We will live

Lane: Hello all readers, fans, and new comers. A personal greeting from yours truly and for this fic I will be Joined by my good friend and partner in crime, Jack O'Reilly, say hello Jack.

JO: Yo yo, I'll be your co-author for this fine little journey, and I'm also the one who came up with most of the plot twists for the first little bit, so when you search for someone to hate, that'd be me. I hope you enjoy our little Brainchild, now what else have we got for the kids today Lane?

Lane: Very good Jack, now what is your perdiction for the first chapter?

JO: My prediction you say? Well, it'll largely be focused around our introduction to the glorious world of Sword Art Online. For those who haven't actually SEEN this Anime, or read the novels, well I must question why you are actually HERE.

Lane: Nicely put Jack, now without further ado, lets give them the disclaimer and begin. Jack if you will.

JO: Yes well *Narrator Voice* Neither myself nor Lane own Sword Art Online or any characters featured in this fanfiction, with the exception of our OCs. This content is used completely legally so Toss Off if you have a problem with it, that will be all.

Lane: Also this was wrote using TitanPad, which we also do not own, its a useful system for people working together, we recomend it. So lets get the story started.

Chapter 1

Harkor/Terrence Burkes POV

I sat there and looked at my NerveGear screen, I had yet to turn on the system, and was still looking at the blank screen. It had been a few hours since I purchased the game its self, the much awaited SAO. I smiled at the memories that I had made as a Beta tester on the game with my friend, Dylan. We were at our respective houses when we got the emails, we just happened to pick up the phone at the same time to gloat like the gamer nerds we are, and found out that we got the offer at the same time. It was all kinda funny really, after a few minutes of laughing and making jokes we decided to enter the game as a team and give our reviews at the same time.

Atleast that was the original plan as it turns out we got to floor sixteen before giving a small review on the game play that we had seen so far. As it turns out we can give a pretty good one and were contacted by the company to turn in more. It was, I think, two weeks before the official release of the game when we stopped playing and talked a strategy for when it came out. we spent the whole two months before we came to an acceptable strategy. We would keep it simple: Log in and meet up at one of the towns exits, then start farming EXP, items, and Col. Simple and easy, but also elegant.

Yet here I lay looking at a blank screen, why? Nerves? Anxiety? To be honest I'm not sure, it was a bad feeling I guess, just something gnawing at my stomach. I breathed in deep to calm my nerves, then, feeling more determined, turned on my head set. The screen lit up, and I watched as the clock ticked away. After one more deep breath, I said in a soft, quiet voice the words that would begin my greatest journey ever.

"Link Start."

POV Switch: RJ/Dylan Wilson

I had just arrived home, and sitting there, like a herald of the joy to come, was my copy of Sword Art Online, delivered by my pal slash roommate, Terry, no doubt. I reached up and flicked an offending strand of my mid-length hair away from my eyes as I eyed the box. The dark-brown locks had gotten to be a bit offending lately and called for a haircut. For now though, I plopped myself down on the counter to enjoy a bottle of water.

The thing about going to school in Japan was that Track was not only a club, but apparently also a social status. Every day in Gym I found myself racing my classmates and really it had gotten to be a bit old. Sure, I was team captain of the Cross Country team but that didn't mean I wanted to race everyone under the sun! However, with my powerful, yet lean, leg muscles the races were rarely even a real effort.

As I looked down, I sighed as I often did when I noticed my runner's tan. Much of my skin was a healthy, moderate tan color however the outline of my sleeveless running shirt could be seen, along with the outline of my shorts, leading to weird pale splotches. Even as my chestnut brown eyes examined this, my mind reminded me that I had more important things to do. Getting up to my full height of 5'8, I strode over and seized the game before entering my bedroom, plugging the game into my NerveGear, and donning the helmet. I lay down on my bed and, with barely contained enthusiasm, said those words

"Link Start!"

I could still hardly believe it, the day had finally come, SAO was finally out and available to the public. As I stood there in the spawn area, my mind belatedly reminded me that I had plans to meet up with my friend, Terry, near the south exit but somehow that wasn't high up on my priority list right now.

For now, I explored the city, oohing and aahing at everything. I did this primarily because so much had changed in response to our beta reviews, but at the same time so much was identical. Our criticisms had been noted, our praises as well, and that made the city that much better to me. I found the layout, however, hadn't really changed so I was able to find my way around quite easily.

Realizing, with a deep sigh, that I would have to actually honor my commitment and not be a complete jerk, I began making my way to the south exit. On my way, I opened my menu and was pleasantly surprised to find my beta gear was there, as a reward for fixing so many bugs. This constituted an armor set from floor 10, along with a sword and shield from floors 13 and 15 respectively. Even my stats had ported, though they weren't anything to write home about they were certainly much better than the average player.

Distracted by these thoughts, I never noted that I arrived at the south exit until I was faced with the sight of Terry's IGN, Harkor, hovering over his head with an HP bar beside it. He was a shorter guy with a slightly bulky apperance, his face was a little rounded and he had fair skin, a color much like his real skin. He had black hair that was wild and untamed, nothing like his real hair at least the color that is, and blue eyes that where almost aqua. His real eyes were a forest green. He was wearing a set of leather armor that was from higher floors, specifically floors: 12 and 15. It consisted of a dark blue leather chest guard and a white over coat with arcane symbols on it, over the coat he had a dark blue shoulder guard on his left side. He had on a pair of black cotten pants, and dark blue, leather, knee high boots. I could just make out his Katana, it was simple and white hilted, the sheath was also white, and even though you didn't have to pack your weapon around, he did. I silently offered my fist for a fist-bump, and was pleased when he immediately did so as well. I made a show of flexing my virtual muscles as I commented "Well, are you ready to head out?"

In reply, he commented "I've been ready for the last thirty minutes while you were wandering around, presumably being as heart-stoppingly curious as ever."

Not willing to admit that he was completely, utterly right on that account, I retorted "Yeah, yeah, your just mad that I am better at making friends."

As ever, he rolled his eyes and tactfully ignored this jab, replying "Well, you know the plan, let's head out."

I nod with a big grin, looking forward to power leveling the living crap out of my talents since, despite my raised stats, I was still technically level one and therefore got the normal amount of xp from level one mobs. It takes about thirty minutes to find a decent spawn ground, but that means nothing to us since we have nothing better going on.

Our first foe is a pig, nothing to our level of equipment but we decide to practice our full combat moves on it anyway. As ever, we open with me charging in to meet the enemy, shield raised. I meet with a head on bash, sword raised over the shield to send a Sword Skill right into the pig. With the Pig's attention focused on me, I promptly strafed left as it's tusks pounded in-effectively on my shield, leaving it open for Terry to charge in and strike the finishing blow. Since we have our party sent to randomly assign loot, it's still a fair loot distribution even though I rarely land killing blows.

Several hours of grinding later, we've gotten all the money and exp we think we need for the day, and are idly chatting. However, with a heart full of regret I check the time, and find it's getting late. I sigh, saying "I'm gonna go man, seeya." Without waiting for a reply, I open my menu and go to logout, just to find the option isn't there. I furrow my eyebrows in puzzlement and spend five minutes looking for it, however no matter where I look it isn't there. I look up at my friend and open my mouth to tell him about this, just for us both to suddenly be teleported, back to town square to be precise.

Lane: Well that was intresting wasn't it. A nice start and a little introduction, and I'm sure you know what comes next.

JO: Yeah, this is the part where we reveal that two people just wasn't enough and we conned another person into joining us...I mean recruited..right?

Lane: You know I'm not sure what methods where used and I plead the fifth on any accounts of kidnapping and extortion. JK.

JO: Wait...we weren't actually supposed to do-...Oh..uhh...Yeah moving on! This is Shadow, our new...partner? Would that be the word? I dunno, say Hi!

Shadow: Hi... *blank expression*

Lane: Well now that thats out of the way, and it looks like the police are at the door, lets close out before they break in, this is Lanesta19, saying thank u for reading, and pls reveiw. Again we do notnot own anything related to SAO, with the exception of our own cheracters. Till further ado, everyone at once.

Everyone: Ciao.

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Lane: Welcome back to all readers, fans, and any late comers to the game, this is your favorite host speaking, Lanesta19, and again I am joined by my friend Jack O'Reilly, and our other co-host, *Speaks in to hand off to side* or kidnapped hostage, Shadow. Now I'm not too sure why our responses for the last chapter were so low but it was, your thoughts Jack.

JO: Well, it was only a 1k word chapter and it WAS the first. So I'd assume we just aren't really "out there" yet. It will come, in time, in time.

Shadow: *Face palms and mumbles barely audible* Really who says "...in time, in time."

Lane: So true Jack, and I would like to make a shout out to a few people first three people for following and favoriting they are DemonicChickWithaSword, FormerUPWriter, Tolotos. Thank you so much, and also DemonicChockWithaSword thank you for the review . We thank you for your support in our Fanfiction, even at the start of it.

JO: Yes, we thank you very much so for your support. By the way, Shadow, I say "..in time, in time" So thats all that matters!

Shadow: But its so stupid just say it once and get it over with.

JO: It's not stupid, it's EMPHASIS! Geez, your so uncultured Shadow.

Shadow: I'm uncultured, really well your... asanine.

JO: Asanine am I? I resent that and I challenge you to a DUEL!

*The two fade in to the back ground as they both draw weapons*

Lane: -_- Well then I better give the disclaimer before the two of them kill each other. Myself, Jack, and Shadow do not own anything related to SAO, except our own characters and equipment items.

*Runs off and tries to stop the other two*

*Twin gunshots are heard in the background*

Chapter 2

RJ POV

As I looked around the crowded plaza, I looked up to notice the sky was quickly becoming covered in red tile. Now this immediately gave me the impression that this was most likely a bug, so it was actually somewhat reassuring, if not agitating. However that hope was quickly dashed when blood began leaking from the red tiles and a giant, hooded figure materialized. I'm left standing there, wondering whats going on, and then it begins to speak

It tells us that it is the game's creator, Akihiko Kayaba, and that the logout function was intentionally disabled. Now this on it's own was scary enough, but as if to reveal that he isn't quite done, he then adds in the delightful little bit that dying in the game will kill you in real life as well. At first, I think theres no way this can be true, but when the red tile and Kayaba fade away, and no announcement is made revealing this to be some cruel joke, I rapidly lose hope and turn to my friend, saying softly

"Can you believe this?"

However, just before Kayaba faded, he told us all that he'd given us an item in our inventory. Opening my inventory, I found it was a simple mirror. However, when I equipped it and held it up, I was surprised to find that my avatar was gone, replaced instead with my real appearance. Staring at it in slight shock, all I can think is "How did this happen?"

POV Switch: Harkor

I was in shock, nothing like this had ever happened in the beta, I was taken aback for a moment as I looked at the figure before me, after he told us the truth of the game I blocked out all of the noise around me. My mind shut down for a second, but only a second. Then I did what I do best, I made a plan. I barely heard the figure say to look at the item in our inventory, and my hand moved on its own while my mind processed what was going on. After retrieving the item I noticed that it was a mirror, and one of my eyebrows raised at the peculiar item in my hand. I turned it so that I could see the reflective galss and was shocked by the sight that meet me. I was looking at my real face in the mirror. I glance around me and noticed the changes in the people around me, everyone was different. It was a little too much to take in and I glanced at RJ who stood next to me just to see him looking back with the same look on his face, both of us had the same thought. "How?"

It took us only a second to overcome our shock however, we could do this thanks this to our military orientated minds. We knew what it meant, this game just became life and death, and all the top players were going to hunt and farm the close areas. We needed to go, and right now sowe both turned and ran out of the square. We were out of there in record time I would say and didn't stop till we hit the outskirts of the city. There, we stopped and looked at each other to draw up a plan.

"So what are we gonna do?" I asked him, my accent it seems came through as well, since you could easily detect where I came from. Being a Texan was a bitch.

"Well, we're gonna do what we do best. We're gonna grind like no tomorrow, because there might not be one, to get our skills up. It's just like the Army, just no guns and a helluva lot sooner."

"Yea, I think that would work, so which way are we headed?"

"Towards Arndale, theres some decent mobs around there."

"Alright then, lets go." We set out then, RJ took the lead and set a pretty brisk pace. I was kinda glad we were in a game since in the real world I would have never been able to keep up. I struck up a converstaion as we walked.

"So do you think he was telling the truth?" My voice full of concern.

"Well, I'd say so, If you recall, when I tried to log out the option wasn't there, and this isn't the kind of thing you say in jest, you know?"

"Yeah I see what you mean, but how can he kill us if we die in the game?" RJ stopped for a second to ponder that, and after a long pause responded.

"Well, you know how it had to scan us to get our appearances right? Well, I think it did that with microwave tech. In theory, if you aim enough of that through our skulls at the brain...it'd cook it, and us with it."

"Isnt that the same idea the U.S. had for a weapon that fired microwaves at the enemy?"

"Sure is, but it seems Kayaba beat them to the punch."

"That's crazy tech, I mean can you imagine the kind of resources you would need for that to work."

"Man, stop making this into an engineer's wet dream! This is our life your talkin about here, and I think we can worry about the tech later. Look, let me tell you what's just happened. We've just been placed into a virtual timebomb, because even if we don't die in game there is a limited amount of time before we die in the real world anyway. Our bodies can't sustain themselves forever without eating and drinking, though I imagine eventally we'll get taken to a hospital, that only delays it. Eventually, the FullDive kit will start doing permanent brain damage, not to mention we'll lose muscles mass and strength in our immune system. We're on a time-limit, so it's best if you don't fantasize about the technology quite yet!"

I paused for a moment and thought about what he said, he was angry at me for trying to make light of the situation, but in truth I was scared for my life. It was how my mind defended itself, and everything he said was true. It just took me a moment to come to a conclusion in my mind.

"Yeah your right, I'm sorry, its just... I might die you know, and that scares me."

"And it scares me too, thats why we can't afford to spend time thinking about the technology. Look, I was ready to face combat with an M16 in my hands, and this is just the same...well except this has a bit more metal and no ammo counter. However we have one advantage. If we grind our stats and levels up enough, if we follow MMO logic, we'll eventually reach the point where we're basically untouchable. Once we get there life should be a breeze."

"I agree lets go." We started to walk again, both of us silent, surveying the area for mobs. We came across some low level ones which I easily dispatched with my speed and sword skill. We were making good progress all in all, I'd say we would make it to Arandale before night fall. That was until I noticed a large shadow falling over us, I also noticed that it was rapidly growing larger. In seconds I rushed froward and tackled RJ to the ground and he yelled out as we fell.

"WHAT THE LITERAL FUCK!"

The two of us hit the ground and I rolled and face the monster that was falling toward us, and what I was met by was a little creepy. It was a large animal, about twenty feet from tail tip to snout, and easily half that wide, it was a combination of a fox and wolf, and had silver colored fur that reflected the setting sun. The mob was hunched over and one of its clawed paws was where we had just been standing. I back up little as RJ rolled over and looked at me, not noticing the mob.

"What the hell man! If your pissed then just say it!" I didn't respond and he seemed to notice because he turned around and noticed what I was looking at and blanched. I spoke before he could though.

"Is that what I think it is?" I knew my voice sounded scared I wasn't going to hide it. He was in shock for a second before he responded to my question.

"That, my friend, is going to be our first real kill."

I watched as RJ got to his feet, readying his shield and saying "Alright, We're gonna do this the same way we always do, so get your ass in gear." With that, he charged the beast, his shield and sword glowing with the un-natural pale blue light indicative of a sword skill being used. The beast's claws raked at the shield, but were deflected by the sturdy metal as RJ's sword sliced into it's flesh, doing a noticeable amount of damage to the low level mini-boss.

Shaken from my stupor by the sudden, brash attack, I sigh and ready my own blade as RJ stands there, tanking blow after blow with his navy-blue armor and shield. With no more signal than a slight nod of the head, RJ suddenly bolts to the right, leaving the beast off-balance. I dart in, taking advantage of it's momentary weakness, and give a grim smile as my blade is coated in white light, showing the simple one-hit sword skill I was using in my charge. The blade slammed home, dropping the creatures HP substantially.

Thanks to the quality of both mine and RJ's gear, the beast was already at half HP, but thatwas where the problem lay. Whereas before it was relatively content to stay in it's general area, now it was darting around launching rapid attacks comparable to the kind I'd recently unleashed. RJ was barely keeping up, whirling around with his sword and shield in a dance of steel, creating the tell-tale sound of metal clashing with the bone of the claw.

Seeing a pattern, I yell to RJ "Shield bash in front of you, now!"

"What? Wh-" He grins suddenly, the same plan I'd just concoted no doubt slamming it's merry way through his own tactical mind. Doing as I'd asked, he charges a sword skill and slams his shield in front of him, striking the monster and sending it staggering back. At this point, we both go for broke and charge the beast. His blade immediately finds an eye and begins cutting through the skull while my own begins carving a new hole in it's chest. Shortly, the beast distintegrates into a storm of particles, and the loot is divided between myself and RJ.

I gasped in suprise at the item that I got from the mob, it was a ring called "Haste of the Karame" I was looking over the stats on it when I gasped. RJ popped up from his loot screen, and asked me.

"Hey man, whats so awesome that your gasping?"

"Look at this." He walked over to my screen and looked at the item, the ring itself was nothing special, just a golden band, but it gave an almost 3% boost to speed, but increased as the level of the wearer went up. It was a nice drop, and frankly I don't remember it being in the beta, but hell if it increased with level, then it was worth keeping.

"What do you think?" I asked my voice laced with excitement.

"It's a damn fine ring, should help with our switch attacks, especially when we hit like level 90 and you gain the ability to practically teleport."

"True, and my speeds at 45 already so that means its what, about 50 something?" I asked one eyebrow raised, I was never really good at math.

"Actually it's gone up to 46. Three Percent of forty-five isn't really a big number."

"I hate math it makes the world so much bleaker." I said with a pouting face on. "So what did you get?" I asked after my stupor passed.

RJ grinned and opened his inventory before pressing a button. At that moment, his chestpiece faded and was replaced with something else. When he showed me the item description, it read "Titan's Embrace", with the description explaining it is a random drop from mini bosses on all floors. It increased his health and, much like my own ring, scaled it's protectiveness based on player level.

"Nice, so both of us came out of that with a rare drop." My grin wide and almost Ceshire like.

RJ rolled his eyes at my grin and said simply "Well, nice drops aside, let's get back to farming. Who know how long we have before more players find this spot."

"Yeah your right." I replied, making a sad face for a second, and then we proceded to do just that for the next few hours, this is till I noticed the sun starting to set in the distance.

"RJ we need to get to the next town soon the sun is setting." I said pointing toward the sun.

RJ sighed to himself, saying "Yeah, your right...let's move out I guess. I would assume we still need to sleep, so we should likely look for an inn. Maybe we should head back to the Town of Beginnings? That place will be where all the players are, and therefore anything noteworthy will start there."

I thought for a moment on that, and then after a few moments came to a conclusion, "Yeah I think your right on that one, plus lodging is cheaper there."

RJ nodded and, without quite waiting for me, turned and began jogging back to the Town of Beginnings, casually patting his shield occasionally and mumbling words of encouragement. It seemed to take us longer to get back on the return trip to the town, then it hit me i was tired, like physically tired. I stopped after a few seconds of running and called out to RJ.

"Hey is it just me or does it seem like we're getting tired as we move around?"

RJ stopped to ponder this before saying "I'm not particularly tired really, then again I do this sort of thing for fun in real life. Though, I do feel a bit more winded than I probably should. Thats because of the armor most likely. Maybe this simulation is more advanced than we thought."

"I dont remember it being like this in the beta so do you think it was something to make the players feel more at home and life like, or something else." I asked one eyebrow raised.

"I think it's because Kayaba is, as we've established, an asshole. However, he's a smart one. Think, if we didn't ever get tired whats to stop us from clearing the game in a few weeks, stopping only to heal and grind? This makes us feel vulnerable, it makes us retain more of our humanity. It's a measure to slow us down, and keep us in his world for longer."

"I see how that works, but still how far do you think he took it, I mean how life like do you think it is?"

"Well, I'd be willing to place my bets that its decently life-like as far as basic needs. We probably still need to eat and drink and stuff. However, I'd also imagine there isn't any real sickness. Beyond that I'd imagine we have some kind of lizard thing going on where we regrow missing body parts, since we don't really have anything to regrow limbs as far as potions and it'd be boring if we didn't, since everything seems to use a blade. Within a week half the playerbase wouldn't be able to fight, and whats more boring than watching a show with no fighting, since I'd imagine that is what this is to him."

"Good point, I wonder how much of our body's systems he put in the game?" I said with a sly grin on my face.

RJ sighed, face-palming within a moment, and said "I will beat you within an inch of your life if I hear another sex joke."

I gasped and stepped back a little bit "Okay, point taken." I said in a scared voice. After that rather uncomfortable conversation, the two of us continued on our way, and made it to town just before the sun set. I looked around the crowded streets and looked over at RJ.

"So think our usual inn is still around?"

"Probably, it doesn't seem like too much has changed." I grinned and took off in the direction of the inn we used from day one of the beta. It didn't take me long to come to a stop in front of the place. I smiled wide and spoke at the top of my lungs.

"It's good to be home."

Lane: Well that was interesting, and I'm sad to say that Shadow and Jack are busy with some work else where so it will just be me for a few days. So I hope you liked this part of it and I will be putting the next out in a few days, can't say when. Also you know what to do follow and favorite and review. Ciao.

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Jack: So, it's been awhile, and my fellow authors have been VERY bogged down with IRL, much like myself. HOWEVER, I didn't want to leave our valiant readers hanging forever, so heres another chapter! Note, however, that I'm usually the grammar police of the story, not so much the writer, so I'm sorry if this chapter is heart-stoppingly horrible. Meanwhile, we also get to meet our canon characters now, making this disclaimer even MORE important

Neither myself nor Lane own Sword Art Online or any characters, locations or items featured in this fanfiction, with the exception of our own original characters, locations and items. This content is used completely legally under the Fair Use laws

RJ'S POV

It's been weeks, months even, since we entered SAO. Harkor and I have been staying in a local inn and even flourishing, as I've been using local shops to improve our gear. However, the rest of the player base hasn't been doing quite so well. Two thousand people are dead, and its only been one month. Now, however, the players are getting ready to fight back. Some charismatic man is gathering the players to go fight the boss. With that, he had everyone begin grouping up. Harkor and I had an obvious duo, however, looking over we found most people grouping up in larger groups.

Thats when he pointed out another duo, one in normal starter gear and the other in a white cloak, hood up. We approach and hear them agree to partner up, and Harkor nudges me slightly as we walk up. I roll my eyes, knowing what he's trying to get across. I was the social one of the pair, so when things like this came up, I always found myself doing a good deal of the talking.

"Hey!" I greet "Looks like you guys only have a duo too, and everyone else is getting into bigger groups, want to team up?"

The pair look at us strangely for a moment before the one in black says

"You two, your the premiums I've read about, right? The ones who fixed that game breaking bug and got to keep your stats and gear as a reward?"

My eyes widen slightly at that, and I can see Harkor getting slightly defensive, but I say simply

"Yeah, but its not like we knew fixing that bug would lead to this, you know?"

He nods, and so does his partner, apparently conceding the point. Soon enough, he adds

"Then you should be good additions to our fight team, sure."

Soon, he's sent party invites to myself and Harkor, and we accept, but soon Harkor and I find ourselves listening to a player ranting against the Betas, declaring that they should be found and forced to distribute all they had amongst the other players. First to stand up is a man named Agil, who presents the book written by the betas, and given out for free, which functions as a survival guide.

My partner is looking at me, mouthing to stay out of it, but I can't. My anger has been incited and I get to my feet, advancing on the one talking bad about the betas. As I approach, words flow freely from my mouth

"We've monopolized the best spots have we? Taken from the other players? Like Agil said, we all put our knowledge in that book, all the grinding spots, all the best gear we know about, all of our knowledge. What have you done for other players? Have you shown other players anything? Done anything to help others out? If the answer is no, why don't you sit back down, buddy."

Harkor, clearly upset that I'd called attention to myself, moved down with me soon, and I grinned at him. We might not always be on the same page, but we're always ready to support each other, no matter what. He stands next to me as the short, stocky player who'd said such vicious things about the betas retreated.

Soon after, Kirito and Asuna head off, but Harkor and I stick around for a bit, watching the others, before we go. We head back out to grind for awhile until the sun begins setting, and we return to our usual inn. We retrieve a small meal and sit at table in the corner, eating quietly. We're both still somewhat stunned by what had happened earlier in the day, the player base was finally going to fight back.

Neither of us speaks until we're back in our room, and then I say quietly

"Hey, Terry, you know...for the first time, I'm thinkin we may not make it back."

He looks at me for a moment, before saying

"C'mon RJ, we're the most prepared people in the whole player base, we can do this and come out of it just fine."

I think on this for a second and, though I'm not really reassured, I say

"Your right man, no first floor boss is gonna beat us! So, what do you think is happening, outside I mean."

It takes him a moment to realize I mean the real world, and then he says thoughtfully

"Well, remember when a bunch of people just passed out in the streets? I bet that was them moving us to hospitals, and our network connections getting disrupted. So, I imagine we're hooked up to IVs and stuff, and their trying to figure out how to pull us out, and they're definitely trying to find Akihiko Kayaba."

I nod along, commenting

"Makes sense to me, but I sure hope we get out soon. Who knows how much our bodies have detoriated already."

Terry, AKA Harkor, nodded along, saying jokingly

"Well, not like I had too much to lose anyway!"

I chuckled then, saying simply

"Well I do, so I hope we get movin quicker."

-THE NEXT DAY-

Kirito and Asuna were nearby according to their party markers, so Harkor and I headed out to find them. As they walked about the town, they noticed some players looking at them oddly. It was no doubt due to the over nature of their gear compared to everyone else, with their default gear. Their gear wasn't from floor one and everyone could tell, though some people probably just thought it was custom smithed to look cooler. It was this slight gaze of hostility that drove them to walk a little faster until they met up with the pair.

Not long afterwards, we were trekking to the boss labyrinth. The path there was uneventful, and clearing the 20 floors to reach the boss room wasn't much harder as most of that area had already been hunted and mapped. However, when the troop arrived, things got interesting. Their team was squad E, and they were to hold off the Ruin Kobold Sentinels. When the door opened and the minions began spawning, the whole player group broke into a charge. That moment, I discovered my fury, never before had a rage so sincere possessed me.

I shouted as loud as my digital lungs allowed and slammed my shield with all my might into a sentinel. It was sent staggering so badly that I didn't even have to cue Harkor to dash by me and lay the hurt on it. Then, at his call, I charged forward and tanked a blow from the beast with my shield, grinning fiercely. If we went hardcore, these mobs would be no problem. I slammed my sword into its sternum with a powerful stab and ended its life.

This pattern kept up until the boss's HP bar was red, and then that charismatic man charged, but something was wrong. The boss had discarded its weapons like we'd know it would, but the weapon it drew to replace it was all wrong. That was a Nodachi, a completely different weapon from the Talwar it was supposed to draw. Kirito and Harkor both shouted at the man to stop and pull back, but it was too late. A powerful combo one shot the poor soul, and I was forced to watch Kirito share the man's last few seconds of life with him.

This was the first casualty I'd personally witnessed, and it really hit home. Despite the burst of polygons that would suggest, in any normal scenario, that the death was nothing more than an inconvience, the loss of a chance at a rare loot item. No, instead it was permanent, the loss of any future that may've laid in that young man's life, all for some psychotic game dev's dream.

I'd had enough, and I could tell Harkor had too. I looked at him and nodded, and he returned the nod. Kirito and I charged the beast, it's Nodachi twisting to come at us. Kirito was ready to dodge, but he didn't get the chance. I flung myself at the strike, bracing my shield and grunting as the strike sent me skidding back, allowing Kirito to land several blows. As for myself, I charged a simple Sonic Leap sword skill and felt my blow rake across flesh before I hit the ground again.

I could see the beast bringing its blade at me, in what I IDed as a Tsujikaze sword skill. Of course, knowing what it is and being able to block or dodge it are two very different things. I brace my shield and body, but I know it won't be enough. Best case scenario, I'm down to red HP, most likely scenario, I meet my end right here and right now. However, neither of these come to pass, as Kirito counters with a Rage Spike sword skill, with the two skills combined recoil pushing both away, and reducing damage.

Harkor and Asuna take this chance to dart right into the opening and I watched, awestruck, as their blades seemingly danced along the foe. Harkor lauched his own Tsujikaze at Illfang while Asuna fired off a Linear. I charged back into the fray with my own attack, a simple Horizontal, and then find myself blocking a normal strike. I have to strain against the attack, and this is causing my HP to gradually drain, but it kept both Illfang and I occupied.

The battle was about to finish right now, and I knew it, as I watched Harkor, Kirito and Asuna all attack along with most of the party. The combos I witnessed were vicious, and the thing died shortly after. I fell to my knees with a soft mumble of exhaustion, consulting my shield's item menu to find it had taken a heft durability hit that I'd have to work on. My HP was low, but Agil approached, saying

"Good work buddy, way to tank it."

He gave man HP potion and I smiled, nodding my appreciation, and I downed it to restore my health back to full. However, It wasn't too long later, that trouble again arose.

The short player from earlier, whose name I had learned is Kibaou, interrupted the celebration with the reminder of the leader's, who he identified as Diavel, death. Panic ensued as people said Kirito withheld information as a Beta, and soon people were accusing each-other of being Beta testers. Kirito, however, launched into a speech, claiming he was far above those "newbies" who "barely knew how to level up". Most people were swept away by this, but I could see where he was going. He knew that SAO needed to be united to escape, and for that to happen the hate against Betas needed to stop, so he was taking it onto a much smaller group, now being identified as Beaters.

I stepped out with a cocky grin and hold my shield in the air, saying

"He's right you know. Most Betas barely know how to fight, let alone move like us! Me and my pal over there are the premiums! We've been to floor 15, and thats where this shield is from! My sword? Floor 13!"

Harkor seems to know where I was going and steps out as well, saying simply

"Hell, my armor is from floors 12 and 15! You think Beta's are bad? You have no idea what your saying!"

With that, Kirito equpped the Coat of Midnight and we walked off. While Kirito was stopped by Asuna to speak, Harkor and I just kept walking. When we received a party dissolution notice, I immediately invited Harkor to our own party, which he swiftly accepted. I grinned at this and said to him

"This is a big game y'know, it could take us awhile"

He grinned right back, saying

"I like the challenge. C'mon, let's get to the grinding spots before everyone else."

So, we headed out to grind and get stronger. We'd follow this pattern for every floor to follow, joining every Clearing Party and always vanishing afterwards to get to the best spots we knew of. Past floor 15, we lost our edge as "Beaters", but the way we set right to business instead of celebrating our wins still got us to these spots before other players, usually. That all changed though, when the siege began.