trying to kill us.' Toma thought to herself until she realized something, "Wait where's that girl from before!?" The two suddenly looked around in a panic.

"Too late for you!" Kureha yelled as she presented her Denab Kaitos launcher and sent a large plasma blast at the two and the explosion blew them both back and Kaito's shots help to finish the job.

After the small gunfight, DEAD markers appeared above both. One of them dropped a blue sphere this time. This time it was an accessory, "A basic headset? Do accessories do anything in this game?" Kaito asked Kureha as she gained her breath.

"Yeah some come with certain buffs for characters, though some use it as a cosmetic thing, only professional players worry about that." Kureha answered.

The two continued down the path until they reached a rather familiar face they just met, "Oh my, I didn't expect to meet you two here." Itsuki and Taipan were just before the large mechanical door at the end of the hall with their weapon drawn.

"Kaito watch out, when I say run you start running okay?" Kureha silently tried to warn her partner but Itsuki caught on.

"Thinking about running away, that won't do you much good, I could just shoot you in the back while you do that. This game is about might makes right, but I think we can come to an arrangement." Itsuki replied casually.

"What do you mean by that?" Kaito asked not lowering his handgun he had drawn out after switching out his past weapon.

"There's a pesky enemy ahead and it took down some of team, I promise I won't attack you if you can get rid of it." Itsuki made his offer.

"So, were your meat shields is that the gist I'm getting?" Kaito replied in suspicion

"That's a morbid way of putting, but yes." Itsuki simply replied.

"Not like we have many choice Kureha were not prepared for them, but if it's a mob we have much better chances." Kaito whispered to Kureha.

"You're right. Alright Itsuki we'll take your deal, we beat this enemy and you'll let us go?" Kureha questioned Itsuki

"Of course, this maybe GGO, but I keep my promises." He simply replied.

After nodding in agreement, the two drew their main weapons are walked towards the door that locked in front of them appeared a mechanical spider-like enemy which had a mini-gun attached to its underside.

"That's an Accuhnid, be careful Kaito that thing can take you with few well-placed shots!" Kureha exclaimed as the two separated when the enemy started firing.

"Kureha aim for its red eyes, that seems to be its weak spot!" Kaito exclaimed as well to his partner.

"Got it!" The spider had difficulty firing on two enemies as both pelted it with bullets in suddenly started to spark and finally dissolved into blue polygons.

"Well that was something different. Come on let's go." Kureha said as the two continued on down the halls after coming upon a long corridor the two-relaxed finding no obvious enemies.

"We should be lucky, Itsuki is not a player to mess around with, were lucky he let us go." Kureha said as with her arms crossed as they came upon a console room.

"Look there a console, we can definitely find that item if we use this." Kureha said in excitement as she as she jumped up the stairs and began to look at the terminal.

While she was there, Kaito took the time to admire the sight in front of him standing on a special pad he had no idea could do.

Kureha pressed one of the buttons and suddenly a whirring could be heard in the room, Kureha turned around to see that the teleporter pad beneath Kaito was activated.

"Huh…? What!? Kaito don't panic it's a teleporter just wait for me on the othe…" Kureha said as Kaito was teleported from his friend and found himself in a large room.

In it he found large ammunition shells. Rows upon rows of bullets and several terminals were in the room. But atop the stairs Kaito found a strange pod connected to several machines.

Curious he climbed the stairs and reached out to it when suddenly the pod came to life and said, "Player authentication… Starting master registration. User name: Kaito… Registration complete.

After that the pod rose and opened to have in it a rather beautiful girl in a white and purple shin tight suit and snow-white hair, she arose from the pod. Little did Kaito know that a player from in the rafters was watching, ready to take their shot.

When the girl started to fall to the floor Kaito went out to catch her, the bullet seemingly hit nothing, the player said; "Oh, sorry Kirito." Into her headset.

"Its alright Asuna. No problem" Another player in a black coat and armor plating hiding behind machinery in the room activated his photon sword and rushed out and lunged at Kaito.

Seeing he had no where to go and the girl behind him defenseless, he only did the most instinctive thing he put his body between them when they both heard behind him the girl says, "Master?"

Kirito stopped just short of Kaito's neck put kept his sword at it, all the while Kaito had his hand on his knife, but even he knew this player had the drop on him.

Kureha after the whole incident before ran through the hall and saw the player holding Kaito at sword-point and screamed, "Hey, what do you think your doing?" While pointing her SMG at him.

"You should put down you gun." The female player from before said from behind Kureha. The two looked at each other when Kirito switched off his blade and said, "Wait, were not here to fight, we were looking for that rare item, but it seems that your friend beat us to it."

Kaito could only look with surprise at what Kirito just said as he looked behind him at the girl he just found.

AN#1 – We finally begin our Fatal Bullet story proper, Kaito and Kureha meet Kirito and Asuna. Kaito also finds this girl inside a pod. What can all this mean for our hero? You'll have to wait and see?

AN#2 – Remember to Follow, Favorite and Review. I wouldn't be here without you guys! :)

AN#3 – I already have Kaito's harem on my profile, but I'm going to put up a profile of all the girls he'll be able to have so make that decision and I'll use that as a reference for finalizing it do that after reading this, see you next time!