AN: Ok, so this chapter is mostly for people with less knowledge of SAO. It recaps the meeting with Akihiko Kayaba and gives you an insight into the bond between Rilos and Tobias. It gets a little confusing at times with Rilos changing what he calles Tobias. Sometimes it's Tobias and others it's Tyler. Just remember that Rilos isn't used to calling his best friend Tobias, and when things get really stressful, he tends to not care. So anyway, thanks for reading and don't forget to review!

CHAPTER 4: This Game is Life

As the white teleportation light faded, I quickly took in my surroundings. We had been teleported back to the courtyard, and we didn't seem to be the only ones...I didn't have an exact count, but it certainly looked like every player in Sword Art Online had been teleported to this exact spot all at once.

"Wha-? What's going on? Forced teleportation?" Tobias' voice came from behind me, and I turn to face him.

"Maybe it's a scripted event? You know...for the opening cerimony?" His eyes narrowed, but he shrugged. I turned away from him, looking for exit routes. "We need to get closer to the exits. I don't like this large amount of people bunched up in one spot. Let's move." I checked behind me to be sure that he heard, and saw him nod at me. So, trying to make as little disturbance as possible, we made our way from the center of the courtyard to the West exit.

A loud ding noise made me stop in my tracks. Looking over, Tobias did as well, and we looked up at the origin of the noise. The sky had a large red shape in the sky, "WARNING" I could barely make it out, but I didn't really need to try very hard to, because the shape started to multiply until the red announcements covered the sky.

Just as everyone started looking up at the red-covered, virtual sky, a red liquid began to pour from in between the announcements. The liquid, looking abut as viscous as blood, began to pool in a central area just above the buildings. As the blood-like liquid poured, the pool began to shape itself into a large person. More of a cloak with hands, actually.

"Wow...itense event. That thing is huge!" I said with wide eyes, looking over at Tobias who was pale. "You ok?" He just shook his head and kept staring at the figure in the sky.

"Attention players." The booming voice came from the large red cloak. "Welcome to my world." I found it a little odd that he didn't say 'welcome to sword art online' or 'welcome to this new world' his distinct use of the word 'my' kind of stood out. But I just let it roll and I shrugged.

"My name is Akihiko Kayaba. As of this moment, I am the only person able to control this world."

"Wait...what? I don't think that's how this works...Tyler? Hey, what's up man?" He was on his main menu. He looked at me, fear controlling his features.

"The logout button...its-"

"I'm sure you've already noticed that the logout button is missing from the main menu." Kayaba said from under the cloak. My eyes widened even more as I opened my own menu to confirm that. The button was indeed missing.

"But this is not a defect in the game. I repeat...this is not a defect in the game, but a key feature of Sword Art Online."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing...we couldn't logout? I grabbed Tobias' hand and dragged him the rest of the way to the West exit. We had to get out of there...

"You cannot log out of SAO of your own will, and no one on the outside can shut down or remove the NerveGear." Gasps came from all over the crowd, and even a scream or two.

"Should this be attempted, the transmitter inside the NerveGear will emit powerful microwaves, destroying your brain and thus ending your life," My hand reached for my blade out of frustration, only to realise it wasn't there. I clentched my fists.

"Unfortunately, there have been several instances where players' friends and families have ignored my warnings and attempted to forcibly remove the NerveGear. As a result, 213 players have exited permanently, from both Aincrad and the real world."

I was shaking with anger. How could he? How could he do this to innocent people? Video games aren't supposed to be like this!

"As you can see," Kayaba lifted his hand, bringing up several media outlet screens, floating around him, "news organizations across the world are reporting on this situation, including the multiple deaths. Thus, you can assume that the danger of a NerveGear being removed has been reduced." He lowered his hand, allowing the screens to disappear.

"So, I would like you all to focus on clearing the game. But be sure to keep this in mind," pausing for a moment he continued, "there is no longer any function to revive someone within the game. The instant your hit points drop to zero, your avatars will vanish forever and simultaneously, your brains will be destroyed by the NerveGear."

Jesus...I couldn't tell if he was serious, people were starting to freak out at this point. Even if it was just all a joke, or an event planned by the programmers, it's just cruel to do that to people. I vowed to myself, just then, that I would not let Tyler die. He and I would beat this game, against all odds and get out of here.

"You are presently on the lowest floor of Aincrad, floor one. If you make your way through the dungeon and defeat the Floor Boss, you may advanceto the next level. Defeat the boss on floor 100 and you will clear the game," if he had a face, I imagine it would have been smug. "Now then, finally, I've provided you all with a present in your item storage. Please see for yourselves."

Eyes narrowed, I swipped my hand in front of me, opening my menu, and touched the button for my inventory. An item labeled 'mirror' was awaiting me. I raised an eyebrow and tapped it. A small, handheld mirror appeared in my hand. I saw my avatar in the mirror, and glanced up at Tobias who had done the same. I shrugged just before a flash of light surrounded me, and I blinked in confusion.

"What just happened?" I looked down at my slender hands and back up where Tobias had been, and saw my best friend as I knew him. Black, curly hair that was not much longer than mine, bright green eyes that hid a burden he was cursed to carry, a stocky build and a moderate height. "Tyler? Why are you Tyler, not Tobias?" He was giving me the same look of confusion that I was probably giving him. Looking around, everybody had changed.

"Right now, you must all be wondering, 'why?' why would Akihiko Kayaba, developer of Sword Art Online and the NerveGear, do such a thing?" No shit that's what we were all thinking! What kind of person kills people like this?

"My goal has already been achieved. I created Sword Art Online for one reason...to create this world and meddle in it...and now, all is complete." He seemed to have a satisfactory sigh and continued his rant, "This ends the tutorial for the official Sword Art Online launch. I wish you luck players." The large cloak Kayaba was hiding under vanished, along with the man behind the mask.

AN: One more thing to add, the flock is coming in next chapter, so brace yourselves! Thanks again for reading, and please review! Bye for now!