I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.

Tryouts

Michael stepped into the bar and smirked. Sinon was in the ring, easily avoiding a player with a rifle by getting up close. Then, she put her machine pistol to his side and blasted him, ending the match. She collected her reward money and got out of the ring, seeing Michael sitting at the bar. She sat beside him and ordered a drink.

"You're early," Sinon stated.

"I had nothing better to do today," Michael shrugged. "Figured I'd come hang out."

"And you just happened to comento the one bar I'm at," Sinon smirked.

"Hey, that actually was a cooincidence," Michael stated. "I actually went to a random bar to drink. It's not my fault I only know of the one bar."

Sinon laughed and shook her head.

"Don't you know how to use the map?" Sinon asked.

"This game has a map?" Michael blinked.

Sinon tipped her head back, laughing so hard she nearly fell off her bar stool and began to cry. Finally she stopped, wiping her eyes.

"I'll hand it to you," Sinon said, trying not to start laughing again. "You are one of a kind."

"I'd have figured you knew that already," Michael smirked.

"True," Sinon nodded, grinning. "Well, since you're here anyway, what do you want to do?"

"How about a fight?" Michael asked. "Let's see just how good you really are."

"Against a knife fighter?" Sinon snorted. "Hell no. I'm a sniper. Your fighting style gives you an unfair advantage."

"At range, so wouldn't yours," Michael stated.

"True," Sinon nodded. "So, what else do you want to do?"

"Well, how about you tell me about this game," Michael said.

"Alright," Sinon nodded. "Well, for starters, you can access the map through your menu. The game, as I said before, is designed for players to kill players, but at the same time, there are also monsters. Certain Monsters drop gear tht you can't buy like armor or rifles. One in particular that I'm preparing to go after is rumored to have one of the most powerful sniper rifles in the game. I want it. And soon enough, I'll get it. Anyway, in the game, there are groups that stick to hunting monsters in order to make money and there are those who target these groups and kill them for anything they get on a hunt. My group is one of this kind. Most monster hunting groups are weak, arrmed with Optical Rifles since they are best for monster hunting. That makes them easy targets for us. They are equipped to fight monsters rather than players."

"Makes sense," Michael nodded. "Think they'll have shielding?"

"Maybe," Sinon shrugged. "Depends on the players. They might not bother becahse most PKers use live ammo."

Michael nodded and sipped at his drink. Sinon did the same and looked around.

"Oh, one thing I forgot to mention," Sinon stated. "There's an recurring tornament called Bullet of Bullets, BOB for short. The point is to slaughter your way through the ranks in PvP combat. The initial fights are one-on-one in a random battle zone. The finals are a battle royale between the last thirty players. The next tournament is actually only a couple weeks away."

"Sounds fun," Michael grinned. "I'll have to sign up."

Sinon smiled and nodded. Then, she stood.

"We should go," Sinon said. "The others will be there soon."

Michael nodded and they left, heading to the main gate and finding a man in a coubow hat, cowboy boots, and an orange poncho waiting.

"There you are," the man said. "I assume this is him?"

"Yes," Sinon noded. "Michael, meet Dyne. Dyne, Michael. Are they ready?"

"They are," Dyne nodded. "You going to help out?"

"That would be an unfair test," Sinon stated. "I'll watch with you. I have better attention to detail than you."

Dyne nodded and turned to Michael.

"Leave the city and head straight out," Dyne stated. "We have a group waiting to ambush you. If you can do well enough, you're free to join."

Michael nodded and left the city, Dyne and Sinon following. Dyne pointed out the road he had to walk down and Michael drew his rifle, walking away, glancing back and seeing Sinon watching through a sniper rifle scope. He sighed, continuing and watching carefully for any sign of an ambush. Finally, he stopped, looking back. The city had disappeared from sight almost ten minutes ago. Maybe the ambush hadn't been paying attention and he had missed it.

He turned to walk back the other way and nearly a dozen red lines extended past his head from behind. He dove sideways, bullets flying past. He rolled into cover, peeking through a small hole in the wall. There were now four players walking toward him. One was wearing black with a white visor, one was wearing black SWAT armor, one with black shirt and cargo pants, combat boots, and a green mohawk, and one had black clothes, a black mask over the lower half of his face, goggles, and had blonde highlights in his hair.

Michael fired through the hole and, as expected, the blast hit a barrier. The players did, however, duck into cover, and Michael took the oportunity to sprint out of his cover and to a new rock. The players began to fire at his last cover and Michael drew his knife, hurling it at one of them and hitting them in the hand, making then shout in pain. Michael ducked down, the rock above him being peppered. Then, he got up and sprinted around the players, bullets hitting around him.

"Lucky bastard!" The one with the mohawk shouted. "Die!"

Michael spun, hurling a knife just as a bullet punched through his shoulder. He fell, tripping over his own feet and landed on his back, a spray of lead passing over him. He looked over, seeing that the player with the visor was gone. He grinned and rolled onto his stomach and drawing his rifle, firing a couple of shots. The player with the mohawk simply sprinted forward, the blasts hitting his barrier harmlessly. Just as he aimed at Michael, Michael rolled behind cover. The cover was a corner of wall so Michael moved around to the other side just as the player stepped around the first side. The plYer snorted, walking forward, rifle up, but just as he got to the corner, Michael grabbed the barrel, slamming the buttstock into the player's face then killing him with his knife.

The last player stepped around the wall, blasting Michael in the back and Michael spun, hurling a knife. It scratched the player on the cheek, making him stagger backward from surprise but the knife had missed. Michael swore as he landed on the ground and the player aimed at him.

"So close," Michael sighed.

Before he could die, a sniper shot hit the ground at the other player's feet, making him jump back. He and Michael looked where it had come from and saw Sinon and Dyne walking toward them.

"Looks like you survive this one," the player stated, pulling his goggles up. "Congratulations. But you'll need a better rifle."

"Probably," Michael nodded. "But I'll pass."

The player snorted and they waited until Sinon and Dyne arrived.

"You pass," Dyne said. "We go hunting tomorrow at sixteen hundred. Meet us at the gate."

Then, he logged out and the other player did the same. Sinon motioned for Kirito to follow her and they began to head back toward the city.

"You did very well today," Sinon stated. "I almost didn't believe you when you said you could use knives. You really should consider a live ammo rifle."

"I know," Michael sighed. "But I'd prefer not to. It's...complicated."

"I suppose everyone has something complicated in their past," Sinon shrugged. "Keep the Optical Rifle if you want. You're good enough with the knives. That was what Dyne decided to let you in for. Your ability to use a knife successfully was what got you in."

"Good to know," Michael nodded. "Just wish I could hack the game to make my rifle not effected by barriers."

"Helpful as it would be, that would be unfair," Sinon stated. "To not worry about barriers, get live ammo. Otherwise, you'll have to put up with it."

Michael nodded. She was right. Though he could hack the rifle's programming to bypass the barrier, it would be unfair. He would prefer not to cheat. During SAO was one thing, since it had been life or death, but GGO was just for fun.

Finally they reached the same bar they had met at and sat down. Sinon ordered a drink and Michael looked toward the ring. Someone in the ring was talking tough, saying he couldn't be beaten. He was holding a pair of machine pistols and was wearing a black cloak, bright red pants, and a bright blue chest plate.

"Don't," Sinon said, knowing what Michael was planning. "Good as you are, you're not good enough. Besides, you should hide your rare skill. News travels fast. You'd be better off keeping it secret. Especially for BOB."

Michael sighed and nodded, as someone stepped into the ring. The player laughed as the player, someone SWAT armor and holding an AA-12 fully automatic assault rifle, aimed at him. Just as he began to fire, the player with the machine pistols ducked and darted around the challenger, knocking his rifle upward then stood, placing the machine pistols to the challenger's eyes and blew his head into ribbons. Michael stared at the player as the challenger shattered.

"So, what do you say kid?" The player asked as he turned toward Michael. "You've been watching a while. Wanna play?"

Michael looked over at Sinon and she shook her head, smirking.

"Whatever," Sinon sighed. "Your virtual funeral."

Michael grinned and stood, walking to the ring and getting in. A box asking him if he wanted to challenge the player appeared and he accepted, drawing his knife, seeing the barrier projector glowing on the player's belt. The player laughed and raised his pistols, grinning. A timer appeared, counting down from ten. The moment it hit zero, red lines flashed to Michael, bullets already halfway to him. Michael dove to the side, rolling as bullets slammed into the glass. Michael hurled his knife, the player avoiding it easily.

Michael summoned another and sprinted forward, slashing at the player, who spun out of the way, a pistol whipping around. Michael leaned forward, foot rising and blocking the arm. Michael hurled his knife again and the player only barely avoided it. Then, Michael summoned a new knife, rolling to the first and picking it up in his free hand, spinning toward the player and diving aside from a spray of bullets.

"You've got good reaction time," the player smirked. "I shouldn't be surprised."

Michael narrowed his eyes in confusion, raising his knives as the plYer put one machine pistol back in its holster and also equipped a pump action shotgun. Michael sprinted forward, slashing at the player and the player kicked Daniel's arm, stopping it and raised the pistol. Michael brought his knee up, knocking the pistol upward and the player released it. Michael instantly leapt back, hurling both knives and forcing the player to drop to the ground, a knife removing several haIrs.

"You," Michael snarled. "So this is where you've been."

"I'm impressed," the player smirked. "Only just beginning and alreafy you know me. Hello, Michael. It's been a while."

"Archon," Michael snarled. "Of course you're back. I should have known. I was foolish to think you'd fuck off."

Archon grinned and bowed, raising his second machine pistol. Michael growled in annoyance, summoning a new knife and crouched, readying himself. Archon grinned then lowered the gun.

"It's been fun," Archon grinned. "But now I have other things to attend to."

And with that, he resigned, granting Michael the reward money and then logged out. Michael growled in annoyance and exited the ring, walking over to the bar and ordering a drink.

"What happened?" Sinon asked. "The glass is too thick for voices. Why'd he quit."

"He is a pain in my ass that I don't need," Michael grumbled. "He enjoys attacking me no matter which game I'm in. I was hoping he wouldn't be here. Shame I was wrong."

"Sorry," Sinon apologized. "I gotta go. I have something to do tomorrow."

"It's fine," Michael said. "I'll see you later."

Sinon smiled and logged out and Michael did the same, going to bed with the headache that usually went with dealing with Archon.

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