The girl before me smiled, her purple eyes shining warmly behind her glasses. It was an infectious smile, one I had grown used to, and so I returned it.
"Goodnight, senpai!" Mash bade me, leaning forward on her heels slightly.
"Goodnight, Mash." I replied, nodding. I then turned and entered my room with a sigh. It was a spartan room, looking almost like a hospital room. What few decorations I once had had been lost when the original Chaldea was destroyed by the forces of the Foreign God.
"Not like there's been much opportunity to decorate anyway." I remark quietly and chuckle dryly. I quickly get changed into sleepwear and crawl into bed, staring at the ceiling. Staring into my ceiling until I fell asleep had become quite the pastime of late. Maybe there was something wrong with me.
Well, that was hardly up for debate. Someone who could destroy numerous worlds, filled with people just trying to live their lives was not something just anyone could do.
As I lay in bed, thinking, my mind wandered to the events of the past couple weeks. Ever since Mash and I handled the Sixth Lostbelt, life had plodded on in a malaise.
"Have I even done anything worthwhile?" I ask myself quietly, trying to recall any time since Britain that I had done… anything. But I was drawing blanks. For as horrible and miserable as Britain had been, there had been many people there worthwhile knowing. Chief among them being Artoria.
"Artoria…" I mutter her name, stretching a hand towards the ceiling as a pang ran through my chest like lightning. I grit my teeth as the last time I saw her, on the deck of the Storm Border, flashes through my mind. It felt like my heart would rip out of my chest as I began panting. I sat up in bed. Cernunnos flashed through my mind. Flashes of light. Explosions. The Black Barrel. Artoria. I reach for the cup of water sitting on my nightstand. My shaking hand tips it over and the cup spills as it clatters to the floor. I stumble out of bed, grabbing the cup and stumble into my bathroom. I couldn't breathe. No matter how much air I inhaled and exhaled, it wasn't enough. I turn on the sink, splashing my face as I see ash raining on Londinium. Gareth, lying bloody in a tower. My heart felt like someone was crushing it. I fill the cup with water, chugging it. I inhale water and cough, doubling over, I punch my chest repeatedly to clear my airway. Good god, it was hot in here. I stripped off my shirt which clung to my damp skin and stare at myself in the mirror as I try to regulate my breathing. I clutch my chest. I can feel tears running down my cheeks. Slowly, the flashes of the battles, the fallen faded and it was just me… half naked, in the bathroom, with the only sound being the intense running of the sink. I wipe my tears, staring at myself in the mirror, my hair matted.
"Why? What am I even doing here?" I ask myself. The person in the mirror disgusted me. Infuriated me. A pathetic person who couldn't save anyone dear to him. Ereshkigal, Jeanne d'Arc Alter, Musashi, Artoria… Instead, they all ended up sacrificing themselves for him. When they deserved far better than him. They didn't have the blood of entire worlds on their hands. I could feel the tears begin to fall again. Less than two years ago, I was just a kid looking for a summer job. I'm not anyone important. Compared to them, I was nothing. I should have done more. If I'd just bet more… risked myself more… maybe one or more of them would still be here. But here I was, a worthless coward.
"You're useless. They needed you and when they needed you most, you failed them, you bastard." I berate the person in the mirror. Too disgusted to keep looking, I look away and walk back into my room, thinking. This was the third time I had an attack like that since returning from Britain. I'd had nightmares all the way since Fuyuki. But this was new. Fortunately, I had managed to keep it from the others. Goredolf, Da Vinci, Mash… they didn't need anymore to worry about. I crawl back into bed, pulling my legs to my chest and close my eyes, hoping to get some sleep, even if it's bad sleep.
I open my eyes to blackness. I reach around for the lightswitch by my bed but don't find it. Or even the wall. I sit up and try to get out of bed but find I'm already on the floor.
"A dream?" I mutter to myself as I look around, finding no features to identify. No furniture or anything. Suddenly, a blue light appears, about the size of a small car, hovering above.
I look up at the orb of light with a frown. Dreams with mysterious things like this always ended with me having some new problem on my hands.
"Wha…"
The blue orb glows brighter. Then suddenly.
"Master of Chaldea…" A fleeting, feminine voice speaks out of the orb. I raise an eyebrow. Once upon a time, speaking dream orb would probably throw me off my game, but by now, it felt like par for the course.
"That's me." I reply, chewing my lip, waiting to hear what new struggles were about to be thrust upon me.
"Another world has need of you." The orb says.
"Like a Lostbelt?" I ask, wondering if perhaps an 8th Lostbelt had popped up without us knowing. Already, I could feel my stress rising, like a black bile in my stomach.
"No. Other realities do not have… rayshifting, and therefore, cannot solve issues that would give way to singularities." The orb explains. I chew my lip, watching the orb.
"So, how is this alternate reality not a Lostbelt?" I ask, cocking my head and scratching my chin.
"This reality exists outside of the structures of your reality. One could compare it to a more extreme version of what Faerie Britain could have become. A parallel world with its own systems." The orb answers my question. I'm not entirely sure of what that means but I guess it's best to roll with it.
"So, what's the situation?" I ask.
"This world is one without magic. Set in the year 2022, it is an anomaly where a key figure in simulated and virtual reality technology was never born. The death of their parents came before they met, rather than after this person was born. The simulation technology of this world is being pioneered and will eventually evolve to a level approaching the Moon Cell, without this person, this technology will develop with the wrong guidance." I listen to the briefing but raise my hand as the orb speaks.
"Okay… issue there is that I know fuck all about programming and digital stuff. I've spent the better part of my recent life in Antarctica, the past, or wandering through god knows what solving broken worlds. I haven't had the chance for even a single class in… what do they learn these days? Html?" I interject, not exactly sure how I fit into what sounds like a job for Meuniere or one of the other gearheads.
"Your role is not on the development side, Chaldean. Your role is in the simulations." The orb answers back, shooting down any chance I had of worming out of this situation. I sigh in resignation.
"Alright. How long will I be gone?" I ask.
"Only a night will pass here, so your comrades will not know you have gone"
"Well, that's a relief." I reply, happy I won't be AWOL when it comes time for the next Lostbelt.
"In return, Master of Chaldea, I will use my power to bring someone of yours back." The orb adds. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. Ereshkigal, Jeanne d'Arc Alter, Musashi, Artoria, Pepe, Gareth, Barghest… countless names and faces flashed through my mind as the orb's words sink in. My heart throbbed painfully in my chest.
"You could bring one of them back?" I ask tentatively.
"Yes." The orb answers simply. I clench my fists and nod. I look at the orb. I'd do anything to bring them back, even just one. This was my chance. The opportunity I could only dream of with blind desperation.
"Then send me. I'll do it. I won't fail." I speak, adding as much command and authority in my voice as possible.
"Very good, I will arrange some help, so you are not on your own. Now go, and save the world, Master of Chaldea." The orb replies, a hint of happiness in its voice. The orb fades, and I am left in blackness once again.
When I close my eyes and open them again, I find myself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling and lying in an unfamiliar bed. I sit up, looking around. I was in a rather compact bedroom. I get up and walk to the window and look outside. I was on the 5th floor of an apartment complex. From the signs and the architecture of the other buildings, I could tell I was in Japan. The familiar sight of modern Japan was both painful and exciting. I step back from the window and look around the room again.
Sitting beside the bed, connected to an outlet was a headpiece of sorts. It looked like a futuristic helmet. Considering what had been described to me by the mysterious dream orb, I could only assume that this was the device to access the virtual world I was charged with… whatever the orb wanted me to do.
"Right then… might as well see what this world is. Shouldn't take long to do that, then I'll go enjoy the city a bit." I talk to myself quietly as I inspect the headpiece. On it was some manufacturer's information and the name 'NerveGear.' Scratching my neck, I manage to find the on button. I lay on the bed and switch on the headpiece as I put it on.
As soon as the NerveGear activates, I feel a moment of weightlessness and my vision goes white. Slowly, pixels of various colors coalesce. From what I assume should be a list of games, is just one game. "Sword Art Online" which I reach out and tap. Immediately, I am loaded into a room where I can create a character.
"Huh… fancy shit. Haven't played around with a video game in some time. Hopefully no BB around to screw things up either…" I remark as I work on designing my character. With such variable options, I decide I might as well go with something from back home, especially since the title suggests this would be a historical setting game. A strong image enters my mind on what to make my character look like and so I give my character black hair that hangs forward over the right side of my face while also switching to a sweep back style towards the back of my head. I add subtle white accents to the side of the hair. Content with my hair, I set about the rest. A slight tan, a face that looks perpetually introverted and gloomy, and olive colored eyes. I was soon content with my recreation of Mandricardo, happy that I could honor a friend in a small way such as this. Content with my character, I am prompted to provide a name. I finally resolve to combine my real name, Fujimaru, with my callsign from Chaldea, Kazimierz. With the name "Kazemaru," I hit the confirm button.
Again, I am struck with a brief weightless feeling and then I am loaded into a town square in a pretty typical looking medieval town. The sun is overhead and I can actually feel the weather.
"Well, this is pretty realistic…" I remark to myself as I look around. I can see other people appearing in the square as well. Appearing out of nothing in blue flashes of light. We all seemed to have the same clothes, just in different colors. I looked down but found no weapon on me.
"I should probably get back to reality… but…" I mutter to myself as I look around. But this was too interesting. Food could wait, I decide as I walk out of the square, making my way through shops. I take a moment to figure out how to check my money, finding that I can bring up a menu by raising my hand with the intent to see the menu. Realizing I have a small stipend of money, I head to a weapons stall as I decide what kind of weapon to buy.
"What catches your eye, young man?" The shopkeep asks, affording me a surprisingly human smile. He was a middle aged man and his behavior was incredibly lifelike.
"I'll take…" I speak as I look around. Finally, my gaze lands on a very basic looking katana. I had taken kendo in P.E. back at school, and traveling with Musashi had indeed given me some basic kenjutsu understanding. I nod and point at the katana. "that one."
"That one will be 250 Cor." The shopkeep informs me, to which I proceed to hand him the coinage. He counts to verify everything is there, then hands me the katana, which I fasten to my hip.
"Thank you." I bow politely.
"Thank you for your patronage. Good luck out there, young man!" The shopkeep calls out to me as I walk away. I wave back and begin navigating my way out of the city. It felt odd, having a sword at my hip and I felt naked without my mystic code. Wasn't I supposed to be the master, not the hero running around with a sword? I chuckled softly to myself. Perhaps this would be a fun experience though, a chance to experience from the servant side without the certainty of death hanging overhead.
With energy in my step, I reach the gates of the city and enter the countryside. I pause to stare at the sight. Numerous island-like structures were suspended across the land.
"Well… holy shit." I mutter, staring. Even being a simulated world, the sight was incredible. I whistle and resume walking across the fields outside the city. At the sound of snorting, I spot a boar. It was watching me, and scratching the ground with a hoof. At least it didn't seem like a demonic boar, I thought to myself as I drew my sword. I recall back to America, the teachings Scathach had insisted on showing me, and adjust my stance for combat. I regulate my breathing as I had learned from Leonidas in Babylonia. Gripping my sword as I remembered from kendo, I wait for the boar to charge. As it bears down on me, I recall in flashes how Musashi fought, and adjust my grip and make a swing at the boar across its flank as I sidestep. The sword makes contact and I see the health bar that had appeared over the boar drain and drain and hit zero. The boar explodes in a flash of pixels.
I let out a sigh and spend a moment figuring out how to loot the boar. As I figure it out, I hear a panicked shout and look over to see a red-haired man get knocked down fighting a boar. Watching him get up, I see him get knocked over again.
"Looks like you need help!" I call out to him, walking over and dispatching the boar with a swift slash across the neck. I loot the boar and look at the man as he gets up yet again.
"Ah… thanks, man. I thought I was a goner there! I can't seem to get the hang of this." The man thanks me, scratching his head as I look at him. "Er… were you a beta tester? You seem to have it pretty figured out." He continues. But I shake my head.
"Nah, just had a few kendo classes back in the day." I reply, sheathing my sword.
"Oh, right. Not me, as you can probably tell!" The man responds, laughing.
Clearly… your form is all off as well as your balance. I think to myself, surprised to find myself a bit irritated. Were people really this incompetent? I sigh.
"You've got bad form, and your balance is too high up. Makes you top heavy and your swings inaccurate." I inform him, while he stares at me.
"Ah, right." He nods, grimacing. Then, he smiles. "Think you could teach me some basics?" He asks.
Really? I know children who can run a village and you're too incompetent to learn a damn game? I chew my lip, thinking before sighing. Not like I had anything better to do.
"Yeah, sure. First things first, you need to lower your center of balance. Spread your legs a bit more, with both feet pointing towards your opponent." I begin explaining the bare basics of fighting to the man.
"Oh, right, thanks. My name is Klein by the way." Klein thanks me, smiling politely as he corrects his stance.
"Now, since you are using a shortsword, you swing using your hand close to the bottom of the hilt, directing the energy through your wrist." I continue to explain, drawing my sword and demonstrating. Klein watches me, adjusting accordingly.
At least he knows how to listen. I continue to teach Klein.
After a couple hours, I feel satisfied with what Klein has practiced and decide to move on to having him try taking down a boar again. It was getting late and I wanted to log out soon so I could enjoy the city and get some food.
"Now, take up a stance and grip your sword properly, and target that boar there." I instruct Klein, who obediently follows directions. The boar turns to face him, snorting. "It's all about timing and intent. Don't halfass your attack" I explain as the boar charges.
"Understood!" Klein shouts as he swings at the boar. The blade connects and the boar is struck, exploding into particles. Klein stands silent for a moment, then breaks into a grin. "Haha! Yes!" He cheers. I simply nod.
"Good job. Keep that up."
"I will! Thanks! I feel like I can stand a chance now." Klein thanks me, turning to look at me and smiling. I nod again.
"I'll leave you to it then. You should be fine on your own now." I reply. Klein nods.
"Thanks again. I'm going to log out now, eat some pizza and meet up with some friends." Klein says, opening up the menu.
"Go ahead. I was going to log out as well." I reply, opening up my own menu.
"Huh? There's no logout button." Klein remarks, as I navigate my own menu to find I too lack any way to log out.
"I don't have one either. What the hell?" I scratch my chin. "System! Log out!" I call out, but to no avail.
"A bug maybe?" Klein wonders.
"Perhaps…" I reply, but I was getting a feeling that this may run deeper than that. I wouldn't have been summoned here otherwise.
"Well, I'm sure they'll fix this quickly. This would be a pretty fatal bug." Klein states, sighing. "I'm gonna miss my pizza, man…" He adds, sighing.
"The real tragedy of the eveni-" I am cut off in a flash as everything goes white.
The whiteness clears quickly and I am standing in the town center again. Except, it was extremely crowded as concerned and worried players were trying to log off, or asking what was going on. Others were shouting in anger and frustration. I find myself frowning.
This is definitely not just a bug. I affirm the thought to myself as suddenly, the sky turns red with digital panels and a massive cloaked figure emerges, as if bleeding out of the sky. If the situation was less dramatic, this would actually be kind of cool. Like something out of a fantasy mech anime. I watch, as the figure slowly and grandly spreads his arms.
"Attention, players. Welcome to my world. My name is Kayaba Akihiko" The figure speaks, his voice reverberating around the town center. I scratch my chin, looking to my right where Klein stares up in dumbfounded and intimidated amazement. I return to looking at this Akihiko character.
Kinda reminiscent of a Lostbelt King in a way. I find myself being reminded of the grandiose nature of some of the Lostbelt Kings, like Qin Shi Huang.
"At this moment, I am the sole person who can control this world." The figure continues.
Yep. Great Value Brand Lostbelt King… or offbrand BB wannabe. I think to myself, getting an idea of what is going on, but I continue to listen.
"I'm sure you already noticed that the logout button is missing from the main menu. But that is not a defect in the game" Akihiko explains, opening the menu for all to see, to demonstrate. I nod, unhappy that my assessment had been right as Akihiko reiterates the intentionality of there being no logout feature. I squint up at Akihiko. I glance at Klein briefly as he scoffs in startled surprise at the statement, but look back at Akihiko as he continues to speak.
"You cannot log out of SAO yourself. Nor can anyone outside of the game shutdown or remove the NerveGear. Should this be attempted, the NerveGear's transmitter will emit a powerful microwave, destroying your brain and therefore, your life." Akihiko continues explaining. I found my jaw hanging open and close it. I blink. Around me, there are terrified murmurs of disbelief. This certainly ran deeper than I had thought.
"What? What does he mean? That's not possible, is it?" Klein remarks, looking at me. I look at him and shrug.
"I dunno. But it's not something I'd want to test." I explain before looking back up at Akihiko.
"Unfortunately, several players' friends and families have ignored this warning. In attempting to remove the NerveGear, resulting in the death of 213 players. They are gone, from both Aincrad and the real world." Akihiko states. I tune out Klein's panicking as Akihiko brings up news feeds in various languages. "As you can see, news organizations around the world are reporting this, including the deaths. Thus, you can assume the danger of a NerveGear being removed is now minimal." Akihiko continues. I can only stare in amazement. This reminded me of Shimousa.
"I hope you will relax and attempt to clear the game." He adds. I can't help but let a short laugh out at his comment. Those around me, including Klein, stare at me in anger or horror. I look at them and am reminded yet again that I've long since ceased to be normal. I ignore their stares and continue looking at Akihiko.
"But, I want you to remember this. There is no longer any method within this game by which you can revive someone. If your HP drops to zero, your avatar will be lost forever. At that point, the NerveGear will destroy your brain." Akihiko informs ominously. I blink and look around at those around me, who all now are stunned into silence as everyone slowly processes the information. A mixture of emotions hit me. For some reason, there was a sense of comfort in learning this. Perhaps some excitement. Then I realized. Goredolf, Da Vinci, Holmes, Nemo, Mash… None of them were here. I'm on my own.
"No, no, no…" I find myself muttering to myself and catch myself before I say anymore.
I can't fight. Not like this. Not on my own. I'm a master. I have no support. No servant.
I feel my throat closing and my heart beating painfully as my vision blurs. Klein looks at me.
"You okay, man?" He asks in concern, but I don't respond. It takes all I can to listen to Akihiko.
"There is only one means of escape. To complete the game. At present, you are on Aincrad's lowest floor. If you make it through the dungeon and manage to defeat the floor boss, you will advance to the next floor. Defeat the boss of floor 100 and the game will be complete." Akihiko explains as I stare, trying to get my breathing under control. The sensation was odd. I could feel myself panicking, the chest pain, the fear, the vision blurring and the short breathing, but I didn't feel light headed. I guess a simulation has its advantages.
"Finally, I have added a present from me to your item storage. Please check for yourselves" Akihiko states. I dazedly open my inventory to see a mirror has been added. I blink and select it curiously, and a small hand mirror appears in my hand. As I look at myself in it, I notice Klein get surrounded by blue light. Others erupt in the same light one after another. An instant later, I too find myself enveloped in light. As the light dissipates, I look at Klein. Or, where he had been. A shorter haired man stands before me, wearing Klein's clothes.
"Klein? That you?" I ask him. He stares at me in confusion. I look into the mirror to see myself. Not the avatar, but my real self.
"Kazemaru?" He replies.
"Huh… they must have scanned our actual appearances at some point…" I remark, stroking my chin. I sigh and shrug. "Well, there goes my dashing good looks." I chuckle dryly. I look back at Akihiko as he begins to speak again.
"Right now, you are probably wondering, 'Why?' Why would Kayaba Akihiko, developer of Sword Art Online and the NerveGear, do all this?" Akihiko explains as I stare up at him, chewing my lip. "My goal has already been achieved. I created Sword Art Online for a singular purpose… To create this world and intervene in it. And now, it is complete. Thus ends the tutorial for the official Sword Art Online launch. Good luck, players." Akihiko finishes and his large, cloaked figure dissolves and collapses. I stare up at it for a moment before looking down and scanning the area.
As I scan the area, I see something. A flash of yellow twintails moving off into the crowd of people slowly mingling and moving about. I freeze and stare. I knew those twin tails. A shot of pain shoots through my chest and my legs give out as I stumble, falling to all fours as I catch myself.
"Kazemaru?" Klein asks me, concerned. I slowly stand up. It was her. Her. It had to be. I had to get to her. I wouldn't fail her. Not this time. This time, I'll protect her. I'll save her. I'll make this life worth something. I stumble, but regain my balance as I run in the direction that I saw her go.