3 Years: 205 Days: 10 Hours: 33 Minutes: 35 Seconds Remaining

*Shing*

My sword traces a horizontal path across my vision. As I reach the end of my swing, I attempt to pull my sword back into a second activation stance. However, I'm slightly off with my timing and I get locked in post-skill movement delay. After about a second of stun, I pull my sword back to the starting position again and let out another horizontal strike. This time I manage to correctly place the second strike and my sword cuts back to the right. I try for a third skill but as expected I can't pull it off. Despite all the practice I've been doing with hit chaining I can still only pull it off every one in ten attempts and I've only succeeded at chaining three hits a handful of times. Additionally, I haven't leveled up my one-handed sword skill enough to have more skills than the basic vertical strike, horizontal strike, and simple thrust. SAO's system is somewhat unique in that combo hits are unlocked as you level up your sword skills rather than stringing together chains of hits as is done in most RPGs. Chaining skills is a method of nullifying the post skill movement lock to string hits together in a more traditional method. However, it's far more difficult than just using larger combos, but it also has the added bonus of being able to move immediately after activating a skill which reduces your chance of taking damage in between attacks.

It has been four days since the clearing group defeated the first-floor dungeon. Ever since then I have been largely avoiding people, I rented space out of a cabin on the edge of the second floor in order to limit my encounters with others. The one and only time I returned to a town, players immediately started shooting me looks and badgering me. I'm hoping isolation will help me slip from the players collective conscience. So now that avoiding people has become a necessity, I've been constantly grinding for experience, so hopefully, I'll be able to unlock larger combos soon.

As I continue to attempt skill chains, I realize that Sword Art Online's systems are fairly accurate to life. Namely that skills are leveled up by constant use. In this way, SAO diverges significantly from the standard RPG model. It seems like Kayaba designed this game specifically to mimic real life. It makes me question how he got financial support for the game though. Although many of the systems are accurate to life, they make for a very tedious video game. That and the complete lack of a support class in combat means that a lot of people wouldn't play the game. Kayaba must have had an enormous dev team. It makes me wonder how he was able to make all of SAO systems the way he did. Someone should have noticed how impractical this was as an actual video game. Unfortunately, without any more to go on than that, I had to file it away under the ever-growing list of oddities about SAO and Kayaba.

"Well look at what we have here."

I spin around to find Argo approaching me. Unlike our past encounters though, my stance remains on the defensive. Argo comes to a stop.

"The fact that you don't trust me hurts Kirito, it really does. But, seriously relax."

I sigh and let some of the tension out of my shoulders. Then I put my sword back in its sheath.

"I see you're off sulking again."

"In my defense, everyone in towns hates me now."

"Yeah, sulking."

"Okay, fine."

"Although I must admit, your ability to chain skills is showing marked improvement. Then again I don't really have anything to compare it against since no one else seems to think it has any importance at all."

"For me, it's mostly about nullifying the post-skill movement lock."

"Well, if you find a trick to make it easier make sure I hear about it first. Otherwise its impractical for use by anyone who isn't willing to practice for hours on end."

"Leave it to you to immediately find a way to make money out of something."

"Hey, it's what I do."

I chuckle a little bit before relaxing completely.

"So how are you progressing", Argo asks.

"I've been grinding on field mobs a bit in less visited dungeons. I've gotten quite a few levels on my skills. I haven't really dared to go into any of the bigger dungeons though."

She stares at me for a moment.

"Well, you seem to have taken hiding in the wilderness seriously, but seriously does it have to be grinding no matter what the circumstance."

"What else would I do?"

"I don't know relax, enjoy your surroundings, explore. I can count on one hand the number of times I've encountered you and you weren't fighting."

"I might as well get better while I have the opportunity to."

She stares at me with a neutral expression for a moment.

"What is it?"

She sighs and replies, "Nothing. On a different note, since you've been out of the loop you probably haven't heard of Martial Skills."

"Martial Skills?", I reply more surprised by her tone shift rather than the unfamiliar term.

"They're skills that use your body rather than your sword."

"Seriously?"

"Yep, most of the skills involve dodging and jumping, but a lot of the moves are lifted from actually karate and taekwondo techniques."

"You can get a basic set of skills from a master at the top of that plateau. They level up pretty much the same as sword skills. I do feel like there are some basics that were left out, though. Hopefully, the game will fill them on later floors."

"That's a game changer, quite literally in fact. That'll increase variety in the combat system by quite a bit."

"Well personally I think just doing backflips and acrobatics would be cool but that works too", Argo replied shaking her head. "Now, I've given you some information I'm gonna need something in return."

I raise an eyebrow and put a sarcastic frown on my face.

"Come on, you know how I do business."

"Oh alright, Trembling Cows and Tauruses got nerfed. I'm personally happy with that change, they were fairly overpowered in the beta. Unfortunately, the bug-themed creatures got buffed."

"Of course they did", she sighs. "Got anything else?"

"Not really, those mobs are in ample supply so they're easy enough to find while avoiding people."

"I'll take it, I guess. I've got to head back to town now. I have a meeting with some players. You sure you don't want to come back."

"I think it's best if I stay away for a while."

"Okay then, I'll drop by sometime soon."

Argo turns around and walks off towards the town while I turn back to continue practicing skill chaining.

3 Years: 204 Days: 21 Hours: 55 Minutes: 5 Seconds Remaining

I weave my way up the slope of a large plateau. It's currently the dead of night which means that hopefully even though this is a more populated region of the floor, most people will have cleared out. I'm currently on the northern half of floor two, which is a plains area dotted with plateaus. I'm currently climbing up to a group of several such plateaus that holds more difficult mobs. It also houses the Bullbous Bow, a semi-difficult field boss. As much as I'd like to challenge him, field bosses require at least a full party.

As I crest the plateau, I'm met with a semi-dense forest of acacia trees. Crouching down I beginning snaking through the forest. I stay light on my feet and move as quickly and silently as possible. If I maintain this while avoiding detection, I can level up my stealth skill, and plus, at the moment it's an advantage for me to stay out of sight, both from players and monsters.

I spend the next three hours grinding for experience and getting surprise attacks on various mobs. I take a few on directly here and there in order to find any differences in their attack patterns or AI. After that, I decided to move onto another part of the map and start heading towards one of the rope bridges that connect the group of plateaus. Coming out of the forested area I approach the bridge...only to find a group that has almost finished crossing it from the other side. They're lighting their way with torches and I only catch a glimpse of their faces but it's enough for me to recognize two faces. Jackson and Matrix.

I turn tail and run. I haven't spent much time leveling up my speed so I have no idea if I'll even be able to outrun them. All that matters to me though, is the fact that I'm running. I hear their voices shouting towards me, gradually getting more frustrated and angrier. Thoughts fly through my head as I run. I shouldn't be running, I should face the consequences of my actions, but doing that will force me to face myself, and in more ways than one, I don't look pretty in the mirror.

My progress is halted as I see two torches faintly in exactly the direction. My current character build was designed for strength and stealth. It made sense that their party would have members that could overtake me. I whirled around in circles, but all I found was an evenly spaced ring of faintly glowing torches. I felt my anxiety rising as the lights gradually became clearer. Unconsciously I find myself in a defensive position. Then the group comes into view. It seems that only Jackson and Matrix are in this party. The rest of Diavel's party is nowhere to be seen.

"Kirito", Jackson greets me without a drop of emotion in his voice.

After a moment I get my composure back under control.

"Jackson."

"Haven't seen you in a while. I'll spare you any nonsense. You should know what I want."

I remain faced forwards Jackson and scan the situation with my peripheral vision. Matrix has a barely hidden look of disgust on his face. Although I don't recognize any other faces, they all have higher level equipment than me so trying to run or fight is out of the question. My only option is to continue this conversation.

"You want revenge for Diavel right? I can't bring him back and I can't go back and change anything. What do you want, items or money as compensation?"

I put up a brave facade and try to defend myself. Inside I'm in turmoil. I want so much to run and hide but I'm nothing more than a cornered animal right now.

Jackson stares me down for a second more and then sighs.

"I suppose you've learned nothing", Diavel replies disappointment in his voice. "You misunderstand my intentions entirely. I don't want revenge, I want you to take responsibility."

These words hit hard. I almost lose my composure. My mind is a jumbled mess. Thoughts and ideas that I've pushed down for so long threaten to consume me. I can't do anything but listen.

"Diavel didn't want us to turn on each other. He wanted us to make each other better. He wanted people to be responsible for their actions and to work to help others!", Jackson voice momentarily reaches shouting volume. He calms down quickly and pauses for a moment, "Why did you let him die. You could've saved him. You knew all of those skills. Instead, you stood and watched as he tried to reform our failing defense."

My body tenses up and I try with every fiber of my being to restrain the maelstrom of emotions in my brain. Everything he says cuts into my psyche. Jackson stares me down waiting for me to say something.

"Well? Well?! Am I wrong? Are you anything but a coward? Did you think of anyone but yourself?! ANSWER ME! YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THAN A SPINELESS AND SELFISH HUMAN WITH NO CARE FOR ANYONE BUT YOUR-"

I feel something inside me snap. My sword goes flying forward. It cuts across Jackson. Once, twice, three times, before I'm viciously sent flying backward. Jackson's health decreases to less than a quarter. I land on my stomach right back in the middle of their trap. As I rise, the cursor above my head changes from green to orange. The mark of a player who had intentionally hurt another.

Everything is silent for a moment. Then Matrix shouts:

"How could you, you bast-"

He is cut off by a loud sound. Then the sound repeats. Strange as it seems, the sound is clapping. From a particularly dark part of the forest, a figure emerges. He stands taller than any of the other players in the clearing and is fairly slim. His hair is a silvery blue and his eyes are a deep gray, like mine. He keeps clapping for a moment and then I notice his orange cursor. To Jackson's credit, he stands up and stares down the newcomer, despite his lack of health.

"What are you doing here, Iota?"

"I was merely doing some late-night grinding. Then I overheard this little scuffle. At first, I thought it was extortion", it's at the point that his lips curl up into a crooked smile. "Then I realized that it was much more than that."

"What do you want", Jackson asks, holding his ground.

"I want you to leave him alone", the player named Iota says. "You have no right to ask for anything from him."

Jackson is stunned for a moment before regaining his composure.

"Do you have any idea what he's done?"

"No, and that doesn't matter, because, despite all you've accused him of, you've never truly tried to understand him."

Jackson face has an incredulous look on it, "Oh, I understand plenty."

Iota sighs, "I suppose you don't get it. Oh well. In that case, I'll skip the pleasantries. If you won't leave him alone, I'll force you to."

A scary look crosses Iota's face. One that seems almost sadistic. Jackson motions to his party and they all draw offensive positions.

"Are you sure you want to do this?", Jackson asks. "It's one against seven."

Almost before Jackson even finishes his sentence Iota dashes forward. His blade is drawn in an instant and he stops it just short of Jackson's throat. It takes me a second to register the glowing yellow I saw overtake his feet as Jackson was talking. What's even more impressive is that his feet land in a position that keeps Jackson completely off balance.

"Put your weapon down slowly. Move even a bit more than that and I will continue my strike."

Jackson nods and slowly lowers both hands. As he lets his blade fall, he flexes his hand just slightly. All of his party members rush forward. Iota is not taken off guard for a second. His back-leg glows red and he twists his body. The back of his heel impacts one of the player's temples, sending him sprawling. He then jumps forward and strikes two of the others across the stomach forcing them to back off. He turns to face the other four including Matrix and Jackson, who has just picked up his weapon.

"Surprise attacks won't work anymore", Jackson taunts him.

"No, but it's a mistake to think that those are my only tactics."

Iota dashes forward once more. The four begin to activate a sword skill but Iota drops low. He sweeps one of them off their feet and then jumps through the gap that that player's fall created. In a swift motion, he drops his sword, removes some sort of dagger from his boot and throwing it into Matrix's lower back. He then picks up his sword and holds it against the fallen player's throat.

"I'm sure you realize that a strike to a player's vital point won't heal on its own. If you surrender now, you should be able to stabilize your party."

Jackson clenches his teeth for only a moment before lowering his sword.

"Fine", he growls.

Iota relaxes and releases his hostage before walking over to me.

"Come on", he says holding out his hand.

It takes a moment to realize I'm still on my knees. I grab his hand and he pulls me up.

"Follow me", he says, very softly compared to the hardness in his voice earlier.

Not knowing what else to do I follow him into the woods. Looking back, I can see Jackson treating his wounded. He lifts his head up for a just a moment to glare daggers at me. I turn away and focus on the back of Iota's head. After we are out of earshot, Iota turns his head back towards me and asks me:

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah..."

"I must say I'm impressed. I got the basic gist of what happened. You're the one every is blaming for the death on the first boss raid, right?"

"That's me..."

"That was probably the first time you've intentionally hurt someone, isn't it? You shouldn't blame yourself for anything that happened."

At this point, we reach the edge of the plateau. The moon is visible in the silver of sky between floor and ceiling of the second floor.

"It's really my fault though. I'm a coward and I should be punished. For hurting Jackson and letting Diavel die."

Iota pauses for a moment.

"Meet me back here tomorrow morning at ten. There's something you need to understand, but to be honest I'm exhausted at the moment."

He turns around to face me.

"O-okay..."

"See you tomorrow, then."

He turns back around and starts descending the slope. After watching him for a moment I take a slightly different path down the plateau. I clear away all of my thought and let my feet carry me back to the cottage on the edge of Aincrad.

3 Years: 204 Days: 13 Hours: 37 Minutes: 57 Seconds Remaining

I wake up groggily. Sunshines directly through the cottage window meaning it's around eight. The event of the previous come back to me and I start shaking. How could I have hurt someone else? There's now a marker over my head displaying that fact to the world. Even if it will return to normal after 72 hours, I have permanently and irreversibly attacked another player.

Then I think back to what the silver-haired player said.

You shouldn't blame yourself for anything that happened.

I find it strange that I truly want to understand what he meant by that. Can I truly trust him though? After seeing that sadistic smile and his orange cursor. I weigh my options for only a moment before I make my decision.

Only a few minutes later I find myself trekking across the savannah. In part, I think I'm clinging onto the notion that I'm not to blame. That I can escape my guilt. So, I hike for half an hour to the plateau where he told me to find him. The player named Iota is exactly where he said he would be. When he sees me approaching, he walks up to meet me.

"Yo!", he says waving a hand.

"Hi", I reply, unsure.

"Glad you could make it."

"Yeah, about what you said yesterday..."

"Walk with me."

I don't know exactly why, but I trusted him. I fall into step beside him.

"Do you think you could explain to me what happened during the raid."

I ended up telling him the whole story starting from meeting Diavel and up until I walked away from everyone. After I finish, he looks at me with an empathetic look for a moment.

"People have a tendency to search for something to blame. They're so consumed by their own shortcomings and failures that they project those feelings onto others. Everyone in that room refused to admit their own powerless and instead forced you to take the blame."

"But if I was able to act, I could have saved him."

"Maybe you could have, maybe you would have failed, maybe you would have just made it worse. What's really important here is that you're thinking like that. You're able to recognize your own shortcomings. What you're doing wrong is dwelling on your failure. What's done is done, what you need to do is move on, and not let others push their own guilt and sadness onto you."

I take some time to process what he's saying. What if I am letting people project their guilt onto me. In the end, I was following the plan and even if I had tried to help who knows if Diavel or any of the others would have been able to adapt to the new techniques fast enough to prevent deaths. Maybe I was letting others use me and push me around. In fact, maybe I've been doing that for my whole life.

"In that case, how do I stop other people from using me."

Iota smiles at me.

"You need to learn self-confidence. That all starts with this."

Iota motions in front of him. I turn forward to see the main settlement of floor two, Urbus. I was so engaged in our conversation that I didn't even realize where we were going. Urbus lies in an excavated, crater-like depression, on a flat-topped mountain. The houses and inn are all made using a combination of sandstone and acacia wood.

"But I still have an orange marker", I say somewhat weakly.

"You're missing the point", Iota replies. "You need to own that. You need to walk into town and show everyone that you aren't afraid of them of the labels they put on you. And let's be honest, Jackson and his party have probably already spread the word regardless."

I stare down at the town for a few moments longer. I know that the second I enter Urbus the I'll get nothing but dirty looks. People already hate me enough and with my orange marker, things are only going to get worse. Although, maybe Iota is right. Maybe I'm just letting others opinions of me influence how I act. At that moment I make my decision.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"That's the spirit."

Iota takes off and leads me down into the town. It doesn't take long for people to notice me and Iota. We both have orange cursors so we naturally draw attention. Then the whispers and dirty looks start. No one dares to say anything yet, but I feel intense pressure from all the people staring at me.

"Do we have any explicit purpose here?", I ask nervously, hoping to leave as soon as possible.

"Well I have to get my sword enhanced but that's about it. Need anything?"

"Not really."

"Alright then."

We continue walking in silence for a while. Then I hear someone shout out at us.

"Scum!"

I whip my head in the direction it came from but I can't tell who shouted at us.

"Just keep walking. Remember what I said, this is about not letting others push you down."

I turn to face forward again and try to raise my head a bit. As we continue to walk, I do my best to block out everyone staring at us. I let their faces fade away, and, before I know it, we arrive at the blacksmith shop in town.

"You wait outside. This won't take long and plus, it'll give you some time to practice", Iota smiles.

"Okay", I say, with some confidence.

As Iota heads into the blacksmith shop, I take a seat on a public bench. I continue to let people's faces recede from my vision. I tell myself that they have nothing on me. I tell myself that I won't let others push their opinions onto me, and slowly I feel a great pressure lift off of me. In fact, I let my surroundings leave me so completely that I don't notice the person right in front of me.

"Kirito?", a male voice says.

It takes me a moment to snap out of it. The player in front of me is Klein. I haven't seen him since we first met on floor one but I notice that his equipment has gotten a lot better.

"Klein", I say levelly.

"It's good to see you again man. I haven't heard from you since we first talked."

"I guess not", I reply nonchalantly, "I've been pretty busy lately."

"Yeah, I guess that's how it is being a top player. Oh, guess what. I tried out some of your suggestions and they've been working really well for me."

"Really?", I say, mildly surprised. I hadn't really gotten the impression that he had been paying very much attention when I was giving him tips.

"Yeah, we're all getting a lot better with sword skills. I'm still pretty miserable at chaining skills but everything else is getting better. Thanks a bunch."

"No problem", I reply, smiling.

"Hey man, I hope you don't mind me asking but I heard some rumors about you. Something about you being responsible for a player's death during the boss fight?"

I sigh and ready myself, "Don't listen to that. People are just pushing their own guilt onto me. Unfortunately, none of us could've done anything."

"Oh, glad to hear your side of the story. This guy named BizzareJackson was saying some pretty nasty stuff about you earlier. By the way, what's up with your cursor. It looks orange now."

I freeze up. Much as I'm doing my best to maintain my confidence, dealing with what I did to Jackson still scares me.

"He deserved it", I mutter under my breath.

"What do you mean."

"I mean that Jackson deserved what I did to him. He can't just push me around to make himself feel better about Diavel. If he wants to try to force his ideas onto me, I'm going to push back."

The final bits of guilt that hold my mind finally start to fall away.

"O-okay man. I don't really get what you mean, but that sounds pretty bad. I, uh… I guess I'll see you around then."

"Oh, do you need to take care of something."

"Yeah", he says and begins to walk away.

As he goes, I feel too empowered to notice something. The look of worry and borderline fear on Klein's face.

I sit relaxed with my back straight and head up to the sky for a few minutes longer before Iota rejoins me.

"Alright, I'm good to go. Let's head out."

"Sounds good", I say, standing up.

"You're looking better already", Iota says, smiling.

We take off down the streets of Urbus, me with newfound confidence. On the way out of town, I no longer feel the pressure of everyone's gazes. Talking with Klein helped me remember the good I've done for people. It helped me push away the blame and guilt that others had put on me. Then I hear a voice in front of me.

"Kirito?", Argo says.

Her face is completely neutral. None of her usual playfulness remains.

"Argo?"

"I couldn't believe what Jackson was saying about you, but now I see you with an orange marker and together with him. What exactly happened in that forest?"

I think about my answer for a moment before replying, "Jackson pushed me past my breaking point and I retaliated. There's only so much blame I can take."

"So, you attacked him?"

3 Years: 204 Days: 10 Hours: 1 Minute: 6 Seconds Remaining

"Yes."

3 Years: 204 Days: 10 Hours: 1 Minute: 5 Seconds Remaining

...

3 Years: 204 Days: 10 Hours: 1 Minute: 4 Seconds Remaining

"How could you?", Argo says in horror.

"Look, I'm not going to sit around and take it while the rest of you use me as a scapegoat."

"Then what, you take it out on other people? They're no more at fault than you!"

"No, but they need to own up to their own shortcomings as well. We were all just as helpless to do anything about Diavel."

Argo stomps her foot exasperatedly and turns to Iota.

"What have you been telling him."

"Hey", I say to Argo. "This conversation is between you and me. Iota has helped me in ways no one else has even tried. All you did is mock me and criticize me. You don't understand me, you don't understand what I've been through."

The look on Argo's face changes in an instant. It's an expression I've never seen on her face. She looks genuinely hurt. She stares me for a moment and then slaps me across the face. When I turn back, I see tears in her eyes.

"You're horrible, you know that? I really tried you know?"

Argo storms away, without another word. I watch her go. Iota looks at me with empathy.

"Look Kirito, I know that must hurt but understand this. In a way, she's just like everyone else. She's just dealing with her own form of helplessness."

"I guess", I reply.

We continue to walk out of town, but as we go, I can't help but think that I've made a horrible mistake.