I think it's time for another chapter for the story! The story now has 38 reviews and about 7,000 views which is great so keep it up! I thought since it's the first of October that I would start it off with a new chapter of my most successful story. I will probably write the next chapter for my Attack on Titan story tomorrow or Friday. I did my first job yesterday and it was awesome. I have to ref little kids and crap like that. But I get paid like 20 bucks an hour so it's all good lol. Again, you don't need an account t to review and I really hope you like the story!

Ch. 17

Kazuto looked up from the floor at the item I was pointing at. His voice became a little shaky but still stayed firm.

"That? That's uhh…..my NerveGear…."

I stared at the helmet and squinted my eyes. This thing looks like it would be known world-wide! Wait a minute, what am I talking about? I don't even know what it does. I pointed at the helmet again and asked my next question.

"What's it do?"

He walked over to it and blew off some of the dust that had formed on it.

"It plays virtual reality games. This helmet was the system before the Amusphere appeared."

I didn't know why but the helmet was somewhat interesting. I don't know if it was the design or just the fact that it was the Amusphere's ancestor. I wonder what kind of games are on it.

"Can I play on it?"

He chuckled slightly and sat on his bed.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you. That thing will kill your brain."

I shook my head and sat beside him.

"Aww don't give me that, 'Videogames destroy the mind crap.'"

I joked. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

"Nope. It will seriously kill you. Ever heard of 'Sword Art Online'?"

Sword Art Online? Is he talking about the thing Mr. Harrison mentioned during our talk? Now is probably the best time to ask him….

"No, but I was actually going to ask you about that. My boss, Mr. Harrison, said that he didn't want another 'SAO disaster.' Do you know what he meant by that?"

Kazuto opened his eyes again and sighed. He got up from the bed and walked around the room as he talked.

"Well…..yeah I kind of do. You see, 'Sword Art Online' was a game. I had signed up to be a beta tester for the game. They only picked a few but I was chosen nonetheless. So I started playing and got more and more into it. But then when the game had been opened to the public, that's when it happened…."

"What do you mean by it?"

"There had been about 10,000 players logged in at the time. Klein had been one of the players and was a beginner. He had asked me for help with the basics. I didn't know him but he looked really pathetic so I taught him how to battle, just how Leafa taught you."

I nodded as he continued talking.

"But then Klein suddenly realized that he couldn't log out and was panicking. I had told him that it was just a bug or something but then we both suddenly teleported to the central square. The creator, Akihiko Kayaba, appeared in front of us and told us that we were now trapped."

I tilted my head as he said that and gave him a confusing look. Trapped?

"He said that if we wanted to get out of the game, we would have to reach all the way to the last boss and defeat it. But if we died in the game then we would die in real life."

My eyes widened and I stood up.

"Die in real life? How's that possible."

"Well the NerveGear worked by sending powerful energy waves to your brain. The Amusphere does the same but it's 100% safe. But he said when we died in the game; the waves would increase their force and fry our brains out. It turned out that he wasn't lying and we were all stranded inside the 'death game.'"

I couldn't believe my ears. Was this really true? And why haven't I heard about it? God, I have so many questions.

"You said you and Klein were there, right? Who else was there that we know? And why haven't I heard about this?"

He counted the people off with his fingers.

"Me, Klein, Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, and Agil. Thank god Sugu wasn't there to face the monsters inside the game. And you probably didn't hear about it because the game was strictly for Japan. The government probably didn't want the rest of the world knowing so they did the best they could to keep it in Japan only. Besides, the U.S was in a war with Russia in 2022 so that was most likely more important to the media."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Thank god Sugu wasn't there is right. Kazuto had been serious the whole time and his answers to my questions seemed legit. I can't believe there was actually a game like that. I think I was about 13 or so, about the same age as Kazuto. I don't even know what I would've done if I was in his situation.

"That's pretty bad bro. I didn't think a game existed like that."

"No one did until that happened. And you know that huge tower in the sky? The one we went on the raid and the place where you and Sugu first kissed? Yeah that was the tower that was in Sword Art Online."

I waved my hands in the air.

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Too much! Too many things to sink in!"

I yelled as his words scrambled in his brain. But then a past memory suddenly popped into my head and my eyes went wide. I stood up and rubbed my temples slowly, trying to remember. Kazuto looked at me weird and asked,

"You got a headache or something?"

"No, I'm trying to remember something. I think I've actually heard about this on the news one day. Come on! Come on! Remember...Oh! Yeah! I remember now! It was three years ago and I was watching the news when I heard it. I was like 13 so I didn't really believe it at the time because I wasn't mature yet and didn't believe what the news said at all. I mean, what teen does? But it was on the news for a few weeks but I just ignored it and focused on Soccer...Man, I can't believe I knew what you were talking about the whole time but didn't even realize it! Gah, I'm a dumbass...Sorry about that."

He just laughed.

"No big deal Thorn."

He said until my phone began to ring. I unzipped my pocket and took the smartphone out, answering it.

"Hello?"

"Hey! Are you in Japan?"

"Mr. Harrison? Yeah I'm here."

"Awesome! Now I need you to go meet with the company that owns ALfheim Online right now. They need to brief you on what you're doing and how they are going to guide you through it."

"Alright, got it. Can you give me the address?"

"Of course."

He said as he gave me the address and number of the company. Kazuto, overhearing our conversation, nodded and opened his door. I wrote down the address, while walking out of the room, and hung up.

"Okay, I have to go meet with the company right now."

"I'm coming too, it'll be less awkward haha."

I laughed at his comment and walked into Sugu's room.

"Hey Sugu, I have to go meet with the company right now. But I will be back to spend time with you as soon as possible okay?"

She sat up in her bed and nodded, giving me a warm soft hug. She looked into my eyes and gave me a goodbye kiss.

"Don't be long, okay?"

I nodded and smiled as I returned her kiss. From the bed, Asuna gave an obnoxious sound at our love and we both glared at her. Kazuto came in the room and smirked at us.

"You ready to go, Thorn?"

"Yeah, did you call the cab?"

I asked on instinct. He gave me a toothy grin and started swinging his keys in rotation.

"Nope, we're taking the bike."

My face fell slowly and the two girls laughed.

"The what?"

He swung his keys in the air and caught them before turning.

"You'll see."

He walked out, leaving me utterly confused at what the hell he was talking about. Sugu suddenly pushed me out of the room and closed the door.

"Have fun!"

She said as I shook my head and followed Kazuto. He led us to the garage and turned on the light, revealing a huge black motor cycle that looked totally awesome.

"Holy shit dude! Is this thing yours?"

I asked. Now that I think about it, I'm acting the same way he did when he saw my car haha.

"Yep, and we're going to ride this beat to the address that your boss gave you."

I froze and watched as he threw me a black helmet. I caught it and stared at it before hesitantly putting it on. He gave me a look and I looked away.

"Don't tell me you've never rode on a motor cycle before!?"

I just shook my head and he lifted his fist in the air.

"Don't sweat it. It's really cool actually so don't worry about it."

I smiled and pumped his fist, nodding. We both got on the bike and he turned the black beast on. He sat up from the steering handles and looked at me.

"There are bars on the side of you to hang on. They keep you from falling off the bike. Unless you want to hold on to my waist…"

I glared at him as he laughed, slamming my hands on the side bars.

"I'm Kidding dude, kidding!"

I just shook my head and grinned.

"Let's just fucking go already, Kazuto!"

He nodded and put his hands back onto the steering. The garage door lifted, letting the shining light in. Kazuto roared the bike a couple times before going, giving no mercy to the passenger behind him. We were literally going like 80 miles per hour and I didn't even have time to think before we went even faster. My arms begin to shake and I started wailing like an ass as Kazuto laughed and went faster.

"Kazutooooooo! You son of bitchhhhhhhhhhhh!"

I yelled as the blinding wind bulleted my face and made my eyes water. I shut my eyes tight as we sped through the Japanese streets in a flash, maneuvering past every car or bicycle that was in our way. After about ten minutes, I opened my eyes to see that we had reached the address. Kazuto took off his helmet and got off the bike, still laughing at my behavior. I took off the helmet and glared at him.

"Soooooo which one do you like better? Your car or my bike hehe?"

I walked past him.

"My car you smartass."

He started laughing louder and I took my phone out.

Sugu,

I just rode on the bike and I'm lucky to be alive! Your brother is the worst driver on the planet Earth! Gah!

Form,

Thorn.

I waited for the replying text as Kazuto continued to snicker behind me.

Thorn,

Get the fuck over it.

Love,

Your baby.

I looked up from my phone and didn't bother texting her back. I turned around to my new best friend and pointed to the front door.

"Let's go already."

"Alright, Alright! But remember we still have the trip back haha."

He said as we entered the building.

"Geez, it wasn't that funny."

He stopped me and held his hands out.

"Oh! I think it was…."

I mushed my lips together, in a pout, and continued on to the front desk. The lady was playing Legend of Zelda on her computer and reading the 'Game Informer' magazine at the same time. I knew what that was like and believe me, THAT is what I call living life. I tapped onto the desk and she gasped, fixing her hair in the process.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"Uhh….. I'm the American?"

She squinted her eyes at me and nodded and then looked at Kazuto.

"What about him?"

She said pointing at him. He immediately got tense and turned slightly to me.

"He's a friend."

She put both of her hands on the table and leaned close to us.

"Well guess what…I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"

Kazuto and I's mouths fell open as she laughed evilly. We turned to the right to see a guy walking toward us and snapping his fingers.

"It's okay Aniston, their telling the truth."

She stopped laughing and got back to playing. Kazuto and I glared at her before the guy started talking again.

"Hello, I'm Yukio, please follow me. Mr. Harrison said that you were truly reliable so I really hope you can help us with this little problem."

He said as he led us to the elevator. Reliable? I just started working there…..oh well, its better that my boss actually likes me rather than hating me. We all walked into the elevator and the Yukio pressed the middle button. The elevator started to rise and began to take us to the main room.

I really hope it's like he said…Just a small problem….

And that is the end of the chapter. Lol, I had to add the part where he remembers about the news part because him not knowing what SAO was didn't make since so now I hope that looks better. Sorry about that! I was going to add the problem (Glitch) into the chapter but I don't really know what the problem (glitch) of ALfheim should be. So it would be so awesome if you guys could PM me or give me suggestion on what the problem should be. I will take the best suggestion and use it in the story. I really ask you that you do try to think of something because then I will have a chapter out faster. Again, please review the story and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reading! ALSO I AM PUTTING UP A POLL THAT WILL DETERMINE WHICH STORY I WILL WRITE AFTER I AM DONE WITH THIS ONE SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU VOTED! PLZ VOTE!