Life without you ( Kirito X Lisbeth)

Chapter 1 - My Own New World

Kirigaya Residence

"The wait is over it all goes down today", I thought to myself flipping through the most recent edition of Nervegear magazine.

I glance over to an article giving praise to the revolutionary game set to release in a few short minutes: Sword Art Online. This technical wonder of a game was created by the renowned game creator Akihiko Kayaba. It was Kayaba himself that brought the video game industry to unimaginable heights by unlocking the key to full dive technology. With this he brought us Nerve Gear system, and many expansive games for it. Now with backing from several large companies he has brought us his most ambitious project ever: Sword Art Online aka SAO. A game that has been in the public eye for over a year now, and today it all comes to fruition.

You could consider me as one of the lucky ones when you think about it. I was not only guaranteed a copy of the game, but I was few people that were selected to beta test it several months ago.

To most SAO is treated as just another game to experience, a platform to roleplay, or even a way to escape from the stressors of the day, but for me it was much more. It was the reality where you can write out your own story, live out your every fantasy, and become the person you always wanted to be with a single sword.

I flip to the next page of the magazine but stop with a stinging sensation on my hand. I glance over to a thin paper cut across my thumb as a small amount of blood runs down it.

"Heh, the dangers of reading" I chuckle to myself.

A soft voice called out from the hall "Hey I'm off to practice, I'll see you later okay". It was my little sister Suguha, or at least that is what I keep telling her. In reality she was my cousin. After both of my parents died in a car wreck my uncle and aunt took me in. Both Suguha and I were raised as sibling, but once I was old enough to realize what really happened, life seemed to fall apart in the unwelcoming reality I now resent. Maybe that's why I prefer the virtual world over the real one: they're the only thing that truly understand me.

I glance over to the digital clock on my desk giving way to a small grin

It was time...

Placing the Nervegear system on my head I sat down on my bed straightening myself out facing the barren ceiling above me. I close my eyes and recited the two words that would open the gate to my new life.

"Link Start!"

Town of Beginnings

I slowly open my eyes being greeted with the absence of the ceiling that was once above me, with a world of unlimited possibilities before me.

A world called "Aincrad"

"Hello world I'm back!"

The Town of Beginnings rang in vibrant celebration, filling the streets with new avatars full of joy and excitement. Cheering echoes throughout the town and fireworks were going off in a spectacular display of color celebrating the opening of the server.

I glance down at my avatar inspecting my fine-tuned character creation skills. I constructed an avatar that consisted of similar qualities to my real-life self. There was something odd about playing as someone drastically different than myself in Virtual Reality, however that didn't stop me from making a few necessary changes. My avatar had the same black hair and eyes, with a face that looked mostly like me, besides a few things like height and good looks which I lacked in real life desperately.

I wave my hand in a downward motion wasting no time opening my character menu. A holographic menu page appeared before me listing different options such as skill, inventory, and stats. I tap the tab marked inventory scrolling through my new-found belongings.