Sword Art Online: The Legend of The Black Swordsman

Chapter 1: The World of Swords and The Flying Castle

Kirigaya Kazuto couldn't stop smiling as he double checked everything before his dive. Diving is a relatively new term in the year 2022, it is slang term used in passing by gamers who wear full VR headgear to enter into games and experiences like no other. With one final nod to himself Kazuto pulled the Nervegear over his head again before laying on his bed and closing his eyes, "LINK START"

"I'm back," Kazuto said mostly to himself after looking around in the world of Sword Art Online. Aincrad we meet again, smiling as he moved his eyes around he saw his health bar along with his avatar name Kirito and pulled up his game menu and was a bit surprised. What the hell, Kirito thought when he saw that all the skills and levels he had attained during the beta test were still in his inventory along with one new skill that was blocked. Sighing Kirito started to message Argo.

Argo,

Kirito here, do you still have all of your skills and levels from the beta?

Kirito figured she would get around to messaging him eventually and started to run out of the The Town of Beginnings to his favorite hunting ground on the first floor. Until he was stopped by someone yelling at him.

"Hey man," turning Kirito saw another male with slightly longer spikey red hair wearing a bandana, basic leather armor with a white shirt and standard unarmored brown pants. "You were in the beta test right? Do you think you could help me?"

Kirito looked over the player for a minute before deciding it would be fine, that and his constant begging wasn't making things any easier. "Alright, man calm down. My name is Kirito."

"Klein," the red haired player answered.

Kirito nodded before giving the follow motion and heading out of town. It didn't take the two long to hit Kirito's first hunting ground filled with wild boars know as Frenzy Boar. "Now remember what I said on the way here right," Kirito asked Klein as they slowed their pace.

Klein nodded and smiled before grabbing his cutlass, "first motion is important." Without slowing down any further Klein drew the cutlass in a swift motion before attacking the boar drawing its aggression, or argo, to attack him. And that was his only successful attack for a good minute. Eventually the boar got the better of him and tusk checked him in the groin. "Aw man! not the nuts," Klein said grabbing his nether regions before rolling over.

Sighing Kirito pulled a pebble from the ground near his feet. Throwing it in the air and catching it a few times Kirito, "I don't know why you're on the ground complaining, you can't feel any pain due to the dampeners." Finally catching the pebble Kirito pulled his hand back and began a sword skill. "The first motion or initial motion is what tells the computer to activate the skill, then give it a second," the pebble took on an orange light before Kirito threw it hitting the boar on the backside drawing the argo to him.

Quickly drawing his Iron Longsword Kirito held back from attacking it, just held it off. "Let me see if I can explain it a bit better," he said barely breaking a sweat keeping the boar at bay. " It's not like one, two, three then strike, but more like gathering a bit of energy and then. as soon as you feel the skill start, it goes BAM and you feel it hit the monster."

"Bam eh," Klein said before standing and almost shouldering the blade. But the system read the movement and within a second the sword was glowing red and Klein was ready to unleash his Reaver sword skill. Pushing the boar back with his sword, Kirito kicked its face re-orienting it toward Klein.

The AI boar rushed toward the red haired man who smiled before letting out a quit battle cry and letting the system do the work. Faster than he thought possible Klein was on the other side of the boar, its health completely gone and it was breaking into the polygons of light signaling its defeat. Klein blinked rapidly before a window popped up showing his loot killing it. Finally realising that he won Klein jumped into the air with his sword raised, "oh yeah! Who's a badass?"

"Not you," Kirito said with a teasing tone, "these boars are like slimes in other games buddy. Weakest of the weak." Klein mutter damn under his breath before looking out at the field of boars that lay before him.

"Well," he said, this time shouldering his blade and not activating the skill, "mind hanging around while I kill some more of these things?"

Kirito shook his head no, "that's not a problem. I need to loot up so I'll be around the area too. Just hollar or message me." Kirito sent a friend request to Klein who nodded.

"You got it buddy."

Kirito had wondered a bit further off than Klein probably would have wanted; but he didn't want him to know his level just yet. The message from his friend Argo left him a bit weirded out.

Kirito,

No.

Argo was never one to forthcoming with info, but for him to still have all his sword skills and still be level 10 was a bit unsettling. Kirito wiped his forehead of the imaginary sweat that came from monster, or mob, killing. Turning he was about to start making his way back to the town of beginnings before he noticed another player struggling pretty hard. He couldn't get a good look at them, what with the hood from the red cloak.

He could tell they were female and around his height and frame size. He watched for a minute as she wildly slashed at the boar in front of her. Every attack was wasted as she couldn't land even a single blow. He saw her get hit a second time and watched as her health drained into the red.

Sighing once again he drew his long-sword from his back and without even saying a word swooped in a killed it in one strike. Turning Kirito saw the other player breathing a bit more heavily than they should be, "hey, you might want to use a health potion so recover your HP so you don't have to re-spawn at the Town of Beginnings."

The other player didn't answer but looked away for a second and Kirito thought he saw a blush on her cheeks for a fraction of a second. "I don't know how," she mumbled so low Kirito almost didn't hear her.

Pinching the bridge of his nose Kirito began walking her through how to use the player console. After explaining everything and nodding her head she began to walk away before Kirito spoke up again, "hey! I noticed you trying to slash with your Iron Rapier. You do know it isn't meant for slashing attacks right?"

That stopped the red clocked player in her tracks. "But that's what you told the other guy to do," she said glancing back at the other player.

Kirito was taken back for a second, "you followed us here?"

Not trusting her voice she merely nodded before looking down and responding in a bit of a sad tone, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have followed you, I, I'll leave you alone." She turned her head back around and began to walk away again before Kirito ran up and grabbed her arm.

"Hey it's cool," Kirito said dropping her hand, "I don't mind helping a bit. Do you know what kind of sword you have?"

She turned around fully this time, but still kept her head down and out of eyesight. "Yeah it's a rapier. Meant for speed and thrusting. I," she paused for a moment, "I was taught fencing from a young age so I thought it might suit me best. But I haven't been able to hit anything yet."

Kirito looked thoughtful for a moment before grabbing her hand again and dragging her behind him. "If you have real world experience it should help you a bit more than players who don't. But you may not want to talk about anything from the real world, it's kinda one of the unwritten rules in MMOs," finally reaching another group of boars, he let go of her hand and mentioned for her to draw her sword. "Ok, see that boar over there," he pointed to the closet one a few feet away from them. Seeing her nod he continued, "hold your rapier like you are going for a thrust in a match. You should feel the Sword Skill warm up and see a bit of light coming from it."

The cloaked player didn't respond aside from following orders and prepared for the thrust. Kirito didn't even have to say anything else, the player felt the sure of the skill and saw the light off her sword and before he could blink she was gone in a flash of green light. That has to be the fastest Linear I have ever seen. And she's only level one?

The boar instantly died from the rapier sticking out of it's skull the other player standing in front of it. Just like many before it became nothing more than glowing polygons in the wind and a window with drop information appeared. "Um," she said turning around the screen following with her, "what is all this stuff on the screen right here."

"This is your first MMO isn't it," Kirito asked to which she nodded. "Great," he mumbled before explaining a what the menu in front of her was. After explaining the menu and a few other basics he figured he could help her a bit more and the two formed a party, Asuna hn. Well she hasn't said anything so might as well leave it be for now.

"Now remember since we are in a party the experience points, or xp, we get will be a bit smaller but not much," Kirito said as the two began to make quick work of the surroundings. He never let her drop out of eyesight and was thoroughly impressed by the speed of which she attacked. It took them twenty minutes to finish off the boars and Kirito turned to her with a smile, "for this being your first one you aren't to bad. And I have never seen a player move as fast as you do, how do you do it?"

Asuna blushed but Kirito still couldn't see it and she was quite thankful for it. "Um, I'm not really sure to be honest. When I started I already had a few skill points in speed," she said while glancing up and saw the look of shock on his face.

"Wow," Kirito whispered, his mind running a mile a minute. So it wasn't just me, but I wonder who else started off with an advantage?

"Should I not be moving that fast," she asked a hint of worry in her voice.

"Well, kinda," he responded while rubbing the back of his neck. "Everyone is supposed to start at the same level and with no skills. I wouldn't go mentioning that skill to anyone, might make them a bit jealous."

She nodded in understanding before thanking him. Suddenly both turned to a voice shouting to them, well more to Kirito. Asuna remembered him as the guy who stopped her current partner. "Hey man! This is awesome," Klein yelled once he reached them. Blinking for a second he took in the appearance of the other player standing next to his new friend. Is that a girl! I just hope she is actually a girl, "my, my name is K-klein, I am twe-twenty thre..e, sing."

Klein never got to finish that pickup line as Kirito charged up a low powered punching skill and wailed into the older players stomach. "What the hell man! That's not how you introduce yourself!" Turning to face his current party member Kirito smiled awkwardly and apologized profusely.

She giggled a bit drawing her hands to her face to hide it as best as possible; Klein was too busy holding his un-hurt gut to notice. But Kirito blushed at the noise, she has to have the cutest laugh ever.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts Kirito began introductions, "Klein - Asuna, Asuna - the moron rolling on the ground."

That brought Klein out of his fake misery, "moron?! What the hell dude?"

Asuna was in full shock, I didn't give him my name! How did he know? "Um, how did you know my name?" Kirito looked back at her and blushed realizing he forgot to explain to her how the party system works. After a quick debriefing of how a party works, where all their HP were, how to see names, and the like the group took a small break on the grassy field enjoying to mob-less view.

About thirty minutes later Klein sprung up and cracked his back, "well guys it's been fun! But it's almost 5:30 and I have a pizza coming."

Kirito nodded and smiled, "later man!"

Asuna who still had yet to drop her hood spoke up as well a bit a teasing in her tone, "it was nice meeting you moron-san."

Klein's face fell at her send off and grumbled as he opened his player console. He quickly scrolled through until he found the menu where the logout button was suppose to be. "I, I can't log out!"

Kirito sat up straight immediately and pulled up his console as well. Finding the menu for it but grayed out as well, "is this a glitch or something? Hey Asuna you try logging out."

Asuna nodded and sat up a bit quicker and didn't notice her hood falling off revealing beautiful brown eyes, blue hair, and a slim face. They still couldn't see the clothing she wore under the cloak but Kirito had to look away and fight the atomic blush forming. "I can't logout either!"

This is bad, Kirito thought looking between the other two, and suddenly the world went white.

Line Break

All three where standing by each other in the Town of Beginnings square where everyone first logged in. "That was a forced teleport," Kirito said more for Klein and Asuna's sake, "but why are we here?"

"I don't know," Klein said looking around at all the people.

Then it came. The system looked like the sky above was bleeding and then a giant reaper appeared from a dark cloud in the sky. It spoke that it was the creator Akihiko Kayaba, and that they were trapped.

Microwave scanner, fried brain, death in game, can't take off, 215 dead already, world wide media craze, what the fuck! Kirito's mind was racing a mile a minute trying to figure out if there was anything they could do other than fight and die.

"Haha...what's he saying? That man, has he gone nuts? He's not making any sense. The Nerve Gear... It's just a game. Destroy our brain... How is he going to do that? Right Kirito?" Klein asked while looking over at the ex-beta tester and Asuna who both had equally shocked expressions on their face.

Shockingly before Kirito answered Asuna spoke up, "The infinite signal sensors in the Nerve Gear's helmet emitted small electronic pulses to send virtual signals to the brain. They might call this the newest ultra technology, but the basic theory was the same as a certain household appliance that's been used for over 40 years in Japan—the microwave."

Kirito was flabbergasted by her quick response but spoke up as well, "she's right. The Nervegear has a battery built into it for power outages and the like. If what he is saying is true, then we are stuck here or we die." Klein's eye's got as large as saucers and Asuna wasn't much better.

And that's when Kayaba started to speak again, "Players, there is no need to worry about the bodies that you have left on the other side. As of this moment, all TV, radio, and internet media

are all repeatedly reporting this situation, including the fact that there have been numerous deaths. The danger of having your Nerve Gear taken off has already all but disappeared. In a moment, with two hours being give as grace period, all of you will be transported to hospitals or similar institutes and be given the best treatment. So you can relax...and concentrate on beating the game."

"He can't be serious can he Kirito," Asuna asked a look of worry etched across her face.

Kirito could only nod, fearing his voice might betray him. He tuned just about everything out until Kayaba's last statement, "Players, there is only one way to be freed from this game. As I have

said before, you must get to the top of Aincrad, the one hundredth floor, and defeat the final boss that resides there. All players still alive at that time will be immediately logged out of the game. I give you all my word. And one final thing before I leave you all, In your inventories, there will be a gift from me. Please confirm this."

Quickly everyone started scrolling through their inventories hoping it would be some kind of rare item that would help them survive. Hand Mirror, Kirito thought before pushing on it like everyone else.

Suddenly the entire meeting square was blinded by light. Once it cleared everyone was looking around trying to find anyone familiar. Kirito turned to the two with him and was surprised by their appearance. Klein still had his spiky red hair, his bandana, but his nose hooked a bit now, he had a scruffy goatee, and was a slight bit taller. Asuna's face had rounded a bit more, her eyes stayed the same color but her hair took on a chestnut hue. Had this been any other time Kirito might have blushed and looked away embarrassed by the beautiful face but he was still reeling from the change in avatars. "Asuna, Klein?"

The two turned to Kirito with shocked expressions as well, "Kirito?!" They both said shocked by his appearance change as well. Looking down in the mirror, Kirito realized this is what everyone looked like out of game. He couldn't stop his hand from trembling and dropped the mirror startling all the players in the near by area.

"...now I have finished the official tutorial for «Sword Art Online»," Kayaba said with almost a gloating tone, "players—I wish you luck."

And that is when the square erupted into blind panic. Screaming, shouting, running, pushing, everything. Kirito had a split second to make a decision and before either of the two players in front of him could say or do anything, he grabbed both of their arms and started to pull their stunted bodies out of the square and down one of the allies.

When they were far enough away Kirito slowed his pace until he found a darker area for them to speak quietly. "Klein, Asuna," the dark haired swordsman spoke drawing them both out of their stupor. "Listen to me. I'm going to get out of this city and head over to the next village. Come with me."

Turning to Asuna, because Klein probably already knew, Kirito began to explain his reasoning, "If what he said was true, in order to survive in this world we have to strengthen ourselves. You know that MMORPGs are a battle for resources between the players. Only the people who can acquire the most money and experience can get stronger. ...the people who've realized this are going to hunt all the monsters around the Town of Beginnings. You'll have to wait forever for the monsters to regenerate. Going to the next village right now would be better. I know the way and all the dangerous spots, so I can get there, even if I'm only level...one."

Asuna nodded resolve finding its way into her eyes. Klein on the other hand nervously fidgeted, "sorry bro, I can't go with you." Klein looked back the way they came for a second before turning back to the black haired youth, "No...I can't keep relying on you. I was a guild master in the game I

used to play. It'll be fine. I'll just make do with the techniques that you've taught me till now. And...there's still a chance that this was just a bad joke and that we'll all be logged off. So don't you two worry about us and go to the village."

Kirito and Asuna nodded but hesitated for a second, both looking at the older player one last time. He caught them and smiled, "Kirito, Asuna, you guys look pretty good in real life! So don't worry, you guys will do fine."

Asuna smiled at him while Kirito responded, "Your look suits you ten times better too!" The two male players shared a small laugh before pounding fists. Klein took off back to the square while Kirito and Asuna headed for the town's limits.

"Do you remember what I told you about how parties work together," Kirito asked once they reached the city walls. They didn't stop however they just kept running.

"Yeah," she said a bit coldly for Kirito's taste but he shrugged it off and continued forward. Until two Dire Wolf's showed up in their path. Quickly drawing their swords neither slowed as the charged their sword skills and with one Linear and one horizontal both wolves were dispatched and the two continued on the path to the next town.

Real World

It had been one month since the start of what everyone on the outside was calling the death game. In one month over two thousand people had lost their lives in the death game and many were starting to lose hope of ever seeing their friends or family members again.

Until RECT Progress, the company who took over managing the Sword Art Online services, found something interesting. A small stand alone server in a sub-basement at Arges found that one of the thousand beta testers was being recorded. What was even stranger was he was the only beta tester to retain his skill set and level which surprised the administrators when then began to decode the mainframe.

Using their full dive VR setup they figured out how to route live video or recorded video via the virtual reality headset. There was only one small problem, they were only getting one player's perspective. But the Japanese government's virtual department didn't care. They uploaded forced RECT Progress to allow anyone access to the stream from this player. They weren't sure who he was, why Kayaba was recording him, or really anything else. But it was their only in into the death game and they couldn't lose it.

People came in droves to buy the Amusphere, RECT Progess' VR headset that was strictly regulated by the virtual department in the government to make sure another SAO incident didn't happen.

Two people sat alone in the living room on their couch, one a middle age woman and one young girl, with two open Amuspheres on the coffee table in front of them. "Mom," the younger one spoke first. She had dark haired pulled slightly out of her face by two bretts on each side, currently wearing the stander faku uniform with a green ascott. "What, what if this player never runs across Kazuto? What if we never see him again?"

The older of the two, her dark hair pulled into a loose bun wearing a business suite, and mother to both the girl sitting on the couch Kirigaya Suguha, and Kirigaya Kazuto one of the players trapped in the death game sighed. Kirigaya Midori was her name and she was just as worried as her daughter. "I know Suguha. But we have to try, for Kazuto's sake."

Both hated the fact that their brother/son were trapped with only one way out. Beat the game. It was hard to believe that something like this was even happening but there really wasn't much of an option. Grabbing the Amuspheres for each Midori handed Suguha hers. "Lets see if this player knows Kazuto," and with that said both placed the VR units on and spoke, "link start."

After a few conformation windows opened both Midori and Suguha were standing in what looked like an old roman amphitheatre. Quickly scanning around the two looked at the worn and haggard players gathered before them. "Mom!" Midori turned just in time to see Suguha pointing at one of the players and they both gasped. Grabbed in a midnight black coat with spikes on the shoulder blades sat Kazuto. Since they were viewing they were able to see everyone's health and status and to see their family member higher than all the assembled players made them smile a bit.

Until they saw his avatar's name and Midori was shocked, "Kirito….that, that's the name of the player Kayaba is recording. Oh Kazuto." Her heart weaped for her son.

SAO

Since the game began, a whole month has gone by, and two thousand people have died so far.

After all this time, none of the players have been able to clear Floor One. I used to be a beta tester, and even I haven't found out where the boss's lair is. And today, finally, we're having a meeting to figure out how to find and defeat the Floor One boss. Kirito smirked sitting in the back before listening as a blue haired "knight" by the name of Diable explained where the boss was and what weapons and attacks he would be using.

Glancing to his right Kirito tuned out the altercation from some cactus looking player and a larger black player. She's leveling nicely Kirito. They had been in a party for a full month and while Asuna focused on leveling Kirito worked on gearing them up. Farming all the mini-bosses he could find to make sure they had the right weapons, armor, and miscellaneous potions and crystals. He saw her heath dip just slightly before her level number jumped along with her health restoring back to full. Good she is level 10 now. Between my level 15 with the Anneal Blade and Klein's guild who should all be 5 to 8 by now; we may have a chance.

Kirito saw everyone leaving and quickly grabbed the map data before heading out as well. Most boss raides take an hour but that is because most people run small parties in the raid group and pull back a lot. It will be ballsy but if Asuna and I take the majority of the agro and with my combat healing we should be able to take care of it. Kirito sent Klein a message asking to meet with him and Asuna at the Inn they were staying at.

Walking in and heading to their room Kirito opened the door and was a bit surprised to see Asuna in the small kitchenette making sandwiches. "Hey Asuna-chan," Kirito greeted with a smile, "one of those wouldn't happen to be for me would they?"

Turning she threw the knife at him, it only grazed his cheek slightly before impacting the wall of the inn behind him, "maybe mister I lied about my level. I can't believe you didn't tell me how to check your level when we are in a party."

"You're still mad at that hn," Kirito asked with a grimace pulling his sword from his back and placing it next to the couch in the sitting area.

Asuna just chuckled at the dark hair boy, "nah." She handed him what she knew was his favorite thing she made.

"Spicy sandwich," Kirito shouted and snatched the sandwich away as fast as possible before turning around and devouring it.

Asuna giggled at her partner's love of spicy foods and smiled. "If we are gonna stay partied up then no more secrets ok?" Kirito nodded furiously with a large bite of the sandwich still in his mouth.

Asuna had found out Kirito's level by accident yesterday when she had clicked on his name in their group party and a bit of basic info came up. "So you think we are ready to fight the floor boss," Asuna asked after Kirito had finished the sandwich.

Kirito sat down on the couch he had claimed as his after a small misunderstanding about the room, one bed. He was nothing if not a gentleman and refused to let her sleep on the couch. "Yeah, with some help from Klein and his guild we should be ok."

It didn't take very long for Klein to message back.

Kirito,

Down at the Inn's restaurant.

"Looks like Klein is here," Kirito said grabbing his Anneal Blade and Asuna her Wind Fleuret. "Let's go see if he wants to do something stupid," Kirito said with a grin while Asuna just shakes her head in exasperation.

It didn't take the two long to reach the bottom of the stairs or spot Klein sitting at one of the smaller tables looking a bit depressed. "Hey bro, what's up," Kirito asked taking a seat along with Asuna.

Klein jumped a bit before realizing Kirito and Asuna had reached the table. "Oh hey guys," Klein said his attitude a bit downtrodden. "You said to meet you here whats up?"

Asuna was worried. She had message Klein a few times along with Kirito since their parting a month ago, and every day he seemed to get shorter and shorter with his answers. "Klein what's wrong?"

Klein hesitated for a moment before explaining what has been happening lately. How he had yet to find any of his friends and hoped they had not logged in. And how he had grouped with some people for a bit but they all slowly died because none of them really thought Kayaba was serious. "I guess the only good thing is that I am level 10 now," Klein finished trailing off at the end.

That was until a notification popped up in front of him, looking it over he saw it was a party invite by Kirito to join his and Asuna's party. He looked up at the two, greatful and pressed the accept button. "So what did you guys want to talk about?"

"We are going to clear the floor 1 boss room ourselves," Kirito spoke so low the others could barely hear him and when he finished Klein's eyes were as wide a dinner plates. "Before you shout," Kirito said holding up his hand to stop the other player. "Asuna and I have been grinding like crazy. We are a good team but we needed a few more people," Kirito looked away for a bit sighing, "but I understand if you don't want too."

Klein shook his head, "it's not that bro. I wanna help, but just the three of us?"

Kirito was about to speak up when an eavesdropper decided to speak up, "you mean the five of us." The other three players turned and Kirito recognised the large black player from the boss meeting standing with a pink haired girl just ever so slightly behind him. "Man I spotted you instantly...guess it can't be help you look something like your avatar. Plus you love that damn sword too much not to get it again," he said gesturing to the Anneal Blade strapped to Kirito's back.

"Do I know you," Kirito asked. The man seemed familiar but he just couldn't place it. He was tall. that much was certain, wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a standard Iron Breastplate, white pants and dark leather caps of them.

"Man it's me! Agil," the man practically shouted at the younger player.

"Wow," Kirito said looking the man up and down, "dude you are huge!"

"Haha, I know right," Agil said with a smirk. "Been helping other players when I can but when that idiot at the apathereater started up trouble and I noticed you leaving I figured you would be doing something as stupid as trying to solo a floor boss."

"Hm," Kirito huffed looking away a tad. "Well if that's how you really feel…"

"Aw come on man," Agil said, throwing both his arms to the side, exasperated with his friend.

"Ya know I'm just messing with ya," Kirito said turning back to smirk at the older man. "Who's your friend by the way," he asked gesturing to the pink haired woman standing slightly behind his friend. She seemed to be wearing a red and white maid outfit with a few random pieces of plate armor here and there.

"Oh shit," Agil said embarrassed he forgot to introduce his companion. Turning to the girl he smiled apologetically, "Sorry Lis." Quickly stepping to the side Agil began the introductions, "Kirito - Lisbeth, Lisbeth - Kirito and um…" Agil quickly trailed off not knowing the names of the other two people sitting at Kirito's table.

"Asuna," said giving only her name and a polite head bow.

Meanwhile Klein was sweating bullets again and Kirito kept watch just incase. "My, my name is K-klein, I am twe-twenty thre..e, sing," and once again Klein didn't get to finish. Kirito slapped him in the back of the head hard enough for him to wind up face first into the table before being bounced back by the Immortal Object info bracket popping up.

"What the hell man," Kirito asked his friend as he rubbed his nose, "is that how you introduce yourself to every female?"

"Yeah what of it," Klein asked his voice a bit nasally.

"Um how about just your name Mr. Creepy," Lisbeth shot back with a smirk.

"W-Who asked you anyway," Klein shot back a bit embarrassed.

"You did dummy,"Lisbeth deadpanned.

"Well...shut-up," Klein argued back one last time before crossing his arms and pouting.

"Now that the kids are done arguing," Kirito said with a bit of jest before sending Agil and Lisbeth a party invite, "let's go." Kirito, Klein, and Asuna stood from their table and began leading the party out.

Once out of town Kirito turned to look at Agil and Lisbeth, "so...I know Agil will be cool telling me, but what level are you Lis? Also anything you specialize in?"

"Why do you want to know," Lisbeth asked with a bit of edge in her voice.

"As party leader I need to know where to place you. This is more important than anything now during raids," Kirito explained not bothered by her tone. "I, I don't want to be responsible for anyone dieing. Asuna and I normally solo are respective areas but with enough distance we can team up when one runs into trouble, but a floor boss is a bit different."

"He's right Lisbeth," Agil said picking up where Kirito paused for a breath. "Normally it is good to keep status and stuff hidden from other players. But in a raiding party information needs to be shared equally, now more than ever to avoid needless death." Turning to Kirito Agil shot him his status window.

"Nice man," he could see that Agil was level 8 and had put quite a few points into his ax Sword Skills and HP. Quickly dismissing the window as to not be too intrusive.

"Fine," Lisbeth grumbled and followed suit.

"Holy shit," Kirito whispered before dismissing the window and glancing at the two of them. "Mind if I give Asuna and the dummy," Klein gave an undignified and loud sigh at his new nickname, "the very brief info."

"Only if the dummy agrees not to share it with anyone," she barked out to Klein.

"I am standing right here people. Besides why aren't you worried about Asuna?"

"Because she doesn't seem like a dummy," Lisbeth said pulling down her eyelid and sticking out her tongue.

The two kept arguing to the point they fell a bit behind the other members. Agil smirked looking back at them before speaking up, "I got 1,000col saying by floor 25."

"Floor 50 and they bang each others brains out in the boss room after Klein saves her for 10,000col," Asuna said raising the stakes.

"Floor 28, same situation." Kirito looked back at the two still arguing, "there is no way they will repress that tension until floor 50. Plus wouldn't it be a bit cliche?"

Asuna giggled, "please. It may be cliche but that's just how these things work," she raised her hand with a thumbs up and a wink. "Trust me, I am a girl after all."

Agil laughed and agreed to the raise in money and the added situation, "my wife would kill me if I didn't agree with ya. But for the sake of the bet I'll keep my floor the same."

"I didn't know you were married," Kirito spoke offhandedly, "then again we usually don't talk about RL too much." Kirito suddenly switched expressions to very serious, "though with this being the "only" reality now people may begin to open up about it. Missing family and friends."

"Yeah," Agil nodded and they continued the walk laughing at Klein and Lisbeth arguing.

Real World

"At least he is making friends," Midori said with a very confused chuckle. "What do you think this boss fight will be like?"

Suguha shrugged, "I've never played one of these games before. Who knows?"

"Kazuto," Midori said. "He didn't even stay for info on the actual boss itself. Just where it was. He was paying attention to his console and map more than anything. Then again he was a beta-tester so maybe he knows how to kill it?"

"But it sounded like you need a lot of people. That Diable guy was talking about taking forty people with him," Suguha was worried. Kazuto.

"I'm sure they will be fine," Midori tried to reassure her daughter. You are only taking five people Kazuto...please be careful.

SAO

"Well guys," Kirito said as they approached the dungeon entrance and came to a stop, "here's how we are gonna do it. Asuna and I will be forwards. Klein and Agil will be taking anything that comes from the flank. And finally Lisbeth will be the alternate."

"Why do I have to be alternate," she asked pouting and grumbling about needing materials and that only came with drops.

Unfortunately for Lisbeth Kirito heard her mumbling, "Lisbeth this isn't about materials." That drew everyone's attention because of how serious Kirito sounded all of the sudden, "you are the second highest player level here at level 12. You are a mace user which is a great newby weapon. It is versatile and has quite a few easy Sword Skill. It is well rounded which means when ANY of us need to pull back to heal you switch out."

Kirito turned to look her dead and the eyes, "you are the one responsible for buying one of us a few precious seconds needed to use health potion, heath crystal, or if need be this," Kirito finished as he pulled out a rather large teleport crystal.

"What's that," Klein and Lisbeth asked at the same time, before blushing and looking in opposite directions.

"It's a party teleport crystal," Asuna answered this time, "we saved up a lot for it after our first mini-dungeon."

"Yeah that was a bit close for comfort," Kirito said with a grimace. "But it will pull all of us back to the inn if we get into too much trouble."

Lisbeth nodded feeling much better knowing she wasn't going into this insane raid idea without some contingencies. I really hope this wasn't a bad idea.

"Hey don't worry," Agil said placing a hand on her shoulder. "Kirito was the highest ranked beta-tester. Plus he is level 15, I think we will be fine."

"Lev-level 15?!" Klein and Lizbeth yelled throwing an accusing finger in his direction.

"Hn, if you two love birds weren't fighting the whole time you might have learned that," Asuna said with a laugh.

"Hmp," Klein said folding his arms and glaring, "either way. How they hell did you get to level 15?"

Kirito sighed pulling his sword out, "I don't really know. When I logged in my avatar still had all my stats and was already level 10."

"Dude," Lisbeth gasped, "you are like the most OP player ever!"

Kirito nodded, "please keep it to yourself. The beta testers are already starting to get a bad rap and this could cause a lot of problems for people."

Lisbeth nodded, "yeah I got ya." She drew her mace from her hip and smiled, "I had to bail Agil out of some trouble a while back with a few PKers. That's actually how we met." Lisbeth threw her free hand out for a fist bump.

"Girl can swing for the fences," Agil replied with the fist bump. He then pulled a massive two handed battle ax from his back.

Asuna and Klein both drew their weapons and smirked. "This is it guys," Kirito said tensing for just a moment. Then with unseen signal the five rushed in at top speed.

AN: SO I was gonna include the first floor boss fight and Labyrinth clearing in this chapter but...I didn't. I want to watch a few fight scenes again and revisit some WoW, Evercrack, and ect fights so I set it up as best I can. I want it to be epic because it's 5 people going up against a floor boss. I defiantly want them to feel pressure so on the second floor they start to team up with the others on the assault team. I want them to be the inspiration for the rest of the players to try. So that's why I over powered them. But that's also the point and everyone knows that. In every RPG there is always a few over powered classes upon first release and since SAO can't get patches...well you get the point.