The Untold Truth: SAO Fatal Bullet Prequel

55th floor

(September 1st, 2024)

(0000 hours)

I found myself spacing out while looking the Aincrad Times. It was just something I kept on doing. More stories about sightings of the Incognito Individual filled the columns. Some stating he was on Floor one with a hatchet and on Floor seventy-five with a dagger. They think that there are multiple people, possibly like a secret cult.

"If only they figured out who I was," I thought while folding the paper.

I ambled through the 55th floor dungeon to gain more experience. Level 89 wasn't too bad but I need to level up as much as I can depending on how long the game lasts. The good thing about the double-I is that there are allegedly multiple. Because I do know how to fight with all of the weapons in the game. There was an ultra rare metal on this floor in the layer of a dragon. I reached the edge of the location and noticed a large drop.

"Here we go," I thought while reaching for my back.

I grabbed the rope and unraveled it. I tied it to a nearby ice crystal. Tossing the untied end over the edge, the rope unraveled into the nest. Cradling the rope between my legs, I wrapped it around my right thigh and over my left shoulder. Leaning back, I took one step off the ledge and firmly planted my feet on the cliff wall. Climbing skills aren't in the game but one's ability isn't limited to what the system can provide.

"Almost there," I thought while jumping off the wall.

The feeling of snow reached the bottom of my boots. Ditching the rope, I analyzed the snowy floor. 

"Better start digging," I thought.

Opening the menu, I pulled out an entrenching tool to start digging in the snow. I noticed something sticking out of the snow. Pulling on it revealed to be a sleeping bag. Under it was a lamp.

"Was someone stuck here?" I thought while inspecting the lamp and sleeping bag. 

Something blue caught my eye under the sleeping bag. Pushing snow and bag aside, I picked up the dark blue crystal. Tapping the item, it showed its name.

"Azure Ice Soul," I read.

Looking at the top right of my vision, I saw the time as 0200 hours.

"Gotta get out of here, the dragon..." my thoughts trailed,"Wait, did the dragon die?"

Looking at the stone and reading the name, this stone could be the heart of the dragon. Brushing it off, I reached for two ice-climbing picks attached to my legs. Throwing the pick at the wall of ice, the tip dug into the ice.

"Seems okay," I thought while stepping on the ice.

Climbing the cliff face  took half an hour. When I reached the top, I was exhausted and laid on the snow. Going through the dungeon would be terrible on my end. I pulled out a teleport crystal from my belt.

"Teleport Dana-," I muttered.

A scream pierced the air. I stood up from the floor and looked in the direction of the scream.

"It could have bounced off the mountains," I thought while brushing off the snow.

Another scream pierced the air. This time it felt louder.

"That's nearby," I thought.

Opening the menu, I took out the map and noticed players quarter of a klick away. All the deaths I could have prevented. I have to help them.

"Damn it, I can't turn a blind eye on them," I winced.

I started to run to the location, ditching the rope. When I got closer, I could hear the clashing of swords and a thunderous roar. A silhouette of a dragon could  be seen over a clearing.

"Sonic Leap," I thought while placing my sword into the skill position.

The sword glowed as soon as I finished thinking. Staring at the dragon, I activated the skill. My body was launched upwards towards the dragon. The blade of the sword thrusted deep into the dragon's neck. I leaped off the dragon ditching my sword in the process. 

"Look!" someone shouted.

I landed on the snow with a thud. I stood up slowly from the floor and looked behind me. Five players stood there, all of their health bars were in the red.

"Is that him?" one asked.

I drew the chrome dagger sheathed on my forearm. I smiled for a moment and thought:

"Alright, let's play."