T R A P P E D

Chapter Eight - Ukiyo

Akiko's large eyes grew even wider and her pupils began to dilate at my words. Oh no, oops. I was just recalling something I'd heard in a documentary. I hadn't expected to scare the pants off Akiko.

"Akiko-chan! It's okay... we're okay. In about 5 seconds, though, a huge-ass creepy dude is about to appear and announce that we're stuck in this freaking game."

She was still clinging onto Hoshi's arm and Kaori's waist like a monkey, and after hearing what I said, her grip became even tighter.

"Gosh, tell her to stop. I think my ribs are broken," Kaori complained. "But I don't mind, since its Akiko-chan."

He winked, but Akiko was too paralysed with fear to hit him, as a huge shadow loomed over them. A hooded figure formed from the blood like substance that dripped from in between the cracks of the warning announcements.

"Attention, players. Welcome to my world. My name is Kayaba Akihiko. As of this moment, I am the sole person who can control this world."

Akiko's face was drained of colour as she slowly slid to the ground.

"No... This can't be happening... " she choked out.

"I'm sure you've already noticed that the logout button is missing from the main menu. But this is not a defect in the game."

I hastily checked my main menu. Sure enough, what was in place of the logout button was an empty, white space.

"I repeat, this is not a defect in the game. It is a feature of Sword Art Online. You can not log out of SAO yourselves. And no one on the outside can shut down or remove the nervegear. Should this be attempted, the transmitter inside the NerveGear will emit a powerful microwave, destroying your brain and thus ending your life. "

I could hear gasps all round me. I was too stunned to move. Akiko was trying to restrain her sobs as she sat pathetically on the ground.

"You are currently on the lowest level of Aincrad, Floor 1. If you make your way through the dungeon and defeat the Floor Boss, you may advance to the next level. Defeat the final boss on level 100, and you will clear the game."

Level 100? That's going to take years!

"Finally, I've added a present from me to your item storage. Please see for yourselves."

I quickly scroll through my menu, looking for the item he was talking about. A... mirror? Was it so that I could see my horrible hair again? -_-

Just then, there were flashes of light. Players were, one, by one, being enveloped in pockets of light until the whole courtyard was glowing.

There was a moment where I could see nothing but white, and then the light faded.

Around me, I recognised no-one. Except Akiko. While our characters used to only vaguely resemble us, now our characters were us. Akiko looked like herself again. But the three guys clustered around her were unfamiliar. That means- everyone's reverted back to their normal selves! I should be normal again...

I checked my face in the mirror, delighted to see that I was back to normal. Hoshi was pouting. "Damn, I prefer my other character."

"Wait, who're you?" Takumi asked.

"You're... Ukiyo?!?!" Kaori shouted.

"But you're a guy!"

I sighed and equipped a black hood i'd obtained from a monster. This way, it wouldn't matter how I looked.