I don't own Sword Art Online or any of its characters.

Enjoy and criticism is welcome.

Three out of four people are victims of crimes. I would be one of the three victims. I was unlucky that someone wanted to be a hero. The guy was doing a good job at first. He took the hostage away (me) and knocked out most of the robbers. He was wrestling the gun out of the leaders hands when the gun was pointed my way. It went off and the next thing I know I'm on the ground with some woman keeping pressure on the bullet wound on my chest as my life blood poured out of it. There was only one thing running through my mind as darkness crept into my vision.

'What an idiot. Who doesn't knock out the guy with the gun first.'

By the time I learned how to walk (for the second time) I was able to talk in full sentences of English again. To my new parents I just make sounds and the occasional 'mama' and 'papa' in japanese. As I grew I didn't ask for things a normal kid wanted. I did keep my baby blanket and teddy at all times and even learned how to sew when a little mons–kid ripped it's arm clean off. I asked for a computer instead of dresses. My own allowance instead of presents. I did let my mother sign me up for gymnastics (which is something I always wanted to do in my old life).

My mother and grandparents (my dad died) knew how smart I was. I used to work as an IT for big companies so I could not live without my computer and I wasn't about to start now even if I was five at the time I asked for it. I would write codes and firewalls of the likes all day if they let me. I would speak in full sentences when it was just the three of us but at school I talked less and 'developed' slower than the other didn't mind and never told anyone how special I was. I didn't speak much with my family. They also didn't mind that they included me in things and I talked when I wanted to but I never started a conversation. I was ten when things went downhill.

I was with my mother at the Post office. I was reading a computer magazine drooling over the new models when he came in. I looked at him when I heard the drop of water on the ground. He walked up to the tellers pushing my mother to the ground.

Everyone was surprised so they didn't say anything till he pulled the gun out of his bag. I was in shock that this was happening to me again. I didn't look away when he killed the male teller or when he pointed the gun at the female teller. I snapped out of it when he pointed the gun at my mother. There was only one thing running through my mind when he did that.

'I lost my life to a stupid gun. I won't let this douchebag take my mothers'

I bit the guy's hand after I pulled his hand to me so the gun wasn't on my mother. I let go when he slammed my head into the counter. I was dazed for a few seconds. He fumbled the gun until he dropped it in front of me. When he dropped the gun I grabbed it and didn't let go even when he tried to take it from me. I shot him three times. Once in the stomach (the pain should have kept him down) in the shoulder when he got up (again he shouldn't have the pain tolerance to get up) then I killed him with a shot to the head.

I didn't regret shooting him. I did regret killing him but I would have attacked him again if it meant to protect my mother. The look on her face when she looked at my hands was terrifying. I looked at my bloody hands and understood. I killed a man even though it was to save my mother I took a human life. And that made me into a monster.

After that incident I couldn't look at my mother or hold a gun in my hands without seeing the man's face. I didn't talk at all outside of my family. I talked even less with my family only responding to things with a short answer. My grandmother put me into fighting classes after the third time some bullies of mine kicked my butt after school and the teachers did nothing.

So for the next three years I was the top of my class. Did gymnastics and fighting as well as hacking and computer construction. My mother for my twelfth birthday introduced me to the world of VRMO. She gave me books on how people and industries are producing virtual realities using codes and technology and a NerveGear. When the first VRMO announced it's opening for beta testing my family signed me up right away.

I was one of the thousand chosen to participate in the new game Sword Art Online.

It was my first day luckily it started during the summer break. My family was amused with how I was bouncing in my seat during breakfast. The second I was done eating I immediately went to my room laying on my bed after putting on the helmet.

"Link Start!" I said.

All kinds of colors blasted across my vision. The character set up was easy. Basic things: gender, hair color, eye color. I chose a female with black hair (like my real self) forest green eyes (I had dark grey eyes) I made myself a tall (5'6") young woman with average sized 'goodies'. When I pressed continue I showed up in a town. A lot of other people were there.

'This must be the Town of Beginnings.' I thought as I walked out of the town.

I looked at a reflection of my avatar as I passed by. She was cute and pretty. I smiled before continuing to walk out of the town.

'I think I am going to grind. This starter sword will work. I want to gain more money so I can upgrade my stuff. Besides everyone will be checking out the town so I don't need to do anything.' I ended up in a field with wild boars.

I read about how the game is based off of fantasy swords so I attack the one of the boars that wandered from the pack. The HP didn't go down much so I back up and tried a stupid pose that some actors did when they were about to attack. I took a wild guess that there will be sword skills. I held my sword in a backwards grip moving my body in a defensive stance. When I finished moving I saw my sword start to glow. When it felt like it was going to explode I rushed the boar and cut it with my sword. The HP dropped to zero and it exploded in pixels. I was frozen for a few seconds afterwards before I unfroze.

'So there is a recovery period.' I thought while checking the droppings I got.

I spent the rest of the morning trying different poses and attacks getting more money. When lunch came around I went back to the town and bought a bandana and covered the bottom half of my face. I liked how my avatar looked but I didn't want people to look at me and assume I was going to talk to them. So the bandana covered my mouth so people would leave me alone.

I logged off and the second I gained consciousness I took off my NerveGear and ran down stairs yelling about how cool it was while my family laughed.

It was the last week of beta testing I was grinding with Kirito. He was another beta tester like me. We met in the first week when both of us were grinding. We had a competition to see who could level up the fastest. Kirito and I didn't talk much. But I did add him as a friend so when I had to I could message him. He was a single sword wielder. After the competition came to a draw we kept in touch eventually leading to us becoming the floor clearers. Within the first month we cleared ten floors. This month we made it to the twentieth floor before calling it quits. We had so many encounters that I just decided to teach him sign language so I didn't have to type everything out.

"Hey Artemis you're going to be early for the opening right?" Kirito asked while we took a break from fighting.

'Totally. Why?' I signed.

"Well when this starts do you want to party?" His fingers twitched around his sword.

'Okay but I get to do my own thing for three days a week. Too much of each other and the whole game will overheat with the embarrassment.' I typed and sent it to him.

He glared at me knowing exactly why I said embarrassment.

"I'm glad. Now let's get back to work. I have to make dinner tonight." He announced getting to his feet.

'Alright. Mama bear.' I dodged his punch before running into the woods.

When the first day of the game came I did things like the first day of beta testing. When the sunset on the first day I had enough money to get the bandanna I had from last time. I had just bought and tyed it when the bells rang. Next thing I know I'm teleported to the place I logged in the first time. Everyone starts popping up. The bells stopped ringing and a warning sign popped up.

It spread across the sky covering it in red. Then blood starts pouring out. It came together forming a cloaked figure.

"Attention players. I welcome you to my world. My name is Akihiko Kayaba. As of this moment I am in control of this world. I'm sure most of you have already noticed an item missing from your main menus. The log out button. Let me assure you this is not a defect of the game. I repeat this is not a defect. This is how Sword Art Online was designed to be. You cannot log yourself out of SAO. And no one from the outside will be able to shut down or remove the NerveGear from your head. If anyone chooses to do so a transmitter inside the NerveGear will discharge a microwave signal into your skull destroying your brain and ending your life. Despite my warning the families and friends of some of the players attempted to remove the NerveGear. Fortunate decision to say the least. As a result SAO has 213 less players than when it began they have been deleted. From both Aincrad and the real world. As you can see international media outlets have around the clock coverage of everything. Including the deaths. At this point it is safe to assume the likelihood that NerveGear being removed is minimal at best. I hope this brings you a little comfort as you try to clear the game. It is important that you remember the following. There is no longer any way to revive someone within the game. If your HP drops to zero your avatar will be deleted from the system forever. And the NerveGear will simultaneously destroy your brain. There is only one way for a player to escape now you must clear the game. Right now you're gathered on floor one. The lowest level of Aincrad. If you can get to the dungeon and beat the boss you can advance to the next floor. Defeat the boss on floor one hundred and you will clear the game. Last but not least I placed a little in the item storage of every player please have a look." Kayba announced.

I went into the storage and took out a mirror. Soon the whole place and myself were covered in light. When I look at the mirror again I don't meet the green eyes of my avatar but my own grey eyes.

'I look like myself. My face, hair, and body are the same. Is that calibration thing what helped them with my body?' I thought as I ran my fingers through my shoulder blade length black hair.

"Right now you're probably wondering why. Why does Akihiko Kayaba, developer of Sword Art Online and NerveGear do this? Ultimately my goal was a simple one. The reason I created Sword Art Online was to control the fate of a world of my design. As you can see I have achieved my goal. This marks the end of the tutorial and the official launch of Sword Art Online. Players I wish you the best of luck." He announced before disappearing.

As soon as he left I ran to the edge of the place. It got quiet before glass shattering and a scream let loose. The second the barrier came up I was running out of the town.

'I will not die by some psychopaths game. I need to get back to my family, they need me.' I thought as I used a sword skill to kill a herd of boars.

(In the game's first month, 2,000 died. Floor 1 has yet to be cleared– December 2, 2022.)

After the first month Two thousand people died and no one found the boss yet. There was a meeting to figure out how to find it. I went to the colosseum where they were having it. I still had on the bandanna and beginner clothes. I come in just the man in front announces the start of the meeting. As I look for someplace to sit I see two people sitting by themselves. One was in a cloak and looked more nervous than anything.

The other was a boy that had dark hair and eyes and looked sure of himself. He was focused on the meeting.

'No it couldn't be…' I thought as I walked to the boy.

I looked at him trying to make sure he was who I thought he would be. I walked slowly to him ignoring the man in front as he raised everyone's morale. When I got close enough I sent a party request with a short message.

He read it as I came behind him. I could see him getting irritated as he reread the message.

"You look just as girly as I imagined?" He read the message out loud before accepting the party request.

'Your not as geeky as I imagined though.' I signed as I sat next to him.

He glared at me before turning back to listen to the 'leader'.

"Okay glad to hear your all with me on this. Now let's figure out how we're going to beat the boss. First off we'll team up into parties of six. A typical party doesn't stand a chance against a floor boss. We need a raid group made up of multiple parties." Kirito looked at me when he said six.

I pointed at the other loner a couple of feet down our row. He nodded before getting up to walk over to the person.

"Would you like to team up with us? We only have two players." Kirito asked the hooded figure.

They nodded not saying anything. I added Kirito to my friends list before adding the person to our party.

'Asuna huh.' I thought before the leader started to talk.

"Alright looks like everyone's teamed up. Now then–" He started before he was interrupted.

"Hold up a second!" A man shouts from the back before jumping down the steps in a weird way.

'Gremlin' I typed before showing Kirito.

"Don't make me laugh." He whispered back while holding his laughs.

"My name's 's something I wanna say before we take on the boss. Some of you here need to apologize to the 2,000 who have died so far!" The gremlin accused.

I started to type out an argument ignoring the rest. I poked Kirito sending him the message.

"You want me to say this?" He asked nervously.

I nodded my head. He sighed before getting up.

"We should make them get on their knees and apologise–" He ranted before Kirito cut him off.

"Why should the beta tester take responsibility for the 2,000 peoples deaths? Most of them were from suicides. Are you saying that the beta testers should take responsibilities for the people who decided to end their lives because they didn't want to try to live? Why should they not take quest and hunting spots. The whole point of this is to get strong enough to beat the final boss to get out of here. Are you saying that no one should be getting stronger? That they shouldn't try to beat the game? Don't forget that a beta tester did write the book almost everyone carries about how to survive. Everyone had the information at their fingertips, some died because they didn't listen or choses to try to do it on their own. Also the whole thing about them hiding information you should try to look for the informers. You know the people who know everything. Beta testers are helping by getting strong enough to beat the levels. There is no information that is hidden. All you have to do is look for it. Besides in the guide the beta tester clearly states that this game is completely different and harder than what they played. Don't you think that maybe the beta testers also have to start over like all of the beginners? No one has any advantage and every one has the same goal to get out of here so does it really matter who does it?" Kirito finished saying everything I typed.

If I didn't know I wrote that I would have thought that he actually made that up. The gremlin and everyone stared at Kirito as he stood tall. Soon murmurs of agreement started to go through the coliseum. The gremlin sat down and Kirito followed once everyone stopped paying attention to him Kirito let out a sigh letting his shoulder drop.

"I thought that I was going to mess up." He mumbled.

I patted his back as the meeting went on.

The leader reads out the information on the boss from the latest addition of the guide book.

"Now everyone please remember that the creator most likely changed some things about the boss so even though we know a lot don't let your guard down. This concludes the briefing. Lastly, regarding item distribution, money will be automatically divided equally. EXP goes to the party that defeats the monster. And whoever receives an item keeps it. Any objections? Okay, we leave tomorrow, at 10 in the morning. Alright…dismissed!" The leader Diabel announced.

The hooded girl (because she sits like one) left as soon as we were dismissed.

Kirito and I spent the next couple of hours catching up and comparing our experiences and what changed in the game. By night, we ended up back at the town square. We were coming from an alley when we saw our other party member sitting in the dark. When I let Kirito bond with the girl while I looked for someplace to sleep.

He meets me at the inn I chose later. We discuss the other member before calling it a night.

When we meet up with the others to travel to the forest they give us jobs and Kirito goes over it with the girl.

"Let's go over it again. As the leftover team, our target is the Ruin Kobold Sentinels, the boss's entourage." Kirito explained.

"I know." The girl says softly.

"I'll use a sword skill to knock their poleaxes up. The second I do, switch and jump in. Artemis will be doing long range so you don't have to worry about her." He laid out the plan.

"Switch?"

"Don't tell me… Is this the first time you've ever been in a party?" Kirito asked.

"Yes." She answered.

Kirito looked shocked. I moved before I ran into him when he stopped in front of me. Patting his back when he slumped at his bad fortune.

Before I know it we enter the boss room. Everything goes well. I throw knives at the stranglers while Kirito and Asuna take on the groups. Kirito notices before I do.

"It's no good! Jump back as fast as you can!" Kirito yells.

I prepared for the attack watching as Diabel took two hits. I watched Asuna's back while Kirito tended to Diabel. When I looked back Diabel died. After Asuna finished one of the sentinels I grabbed her attention before running to Kirito's side.

"I'll go too." She said.

He looked at both of us before thanking us. All of us took off.

"Use the same sequence as we did for the sentinels. Artemis will shadow us taking shots when we pause." Kirito ordered.

"Got it." She answered.

Kirito used a sword skill to block the bosses first attack. Asuna went in for the attack but the bosses recovery was shorter and it cut her cloak in half when she dodged the strike. For a gamer she was ridiculously pretty. She makes her attack and I follow with a double skill set using my short swords. Dogging a slash going into a front flip landing swords down into the boss. I let them drag down before disengaging moving far for the recovery period. Kirito blocks the next slash allowing Asuna and I to make the next hits. On the third time it attacked twice not allowing kirito to block the second with his sword. He is thrown back and I catch him knocking into Asuna. Asuna goes to block the next strike when Agil blocks it and the other members go to attack.

"We'll hold him off till you recover!" He said.

The hold off for a while before the Boss knocks them back then launches into the sky to make another strike.

"Watch out!" Kirito gets up quickly starting a sword skill.

"I'll get you first!" He yelled before slicing the boss.

"Asuna! Artemis! One last attack! Let's do this together!" Kirito yelled after landing on the ground.

"Roger!" She yelled while I nodded.

Kirito blocked the first attack. Asuna hit first then I slashed deep into its stomach. Kirito finished it off by cutting it in half.

I stood by Kirito while he caught his breath. I looked at my items and noticed a bonus.

'Congratulations! You got a slaughter bonus!'

The item was a bonewhite half mask that covered my mouth.

"Good work." Asuna said.

"That was splendid swordsmanship. Congratulations. This victory belongs to you." Agil said to Kirito.

I ignored the congratulations and applause. Adding Agil to my friends list. The gremlin accused Kirito and I of letting the Boss kill Diable because we were beta testers. I held Kirito's shoulder when he made his decision silently saying I wouldn't leave his side. I followed Kirito after he made the announcement about us being the floor cleaners, the ones that got to the twentieth floor.

'Beaters. What a stupid name Kirito.' I thought as we left the first floor.

I am horrible at action scenes so those will not be good. This is based off of the Anime. Kirito is 14 and Artemis is 13 at the start of the plot. Those who know Artemis's identity keep it a secret for those to don't. Thank you! Review and Favorite. Please check out my other stories!