SAO Episode 1: The World of Swords
Episode Guide:
Bold=In Episode Dialogue
'Bold Italics'=In Episode Character Thoughts
Italics=In Episode Description/Action
Normal Script=Outside Of The Episode Talking And Action
The seven trapped people settled down at the half circle table, trying to get comfortable. As soon as they all sat down a screen popped into existence. The words SWORD ART ONLINE appeared, and soon after images and sound began to be projected.
A black screen is the first thing to appear. A chime-like sound and the word Argus Presents appears. The picture changes. Music to inspire awe begins to play. The camera moves through cloud cover. Another black screen appears, this time with another message: In 2022, mankind finally… Another capture of a mist covered forest appears. A third black screen message is shown: Built a full virtual environment... The camera moves again, this time tearing through rich green grass. A cliff appears, with a black armored man astride his steed. The camera moves up to show a floating citadel high upon the air currents.
Klein sighed heavily. "I remember that promotion. It was the reason I knew I had to get a copy of that game. I mean I had heard about the beta tests, but that ad is what really sold it. I remember convincing the members of a guild I had been a part of to join me. We waited hours to get ahold of one of the 1st copies. We were so happy that we got them before they sold out. Now…" The usually happy-go-lucky swordsman never finished that sentence.
Most of the members involved with the SAO incident understood, but Asada and Suguha only looked confused. Suguha sighed when the episode continued. She felt kinda bad. They may have been kidnapped, warned of some future incident about her brother, but she was kind of looking forward to the show. She had always wanted to understand what her brother had gone through the 2 years he was trapped. Sure Alfheim had given her some clues, but here was her chance to really understand how SAO had affected her brother and his friends.
Unknown Reporter: Hi there! Time for this week's MMO Stream. You just saw a promo of today's featured game. And this is what last week's launch day looked like. Can you guess what everyone's waiting in line for? Sword Art Online!
An online newscast began to play after the ad. The reporter showing images of the players who managed to get one of the 10,000 copies.
Unknown Reporter: The one at the front of the line waited for three days prior to the launch. Or is this just what any real gamer would do?
The camera moves off the computer to a magazine. The article' headline reads 'Sword Art Online Development Director Akihiko Kayaba'. The article features a picture of the man standing at his desk, wearing his trademark lab coat.
Kayaba looks at Kirigaya-kun. "You seem to have researched the game pretty heavily, despite being one of the leading beta testers." If Kayaba notices the stiffening posture of Kibaou, he doesn't comment.
Kazuto shrugs. "The game was a challenge during the beta test. I would have been an idiot not to do some research into how the game would change during the real thing. Plus…" He hesitates, but his natural honesty wins out. "I was fascinated in the mechanics of the game. Not just the game play itself, but how it was made." Not many people knew that to this day, Kazuto was looking to invent things to bring the real world and virtual world closer together. Asuna smiled, and took ahold of his hand. She knew why Kazuto had begun to invent things like the camera she carried on her should for weeks, but it wasn't her place to say.
Unknown reporter: On today's MMO Stream, we'll be covering, the internationally famous Sword Art Online, AKA SAO!
The camera moves onto a young man sitting in a chair in front of his computer. He is wearing dark clothes, with headphones plugged in, and gamer magazine in hand. As he flips through the magazine he cuts himself on the paper's edge.
Unknown Reporter: To be honest, none of the NerveGear software released so far, has really taken advantage of the hardware. Yeah, they were crappy games, huh?
A steady stream of blood flows from the cut on his thumb. The unknown boy looks at it, but is distracted by a voice beyond the door to his room.
Suguha: Hey, I'm off to practice now. See you later, okay?
A far off screen view of a fairly big house appears on screen. A young girl is running out of the house. She is wearing a uniform, and carrying a large bag over her shoulders. The audience cannot make out her face, but just her general outline.
Suguha sits straight up in her seat. "Hey that's me!" Everyone in the group turns to look at her. "No, seriously that's me. I remember that those were the last words I said, before…you were gone." Suguha doesn't look at her brother. Her face is too hot to look at him now.
Kazuto doesn't comment. He has a bad feeling about these episodes. A REALLY bad feeling.
Unknown Reporter: But SAO was made by the NerveGear inventor, Akihiko Kayaba and it's a long-awaited VR MMORPG. I can't wait! The beta testers all said it was incredible. I wish I could've gotten a copy too…Only 10.000 copies were sold in its first printing. It sold out online in seconds. And as you saw, hard-core fans bought all the store copies.
Asada-chan turns to Yukki-chan. "You don't seem like much of a gamer. Why did you try and get one of the first copies, instead of waiting for the reprints?"
Asuna-chan smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "The game wasn't mine. My older brother was the one excited about the game. However, he had to leave for a business trip." She closed her eyes, and leaned back into her chair. "I never even asked him if I could borrow it. I was just curious. I was going to give it back, but…" No one knew what to say to comfort the girl.
Kayaba frowned. He never would have guessed that one of the most powerful players, hadn't any real experience. In fact she was only there by bad luck. That didn't fit in with what he expected. Then again, the whole point of his project was to have his expectations broken, to be surpassed. He wondered if any of others would pick up on that as the projections progressed.
The scene changes to the boy alone in his room. The audience cannot see his face, just that he is an adolescent with short black hair. After turning off the online news cast, he starts setting up electronics. He puts on a bulky helmet that covers his head completely. Electricity begins to stream into the helmet, causing it to power up. The boy leans back into his bed, ready to leave his body behind, and enter into a virtual world.
Kirito: Link start!
Colors and sound explode across the screen. A rainbow of colors draws the camera in until the whole screen is enveloped in white. Five circles indication checks in the integration of the system flash in the corner of the screen. A language selection appears next, and the language of Japanese is selected. A log in screen shows up next, with two blanks spaces under the headings account and password. The characters are disguised, but it is the next screen that draws the eye. A big blue box appears, indicating that the player logging on has perfected his profile. From this moment on the main character will be playing as a male character named Kirito.
WELCOME TO SWORD ART ONLINE!
After a flash of blue light, the audience can now see through the eyes of Kirito. He blinks several times, and glances down to his virtual hands. His virtual hands shows no sign of the earlier paper cut. Kirito clenches his hand. The camera pans out to reveal the face of tall and handsome young man. A far off projection from the image of a boy the audience saw earlier.
Kirito: I'm back in this world!
Tsuboi-san grins at Kirito. "That look doesn't suit you man."
"I thought it looked really cool." Kirito huffs in annoyance.
"Because that is so important." Asada deadpans, and the rest of the room laugh.
Flashes of light surround the boy. With each new flash another player appears. The camera zooms out to show a huge city filled with the sounds of thousands cheering. The camera zooms out again to show a mammoth castle of steel floating in the air. This castle would be the stage of the deadliest game in human history.
Another blue pixeled screen takes the place of the floating city of Aincraid. The screen proclaims the title of the episode: The World of Swords.
Suguha sighs. "It looks so innocent now. From just logging in, you would never expect for something so amazing to turn into something so terrifying." She could totally understand why her brother had fallen in love with the game.
"Maybe it would've stayed that way if a certain bastard hadn't interfered." Kibaou growled. He stared intently at Kayaba. "Hey you! I'm talking to you! What gave you the right to turn us all into your little lab rats?" Kayaba just continued to ignore him. Kibaou started to get up, but Tsuboi-san interfered.
"Now, now. Nothing you can say will change the past, but the longer we delay watching this, the longer it will take to get out of this. So, sit down please." The disgruntled man snorted through his nose, but obeyed.
On screen the words Floor 1: Town of Beginnings appear. In the background there are players talking to NPCs (non-player characters) and each other. Everyone is trying to learn how the basics of the new virtual world. The camera moves to players discussing grievances, players recruiting other players, and boys trying to party up with girls. For example:
Girl in pink: Well, I don't know, maybe.
Handsome Guy: Oh, come on! It'll be great!
Suddenly Kirito's character runs across the screen. He's hurrying past the other players, not stopping to gather potions, gather gear, or ask a NPC to explain the game. He's ready to take on the world. A pink haired man with a red bandana notices the running boy. He decided to go after him.
Klein: Huh? Hey, Bro! Wait up!
"Thus the epic friendship of Kirito and Klein is born!" Tsuboi-san cheers. The girls giggle, Kibaou huffs, and Kayaba ignores him. Kirigaya-kun just feels conflicted.
"Would you really call us friends even after all that happened?" The boy asks the older man. Tsuboi-san smiles and nods his head.
The pink haired man runs after the blue haired boy, who slows down to acknowledge him. The pink hair man has to stop and catch his breath. Meanwhile Kirito tilts his head in curiosity, wondering what this stranger wants.
Kirito: What's up?
Klein: Whew... You act like you know your way around here. You were in the beta test, weren't you?
Kirito: Ah, yeah.
Klein: Cool! Today is my first day, so could you give me some tips on the lower floors?
Kirito: Yeah, I don't know if...
Klein: Oh, please I'm begging you! Look, my name's Klein. Good to meet you.
The blue haired young man shakes off his confusion, and poses with one hand on his hip.
Kirito: All right. I'm Kirito.
"You know I've always wondered why everyone in these games drops the honorifics. While playing nobody uses chan, san, dono, or any of the ways we show respect to each other. Why is that?" Suguha asks the room full of expert players.
Kirito smiles at his little sister. "Most players want to play as someone else in virtual reality. They make a new look, a new personality, and play as a completely different person. It's kind of like being reborn."
"Most players use jumbled version of their real name. Mix up the letters and use that to name their player." Asada-chan explained to Suguha. "Sometimes players want to make sure to protect their privacy as well.
"Like I'd want any of you to know my real name." Kibaou sneers.
Yukki-chan looks down at her school shoes. "I was probably the only person in the entirety of SAO to use their real name." Kazuto smiles and bumps Asuna's shoulder to knock her out of her funk.
"Despite the rudeness," Suguha glares at the offending Kibaou, "that's a valid point. Since we're all here because of the virtual world, and not everyone will offer up their real names. Why don't we stick to our online avatars and drop the honorifics? I'm Leafa-chan."
Kayaba quietly offered his name. "You may call me either Kayaba or Heathcliff. They're both me."
Tsuboi-san grins at everyone. "The grumpy guy is Kibaou. I'm the great Klein."
Kazuto snorts. "Yeah, great at falling on your ass." He then gets serious. "I'm the swordsman Kirito."
Asuna squeezes her boy's hand. "My name in game or real life is Asuna. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
Asada smiles. "Many of you may not know me. I never played SAO. Instead I became Sinon the best sniper in Gun Gale Online. It is an honor to be here."
It may have been a late introduction, but everyone felt a little more connected now. Maybe that was the point in all of this: to bring everyone together to discover the truth.
The scene changes to Klein flying back from the screen. He has just failed to attack a beginner monster.
Klein: Argh! Oooh...hit to the nuts... kill me now...
Kirito stands back to watch Klein, with both hands on his hips. He is less than impressed.
Kirito: Oh, come on, seriously? You can't feel any pain.
Klein: Huh? Oh yeah, you're right. Sorry, habit.
Kirito: Remember what I said? The first move is the most important.
Klein: Yeah, that's easy for you to say. But he won't stand still!
Kirito picks up a rock. He moves his arm back to throw, but pauses as he explains to Klein.
Kirito: If you do your initial motion right, and activate a sword skill at the right time... the system pretty much guarantees you'll always hit your target.
The rock glows, and Kirito completes the throwing motion. The rock explodes from his hand like a glowing bullet, striking the pig monster Klein has been working on killing. The angry pig turns toward Kirito with an enraged squeal.
Klein: Initial motion?
The affronted pig paws the ground, ready to charge. Kirito nonchalantly holds his sword at the ready, never stopping his explanation. He evades the rampaging pig. The pig charges again, but this time Kirito holds its tusk off with his short sword.
Kirito: Here's an easier way to look at it. Right after you start your move, wait for a little bit.
When you feel the skill start to activate, drive it home!
With that last bit of advice he knocks the pig off himself, and with a kick sends off towards Klein.
Klein: Drive it home?
Something about that statement seems to click with the newbie swordsman. Klein spreads out his feet, and raises his short sword to his shoulder. He pauses for a second, and his sword begins to glow a bright golden color.
Klein: Hoho! Yeah!
With a yell Klein moves forward, and the system helps him execute a devastating attack against the rampaging pig. As the two swordsmen watch the pig's health bar drops to zero, and the pig explodes into green pixels. Klein screams out in excitement of his first kill.
Klein turns to the real Kirito. "It was so much fun that first day. I don't know how long it would have taken to learn the basics if you hadn't stopped when I called." Kirito just smiled.
Kayaba studies Klein for a moment. "Why did single out Kirito, and not some other player? How did you even know he wasn't a NPC?"
Klein shrugs, and scratches his cheek. "I don't know. I guess it was the way he was running, like he already knew the basics and was ready to really dig into the game. I knew there were beta testers, and I just figured an already experienced player would be a great teacher."
"That was an astute observation Klein." Kayaba complimented the red-headed swordsman. He found it fascinating how two of the strongest players had found each other on the first day. He had assumed it had to do with associating with the Kirito, but perhaps Klein had more skills than he thought.
Kirito glares pointedly at Kayaba. "Klein was the leader of one of the strongest guilds in SAO. While smaller than Knights, they were fighting in boss raids almost longer than any other guild."
Kayaba got the subtext though: don't underestimate his friend just because of his friendly attitude. It was interesting how protective the black swordsman could be. Was that why the teen was able to beat himself in the end?
Kirito: Congratulations. That was nice. But that boar's about as weak as slimes in other games are.
Klein: Holy crap! You got to be kidding. I thought that thing was a mid-level boss.
Kirito: Yeah, as if.
Now that Klein knows the correct movements, he begins practicing the initial sequences to use Sword Art Online's skills. His breaks out into a smile each time his sword starts to glow.
Klein: Whoa!
Kirito: Addictive, isn't it?
Klein: I'll say. So, these skills... There's a ton of them like blacksmithing and stuff, right?
Kirito: Uh-huh. I heard the game has an unlimited number of them. On the other hand, there's no magic.
Klein: An RPG without magic? That's a bold decision, man!
Kirito: So, what do you think? It's kind of fun to move your body as you fight, isn't it?
Klein: Oh, hells yeah!
Kirito: You ready to move on?
Klein: Yeah, man. Let's keep going.
The sun has set by the time the next scene begins. Klein lies exhausted in the grass of the plains he and Kirito have been grinding in. Kirito stands admiring the incredible view. A tall waterfall drops into a beautiful lake, creating a miniature rainbow for the players to enjoy. The rest of the floor the players are on stretches on for miles. It has a beauty that cannot be found in reality.
Klein: When I look around, I can't believe it. We're inside a game, bro. Whoever made this is a genius.
This thing's amazing. Makes me glad I was born when I was, you know.
Kirito: You make a big deal out of everything.
Leafa turns to her brother and teases him. "Still trying to play it cool with your new friend huh?" Kirito blushes, and most of the captive audience laugh good naturedly at the teen.
Klein: Cut me some slack, it's my first full dive!
Kirito: You've never used the NerveGear before today, huh? This is your first time ever?
Klein: Uh-huh. As soon as I got the money together, I rushed out and bought all the hardware to play SAO. Stood in line and scored one of the ten thousand hard copies. Guess you could say I was pretty lucky. Although, you sir, were ten times as lucky getting to beta-test it.
Kirito: Huh?
Klein: Dude, only a thousand people got the chance!
Kirito: Yeah, I guess I was lucky.
Klein: Hey, mind if I ask how far you got in the beta?
The rest of the audience leaned in. Kayaba was especially interested in how much Kirito's previous experience helped turned him into the strongest solo player in the game.
Kirito: Two months and I couldn't get further than floor eight. But now, I think I can get there within a month, easy.
(Side note in SAO Progressive he was the only one to get to floor 10.)
Klein: Sounds to me like you're really into this!
Kirito: Yeah, you could say that. During the beta test, SAO was the only thing on my mind, day and night. In this world, a single blade can take you anywhere you want to go. And even though it's a virtual world, I feel more alive in here than I ever did in the real one.
As Kirito watched himself on screen, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic. It took him a long time to just relax in a virtual world after Kayaba turned SAO into a death game. It took recreating Alfheim Online, and meeting up with friends to rekindle that lost excitement. He hoped he could hold unto that feeling after facing whatever threat their kidnappers foretold was ahead.
Trying to lighten the mood, Kirito switched subjects to distract Klein from his embarrassing moment of sentimentality.
Kirito: Anyway, you want to go do some more hunting?
Klein: You know it! But the thing is...
Klein clutches his stomach as it growls at him.
Klein:I'm really hungry. I have to log out.
Kirito: Too bad the food you eat here only satisfies your hunger virtually.
Klein: Yeah, for reals! That's why I ordered a pizza for 5:30!
Kirito: Wow, you're so prepared.
Klein: You know it! Besides, the game can wait until I get my pizza on.
Kirito: I guess...
Klein: Hey, I was going to go meet up with some people I know from another game.
I don't know what you're up to after this, so, if, uh, you know, if you want, you can friend them and hang with us.
Kirito hesitates, and glances away. He suddenly becomes very awkward and shy.
Klein: No, it's cool if you don't want to, no pressure. I can always introduce you to them another time or something.
Kirito: Yeah, sorry. Thanks, anyway.
Klein: No way! I should be doing all the thanking! Hey, one of these days, I promise I'll pay you back for all your help! Virtually, that is!
Kirito: Yeah, right.
Klein held out his hand to Kirito.
Klein: Thanks for everything, man, really.
Guess I'll see you around, then.
Kirito: If there's anything else you want to know, message me.
Klein: Oh, sweet! I'll do that.
The red haired swordsman gave Kirito one final wave. He then turned to open up the main menu screen. He scrolled through various buttons, but couldn't find the one he was looking for.
Klein: Huh? Where'd the log out button go?
Kirito: It should be there.
Klein: Nope, it's not there.
Kirito: It should be at the bottom of the main menu. Huh?
Kirito pulled up his own screen to show Klein. However when he scrolled through the menu, he only found a blank space where the log out button should have been. A shiver of fear racked the swordsman.This never happened in the beta test.
Klein: See, not there.
Kirito: You're right, it's not.
Klein: Oh well. Today's, what, the first day out of beta? Bound to be some bugs!
I bet the server people are freaking out right now!
Kirito: You will, too.
Klein: Huh?
Kirito: Look, its 5:25.
Klein screamed in despair, clutching his head in the weirdest position Kirito had ever seen.
Klein: Oh my god! My teriyaki mayo pizza and ginger ale!
Asuna raised an eyebrow at Klein. "Really? You can't get out and you're worried about some weird pizza?"
"I don't know." Kirito mused aloud. "I could understand the groaning if it was like one of those sandwiches you made for us on floor 74." Now it was Asuna's turn to blush.
Kirito: Why don't you just contact the game master?
Klein: Yeah, I did that, but nothing's happening! He's not picking up!
Do you know if there's another way to log out of this thing?
Kirito: No. Whenever a player wants to log out of SAO, the only way they can do it is by going through the menu.
Klein: That can't be right! There's got to be some other way out.
Klein begins jumping around. He raises his hands in the air shouting different commands.
Klein: Return! Log out! Escape!
Kirito: Told you so. And there was no emergency log out in the manual, either.
Klein: No way, you're kidding...I know, I'll just rip the NerveGear off my head!
The two swordsmen are so deep into their conversation that they don't notice as the light of the sun fades away. Ominous shadows surround the talking duo.
Kirito: Don't bother. Once you're hooked in , you can't move your body in the real world anymore.
The NerveGear intercepts all the commands you give from inside the game, using an interface built into the rig.
Klein: Seriously? So now we got to wait until someone gets around to fixing the bug?!
Kirito: That, or until someone in the real world comes along and takes the NerveGear off us.
That's it.
Klein: I live alone. You?
Kirito: I got a mom and a sister. And I'm pretty sure they'll notice by dinner time and come...
Suddenly Klein is in Kirito's space. His face uncomfortably close to the other swordsman.
Klein: Y-You got a sister? How old's she? What's she like?
Kirito: Huh? She's into sports, and hates games. And she's totally not your type, man.
She wouldn't date a gamer if he was the last type—
Leafa snorts. "Shows what you know big brother." The others in the room laugh.
Klein: Who cares?! I want to—
Kirito had been leaning away from the aggressive red head when he began the questions about his little sister. Finally, he had enough and kneed the invasive pervert. Klein goes flying, until he lands with a thud.
Klein: Oh, right. Getting kicks in the balls doesn't hurt.
Kirito: Get serious. Don't you think this is weird?
Klein: Yeah, totally. But it's just a bug.
Kirito: This isn't just a bug.
If we can't log out, it's going to cause some serious problems for the game.
Klein: Yeah, I guess you're right.
Kirito: I wonder if the developers even know what's happening, 'cause they could just shut down the server and log everyone out. But why haven't they made an announcement?
Klein: Hmm...
Suddenly the large bell in the Town of Beginnings begins to toll. Blue light envelops the swordsmen, swallowing them up, and transporting them back to the center of town.
Klein and Kirito reappear amongst thousands of other players back in the main square of the Town of Beginnings. The large bell continues to toll ominously. The players talk amongst themselves. Confusion and panic run rampant.
Pink Girl (for the moment): Do you know what's going on?
Handsome Guy: Uh-uh.
Kirito: Someone forced a teleport.
Random Guy: What's going on here?
Random Guy # 2: Look, up there!
The large bell in the center of town stops ringing. One of the players point to the sky, where a piece of the sky seems to be blinking red. The red blinking shape reads warning/System Announcement. Suddenly the red shape is multiplied several times over, quickly covering up the sky graphics with ominous red. Even creepier, blood begins to pool from the cracks of the red shapes. The blood drips toward the players until it congeals hundreds of feet above the square. The blood thickens into the shape of an empty priest's outfit. The players can see right through to where hands, feet, or even a face should be, but therein lies only darkness.
Kirito: Now what?
Klein: What the hell is that thing?
Random Guy #3: Is that a game master?
Random Guy #4: Why doesn't he have a face? Is this an event?
Pink Girl: I'm scared.
Handsome Guy: Don't worry. It's just part of the opening ceremony.
Kayaba: Attention, players.I welcome you to my world.
"His world. Pretentious prick." Kibaou sneers, seemingly forgetting that the creator was able to hear him.
Kirito: His world?
Kirito and Kibaou looked at each other in surprise. Who knew that those two could ever come to the same conclusion?
Kayaba: My name is Akihiko Kayaba.
And as of this moment, I am in control of this world.
Random Girl (the first): Seriously?
Random Guy (I lost count of the number): Wow, that's some entrance.
Kayaba: 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 in the game. I repeat, this is not a defect. This is how "Sword Art Online" was designed to be.
The empty specter pulls out a huge screen to highlight the missing log out button. Emphasizing that from now on, there was no escape.
Klein: He's kidding, right?
"No. He's not. He never did, not even when he was playing as Heathcliff." Asuna told the room bitterly. "He trapped us with no regard to how it would affect the rest of our lives." She looked Kayaba straight in the eye. "He didn't care, nor does he now."
Kayaba didn't disagree.
Kayaba: You cannot log yourselves out of SAO of your own will, and no one from the outside will be able to shut down or remove the NerveGear from your head. If anyone attempts to do so, a transmitter inside the NerveGear will discharge a microwave signal into your skull, destroying your brain and ending your life.
Random Girl (the second): What are you talking about?
Random Guy (found it) # 6: Oh, come on! That's such BS!
(Bull Shit) This game sucks!
Handsome Guy: Let's get out of here.
The pink girl and handsome guy walk over to one of the side streets leading out the plaza. The handsome guy walks into an invisible barrier. He pounds on the barrier, but it does no good. Everyone is trapped.
Handsome guy: Hey, I can't get out!
Klein: Are you listening to this crap? He's got to be nuts, right? Right, Kirito?
Kirito: He's not. The transmitter's signals in the headgear work just like microwaves.
If the safety's disabled, it could fry your brain.
Klein: Couldn't someone cut the power or...?
Kirito: That won't work. The NerveGear's got an internal battery.
Kayaba was impressed. "Not even some of my own staff understood the implications of the internal battery. If they had, there might have been more of a push to delay the release of the NerveGear until more safety checks were placed. It's curious how you seem to understand my creation down to its very hardware."
Kirito blushed. He might resent Kayaba for his lack of morals, but he still respected the man's genius.
Klein: This is crazy! It's totally crazy!
Kayaba: Despite my warning, the families and friends of some of the players have attempted removing the NerveGear, an unfortunate decision to say the least. As a result, the game now has two hundred thirteen less players than when it began. They've been deleted from both Aincrad and the real world.
Kirito: Two hundred thirteen?
Klein: No way... I don't believe it!
The giant figure gestures and dozens of windows pop up. Different newscasts and articles from all over Japan warn families of the dangers their loved one might be in. Their headlines warning everyone to not disconnect the players from the NerveGear, or they risk frying the player's brain.
Kayaba: As you can see, international media outlets have round-the-clock coverage of everything, including the deaths. At this point, it's safe to assume the likelihood of a NerveGear being removed is minimal at best. I hope this brings you a little comfort as you try to clear the game.
It's important to remember the following warnings.
"Well that's comforting. 213 people died, but don't worry the rest probably won't die because of outside interference." Sinon sneered.
Kayaba: 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.
Kirito thinks back to the fight with rampaging pigs. Once foolhardy move, and even a low level mob like that could cause a game over. He imagines his avatar getting hit, his health bar dropping to zero, and his very self breaking apart into green pixels. The other players trapped in the game stare in horror at Kayaba's avatar. The entire square silent as a grave.
Kayaba: 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 through the dungeon and defeat the boss, you may advance to the next floor. Defeat the boss on Floor 100, and you will clear the game.
Random Guy #7: Clear?
Random Girl (the third): What's he talking about?
Handsome Guy (get ready this will be the last we see of him): Why should we believe any of the crap you're saying?
Klein: We can't clear all 100 floors. That's freaking impossible... even the beta testers never made it that high!
Kayaba: Last but not least, I've placed a little present in the item storage of every player. Please have a look.
Kirito scrolls through his windows, until finding the newest item in his inventory. He materializes the item, and a small mirror appears in his hand.
Kirito: A mirror?
He stares into the image of his avatar. Then he notices a bright blue light has encased Klein. Soon other players are engulfed into the light, including Kirito himself.
Kirito: Klein!
Klein: You okay, Kirito?
Kirito: Yeah. Wait... Who are you?
Instead of pink haired bandit, a scraggy looking man tries to approach Kirito. But wait, doesn't the stranger seem familiar? That's when Kirito begins to notice his change in appearance too. Somehow he's turned back into real appearance. He looks into his mirror, and an astonished middle schooler stares back at him.
Klein: I'm me. Who are you?
Almost everyone in the square now looks completely different from the way they looked when they were transported here in the first place. There's also been a noticeable shift in the overall gender population, the number of female players dropping significantly. The girth of the average player also dramatically increased too.
Formerly Handsome Guy: Son of a... You're a guy?!
Pink Guy (used to be a girl): You're not seventeen?
Kirito: Wait a second.
Klein: Is that you, Kirito?
Kirito: Is that you, Klein?
Klein: But, how?
Kirito: The scan. There's a high-density signal device inside the NerveGear rig. It can see what my face looks like, but how's it know my height and body type?
Klein: When you first put the NerveGear on, it had to do this... calibration thing. It asked you to touch your body all over like this, remember?
Klein begins to pat his body down, mimicking the actions the NerveGear require to adjust brainwave activity for the various movements a human body is capable of.
Kirito: Oh, yeah, you're right. That's where it got our physical data.
Klein: But, this is...What's the point?! Why would anyone do this to us?!
Kirito: I think he's about to tell us.
Kayaba: Right now, you are probably wondering why.
Why would 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 this world and meddle with it.
Finally Kibaou had enough. He rushed straight for the stoic engineer, and decked him. Kibaou starts screaming at him, lost in his anger and pain. Kirito and Klein tried to intervene, but it was Asuna that finally got the orangette to calm down.
Asuna raised her hand, and slapped the enraged man. "Enough." She hissed, looking the man straight in the eyes. "What's done is done. No matter how hard you punch, you are never going to get the time he stole from all of us. There is no way to get back the lives he ended. There is nothing he can do to soothe the families that lost loved ones. All we can do is try to use what we learn here, watching this stupid screen, to protect ourselves in the future. Now sit down, and shut up!"
Kibaou silently moves away. Klein offers a hand to Kayaba, but is ignored. Sinon hugs a shaking Leafa, guiding her back to her seat.
Kirito grabs Asuna's shoulder. "That was a good speech. The vice-leader of the Crimson Knights should be proud." Asuna lets out a shaky laugh, and grips Kirito's hand tightly. There are sure to be more outbursts before this affair is over, but like everything else they'll face it together.
Once everyone was seated, the picture resumed.
Kirito: Kayaba...
Kayaba: 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.
The empty robes begin to pixelate, creating the illusion of the figure falling apart. With the last of the robe gone, the sky returns to a picturesque sunset. The players remain silent, frozen in horror. A figurative spotlight highlights Kirito. Blood drips to the ground, a figment of Kirito's imagination, especially since Kirito's virtual hand is without blemish. However, real or not the image reinforces the fact that for now SAO is his reality.
Kirito: It's not a game. It's real. Akihiko Kayaba created a virtual world. He designed the NerveGear rig.
The man's a genius! I've been a fan of his for a long time... so I know... everything he just said... is the truth! If I die in the game, I'll die in real life!
The camera pans to some familiar faces. Asuna, Silica, even Lizbeth. All of them trapped in a death game.
Silica: My god... No!
Panicked Players:
No way!
Not cool, dude!
Let me out... Let me out of here!
I can't stay here. I have a meeting after this!
Stop pushing!
Formerly Handsome Guy: You have to let us go!
Pink Guy: Tell us you're lying!
While everyone starts shouting up at the sky, Kirito notices the barrier trapping them in the square disappearing. He grabs Klein by the arm, pulling him towards the side streets.
Kirito: Come on, Klein!
"No." Kirito whispers.
The others in the room turn towards the now shaking boy. Klein's eye soften, he gets up out of his chair, and nonchalantly swings an arm around the boy. "Cool it man. You didn't do anything wrong. You gave me a choice, and I didn't take you up on it. Simple as that."
His kind words didn't stop the shaking. The older man sighed. He used his other hand to muss up the boy's hair. For the remainder of the episode he would remain there, supporting his friend until he got it through that thick skull that the kid did nothing wrong.
Kirito keeps pulling Klein until they reach one of the exits of the Town of Beginnings. He quickly explains his plan to other swordsmen.
Kirito: Okay, listen. I'm heading out right now for the next village. I want you to come with me.
Klein: Huh?
Kirito: If what he said is true, and I think it is. The only way we're gonna survive in here is by making ourselves as strong as possible. In an MMORPG, the money you can earn... the EXP... Once the game starts up, there's only so much of that stuff to go around. Look, the fields around the Town of Beginnings are going to be hunted clean soon. If we head to the next village now, we'll have an easier time collecting cash and points. Don't worry, I know all the paths and places we should avoid.
Even if I'm level one, I can get there easy.
The boy pulls up a map highlight the route he wants to take to reach the next town.
Klein: Thanks, but... you know those friends of mine I was telling you about... we stood in line for a whole night to buy this, and...They're back at the Plaza, somewhere... and I can't leave 'em.
Kirito: 'If it were just Klein... but two more... or even one more...'
Klein: Sorry. Can't ask a guy I just met to risk his life for a bunch of strangers, can I?
So, don't worry about me. Get your ass to the next village. I'll be fine! Last game I played, I ran a guild, so I'm more than prepared. And with all the stuff you taught me, I'll get by, no sweat!
The more Klein talks, the guiltier Kirito looks. Noticing the unease, Klein gives the younger swordsman a thumbs up.
Kirito: Okay. If that's what you want, I'll get going. But if you're in a jam, message me, okay?
Klein: Sure.
Kirito: I'll be seeing you, Klein. Take care.
Kirito turns to leave, but walks with obvious reluctance. He's hoping Klein will change his mind.
Klein: Kirito! I...Hey... Kirito. Um, the real you kinda cute right?
Way cuter than your avatar. I like you better this way.
The boy stops. He turns around, a surprised smile taking over his face.
Kirito: Yeah, and I think that scruffy face fits you ten times better too.
The boy then turns around and runs out of town. By the time he decides to look back, Klein is gone. Kirito grits his teeth, and journeys on.
The scene changes to Kirito running across the plains. A wolf mob appears to block the way, springing at the swordsman. Kirito grabs the blade on his back, immediately starting the motion for a sword skill. A blue light springs from the blade, propelling Kirito into a lunge. The skill cuts wolf in half, not even breaking Kirito's stride.
Kirito: 'I've got this! I can do this! This world can't beat me!
I will survive!'
Final Scene
The camera zooms into a palace dominating the Town of Beginnings. Inside is a black stone engraved with names of every player in Sword Art Online. Red lines begin to cover players' names, indicating their death.
Text scrolls across the screen:
In the game's first month, 2000 died. Floor 1 has yet to be cleared-December 2 2022