Sword Art Online: Forgotten Edition

Fragment 3 - Death Game

Town of Beginnings — Center

It was the same view from this morning. Rows of pillars circulated around me, the grand archway and dome were there. The only difference was the massive number of players that kept spawning into the town with confused looks on their faces.

"Why are we back here?"

"What's going on?"

The same questions kept repeating as I scanned for familiar faces in the crowd until someone called out to me.

"Haru!" Yelled Klein.

"Klein! Kirito!" They ran towards me with the same expression everyone else had. I guess they didn't have a clue of what was going on either. Maybe it was some sort of event that was happening to commemorate the release of the game. I had no other idea of what it could be, bringing in the thousands of players that are playing the game into one place.

In an instant, the skies were stained a dark velvet, increasing the uncertainty and fright levels of the players. Above us, a gooey crimson liquid seeped from the cracks that were once the sky and took the form of a strange cloak. What looked like a specter was now floating over our heads, nothing occupied the space inside besides the black hole.

"What the hell is that?" Klein had his jaw dropped the entire time.

Kirito had no words. I wondered if it was strange to find the situation cool and awesome, but it probably wasn't the right time to say something like that.

"Welcome players to the world of Sword Art Online," boomed a mysterious voice from the floating cloak, "I am Akihiko Kayaba the ruler of this world," he claimed.

"A-Akihiko...Kayaba...No way..." Kirito said in disbelief.

"Is that really him?"

"What's he doing here?"

More questions were uttered as the familiar name was brought up. Then Kayaba continued to talk.

"I'm sure you've all realized that the 'logout' button is no longer present your main menu, however, it is not a defect in the game. I repeat it is not a defect, rather it's the game's true purpose."

True purpose. The same phrase repeated in my head.

"There is no longer a way for you to leave the game. No one from the outside world will be able to take off the NerveGear on your heads. If it is forcibly removed, a microchip located within the NerveGears' system will short circuit and destroy your brain. Over 200 players have already died doing what I just told you."

We couldn't believe what this man was saying. "Yo that has to be total BS! There's no way! Wouldn't the NerveGear just run out of battery?!" Klein wasn't able to suppress his feelings.

"No, the NerveGear has an internal battery so there's no way that it could run out of battery," Kirito clarified the current situation, it was clear that he knew a lot about the system. I, on the other hand, had nothing to offer, nor did I understand much.

Despite the terror instilled in most of the players the man kept talking.

"The only way for you to escape is to clear all 100 floors of SAO, and only then you can remove the NerveGear safely. However, if your HP were to hit zero, your avatar will be deleted from the game's system and simultaneously the NerveGear will fry your brain."

"If our HP hits zero..." I recalled what he said. The current situation put everyone on edge, fear coursing through their bodies. It was obvious. My hands were shaking, but from what?

"Finally, I have left something for you all in your item storage." He said.

I opened the menu by sliding my left hand in mid-air. Going to my item storage I selected the object that was there.

"A mirror?" It appeared in my hands as I equipped it for the time being. I looked straight at it. My dark brown hair and slanted eyes that didn't match my usual face. I couldn't find the purpose of the mirror.

"What's it supposed to do— UOHO!" Klein was enveloped by a blue light again and disappeared. The same thing happened, but the location didn't change.

I opened my eyes and noticed everything seemed a little taller than me than before.

I took a look back at the mirror that was still in my hand.

"WOAH! Is that me?!" Everything looked exactly the same this time. My crimson eyes looked nice and friendly, child-like if people see it that way. My face was a little round. I had my usual haircut, a messy, unkept, spiky comb-over. After being concerned about my appearance I looked around for Kirito and Klein thinking the same thing happened to them; luckily they found me first.

"Haru is that you?"