The sky had turned began to turn into red hexagons, starting slowly but quickly sped up across the whole sky, almost all they could see was red. "Shiro! Look up there!" Argo pointed towards the sky, it had started leaking what looked to be blood.
"Now that," began Shiro, "was not in the beta."
From the blood like substance a red cloaked figure had formed in the sky; floating, but seemingly bonded into the sky. The figure had hands, and a torso, but lacked legs and a face. Its red cloak had gold embroidery on its edges, and designs on the front. The sleeves hung loose and flowed, as Shiro, and Argo stared at it more, they felt lost, ignoring the concerned screams and cries for help that had surrounded them from the ten thousand people around them. As the figure raised its arms as if it were preaching, it began to speak, "Welcome players, to my world." Kirito's glare grew stronger, no one had expected this kind of scary opening for the opening ceremony, but what he had read about Kayaba he was not surprised.
"What's he mean?" Kirito said to no one in particular.
Rolling his eyes, Shiro responded, "it is his game."
"My name is Akihiko Kayaba," it continued, "and of this moment I am in control of this world." Several gasps were heard, though for Shiro, he still lacked the feel of sinister intent, it still felt like a game to him. "I am sure most, if not all of you have noticed an item missing from your menu. The log out button. Let me assure you, this is not a defect in the game." At this Shiro tensed up, the only other way to logout was to have someone remove the headset from you, the issue with that for Shiro and many other players is that he lived alone. Argo and her parents knew where he lived, but Argo was also in the game and doubted that her parents would pull it off anytime soon as they both worked rather late. "This is how sword art online was made to be. You cannot log yourselves out of SAO, and no one from the outside will be able to remove you. If anyone attempts to remove the nerve gear, it will release a microwave powerful enough to destroy your brain." Shiro tensed heavily, concern grew not just for Argo, but everyone else there. What about those whose parents, or room mates did not hear this message? Klein turned to Kirito with an unamused look.
"This guy must be nuts huh Kirito?" However, Kirito did not respond rather just stared at the figure with an angry glare. Shiro was beyond any emotion known to mankind, yet the bad news did not stop there.
"The game already has 213 less players than when it began, due to families not heeding the warning I had provided. They have both been deleted in aincrad, and the real world. News media outlets from around the world have been covering everything, including the deaths already taken place. At this point it would be safe to assume, your nervegear being removed is minimal at best. I sure do hope this brings you all comfort as you clear the game. It is also important to hear the following; it is no longer possible to revive someone from within the game. If your HP reaches zero, your avatar will be deleted from the system forever, again, there is no way to recover or revive someone. Following the vent of deletion, the nerve gear will destroy your brain. There is, and only ever will be one way for a player to leave the game now, that is to clear the game; all one hundred floors."
The gasps heard was utterly overwhelming to Shiro. Bad luck had followed him all his life, but here? Somewhere far from the real world was unthinkable to him. Hearing the silent sobs of those around him, seeing Kirito's hardened glare at Kayaba, Kleins look of dismay, and finally Argo's completely blank face. It tore him up to billions of pieces inside. His body became like bricks, and his stomached churned like milk into cheese, his head became as hollow as an empty pill bottle. He knew that none of this was directly his fault, but knowing how bad his luck has been his entire life, that bad situations followed him like flies sticking to dung, had drew out the worst feelings his body could muster.
"Last but not least, I left a pleasant little present in the item storage of every player. Please take a look." Immediately, Kirito had opened his menu pulling out a mirror, and soon followed the rest of the crowd.
"That's the mirror from the avatar creation screen." Klein looked at it closely, "what the heck are we supposed to do with this?" As the last word came out of his mouth, he started to glow blue, and everyone around him had followed. Soon the entire teleport plaza glowed blue. As the glow subsided, murmurs grew louder and louder. Shiro looked at his hands, and then to Argo who resembled her reworld self, looking over he saw Kirito and Klein staring at each other.
"Is that you Klein?"
"Kirito?" The stared again for a minute, as the weight of what had happened settled into their minds.
"Argo," Shiro walked over to her, "you okay?"
"Yeah, just fine."
"Right now, I am sure you are wondering why? Why would I, developer of SAO, Akihiko Kayaba do this? It is truly for a simple reason, my goal, was to fully control a world of my own personal design. As you can see, I have achieved my goal. This is the end of the tutorial, and opening of sword art online, players, I wish you the best of luck. May victory be on your side." As the last word left the head of the figure, it started bleeding from its hands, and it started to spread all over the cloak, going back into the sky from whence it came. As the sky started to turn back to blue, people began to scream, shout, and freak out. Massive panic struck almost ten thousand people all at once.
Wasting no time Kirito grabbed Klein and yelled for Argo and Shiro to follow him. As they ran together to get away from the crowd and try to calm down. Kirito is already scheming on how to move ahead quickly and not risk people dying. Argo for the most part, seemingly had already saved lives with the guide booklet her and Shiro wrote. Unfortunately, the full release is just different enough for it to mislead people. Pulling them into an alleyway behind the main stores and shops in the market district, Kirito looked over at them.
"Argo, shiro... where is Shiro?" Kirito questioned, he had expected Shiro to follow, seeing as Argo was there.
"No idea, after the whole fiasco back there I lost sight of him pretty quick. His darker clothing and just overall style make him rather hard to track or find ya know?"
"We will move on then," Kirito began, "Klein, Argo, I would like you two to follow me to the next village as soon as possible, we need more intel and better weapons for the fight coming." He half expected shouts to move on, but instead, against his hopes, both Klein and Argo had looked away.
"Kirito, as much as I would love to join you man, I got a bunch of buddies of mine from a guild in another MMO waiting for me. I can't just leave them." Rubbing the back of his neck shyly, Klein felt bad, Kirito seemed to be a loner, and he would rather he joined him and his guild.
"Kirito, I would like to but..."
"Shiro..."
"Not just him, but my guide could be misleading in this full release, I cannot let this be a reason people die, I have to go now." Starting to run off, she turned back, "We will be incontact Kirito, give me word if you see Shiro." As her figure left his field of view, Klein coughed slightly to get his attention.
"I know you seem to be more solo, or small group type of player, but to be honest, because of your help I've grown kind of attached man. Join up with me and my guild, it will take awhile longer to do your plan, but it will be better for all of us."
Sighing Kirito had thought about that as soon as Argo left, but he just did not want to get involved. "Sorry Klein, I really am but..."
"I get it man, I really do, we all want out of here and if that is your focus I ain't gonna stop you."
"Thank you Klein." As Klein walked away, her turned his head back to Kirito.
"Kid, ya look much cuter with that girly face you know." Kirito mumbled something before yelling back.
"And you look so much better with your scruffy rough face." Both smiled and disappeared from eachothers sights.
Rushing through the town of beginnings, Argo searched frantically for Shiro, it was one thing for him to disappear, as he had done so in real life at times, but in a situation such as this, she couldn't imagine it. Going into every building possible, constantly checking her friends list and following the locations it said he was in. After hours she couldn't find him still and had decided to focus on the task at hand, which was fixing the guides she made before. She had already began remaking the guide for the first floor with all the knowledge she had collected with Shiro earlier that day. Stepping into the in, she had hoped to see Shiro, and his cloak sitting at the bar eating something, she was greeted with a site she would have rather not seen, groups, large groups of people crying, hugging or just sitting silently staring at each other. The image was draining her of all hope she had, she worked so hard to build a happy go lucky mask this was not going to ruin it, she was going to do her job, information gathering.
Getting an inn room, she settled into it flopping onto her bed. Planning ways to make money without getting involved in fighting too much, ways to level up without risking it, and her skill set. Shiro had taught her how to use the dagger rather well, and she was awfully good at throwing knives and throwing picks. Sighing she sat up, she refused to believe Shiro was a bad guy, but this really diminished the image he had in her head. Walking over to the mirror in the room she stared at herself for a minute, seeing her real world face and body was so disorientating. It felt as if this was the real world now, it hadn't even been a day and she was giving in to the game, and Kayaba's world. Plopping back down, she rolled over to try and sleep, gathering the much needed determination she decided to just do work as an info broker and help the low levels get up to fight with the higher levels.
Slicing and running through the forests on the first level Kirito had been in such a hurry that he forgot to check on Sinon and Liz. Knowing both had joined the game, but he was way too far to go back now. Trying to catch his breath he was being rushed at by two more boars, slowly readying his sword, he saw his HP bar in the corner of his eye. "Below half, damn." Getting ready for the defense, he saw a figure dash in front of him killing one of them quickly. Being shocked he froze, giving the second boar an opportunity to strike, yet just as the first it turned to blue small flowing crystals right in front of his eyes. Coming out of his stupor, he stared at the dark figure in front of him. It was a tall man wearing a cloak that hid his face, and hair. He only held a small dagger and seemed to be lightly or not even armored at all.
"Kirito," the figure spoke up.
Readying his sword, in case this was some maniac, "How do you know my name.
"Pass a message to the rat for me," the man ignored his question and spoke oddly, "I'm sorry." The figure ran into the trees disappearing from sight and senses. Staring at where the figure retreated to, it finally started coming together.
"Shiro... what happened?" Opening his menu, Kirito had a few messages to send, doubting Argo would be up at this time of day, it was worth a shot. Informing her of Shiro, he moved onto messaging Sinon and Liz. Setting up a small little camp, he sat there awaiting responses, slowly the three notifications he was waiting for had come.
"Hey kirito, me and Liz are fine, we're with this other girl who is seemingly as lost as the rest of us, well except Sinon but whose surprised."
"Hey Kirito, I got Liz don't worry, we will meet up in the next town, we aren't leaving anytime soon but we will get there."
"Kirito, thanks, got the message. By the way, send any new info you get straight to me, I'll pay handsomely for it, if you need any ask away. I'm currently stockpiling."
Two weeks had passed since the death game began, many had lost hope and treated this as their new life, making it seem as some praised Kayaba for giving them an escape, others became insanely depressed as the death toll grew everyday. In just two weeks almost one thousand players had already died. The pain was felt throughout Aincrad, and loneliness seemed to spread like a plague, with many people losing their best friends or family. Small groups had formed to try and help these players. Others helped in their own ways, Argo was finishing up the first floor manual as groups started finishing up the mapping and exploration of the first floor. Rumors had started to spread about a ghost haunting the memorial stone, as a dark clad figure would look over it at midnight every day.
"Ready to go?" Kirito asked the two girls waiting for him at the inn. He had met up with Liz and Sinon after the first week, though the girl they were with was as elusive as ever, and avoided him like the plague, and seemingly always ended up with her one friend other than Liz and Sinon.
"Actually Kirito," Liz felt bad about this, but she hated keeping things to herself, "I am going to join a smiting guild, I love making weapons and tools and am not really a fighter to be honest."
"Not a bad idea," He nodded, "it would be safer, and with Shiro missing and Argo off on her run we cannot really work together like planned."
"Kirito is right it is much safer, if you do not feel like fighting this is a better alternative." Sinon agreed.
"It is settled then, I am still counting on you both though." Running off, Liz flashed a smile, and waved.
"Kirito, have you heard the rumors?"
"Depends on which ones."
"The ninja is back, but it's different."
"Different how?"
"He works almost as an assist, if someone is low HP, he saves them."
"Interesting." Kirito remembered when Shiro saved him that night, and the fact that he was elusive probably meant he not only heard the disdain for beta testers, but he had some stronger feelings tied to all of this. He hid is identity well, and moved quick enough no one could catch his name or speak to him. It seemed Shiro was becoming famous once again.
"So what's the plan?"
"I want to get this word, and Argo has the quest info, so were going to do that."
Walking into the inn in the small town of Horunka village, Kirito spotted Argo in her usual corner reading over some messages. Seemingly focused on her current task, Kirito orders some bread for him and Sinon. After some time passes he goes over to Argo giving her a light pat on the back.
"How goes it?"
"Bad," she replies, "whoever stole Shiro's old identity is doing a damn good job and I hate it. No one can confrim who he is, and I am sure he is just full of info."
"Always business huh?"
"Of course Kiboy," flashing him a thumbs up and massive grin, "although I think he is the famed ghost of the memorial stone, gonna ambush him." The evil giggle that escaped her lips shook Kirito a bit more than he wished it would.
"Well anyway, the blade quest Argo, got the info?"
"Sure do! BUT, it will cost ya a fortune."
"And that is?"
"Details about the entire quest, from beginning to end."
"Simple enough anythi-"
"AND" interrupted Argo, "look for Shiro, he will probably be keeping an eye on this quest as this is probably the most powerful blade on this floor, if he is the ninja, well ya know."
"Yeah yeah got it. Sometimes I wonder if the legendary journalist and info broker has found her love."
"Shut ya trap before I make ya." Forming a small fist, Kirito put his hands in the air.
"Wife material I see," the comment made her let out a feral growl, becoming a laugh, "I will keep an eye out but I doubt it, I have never seen the 'ninja' except once, seems he avoids me too."
"Got it Kiboy, I also just want info on the ninja, someone of his caliber would be great to have fight the boss with everyone else." Kirito sighed, he hated the idea of the boss raids, it is so easy to get carried away in the fantasy that concern over ones own life seemingly weakened. The one reason he respected the "ninja" so much was because he understood this.
"Any news on the boss raid?"
"No, however, I heard that someone is trying to help level up lower players and get a group together, yet the drift between beta testers, though small now, is growing. It won't be long before it creates bigger problems for everyone, especially ya."
"It will be fine."
"Got a plan do ya?"
"Of course," he smiled, if it came down to it he figured he would take a lesson from the ninja and work solo, and take blame for all beta testers as being the one who got the furthest. He knew there was better ways, but this was seemingly the easiest and most pain free for anyone. Getting out of his spot, he looked back at Argo, "I will fill you in when I finish the quest, maybe awhile since Sinon is joining me."
"See ya around Kiboy, don't the ninja get ya." She laughed a bit, "Ninjas are traditionally assassins, he may be after you."
"Thanks for the new worry Argo." He grumbled as he sat back down with Sinon, they began planning and shortly moved out into the quest.
This was not going as planned for Shiro, after the incident with the mirror he saw a girl who looked awfully like his sister. Although he hated his family, and they hated him, he wanted to make sure nothing happened to her. Having a long history with death, he decided he would do something about it. He felt horrible for abandoning Argo, but he thought it had to be done, bad luck was his stalker, last thing he needed was for the one person he felt was actually a friend to end up in the clutches and eaten by his favorite stalker. It became a nightly ritual to check the memorial stone for Argo's or his sisters name. Anxiety built up like water in a kinked hose every day until he checked the stone.
He was not entirely alone however, he worked with a large man named Agil who provided him with goods so he could avoid towns for anything but sleep. Though they were pretty close, Agil still never saw his face, nor did he know the intentions Shiro had. Yet they struck a deal, Agil would get three quarters of the loot Shiro got for info, food, potions, and being a middle man for sharing info with Argo and other brokers. Through this Agil was able to fund his own guild, and start a small merchant business, helping the lower level players get items, and weapons they needed at a lower price.
Little did Shiro know, his life was going to change, bad luck was about to strike again, and exactly in a way he was terrified of.