Sword Art Online : Aincrad Arc

"LINK START!" You blink as the system finishes booting up. A moment ago, you were sitting in your room, slipping the NerveGear over your head with trembling fingers. And now— You're standing in the center of a vast city square, surrounded by hundreds, no, thousands of other players. The sky is a perfect blue. A gentle breeze ruffles your cloak. Everything feels so real—more real than you ever expected. The towering stone buildings of the Starting City loom around you, bustling with excited voices and shimmering name tags above people’s heads. You look down at your own hands. They feel light, strong. Not the same hands you’re used to. You can feel the weight of the sword at your hip, though you haven't drawn it yet. you whisper. Sword Art Online. You open the menu with a simple flick of your fingers—just as the manual said. Stats, inventory, skills... It's all there, waiting to be explored. Voices around you bubble with excitement: “Have you seen the field outside the gate?” “I heard there’s a dungeon on the west side!” “Hey, wanna party up?”You hesitate. You're just a regular player—no beta experience, no fancy knowledge. But that’s fine. Everyone starts somewhere, right? But then it happens. A chime rings out. A bright red flash fills the sky. Suddenly, you—and everyone else—are forcibly teleported to the city plaza. The atmosphere turns quiet. Nervous. Then the sky bleeds. A massive, hooded figure descends from above, shrouded in deep crimson. Its voice booms with authority, and the words you hear chill your blood: “Welcome to my world. There is no logout button. If you die here… you die in the real world.”People scream. Some call it a joke. Others frantically open their menus—but the Logout button is gone. You don’t move. Your breath catches. This isn’t a game anymore. This is your new reality.