Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prologue

          Denji abruptly woke, his heart racing. A clammy sweat covered his body, soaking the sheets. Outside the window, the morning sun rose amid the lingering smoke trails off in the distance. Cries of agony sounded from down the hall.

          This wasn’t right. He wasn’t dead.

          The last thing Denji remembered was the intensity of the flames. The destruction left in the demons’ wake was incredible; there were bodies everywhere.

          He and Rei might have been able to escape if not for Paku. Despite how hard Denji had fought for him, kept his faith in him, the boy had still been overwhelmed in the end. He hadn’t even looked at Denji; Rei had been his only prey. Denji had desperately tried to protect her but hadn’t been strong enough. After he fell, there was nothing to stop Paku from getting her.

          Without having to look down, Denji knew that no gashes, tears, or holes marred his body. His skin was smooth and flawless, almost as if he’d been reborn.

          His throat constricted and it became nearly impossible to breathe.

          Reborn… The word was too perfect. Why? Was what he had done horrible enough to deserve this? Of course, it was. It had been their pact, after all…

          “Denji,” a soft voice said from his right.

          He turned his head toward the speaker. Master Yugo looked upon him with utmost sympathy, his eyes red.

          “Do you know what happened?” Master Yugo asked him.

          Denji opened his mouth to answer but couldn’t find any words. A strangled sound escaped him.

          There were deep wounds in him after all. But they couldn’t be seen or healed. This emptiness… it was cruel. He couldn’t live like this.

          Why, Geio? Did you really have to do this to me?

          “Your deity gave you a precious gift.” Master Yugo took Denji’s hand into his own. The master’s hands, which had always felt so warm and comforting before, were cold. “He gave his life to save you. You must never squander his last gift to you, no matter how much you want to throw it away.”

          A gift? No, that’s not what this was. Denji was alone now, utterly and completely. Nothing would make this pain go away. He knew that was the point.

          “Don’t waste it,” Master Yugo beseeched, his grip tightening. “For Geio’s sake.”

          Denji couldn’t let the master know what Geio’s ‘gift’ really was. It would have been too cruel. So, Denji swallowed the lump in his throat and managed to get one word out. “Okay.”

          Master Yugo patted Denji’s hand before releasing him. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his haggard face. This was the first time the master actually appeared his age to Denji.

          “Denji, what Geio did was unheard of. We know that deities have amazing powers, but we’ve never seen anything like this. It seems that his sacrifice, while miraculous, came at a price. You’ve lost your connection to Water. You’re a mundane now.”

          To Denji’s own surprise, a small laugh escaped him. He looked up at the ceiling and smiled. So, he was no longer an elemental, huh? Why not? He’d spent the first half of his life learning how to control water to harm and the second half repenting for it by mastering the art of healing.

          His efforts had been a waste. If he hadn’t been at the temple, he never would have met Rei or Paku and been in their presence when that demon swarm came. He’d only sought penance in the first place because of Geio, and it had gotten him killed.

          Divine retribution? Karma? A fitting twist of fate for a little boy who was damned at birth? It all sounded good to him.

          He began laughing, uncontrollably and maniacally. Tears streamed down his face as he fought to catch his breath. Master Yugo quietly waited for him to finish, those sympathetic eyes unrelenting. When the laughter finally subsided, all that remained was disgust. Denji hated himself. And Master Yugo. Everyone and everything.

          Geio should have let him die, but Denji had no choice but to keep living or else his deity’s sacrifice would have been for nothing.

          “I’m sorry,” Denji said, his voice raspy.

          “For what?” Master Yugo asked.

          “Rei. I couldn’t save her.”

          “But you did.” Denji looked at Master Yugo. He’d saved her after all? That should have filled him with relief or happiness – some sort of good feeling. But he felt nothing. “She was able to get to safety because of you. She suffered some severe injuries, but she’ll make a full recovery in a few weeks.”

          “I see,” Denji said. “I’m glad.”

          “No, you’re not,” Master Yugo said. He knowingly smiled a sad smile. “You couldn’t care less, could you?”

          Denji couldn’t meet the master’s gaze. No, he didn’t care. Yesterday, he’d been madly in love with Master Yugo’s granddaughter. Now he hated Rei as well.

          “I want you to leave this world, Denji,” Master Yugo said. “You don’t belong here anymore.”

          “Fine.” He didn’t want to stay anyway.

          “Denji, listen to me.” Master Yugo stood and took Denji’s face into his hands, forcing their eyes to meet. “You have lived two lives already. One that was of corruption and another that was of righteousness. Now that you have experienced both you must find a balance between the two. Go to the mundane world and find a way to use what you’ve learned for a greater purpose.”

          “What about my sister?”

          “Ask her to join you, but don’t force her. Her life isn’t tied to yours and she deserves to choose how she wishes to live it.”

          “Yes, Master.”

          Master Yugo leaned over and kissed Denji’s forehead. He straightened up and attempted to keep a grim expression to shield his grief. “I’ll make the necessary arrangements so that you can leave as soon as possible. You’re always welcome to contact me if you need something.”

          “Thank you.”

          Master Yugo began walking toward the door. Just before he reached it, Denji stopped him.

          “Master?”

          “Yes, son?”

          “Does Rei know what happened?”

          “She hasn’t woken yet. She knows nothing.”

          “If I leave before she wakes, tell her I’m sorry.”

          Master Yugo understandingly smiled at him. Then he left the room, and Denji was alone for the first time in nearly a decade.

          “The mundane world, huh?” he quietly said to the ceiling. “We’ll see.”

          Five years later…

1

          Denji opened his eyes and squinted against the brightness all around him. People were appearing left and right, marveling at the vibrant colors, struck dumb upon seeing them for the first time. Not Denji, though. He’d done this hundreds of times – but this time was for real.

          Today, Sword Art Online was no longer just a project in the midst of development. Today, Aincrad’s trials were open to everyone – and Denji would be the one to reach the hundredth floor first.

          He would beat this game.

          But first, he needed a better sword and the boars outside of town would drop enough col for him to afford one within the hour. He began weaving past the new players, heading toward the town’s gate.

          “Excuse me!” a woman’s voice called out behind him. “Please, wait!”

          He stopped, turning around. A tall buxom girl with a tiny waist and long blonde hair shyly accosted him.

          “I don’t really know my way around here,” she said. “Can you show me what to do?”

          “You can read your manual if you’re a beginner,” he said and attempted to continue on.

          She reached out and pinched his sleeve but quickly let go again. She had her head down. “Please? I don’t have a lot of time to play. I just want to try it for a bit.”

          He looked her up and down, frowning.

          Her face flushed and she glanced up at him. “What?”

          “How old are you?” Denji asked.

          Her face grew even redder. “Eighteen.”

          “I highly doubt that.”

          “Why?”

          “You don’t sound eighteen. Plus -” he gestured at her “- your breasts and waist are completely out of proportion. You over-compensated when creating your avatar. So, you’re either younger than you say, or you’re sadly dissatisfied with your own body.” His confronter stared at him as though caught in a lie – definitely the response of a young girl and not that of a woman. He’d won that gamble, thankfully.

          “I just want to play for a little bit,” she said. It looked like she was on the verge of tears.

          Denji sighed and ran a hand through his flaxen hair; she was starting to make him feel like an ass. Since it shouldn’t take that long to show her the ropes, he acquiesced.

          “All right,” he said. “What’s your starting weapon and your name?”

          She looked up at him, incredulous. “Rikka, a staff.”

          “I don’t know what a rikka is, Astaff.”

          “Rikka’s my name!”

          “That certainly makes more sense.”

          Rikka defensively blushed.

          He laughed and held out his hand. “I’m Denji.” She shyly took his hand and shook it. “Let’s go to the field outside of town. Boars will be a good first opponent for you.”

          She nodded, eager to follow his lead.

          Rikka stuck close to him as they navigated through the crowded streets, toward the town gate. Most of the other players were first timers just like her, and they marveled and wandered about, unsure of what to do. Thanks to the countless hours he’d spent in the beta test and numerous restarts, Denji knew exactly what to do and how to get the fastest head start. He didn’t know how many other players were going to take this game seriously, but he certainly was. Only one player could reach the top floor of Aincrad and win the real-world prize that came with it. The creator of the game, Kayaba Akihiko, hadn’t specified what the prize would be, only that it would satisfy the heart of any true gamer. This mystery, in Denji’s opinion, was to his advantage. Its vagueness both deterred those that would only put in real effort for something concrete and fueled those like Denji, the players who didn’t treat this virtual world as just a way to pass the time. He knew that he had a distinct advantage from being in the beta test and could guess that his main competition lay with those that had also participated in it. There was a decent amount of scorn back in the real world over this and many people had stated that it wasn’t fair that the beta testers got to compete in the contest as well. Denji didn’t care. It wasn’t his fault that his name had been pulled or that Kayaba hadn’t disqualified them. It was going to be a long, hard game, and he knew that even an inexperienced player had a real chance of winning, which was why he had to take every advantage he got.

          When they stepped outside of the town’s protective barrier and entered the open world, Rikka audibly marveled at it. The Town of Beginnings, the starting point they had just left, was a peaceful little town surrounded by grassy hills and copses. Three distinct roads led away from it; Denji already knew to take the southernmost one, the experience and rewards from its more challenging enemies worth the risk even at this low level. He’d fought them enough times to know exactly what attacks to use and how to parry their blows, but that would have to wait until he was done with Rikka.

          The high angle of the sun brought out the green of the grass and the blue of the sky. A gentle breeze made the wildflowers waver as small insects attempted in vain to land on them while flocks of twittering birds flew overhead and disappeared into the branches of the trees.

          Rikka brought her arms out and spun around in the sunlight, indulging in the beauty around her. Denji watched her with a faint smile.

          It may have been virtual, but the colors, smells, and sounds were so lifelike that it was easy to completely lose oneself within it. This was the only place that Denji ever felt at ease, free to do whatever he wanted, free to be whoever he wanted. If it were possible, he would never leave this sanctuary.

          “Did you want to do some hunting, or not?” Denji said to Rikka, who seemed perfectly happy doing just as she was.

          Blushing again, she stopped and faced him. “Yes.”

          “You should get your weapon out, then,” he said, going into his menu to do the same. After manually equipping his sword once, he’d be able to automatically pull it out the next time he wanted it with just a whim and a subtle movement of his hand.

          Rikka found her staff and awkwardly held it; Denji could already tell that she wasn’t going to be very good at battling.

          “The enemies around here are easy,” he assured her. “These monsters were specifically designed to be easy to defeat as players learn how to fight and time their skills. They will only ever charge at you in a straight line so they’re easy to dodge, but they could KO you if you’re hit several times.”

          Rikka bashfully regarded him. “How do you know all this?”

          “I was in the beta test,” he said, surprised that he had to clarify that.

          She seemed to realize that this should have been obvious and averted her gaze toward her feet, her hands tight about her staff. She definitely wasn’t eighteen.

          “The boars will be in the trees, but it’s easier to battle them in the field so we’ll aggravate them first to draw them out.”

          “How?” she asked, her voice barely more than a murmur.

          “I’ll show you. Stay behind me and watch. Then, you can try.”

          Denji walked them over to the nearest gathering of trees. They could see a boar within it, shaded by the thick branches overhead. It currently had its snout to the ground, unaware of them. Denji picked up a small rock from the ground and chucked it at the boar. The pebble sped through the air and smacked into its thigh, taking no more than a single hit point away. Since he’d engaged it in battle, the boar knew exactly where the attack had come from and who its target was.

          With an enraged squeal, the boar took off, charging directly at him. Denji, with his sword poised in his hand to attack, waited until the right moment to meet it, his blade radiating cobalt blue. With a single slash, he sliced the boar through the side, taking the remainder of its health. A red gash along the boar’s body followed his blade’s wake. The beast fell to its knees, then its body disintegrated into blue fragments that floated skyward and faded away. Denji gained a small amount of col and experience both toward his level and sword skill. It would take another nine battles before his starting sword skill, which was nothing more than a critical hit, would grow a level, unlocking a new, better, two-part skill.

          “Easy as that,” he said, turning to Rikka. “Your turn.”

          Looking more nervous than ever, Rikka nodded. At least she was determined.

***

Rikka gripped onto her staff too tightly, teeth gritted, as she stared her opponent down. The boar hadn’t noticed her yet and continued to graze.

          “It’s just a boar, Rikka,” Denji said from where he lay on his side in the grass, head supported in hand. “You’re too tense. Just do it like I showed you.”

          “I’m trying, okay?”

          They had been here for over an hour. So far, she hadn’t been able to successfully time a skill to make it connect to the boar. They had used all three of her starting healing potions and she wasn’t showing any signs of improvement. Denji had to defeat the enraged boars for her and had already earned all the money he had wanted to, so he was willing to call it a lost cause and part ways, but Rikka was stubborn. She wouldn’t let him out of her sight until she finally managed to use a skill.

          Steeling herself with a big inhale of breath, Rikka stepped into the boar’s periphery. It raised its head up and snorted at her. It prepared to charge, scraping its front hoof on the dirt. Rikka’s staff began to glow as she charged her skill. Denji watched with boredom as she released the skill too early for it to make contact with the boar. She narrowly avoided its attack by diving to the right.

          Denji was close enough that he was able to stab it through the side without having to move, defeating it.

          “I don’t get it!” she cried.

          “That’s obvious,” Denji said.

          “You’re a lousy teacher!”

          “I’ve explained it ten times and showed you how to time an attack. It’s not my fault if you’re no good at this battle system.”

          The staff disappeared as she glared at Denji, her face red. “Whatever! I quit!”

          Finally, Denji thought as she opened her menu. He stood up and stretched his back.

          “I can’t find the stupid logout button!”

          “It’s at the bottom of your main menu,” Denji said, exasperated. “Couldn’t you have figured that much out on your own?”

          “It’s not there!”

           “Yes, it is. Look.” He opened his own menu with a downward motion. He scrolled to the very bottom where the logout command was.

          The label was blank.

          “Told you!” Rikka said over his shoulder.

          “It’s probably just a glitch,” he said. “They’ll get it fixed soon.”

          “What am I supposed to do until then?”

          “I’d suggest going back to town where you can’t get into any battles.”

          “You mean, I’m stuck here until they fix it?”

          “Yep.”

          Rikka’s expression immediately turned guilty. “You don’t think it’ll take long, do you?”

          “Why?”

          “Well… this isn’t my NerveGear. I was just going to play until my sister’s friend got home.”

          Denji smirked at her. So that was how this little girl had entered the game, by using someone else’s registry. She blushed and looked away.

          The sky suddenly resounded with the knell of a church bell. They looked in the direction of the town, where the bell resided in the tallest tower. The chiming continued as the sky began to turn orange.

          “Does it always do that?” Rikka asked.

          “No,” Denji said. “I’ve never heard it before. I think an event is about to happen.”

          No sooner had he said it than they both began to glow. Rikka shrieked as they were teleported into town. Denji rolled his eyes, familiar with the sensation.

          Rikka stuck close to him as the square began filling up, under the looming tower where the bell continued to ring. By the time the knell finally quieted, Denji wouldn’t have been surprised if every single player in the game had been summoned.

          A message appeared high in the sky, too far away for Denji to read. Then the message suddenly multiplied, filling the whole sky. It created a dome around the square, bathing them in red light.

          Denji’s fists balled as he read the repeating message.

          WARNING! SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT!

          “Denji?” Rikka said, grabbing his sleeve.

          Something began oozing out from between the message boxes at the top of the dome. Four thick strings coalesced into one mass before a bright light broke out across the sky. When Denji looked again, a cowled figure loomed over them.

          “Players, welcome to my world. I am Kayaba Akihiko, creator of Sword Art Online,” the manifestation said. “As many of you have already noticed, the logout function is missing from your main menu.” The figure pulled up a menu screen, large enough for all to see. “This is not a defect in the game. I repeat, this is not a defect in the game. It is a special feature of SAO.”

          “Feature?” many voices around Denji repeated in hushed voices.

          “You cannot log out of SAO yourselves, nor can anyone on the outside remove the NerveGear. Doing so will emit a powerful microwave, destroying your brain, thus ending your life. Unfortunately, many on the outside have not heeded this warning and several players have already died.”

          Windows began opening around the dome, relaying news stories from all around the world.

          “A total of two hundred and thirteen players are gone forever, both from Aincrad and the real world. Rest assured, the risk of someone removing the NerveGear is now minimal. I hope that you will do your best to beat the game, but I must caution you – from now on, there is no longer any method of reviving someone within the game. When your HP drops to zero, your avatar will be lost and, simultaneously, the NerveGear will destroy your brain.”

          Voices of outrage and exasperation broke out across the square. Some shouted obscenities at the manifestation, demanding their freedom. Others rolled their eyes and chided the event as some melodramatic hook to launch the game with.

          Denji’s whole body had grown cold and rigid, his fingers curling into tight fists.

          This was no gimmick, no sham, no hook. He’d heard that tone of voice in others before. Kayaba Akihiko was a man without morals, whose pleasure came from the suffering of others. In this world, he was God, and they were nothing but his playthings.

          “There is only one means of escape,” Kayaba continued. “Beat the game. If you destroy the boss on a given floor, you may advance to the next floor. There are one hundred floors in Aincrad. Defeat the boss on the hundredth floor and you will clear the game and win my prize and your freedom.”

          “That’s impossible! The beta testers never made it close to that far!” voices shouted in desperation or anger.

          “Finally, I’ve added a present to your inventories. Please, see for yourselves.”

          Denji automatically opened his menu to his item storage. At the bottom of the list was an item labeled ‘Mirror’. He selected it and a small mirror appeared in his hand.

          His stern expression stared back at him.

          Next to him, Rikka shrieked again as she was suddenly consumed in light. Others around him were similarly engulfed until, finally, he was too.

          When the light cleared, his real face looked back at him. He was no longer a tall, stereotypical fairytale hero with blonde hair and sky-blue eyes. He was no longer the person that he wanted to try being – a person that was completely opposite of himself. Someone who never made others suffer for his shortcomings. Someone who was altruistic and caring. Someone deserving of praise and love.

          That face was gone. His old, hard, condemnable face stared back at him. There was nowhere to hide.

          “Denji?” a small voice said next to him.

          He looked over – and down. There Rikka stood, feet shorter than him. Denji’s heart dropped. He’d suspected that Rikka was young, but not this young. She was just a little girl; she couldn’t have been any older than ten.

          He stepped behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Stay close to me.”

          “Why is this happening?” she asked, looking up at him. Tears were already swimming in her big brown eyes.

          “I’m sure he’s about to tell us.”

          The manifestation opened his arms in a grand gesture. “Most of you are wondering ‘why’ by now. Why would Kayaba Akihiko, creator of the NerveGear and SAO, do all of this? My goal has already been achieved. I created SAO for one reason: to create this world and intervene in it. And now, it is complete. This ends the tutorial for the official SAO launch.

          “Good luck, players.”

          The figure began to fade in and out, dissolving before their eyes. It disintegrated, then the dome surrounding them suddenly disappeared to reveal the orange sky once more.

          There were a few seconds of silence before pandemonium struck. People began screaming and running, taking no heed of those around them.

          But not Denji. As the chaos swirled around him an old, almost forgotten, clarity overtook him.

          This wasn’t some horrific event for him – this was redemption! He had real-world experience with mortality and an in-depth familiarity with the workings of this world. With both of those in his arsenal, he was better prepared to take on this game than anybody else. The other players needed him and - this time - he wouldn’t cast his duty aside. He would make it to the hundredth floor, and he would clear this game!

          He spun Rikka around and tightly gripped onto her shoulders. “Stop crying, Rikka, and listen to me! I know how to safely get to the next town where we’ll be able to buy better equipment. We have to move fast, before this area is hunted clean. I’ll do the attacks while you land the finishing blow so that you get the final attack EXP bonus. Understand?”

          She shook her head and continued to weep.

          “Stop it!” He tightened his grip on her and she cried out in pain. “I’m going to get you through this game, Rikka. I will make sure that you go home, but you have to listen to me.”

          “Why?” she squeaked. “Why would you do that for me?”

          “Because you had the misfortune of choosing me as your guide. Now you’re stuck with me.” He opened his menu and sent her a party request. The message appeared before her. “Accept it, Rikka.”

          She pushed a trembling finger against the Accept command.

          “Let’s go.” Denji grabbed her hand and began running toward the town’s gate.

          He would beat this game and see Kameyo again. He would beat this game and send Rikka home.

          He would beat this game!

Chapter Text

2

          Azumi stood with her back to a brick wall for almost an hour, squeezing herself against it, as the manic crowd slowly vacated the square. When things finally settled down, she separated herself from the brickwork and made her way to an empty bench. There, she sat with her hands balled on her knees and her eyes down.

          What was she to do? She didn’t belong here. She had only donned the NerveGear on a whim at her cousin’s generous insistence. She’d had no interest in playing the game, never having played any kind of videogame before, but Yukio had assured her that escaping from the real world for a while would help cheer her up. He’d been dying to play the game for months now; she thought it would have been cruel to protest when he insisted that she try it first. And now look at where it had gotten her. Who was she to be stuck in this predicament – in this world – with no desire to have ever entered it in the first place? She was no gamer, just a starving acrobatic dancer living with her big-city cousin whom she’d barely known a few months ago. How could she possibly earn a living here or contribute to this unique society? She didn’t know where to start.

          Kayaba Akihiko… have you really no qualms with initiating a massacre like this?

          Not knowing much of the online world or of its consoles, Azumi didn’t know if she should take Kayaba’s warnings seriously. She had discovered that the logout function was missing soon after entering the game. After twenty minutes of wandering around, taking in the European-style town, she’d been ready to relinquish it to her cousin but couldn’t figure out how to leave. She’d had to ask someone and that was when she realized that the function was missing from her menu. That player had said her system might have been defective and that someone from the real world would just have to manually disconnect her from the game, so she’d resigned herself to wait until her cousin did so. She hadn’t been concerned until she heard someone else complaining of the same glitch. For some unknown reason, a terrible feeling came over her and, as she listened to Kayaba’s speech, it was as though she hadn’t expected him to say anything else. Maybe she was reading too much into the game developer’s morbid warnings, but she had no way of knowing that for sure and, without any means of leaving through her own volition, she had no choice but to wait.

          Who would ultimately rescue her? Would her cousin be able to get her out of the game, or would she have to wait until the hundredth floor was cleared? She wished with all her might that Yukio would be able to save her, but something within her knew that he couldn’t.

          Back to her original predicament of where to start, Azumi went into her menu and found her item list. She selected ‘Beginners’ Manual’ and began reading.

***

It was late into the night by the time Azumi finished the last page of the manual. She’d hardly noticed that Aincrad’s moon now brightly hung overhead. She’d been bathed in orange light from the streetlamps for hours now; she’d thought the sun had simply been setting all the while.

          Looking around, she realized that many people had returned to the square. Groups of players slept together on the ground, huddling together for comfort, not warmth. It was then that Azumi realized that she wasn’t cold, despite the night air or the light fabric of her rustic outfit. She looked up to see a sparkling sea of stars, their lights easily outshining the soft flames within the streetlamps. It had been months since she’d seen stars such as these, not since she’d left her little country town. She began to smile for the first time since entering the game. Trapped though she may be in this world, at least her prison was beautiful.

          The manual had determined only two clear paths for Azumi to choose from: that of an adventurer or a business owner. She didn’t know how to fight so the obvious choice was to go into business. She could get an apprenticeship with an NPC, perhaps at a kitchen to build up her cooking skill so that she could one day have her own restaurant and apartment. Or she could perform her tricks on the streets and hope that players would pay enough for her to eat and sleep comfortably every night. Either way, that was the simple solution for her to take…

          But would that be the right choice? The only way for her to leave the game was for someone to beat the boss on the hundredth floor. One player alone couldn’t possibly clear all those floors and defeat foe after foe, boss after boss. The only way they could all return home was if they worked together. Sitting safely in town seemed like the cowardly thing to do. Azumi had worked hard every day of her life, pushing her body beyond normal limits to achieve her dream of becoming a professional dancer. It wasn’t in her nature to sit back and wait for things to happen, let alone allow others to carry a burden that they all equally shared.

          Could she stomach becoming a soldier?

          She wasn’t a violent person and, though she’d read the manual, she felt that she still wouldn’t know what to do if she encountered an enraged beast. Combat was centered around skills, charging them and timing them successfully to make them connect to their target. It should be intuitive, otherwise not that many people would survive the game, but Azumi felt that it was beyond her. Besides, if an animal came charging at her, would she really think to activate one of her skills, or would she just run as one’s instincts naturally commanded them? She could likely guess the latter. Between fight or flight, she didn’t strike herself as a fighter.

          Still, out of curiosity, Azumi opened her menu again and went to her skills page.

          Since she hadn’t planned on actually playing the game, she hadn’t taken any care in choosing her avatar. She’d gone with every preprogrammed setting from her starting weapon to her avatar’s appearance. She was rather glad that they all assumed their real faces again. If their survival really was on the line, they shouldn’t forget who they really were. It seemed like it would be all too easy to take on the identity of someone else if they never had to look upon their real faces, and who knew what those made-up people would fight for. Azumi knew exactly who she was and what mattered to her: she was an aspiring dancer, and she desperately wanted to make it back to her father. She was all that he had left. She would survive this game for him.

          Now frowning at her skills list, Azumi dismissed it without reading it. What did it matter what her starting staff skill was? She wasn’t going to fight in this game. It would be foolish and far too risky if she ever wanted to see her father again.

          It was the smart thing to do, the right choice. So why did her conclusion have to form such a large knot in her stomach?

          Shaking her head to herself, Azumi started to stand to go find an inn for the night but realized that she couldn’t afford one. Those that were snoozing in the square must not have left town that day either.

          Resigning herself to her bench, she began to lie down when she noticed a new group of players entering the square. They were donned in better armor than the rest of those gathered here. Since they’d already upgraded their equipment, they must have either been beta testers or seasoned gamers.

          The leader of the group pointed to someone asleep on the ground, positioned a few feet away from the rest of his party. The man the leader had been speaking to stepped forward and knelt beside the sleeping player. He opened his menu and selected something. An instant later, a message appeared in front of the sleeping player’s face.

          Azumi found the whole exchange odd. Why would one player send a message or party request when the other was clearly sleeping?

          Then the man gently took the sleeping player’s hand, manipulating it so that his pointer finger could reply to the message.

          That was no party request – it was a duel invitation!

          “Stop!” Azumi shouted, jumping to her feet. Her call aroused most of the square, including the unsuspecting player. He woke with a start and yanked his hand out of the other player’s grasp.

          The leader of the group appraised Azumi with an amused expression. Shrugging his shoulders, he said, “What seems to be the problem?”

          Azumi pursed her lips and glared at him, her heart racing.

          What was she doing? Who was she pretending to be by standing up to this seasoned player? She feared that she’d just made a grave mistake.

          The leader laughed, enjoying the way he so clearly intimidated her. He crossed the square so that they were face-to-face, his group at his heels. The square was silent as they watched the confrontation.

          “Something seems to be troubling you,” he said. Azumi remained silent. The man patted her shoulder condescendingly. “Don’t worry. There’s nothing to fear while inside a town.”

          “Except players like you!” she said, knocking his hand off her. Her skin crawled where his touch lingered.

          He shrugged again, putting on a show for the audience. “I don’t know what you mean.”

          She couldn’t control herself now as courage she didn’t know she had fueled her. “You were going to force that player to accept your duel request while he was asleep and unable to defend himself!”

          “Why would I do something like that?”

          “For the easy experience, I’m assuming.”

          “What?” the targeted player exclaimed from where he lay shaking. Others around the square were also starting to quiver, whispering to one another.

          The man smirked at Azumi, his eyes cold and hungry. “Getting right down to the point, I see. As a fellow beta tester, you should be applauding me on this clever manipulation of the system.”

          Fellow beta tester? He incorrectly assumed that that was the only way Azumi could have possibly deduced what he’d been doing.

          “It kills two birds with one stone,” he continued. “We gain experience, and the noobs are out of the way, freeing up more experience and items for us, not to mention a better shot at winning Kayaba’s prize.”

          “You’re despicable. Beta testers should be helping new players, not killing them off!”

          Unconcerned, he said, “There’s no way that a player will actually die when they run out of HP. Those news stories were obviously fake, something that he’d prepared ahead of time. You’re too gullible for your own good.”

          “That’s not a risk worth taking!”

          Her resolve finally irked him. Stepping closer to her, so that they were nearly touching, he glared down at her. There he held her gaze, attempting to intimidate her into backing down. Though her heart raced wildly, Azumi didn’t look away. She pushed back in this battle of mettle, refusing to allow someone like him to outmatch her.

          After several tense seconds, he seemed to realize that she wasn’t going to give in. He broke their gridlock and looked back at his members behind him, cocking his head to signal that they were to depart.

          Azumi felt a wave of victory wash over her for only a brief moment, for as he stepped by her, the player whispered in her ear, “You’d best stay in town, little girl. You don’t want me to catch you out in the field.” Then he and his entourage left.

          If possible, Azumi would have burned a hole in the back of his head from the ire that consumed her. She couldn’t believe that people like him existed, that anyone would harm another person just to get ahead when they were all equal prisoners in this game. It was wrong!

          “Everyone!” Azumi called out to the square while their eyes were still on her. “Only the inns are safe. Even while in town, another player can kill you if they duel you. If you’re on the streets, another player has to watch you while you sleep. We can’t let players like that get ahead. Watch out for each other and don’t give them the advantage!”

          To her surprise, the square broke out into applause. She profusely blushed at their praise.

          The player that had been targeted suddenly appeared before her with his party members. He took her hand and vigorously shook it as he said, “I owe you my life! Thank you!”

          “It – It was nothing,” she said, bashful at his forwardness.

          “Not to me, it wasn’t!”

          One of his members shoved him out of the way to take his place. A woman with short, tousled hair, streaked with blue, addressed her.

          “Don’t mind Ima,” she said. “He’s an overzealous person by nature. I’m Ami by the way, and that’s Nobu,” she added, cocking her head at the last player in their party who towered over them all. He was clearly either half European or American, his sandy hair another obvious testament to his mixed heritage. He bowed in acknowledgement. “Thanks for the help.”

          Ami turned back to her party members. “Let’s go.”

          “Wait!” Azumi said. The knot in her belly had disappeared, replaced by the fire that that beta tester had ignited. It went against all common sense, all rationale, but Azumi knew that she had to take action in this game. She couldn’t just sit here and depend on people like that horrible beta tester to rescue her. She wouldn’t allow it, and she was certain that her father would forgive her.

          “Please!” Azumi said, bowing to Ami. “Teach me how to fight!”

          “What?” Ami faced her and placed a hand on her hip. “I thought that you were a beta tester? Surely, you already know how to fight.”

          “I’m not a beta tester. Before today, I’d never even played a videogame.”

          Ami didn’t seem to believe her. “Then how did you know what that player was doing?”

          “I read the manual.”

          Ami blankly stared at her for a few seconds before she threw her head back, laughing. Ima looked dumbfounded while Nobu smiled at Azumi in a praiseworthy way.

          “No one does that when they start playing a new game!” Ami said, wiping a tear away. “You really aren’t a beta tester! You’re even greener than those two!”

          “Green?” Azumi said.

          “Inexperienced. Ima hasn’t played anything within the last ten years, and Nobu’s only ever played galges.”

          “What are those?”

          “Dating simulators.”

          Azumi didn’t mean to look at Nobu so quizzically but couldn’t stop herself. With a small, almost apologetic smile, he said, “Guilty as charged.”

          “Did you have any idea what you were doing when you stood up to that beta tester?” Ami asked her.

          “No,” Azumi admitted. “I just did what felt right.”

          Ami crossed her arms thoughtfully. “I’ll tell you what,” she said. “I like your moxie, so I’ll take you under my wing, at least for a little while. If you’re any good, I get to keep you.”

          “You’d want me to join your party?” Azumi said, surprised.

          “Why not?” Ami said. “The way I see it, there are two kinds of people in this game: players and survivors. The players are going to play Kayaba’s game and risk their lives doing so to earn their freedom. The survivors are going to sit in the safety of town and wait to be rescued. The majority of people will become survivors, so we need all the players we can get, and I’m willing to foster anyone that chooses that route.”

          For the first time since Kayaba’s appearance, Azumi felt her hopes rise. Ami was an inspiration to her and exactly the kind of leader that they all needed. It was people like Ami that would beat this game and save everyone. Azumi would gladly follow her.

          “I’ll do my best!” she promised.

          “Excellent. Now, tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do?”

          “I’m a dancer –”

          “Dancer?” Ami said, cutting Azumi off before she could say anything more. “What kind of dancing?”

          “All kinds, really. But mostly lyrical.”

          Neither Ami nor Ima seemed to understand what she meant by that; only Nobu nodded.

          “She means theatrical dancing, like ballet,” he clarified for his party members.

          Azumi’s face grew hot as Ami let out a knowing, “Oh.”

          “Show me something, then,” Ami said, putting her on the spot.

          “Like what?” Azumi asked.

          “Anything.”

          “Okay…” Azumi wasn’t sure exactly what Ami was hoping for so she thought that she would start with a standard tumbling sequence, to demonstrate her athleticism. She walked a safe distance away from them then raised her arms up, shifting her weight onto her left foot as she pointed with her right, poised for the takeoff. Inhaling, Azumi sprung, following her round-off with several back handsprings before finishing with a back tuck.

          “That’s incredible!” Ami exclaimed.

          Azumi had only just stuck her landing when her hands were suddenly taken by Ami. With a spark in her eyes, Ami declared, “You are my luckiest find! Together, we are going to beat this game!”

          Ami’s statement was utterly delusional and Azumi knew it. They had an inexperienced team, one hundred floors to conquer, and no idea what sort of trials that lay ahead of them; some simple acrobatics wouldn’t make or break this game. And yet, Azumi believed her in that moment and nodded. Nobu’s and Ima’s hands also appeared to pile onto theirs as the four of them stood in a tight circle, united.

          Azumi had found her place in this game.

***

There were too many choices. There were long-distance weapons, short-ranged, sparring, throwing, melee… If Azumi had been instructed to find a suitable weapon on her own, she would have come back empty-handed and overwhelmed. She didn’t know how Ami could so analytically compare each starting weapon that was neatly lined along the wall without getting confused.

          Azumi, Ima, and Nobu all stood back and gaped while Ami slowly walked around the store, muttering to herself. The NPC behind the counter stared blankly ahead with a bland smile on her face, waiting to be engaged with. It was a little unsettling.

          “Nobu,” Ami said after several contemplative minutes. He stepped forward. “You’ll be using bows and arrows. Your height will help with both visual range and trajectory. Go exchange your starting weapon at the counter.”

          “Yes, leader,” he said with a small, obedient nod.

          “I told you to knock that off.”

          He pleasantly smiled as he stepped up to the counter. The NPC came to life, finally blinking her eyes. “How may I assist you?” she asked.

          “I’d like to exchange my starting weapon for a bow, please,” he said.

          “Certainly. Which bow would you like?”

          Nobu’s smile faltered now as he looked up at the wall, only just then realizing that there were five different bows for him to choose from. Each one was of a different length and curvature, none of which seemed to pop out to him as an obvious choice.

          Ami saw this and came over to the counter. “Don’t overthink it. We can exchange our starting weapons as many times as we want. Pick one to start with and we’ll see how you like it.”

          Visibly reassured by her, Nobu looked at his choices again. “I’ll take the recurve bow, please.”

          “Certainly,” the NPC said, her congenial smile never wavering.

          Nobu went into his menu and retrieved a sword with a blade that was short and straight. He laid it down on the counter where it abruptly vanished. In its place, a bow now appeared. Nobu took hold of the sleek weapon, frowning uncertainly. He relaxed his grip, and it disappeared into his item storage.

          “Ima,” Ami addressed next. “You’ll be our tank. Pick out a single-handed sword and a buckler. When your stats are better, we’ll get you a great shield.”

          Azumi didn’t know what a ‘tank’ was, but the look on Ima’s face told her that this was not a desirable role to assume. He looked rather queasy now as he stepped up to the counter. He had started the game with a spear and proceeded to trade it for a small, circular bronze shield and a sword of moderate length. Then he joined Azumi and Nobu again and the three of them watched as Ami continued to walk back and forth, muttering to herself.

          “What do you think she’s going to pick?” Ima asked them.

          “Something that obviously involves athleticism,” Nobu said. “I’m going to assume something that’s close-range, perhaps a melee weapon. It will most likely be something that won’t hinder Azumi’s movements.”

          “So…” Ima scanned the wall. “Bronze knuckles, maybe?”

          “I don’t know that I’d want to punch monsters,” Azumi uneasily said.

          “That weapon relies on strength, so it’s unlikely,” Nobu said. “She’d have to utilize skills far too often for that to be practical.”

          “What, then?” Ima said.

          Nobu crossed his arms, one hand raised to his chin as he contemplated. “Whatever it will be, it will be something that she’s already familiar with.”

          “But I’ve never used weapons before, or played a video game,” Azumi reminded him.

          “No, but you have used props on stage. Fans and ribbons and the like? Your weapon will reflect your performance abilities.”

          What Nobu said made sense but nothing on that wall looked remotely like the props she’d used in the past. Unless there was a fan with a razor edge hidden somewhere else in the shop, there was nothing that she could use.

          “Azumi,” Ami said, beckoning her forward. Azumi went to her side, nervous and expectant. Ami confidently smirked at her and pointed high up on the wall at a pair of crescent-shaped knives that were surrounded by other weapons of recognizable Chinese origin. “You’ll be using deer horn knives. Go exchange your weapon.”

          “Are you sure?” Azumi said, suddenly feeling intimidated by the idea of wielding any of these sharp, shiny weapons.

          “They’ll be easy for you to maneuver and move with. They’ll feel like an extension of your hand and don’t rely on brute strength to be effective. They’re perfect for you.”

          All she could do was trust in Ami’s judgment, so Azumi approached the counter and, a moment later, her wooden staff had been exchanged for a pair of these unique knives. Her fingers curled around the leather handles. She turned her wrist over, watching as the light bounced off the polished metal.

          “How do they feel?” Ami asked her.

          Azumi raised a hand up and down and side to side. They were slightly reminiscent of fans but the way she gripped them was all wrong. “Like nothing I’ve ever used before.”

          “Don’t worry, we’ll quickly remedy that. Let’s go to the practice arena and try out our new weapons.”

          Azumi loosened her grip and her knives disappeared. Though she had seen the same thing happen with the boys’ weapons, it was still a rather jolting experience. These magic trick-like game mechanics were going to take some getting used to.

          “What weapon do you have, Ami?” Azumi asked as they exited the store and stepped back into the sunshine on this cloudless morning.

          “A katana,” Ami said, a certain glint appearing in her eyes. “I always use them in games. Now that we’re here experiencing full-dive technology, I can’t miss this opportunity to see how they really feel. It’s not like I could easily learn how to use one in real life. That would take far too much time, dedication, and skill that I just don’t have. But here, with the system’s aid, I’ll become a master.”

          Azumi smiled to hear the way Ami spoke so passionately. She wasn’t letting the horror of this game get in the way of living out this fantasy of hers. She really was an inspiration.

          “The traditional warrior heroine,” Nobu appreciatively mused. “Stoic, disciplined, and precise.”

          Ami’s smile instantly fell. “Don’t compare me to your gal-girls.”

          Nobu chuckled at her flat tone. “I’ll refrain from doing so in the future.”

          “So, do you all know each other outside of the game?” Azumi asked. They all seemed so comfortable with one another that she found it highly likely.

          “We’re partners in the same class at our university,” Ami said. “We’ve known each other for a while now.”

          “Ami forced us to play the game,” Ima added. “She didn’t want to enter it alone.”

          Ami roughly elbowed him in the side, her cheeks flushing pink. “What’s the point of going to a new world if you don’t have someone to share the experience with? Soloing would have been too lonely.”

          “What year are you in?” Azumi asked.

          “Second.”

          “That means you’re all a year older than me.”

          “Do you attend a university?”

          “No.”

          “Relying on your dancing alone seems like an irresponsible career choice.”

          “It was.”

          Ami softly smiled. “That’s enough talk about the real world. We’re here, anyway.” She took them into the arena where many parties were already practicing with their weapons. Colorful flashes illuminated the space as skills were charged and released against straw dummies hitched on posts.

          “Once we get the hang of our weapons, we’ll program the dummies to become animated targets,” Ami said. “They’ll attack us as monsters would but won’t deplete our health if we’re hit. For now, stationary targets will do.” She opened her menu and began selecting things from the arena’s options. A moment later four new dummies, spaced a few feet apart, appeared. “When we feel confident, we’ll leave town and go earn some experience. Now, let’s begin.”

          Ami’s katana appeared in her hands, and she stepped up to her target. She slashed sideways, severing the straw in two. The dummy broke apart into blue fragments that began to drift skyward when they suddenly rushed back to the post and the dummy appeared again, whole. Ami tried a different angle and swung again.

          Azumi, Ima, and Nobu equipped their weapons and began things more tentatively than Ami had. Ima seemed to have trouble finding a good stance as he held his shield in front of him and awkwardly tried to decide what angle to hold his sword at in his other hand. Nobu couldn’t decide how best to aim, alternating between keeping both eyes open and closing one.

          Azumi gripped her knives and stepped in front of her target.

          “Use your auto lock-on ability!” Ami chided Nobu. “And angle your left arm like this, Ima!”

          Trying to block out Ami’s instructions, Azumi closed her eyes and envisioned how she might dance with her weapons as though they were stage props. The dummy would play the part of her partner as they danced an artistic battle. Her character would be that of a warrior. She’d be trained in the art of combat, mastering the weapon only after a lifetime of harsh discipline. She was a revolutionary figure, fighting to free her family and her land. Without her, there was no hope. It was her destiny to free everyone from this prison, this game… and Kayaba Akihiko was her adversary. She would rescue them all!

          Squatting, Azumi sliced her target straight through the abdomen with her right hand. She spun around, following the blade’s momentum, and brought her left hand high. When she was facing the dummy again, she sliced through its shoulder at a downward angle. The dummy broke apart momentarily then came back together again.

          “Good,” Ami said from behind her. “Now try a different way. I want to see you dance.”

Chapter Text

3

          Denji stared at the rectangular patch of moonlight that slowly inched its way across the ceiling. Sleep hadn’t come easy for him the last six – now seven – nights. Rikka lay in the next bed over, once again crying herself to sleep. That, plus the failures of the past week, left him tired and agitated.

          They had tried nearly every type of short, lightweight weapon with Rikka, achieving no more results than they had with the staff. She just couldn’t get the timing of skills down and was constantly pulled out of even the easiest of battles. She only gained levels from Denji’s efforts, literally earning all their experience himself. Rikka herself was a nervous wreck, still shell-shocked from the game’s morbid turn. Had he been soloing, Denji knew that he could easily be five levels higher than he currently was. The merciless survivalist in him begged him to ditch the girl; it was a daily struggle to stifle that voice.

          He knew that he wasn’t exactly helping her cope with the situation they were in. He hadn’t been kind to her since that first lesson. He barked orders at her in the field, cursed when she failed, and refused to let her out of his sight so that she had had no reprieve from the guardianship role he had imposed upon himself. Hell, he hadn’t even really given her a choice when it came to partying with him; he’d bullied her into that as well. What she probably needed was some sympathy or compassion. She was still just a child, after all. But he was all she had…

          Sighing, Denji said, “Do you think you’re going to stop that any time soon?”

          Rikka squeaked in response; she must have thought that he was already asleep. Shoving the covers off himself, Denji rose from his bed. He walked over to Rikka. “Sit up.”

          She kept very still, her face toward the wall. Pulling her up by the arm, Denji sat down next to her. She resisted him as he pinned her to him, his arms wrapped around her. She fruitlessly struggled for a bit before she gave up and buried her face against him, a fresh batch of tears now flowing. He was grateful that in the darkness she couldn’t see the red on his face or the scowl that accompanied it.

          Surprisingly, it worked; Rikka soon exhausted herself and fell asleep against him. He laid her back down and pulled the covers over her. As he looked down at her, he realized that this was the first time that she didn’t look frightened. Sleep was her only refuge from this world and from him.

          Returning to his own bed, Denji resolved himself to try harder. After all, none of this was Rikka’s fault.

***

The next morning, Denji was in no rush for them to finish eating breakfast in the inn’s restaurant. He mulled over what they could try next while he languidly pushed his food around his plate.

          Their limiting factor was how small Rikka was. Most of the weapons were either too big for her hands or too heavy for her to wield; the game simply wasn’t intended for children. Now that they had exhausted every type of dagger, knife, short sword, and throwing weapon, they were at an impasse. He didn’t know what was left for them to explore, but there had to be something the girl could manage…

          He looked up from his plate to find that Rikka had been staring at him. She had been exceptionally quiet that morning, and her face flushed when their eyes met, no doubt embarrassed about last night. She quickly looked down at her pastry.

          “What?” he said, a little too gruffly. She inaudibly muttered something. “If you have an idea, speak up.”

          With apparent difficulty, she raised her head back up and said, “What if I was a beast tamer? Then my monster could fight for me.”

          “Beast tamer?” He’d forgotten that those were in SAO. A companion might do her some good…

          Images of a brown dog raced through his mind, and a stabbing pain in his chest seized his heart.

          Not now! Not here!

          “No!” he said, startling her.

          “Wh-Why not?”

          The fork he held trembled against his plate. He set it down and balled his fist to keep it from shaking. The moment had passed. Thankfully, he’d managed to subdue it this time.

          “Because,” he said with a level voice, “you’ll get attached to your monster, which would be a distraction. It’ll either end up dying and depressing you, or you’ll abandon it when the game ends and feel guilty. Trust me, it’s better that you don’t make any unnecessary ties to this world.”

          “Then it’s hopeless!” she despondently cried. “I’m worthless out in the field! We should just become townies and wait for the game to end.”

          That was something else he’d never considered. Of course that was the obvious solution. Rikka was just a child; she shouldn’t be out in the field at all. So why hadn’t he thought of that?

          Because he was supposed to beat this game, that was why. He’d made it further than anyone else in the beta test. He’d unknowingly trained for this. He was everyone’s best chance of surviving, and he knew it. But he’d already devoted himself to this child…

          He rubbed a hand across his face, now the dejected one. He was being stupid and selfish, ignoring what was best for Rikka. Why had he thought that he could care for this child? Given the choice, he would have picked anyone but himself.

          Rikka’s eyes were guiltily fixed upon her lap. Just as he was about to suggest that they explore their options for town-living, Rikka raised her head up once more.

          “Maybe I can help you from farther away,” she said. “You know, so that the monsters can’t get me, even if I’m just hiding behind a rock or something.”

          “What could you possibly do cowering behind a rock?”

          “I don’t know! Tell you when something is sneaking up behind you?”

          Denji gaped at her as the answer suddenly hit him with its full force, stunning him.

          Of course! Field skills! She didn’t need to use offensive skills at all, not when there was a plethora of stealth and analytical-based skills at their disposal. He hadn’t thought for her to use them because he hadn’t prioritized such skills himself, but they would be perfect for Rikka. With high scouting skills, she would be able to sense monsters from further away and stay a safe distance back while he took care of them. But if she had high cloaking skills, she wouldn’t need to distance herself at all. And with anticipation skills, she’d be able to direct and advise him.

          “Denji!” Rikka was leaning over the table, tugging on his sleeve. She looked concerned; she must have been trying to get his attention while he’d been thinking.

          “You’re right, Rikka,” he said.

          She sat back down in her chair. “I am?”

          “You shouldn’t be fighting in battles at all. There are plenty of field skills that you can use instead. Given your size, you might be able to utilize them better than most players. And leveling most of them up should be no problem either since they just require you to be out in the field, not to use them in battle.”

          She looked rather doubtful. “I could help you with those skills?”

          “Yes,” he said, and began speaking faster as the possibilities began to unfold before him. “We can work on your scrutiny and scouting skills. With those, you’ll be able to detect traps, monsters, and even other players. With cloaking skills, you’ll be hidden from view and undetectable. You could even work on stealing and lock-picking skills for better item acquisition. And during battles, you’ll be able to act as my second eyes and ears and advise me using anticipation skills.”

          Rikka still looked rather perplexed by it all. “You mean, I’d be telling you what to do?”

          “Right. You’d act as my commander. I can’t always see what’s happening around me, but you could.”

          “Commander?” She thought about that for a moment then giggled to herself. “Okay, I can try that.”

          “Good. I’ll be the brawn, and you’ll be the brains.” He mischievously grinned at her, new energy surging within him. This could actually work! “Together, we’ll make for an unstoppable duo.”

          Rikka’s face flushed deeper than he’d ever seen before. She quickly picked up her pastry and took a huge bite out of it, looking down at it instead of him as she chewed with bulging cheeks.

          He laughed.

***

“All right,” Denji said. “This spot will work.” He and Rikka were alone in the outskirts of the forest that resided just outside of town. It wasn’t a common spot for monsters, which would suit their needs well. Without other players or enemies around, Rikka would be able to practice her skills without interruption. He decided that Rikka’s cloaking skill was their top priority. Her safety mattered most; they’d work on her scouting, anticipation, and analysis skills later.

          “How do we start?” she asked him.

          “Pull up your menu and go into your list of skills.” He stood behind her so that he could watch as she followed his instructions. “Now scroll down until you see ‘Cloaking’. There, now use it.”

          Rikka disappeared, somewhat. The scenery where she stood appeared blurred to Denji. From far away, she probably wouldn’t be noticeable. Above her head, her icon remained but only Denji would be able to see it since they were party members.

          “Now what?” the blurry silhouette asked him.

          “Nothing,” he said. “Just keep it activated until the skill wears off.”

          “That’s all I have to do?”

          “Yep.”

          “This is boring. Oh!” Rikka appeared again with a troubled look on her face. “That didn’t last very long.”

          “It won’t at first. Activate it again.”

          Rikka opened her menu.

          “Not like that,” Denji said, trying - and failing - to keep the agitation out of his voice. “Do you see me going into my menu every time I use a sword skill?”

          “I guess not,” she muttered.

          He was starting to get short with her again. He suppressed his impatience and tried to adopt a kinder voice. “Now that you’ve used the skill once, you can auto-activate it.”

          “How?”

          “Just will yourself to use the skill.”

          Rikka blankly stared at him. Why was patience so difficult for him?

          “SAO is programmed in a certain way that allows skills to be activated automatically. It responds to your intentions and fulfills them. Understand?”

          “Not really.”

          He rubbed his face, searching for a better way to explain this to her. “Do this,” he said, holding his hand out. He balled it into a fist and then spread his fingers again. Rikka copied him. “Did you have to tell your hand to do that?”

          “No.”

          “That’s how you should think of your skills. The cloaking skill makes you invisible, so envision yourself disappearing. The system should trigger the skill for you.”

          Rikka closed her eyes, her forehead scrunching. A few determined seconds later, she disappeared again.

          “It’ll become second nature soon enough,” Denji said, slightly amazed that actually worked and that she hadn’t burst into tears as she usually did. “The more you use this skill, the more effective it’ll become. We’ll do this with the other skills that I want you to learn and eventually we’ll test them in battle.”

          “How long will that take?”

          “I’m going to guess a couple of weeks.”

          “That long?”

          “Trust me, after a few more activations, you’ll be begging for a break. Your skills are going to mentally exhaust you.”

          “You never seem to get tired using your sword skills,” she pointed out.

          “I hide it.”

          “Really?” the blur asked, incredulous.

          He wondered if he’d just made a mistake in admitting a weakness. It might be better if Rikka thought him invincible, that way she’d never lose her trust in him.

          He sat down on the ground and leaned back against the nearest tree. He put his hands behind his head. The blurry silhouette moved closer to the ground.

          “I get plenty tired using attack skills, and I have the habit of over-estimating myself,” he said. “I was in the beta test, after all. I built up a good endurance, but that reset when the game started. It would have given me an unfair advantage if I was able to keep it.”

          “I guess that makes sense,” Rikka said. She appeared for a moment, and Denji was able to see that she was sitting on her knees before she disappeared again, this time without any eye-scrunching. “What other skills will I learn?”

          “Anticipation, scouting, analysis, voice-throwing, dash, and whatever else I find useful.”

          “That’s so many!”

          “The life of a commander is a demanding one.”

          “Are you going to learn any of those skills?”

          “A few of them probably, but I’ll mostly stay focused on battle skills. It’s not good to divide attention among conflicting areas. I’d rather excel at one set than be satisfactory across the board.”

          “Shouldn’t you be practicing, then?”

          “I need to use my sword skills in battle. So, unless you want to split up –”

          “No!”

          He smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

Chapter Text

4

          It was no use, nothing was sticking.

          Chiyo closed her journal and textbook and heavily sighed. Her studies had greatly suffered over the last few weeks, ever since she had come home to find Riyoko on her roommate’s gaming account. As her parents had cruelly reminded her many times now, it was all her fault that her sister was stuck in that game. If she hadn’t moved out, Riyoko would have never come to visit her and been tempted by Hina’s waiting NerveGear. If Chiyo had just gritted her teeth and continued to endure their parents’ abuse alongside Riyoko, her little sister would still be here, and Hina would be the one laying here now…

          How was a little girl supposed to survive a death-game?

          Chiyo looked at the computer monitor once more, her eyes automatically going to his face.

          Denji stared back at her, his expression hard to read. She couldn’t decide if he looked more bored or annoyed. She had no idea who he was, only that he was partying with her sister. Chiyo was able to view his statuses in addition to Riyoko’s, a rather cruel courtesy in her opinion. She was able to monitor with quantitative certainty just how close her sister was to death at any given moment, her life now solely reliant on her HP. If it started to drop, there was nothing that could be done. It felt like Kayaba Akihiko was mocking them and showing them just how powerless they were. They were nothing but spectators of his twisted sense of entertainment, unable to do anything but sit and wait.

          Why had Riyoko partnered with this foreign man named Denji? How had they met, and why was he allowing her to fight? She was certain that her sister was doing just that, for her level continued to slowly rise. Chiyo yearned for answers.

          Abandoning the desk, Chiyo went to Riyoko’s side. Her sister slept peacefully, a small frown on her face. The NerveGear nearly obstructed her face entirely since it was intended for adults.

          She took her sister’s slim hand. Chipped blue polish speckled her nails. Chiyo recognized the color from one of the bottles she’d left behind in her hasty departure. Riyoko used to incessantly beg Chiyo to do her nails or style her hair whenever Chiyo had a spare moment. While she would have rather been texting her friends or now ex-boyfriend, more often than not Chiyo would acquiesce and indulge her sister. The next time she visited, she’d have to give her a fresh coat.

          Chiyo packed her things up, deciding that the public library was going to be her best chance to get any work done. The persistent beeping of Riyoko’s heart monitor was distracting, and the palpable contempt her parents regarded her with was demoralizing. She hadn’t expected a warm welcome when she moved back in, but their glares were far colder than she’d been prepared for. She was doing all that she could to make up for her mistakes but moving back in and working to the bone in their restaurant didn’t seem to be enough. All she ever did was screw up, screw up and beg for forgiveness. Maybe one day they’d tell her that she’d tried her best and that that was all they ever wanted but, somehow, she just didn’t see that happening.

          Chiyo exited Riyoko’s room and walked down the hallway to the elevator. The hospital was always bustling with people these days. Chiyo often heard the attendants complaining about how the high volume of visitors got in their way. With approximately ten thousand players in the game, hospitals all over Japan were suddenly at capacity. It must have been difficult for them so Chiyo would take her leave whenever someone attended to Riyoko or cleaned her room, and she always made sure to thank them.

          Back on the first floor, Chiyo signed herself out and returned her visitors’ badge. She turned and meant to head toward the exit but accidentally bumped shoulders with someone.

          “I’m sorry,” she automatically said, even though she wasn’t sure if she was the one at fault.

          The woman that she’d run into regarded Chiyo with a pugnacious scowl. Along the ridges of each of her ears were several piercings, visible from the way she had messily tied her hair up. Her clothes weren’t cute in the least and clung to her figure as though only to make the statement that she was both a woman and physically fit.

          Chiyo would have quickly excused herself from the company of this delinquent-looking girl if not for the familiarity of her features. She had the same fair complexion as Denji, as well as his vibrant blue eyes and black hair.

          The woman scoffed under her breath and stepped past Chiyo to approach the front desk.

          “Ex-Excuse me!” Chiyo stammered. The woman faced her, an intimidating fist poised on her hip. “Would you, by any chance, be here to visit one of the SAO victims?”

          “Given the sheer number of players, that’s not exactly a lucky guess on your part,” she replied.

          Chiyo’s face burned. She forced herself to press on. “Forgive me, but you look similar to the player that my sister has partied with. I was wondering if you might be related to him.”

          The woman’s expression finally softened. “What would that player’s name happen to be?”

          “Denji.”

          A smile came to the woman, and she crossed her arms. “That would be my brother, which means you’re Rikka’s sister.”

          “Yes!” Chiyo said. ‘Rikka’ was the username Riyoko had used when creating her avatar. “But her real name is Riyoko. And I’m Chiyo, by the way. Yamada Chiyo.”

          “Otani Kameyo. My brother didn’t bother with a fake name.” Cocking her head back at the front desk, Kameyo said, “I was just heading up to visit him for a bit before I go to work. You want to join me?”

          Chiyo was taken aback by this offer. It seemed that, despite Kameyo’s rough exterior, she was a kind person after all.

          They signed in and received their badges. Kameyo led the way up to the second floor and to Denji’s room. Chiyo couldn’t believe that all this time he had only been two floors below Riyoko.

          Upon entering the room, Kameyo called out to Denji, “You’ve got a visitor, Denji. Be nice to her.” Then she took a seat at the desk.

          Shyly, Chiyo stepped up to the bed. He was, of course, no more responsive than any other player. He lay there quiet and still. Below the visor of the NerveGear, the lower half of his face was exposed. He bore the same small frown as in his picture. He appeared to be physically fit, with plenty of muscle left for his body to feed on. It would take some time before he started to look emaciated as Riyoko was starting to.

          She wanted to thank him for looking after her sister but didn’t know if she could. Without knowing what sort of danger he was putting Riyoko in, Chiyo couldn’t quite find herself grateful to him. So instead, she said, “Hello, Denji. I’m Chiyo, Riyoko’s sister. Please, take good care of her.”

          When she looked back at Kameyo, Chiyo realized that Kameyo had been watching her with a small smirk on her lips. Chiyo blushed and took the seat next to the bed.

          “He’s not all that personable but he has his good points,” Kameyo said. “You know, I’m actually relieved that we ran into each other. I wanted to meet Riyoko’s family.”

          “Really?” Chiyo said.

          Kameyo nodded. “As difficult as this incident has been for everyone, it must be exceptionally hard on your family. No one under eighteen was supposed to be in the game so Riyoko really shouldn’t have been caught up in this mess. She’s a little girl trapped in a death-game with no other children around.” Chiyo listened to Kameyo with her fingers tightly clutched around the strap of her bag. It was the only way to stop them from shaking. “But, somehow, she and Denji met, and I can guarantee you that he will do whatever is necessary to keep her safe.”

          Chiyo’s heart pounded with tentative hope, Kameyo’s words bringing her the solace she so desperately needed.

          “Denji was in the beta test,” Kameyo continued. “He made it further than anyone else in the game, all the way up to the eighth floor. He understands the workings of the game and how to use the system to his advantage. Knowing my brother, he won’t be content just sitting and waiting for the game to end. So, while I can guess that they’re working to beat the game, I want you to know that you can trust him. However their partnership works, Riyoko’s safety is still his highest priority. I’d stake my life on it.”

          Chiyo had to swallow the lump in her throat before she could answer. “Thank you for saying so.”

          Kameyo chuckled under her breath. “Let’s exchange numbers and get together when we have time. I really only had a few minutes today. My shift at the bar starts soon.”

          Chiyo wondered if Kameyo’s style had anything to do with her job. If she worked at a bar, she must want to look intimidating, but Chiyo was quite certain that if Kameyo put something nice on and fixed her hair that she would be quite pretty. Maybe on her days off she presented herself more softly.

          Kameyo got to her feet and pulled out her cell phone. After exchanging numbers with Chiyo, she went over to Denji. She lightly punched his chest. “Later, Denji.”

          Chiyo lingered, unsure if she should say goodbye as well, but then she followed Kameyo out of the room, her face warm. Maybe next time, when she knew him better.

Chapter Text

5

          Denji and Rikka sat in the twelfth row of the amphitheater. Just shy of thirty players had gathered for this meeting, a poor showing in Denji’s opinion.

          The first-floor boss had been challenged by many small parties, none of which returned. Now that everyone was realizing just how formidable the bosses of this game were going to be, a strategy meeting had been called, inviting anyone that wished to partake in this battle to step forward and join forces. If they defeated it, they’d be able to leave the first floor and gain meaningful experience again, not to mention acquire better items and equipment.

          On Denji’s right side, Rikka slouched next to him, trying to make herself small.

          Over the last several weeks, they’d concentrated on leveling up her field skills. It didn’t take them long to perfect a battle system in which Rikka advised him from a safe distance, veiled from sight. She seemed happier of late, now that she was contributing to their party. As far as Denji knew, she hadn’t cried once since they’d first devised their plan, but no matter how much confidence she gained in her role, she still shied in the presence of others. Other players looked at her with surprise or pity. When they looked at Denji, it was with disgust.

          Let them look. Rikka could handle herself.

          This boss battle would be a true test of their partnership. They’d be surrounded by other players, all using their own cooperative systems. They’d glare and shake their heads in disapproval at the two of them and chastise Denji for putting Rikka in such danger, but he had already beaten this boss; he’d been part of the party responsible for clearing the first floor in the beta test. If he didn’t already know what attacks and skills to expect from Illfang the Kobold Lord, he might not be so confident. They would find out soon enough if Rikka could handle the pressure while in the presence of others.

          A player in his late thirties stepped into the center of the amphitheater’s wood plank stage. He cleared his throat, and the crowd quieted.

          “Thank you for coming, everyone. My name is Diabel, and I like to consider my ‘job’ as a knight,” he proudly said, bringing his closed fist to his chest.

          Most of the audience laughed and someone called back, “There’s no job system in SAO!” Denji rolled his eyes.

          The smile that Diabel wore faded as he addressed them with a more serious tone. “The boss of this floor has yet to be beaten. Many have tried, but their efforts were in vain. Now, they are gone forever both here and in the real world. It is clear that we need to unite and challenge this boss as a cohesive force.”

          As Diabel paused to scan the faces before him, a spark seemed to appear in his eyes. His voice grew stronger as a subtle, confident smirk curved the corners of his lips upward once more. “Those of you that have chosen to come here today have already proven your mettle and fortitude. We are the ones rising to this challenge and responsibility. Just look around you and take heart in the faces of your fellow brothers-and-sisters-in-arms and know that we are the ones that won’t back down! We are the ones that will fight with everything we’ve got! We are the ones who will clear this floor and live to see another day! Together, we will defeat this boss!”

          Diabel’s rousing speech was met with applause and whistles, bolstering the spirits of all those who sat within the amphitheater. Denji had to hand it to him; whoever this player was, he knew how to work a crowd.

          When the audience quieted again, Diabel moved on to the official briefing. “It’s called Illfang the Kobold Lord and is guarded by Ruin Kobold Sentinel monsters. It’s armed with an axe and buckler. It has four HP bars and, when it reaches the red zone, it switches to the Talwar sword weapon. Its attack patterns will change as well.”

          The crowd murmured amongst themselves at this information, gleaned from players that had analyzed the door to the boss’s chamber, but none of this was news to Denji. He just wanted to get it over with. Rikka remained silent at his side.

          “To best combat it,” Diabel went on, “we should form larger parties, ideally consisting of six to eight players. Half of each party will concentrate on attacking the boss directly while the other half will focus on keeping the sentinel kobolds at bay. We’ll switch positions as necessary to regroup and heal, and if you need to fall back early, do so. Each party needs to watch out for their team members and track the health of those closest to the boss. Remember, once we enter the room, our teleportation crystals won’t work again until the boss is defeated. If we’re mindful and keep aware of one another, no one else has to die at the hands of the Kobold Lord.” The amphitheater went quiet again, a light pall falling over it at Diabel’s somber reminder of what was really at stake here.

          He took a moment to meet the eyes of every face in the crowd, his gaze grim yet hard with unswayable determination that settled into their chests. Denji could feel the shift in the air as they all accepted the weight of this responsibility, inspired by Diabel’s courage.

          He faintly smiled at them. “The rest of the players are counting on us. We can’t let them down. Now then, let’s form our parties. After each group has decided how to divide their forces, make sure that you have all the supplies that you’ll need. Eat well and get plenty of rest tonight. We’ll meet back here tomorrow at dawn.”

          The amphitheater began shuffling as small parties joined together and strategies were discussed.

          “We won’t be joining anyone,” Denji said to Rikka. “Our system won’t work with other people. Oi, are you listening to me?” Rikka hadn’t heard a word he’d said. She was watching a party down in the bottom rows. “What are you looking at?”

          “That girl,” she said in a small voice. “She’s really pretty.”

          He looked in the direction of Rikka’s gaze. A young woman was spiritedly speaking with her party members. Her long, glassy black hair had been pulled back into a half ponytail, tied by a purple ribbon. Her figure was slim yet curvy, her smile infectious. Any number of traditional princesses came to mind, and Denji suspected that it was this imagery that left Rikka so captivated. He doubted such a girl knew how to properly hold a weapon - let alone use battle skills – and dismissed her as a back-row healer. He rolled his eyes again.

          Beyond that woman and her party, he realized that a different woman was looking in their direction. She stood with another player, an older man. They both had olive skin, brown hair, and muscular builds. The woman was looking at Denji unabashedly, a smirk curving her ruby-stained lips upward.

          Denji’s body stiffened.

          Those players weren’t from the mundane world, and they knew that he wasn’t either. They were Earth elementals. He had never fathomed that there could be others from the mana world here as well, and it made his heart pound to be exposed in the woman’s gaze like this.

          Their respective heritages shouldn’t have mattered in the least in this game, but the way that woman was looking at him… It was like she was in on a secret that the two of them shared. What that secret might have been, Denji didn’t know. He didn’t like it.

          She winked at him and turned back to her partner.

          “She’s coming over here,” Rikka said, tugging on Denji’s sleeve.

          “What?”

          “That pretty girl.”

          He switched his focus back to the previous party and saw that the mock princess was indeed climbing the rows toward them. Rikka grabbed his arm and hid behind it as best as she could.

          The woman reached them, stopping on the row directly below them. She smiled at them, her eyes bright and kind.

          “Hello,” she said, speaking to Rikka. “My name’s Azumi. What’s yours?”

          Rikka briefly poked her head out from behind Denji’s arm. “Rikka.”

          “It’s nice to meet you, Rikka.” She looked up at Denji. “And what’s your name?”

          “What do you want?”

          If she was put off by him, she didn’t show it. “Are the two of you participating in the boss battle tomorrow?”

          “Yes.”

          “In that case, would you like to join our party? We’d gladly have you.”

          “We don’t need to join any parties.”

          Azumi’s smile finally faded under his glare. Her eyes moved from him to Rikka, her brow knotting with concern. “Are you sure?”

          “Positive.”

          “Azumi!” one of her party members called. The other woman in her party beckoned Azumi back to them. She, at least, was wisely wary of Denji.

          “Well, the offer still stands if you change your mind tomorrow,” Azumi said. Looking down at Rikka again, she smiled. “Bye.” Then she lightly hopped down each row until she was with her party once more. By the way she moved, Denji was certain that she was a dancer or performer of some sort.

          He looked down at Rikka. “Ready to go?” She nodded. “Let’s go into town. We need to buy more supplies for tomorrow.”

***

Rikka, and the man she was partnered with, walked ahead of Azumi and her guild. They were currently trekking through the forest, on their way to the tower where the first-floor boss resided. The man hadn’t acknowledged Azumi at all that morning as they waited for everyone to arrive, but she’d caught Rikka looking at her a few times. Even now, as they marched toward their destination, Rikka would steal quick glances back at her.

          What was that man thinking, taking that little girl into battle? They should be in town, waiting for the game to end. She wondered how they knew each other.

          “You aren’t thinking of talking to them again, are you?” Ima quietly asked her.

          “Why?”

          “That guy, the way he was looking at you yesterday,” Ima uncomfortably said. “It looked like he was about to take you out.”

          “What do you mean? Like he was going to attack me?”

          “Like if he could have, he would have ended you.”

          Azumi shook her head. “Someone who’s partnered with a child wouldn’t attack another player so unnecessarily.”

          “Or maybe he’s even more prone to do just that.”

          “I don’t think that girl would trust him if that was the case.”

          “Please, for my sake, don’t provoke him.”

          Azumi nudged Ima in his side. “Don’t worry. I can look after myself.”

          He scratched the back of his neck. “I know. I’m just voicing my concern, that’s all.”

          “Thanks, Ima.”

          After a slow start, the four of them had worked tirelessly over the last few weeks to improve their combat skills and catch their levels up to the other adventuring parties.

          Once they had grown comfortable using their starting skills on dummies, they put them to the test against real enemies. Though Azumi’s heart had pounded madly when that first wolf charged at her, it was as though her body had moved of its own accord. She had known exactly how to sidestep the beast to avoid its attack and fluidly follow through with her starting knife skill.

          She had feared that that test would best her, that when a deranged beast bore their fangs at her that she would turn and run… but the game had revealed too much. None of this was real. Not the blade that she used nor the beast that it sliced through. The luminous red gashes that appeared in her wake had proved as much, and the pixels that comprised the wolf’s body had broken apart before her eyes.

          Azumi had felt no fear or guilt for felling her target after that first battle. If anything, that familiar wave of injustice had washed over her again. She refused to let things that didn’t even exist disempower her. She could and would fight until the very end.

          With some practice, the four of them solidified their system. Azumi and Ami would charge at the front, using their high agility to defeat as many foes as possible before they jumped back to let Ima take their place while they regrouped. Nobu had increased his scouting skill so that he could detect enemies that spawned behind their party. He could usually take out any monsters that appeared from the rear but was unashamed to call the rest into action if needed. His archery was invaluable when it came to aerial monsters, earning them extra experience and items. They all had the most proficient armor and weapons available on the floor and had even procured a few rare items from quest bosses.

          They were all eager to face the Kobold Lord and put their teamwork to the ultimate test. Despite how delusionary it might have been, they had all acquired a vision of being the party that would beat this game and would prove it to themselves in this inaugural boss battle.

          Diabel stopped them when they were outside the boss’s chamber. “All right, everyone,” he said, all the lightheartedness of yesterday gone. “Have your healing crystals at the ready. There’s no turning back once we enter the room.”

          Azumi couldn’t help but look in Rikka’s direction. She and her partner listened with stony expressions. They weren’t going to back down.

          “Weapons at the ready, everyone.”

          Azumi reached down to the holsters on either side of her belt. Her fingers curled around the leather handles of her knives, settling into the indentations she’d already worn into them, and instantly felt calmer. Her blades were her strength; she used them to protect herself and others. This boss would be no different. She and her guild would fight alongside the best of them and then no one would look down on their guild for being green anymore.

          Azumi looked over at Rikka again to see what kind of weapon she used but found that she hadn’t equipped one. Her partner, with a standard one-handed sword in his right hand, finally acknowledged Azumi. He was looking at her deer horn knives with disbelief, shaking his head as though she was overestimating herself.

          She confidently smiled to herself; she’d make him a believer by the end of this battle.

          “Let’s go!” Diabel and the others at the front pushed against the tall iron doors, grunting with effort as they gave way. They all entered the room and waited for the boss to appear.

          The doors suddenly slammed shut behind them. For a few seconds, they were trapped in absolute darkness. Then the room suddenly illuminated with iridescent colors that emanated from the floor and up the lengths of the walls, bathing them in pale rainbows.

          At the far end of the room, a huge throne made of stone resided. The massive red beast that occupied it rose to its feet as if to greet them. Then it suddenly jumped from its throne and landed with a dense thud in the middle of the room, shaking the very floor beneath them. It menacingly roared at them as its name and health bars appeared above its head.

          Illfang the Kobold Lord

          Smaller kobolds, bedecked in armor and wielding maces, appeared from around the pillars that lined the room.

          Azumi quickly scanned the crowd for Rikka. Her partner stood in the middle of the congregation, but she was nowhere to be seen. Had Rikka stayed behind after all?

          With a chorus of determined shouts, the first squadron charged forward, and the battle began.

          Azumi snapped back to attention. She raised her knives and bent her legs, prepared to spring when needed.

          A sentinel ran at the attacking squadron, coming in from the side. Azumi bolted, running faster than was possible in the real world.

          Her high agility landed her next to the monster before it could reach the others. With her right hand, she blocked its mace from bludgeoning another player. Her left hand quickly followed with an upward slash. The sentinel’s arm separated from its body and disintegrated into blue fragments, its weapon falling useless to the ground. Azumi disposed of it with another two lithe cuts across its torso, then jumped back to scout out her next target.

          “Switch!” Diabel shouted.

          Both Azumi and Ami stepped forward, taking the offensive position while Ima, Nobu, and the rest of the first squadron fell back to catch their breath and heal.

          Azumi’s blades glowed pink as she charged her long-distance skill, releasing it only after the Kobold Lord swung its axe down. Two razor-sharp lashes of wind cut the boss’s arm, depleting a small portion of its health. Its arm remained fully intact, those two red gashes nothing more than superficial wounds to the formidable monster.

          She dashed to the right and charged another skill.

          And so, the fierce battle continued. The room was a cacophony of shouts, clangs, and cries as they fought off countless sentinels that re-spawned as they slowly chipped away at the Kobold Lord’s health. Azumi had no opportunities to see if Rikka was in the room or if her partner acknowledged that she could use this specialized weapon with ease. Every now and then he’d be just ahead of her, releasing a sword skill timed perfectly to knock the beast back.

          Just as they managed to wear the boss’s health down to its last bar, it began interspersing new, faster skills into its attack pattern. Diabel’s briefing yesterday hadn’t warned them of this, and it was starting to take its toll on them.

          Azumi had just taken out another sentinel when she saw the Kobold Lord begin charging another one of those new skills as it ran forward. Ima was in its path and would receive the full force of its attack if he didn’t activate a shield skill in time.

          But there was no time.

          As she shouted out his name, Azumi saw Rikka’s partner suddenly step in front of Ima, sword aglow. He released a skill at the same time as the Kobold Lord, deflecting the boss’s attack. The two skills weren’t evenly matched, and he was hit. He flew back into Ima from the force of the blow, the two of them rolling across the floor toward Azumi. She couldn’t see how much health Rikka’s partner had left, but Ima was in the red.

          She quickly pulled out a healing crystal. “Heal!”

          They were both within its vicinity and rallied, Ima now at half health. Rikka’s partner jumped to his feet, his lip furled into a snarl. He was frightening to look at as he glared at the Kobold Lord.

          Something about the fire in his eyes was unique and unconquerable. He shouted as he ran back into the battle, a skill ready to be released.

          Azumi pulled Ima to his feet.

          “What’s with that guy?” Ima said, panting.

          “He’s fighting for his life. All our lives,” Azumi said. “We have to keep fighting too. Let’s go.”

          Ima pulled out another potion and drank it to restore himself to full health before he joined the ranks again.

          Azumi continued to dash about, taking out sentinels, while those currently at the front desperately tried to hit the Kobold Lord.

          It was only after another ten minutes of fervorous effort that the boss finally dropped its axe and buckler. Everyone stood back as it unsheathed its Talwar sword from the back of its belt. With this new weapon would come new attack patterns, ones that they would only learn by watching and surviving.

          The Kobold Lord leapt, charging at the heart of the group with greater agility than they’d anticipated. Players were bowled over left and right and struggled to get up before the boss or its sentinels got them.

          As the boss’s charges continued, they were no longer able to stay in such organized squadrons, and the impact was obvious. People were no longer paying attention to their surroundings, releasing skills far too close to one another. If they weren’t careful, there would be friendly casualties.

          Someone needed to end this. Now.

          Azumi had just taken a step forward to join the barrage again when someone firmly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. She expected to see one of her guild members but instead found that she was in the grasp of Rikka’s partner.

          “Is your agility above twenty?” he asked.

          There wasn’t time to question why he was coming to her. “Yes.”

          “You’re faster than it. If you can interrupt its skills and stun it, we can better attack it and defeat it.”

          “Stun it?” she said, at a loss for what he meant by that.

          His stern expression turned irksome. “Use one of your skills while it’s charging its own. The interruption will momentarily stun and immobilize it.”

          “Oh!” She hadn’t used her skills that way before but was confident that she could manage that. “Got it!”

          “I’ll spread the word.” Then he was gone, now at Diabel’s side.

          Azumi whistled, calling her guild over to her. They assembled quickly, and she explained the plan.

          “Your agility is almost as high as mine,” Azumi said to Ami. “I’ll need your help.”

          “Let’s beat it,” Ami said, determination in her eyes.

          It seemed that everyone in the room had learned of the plan, and they broke off into three separate groups. Azumi and Ami stepped forward and sprang.

          The Kobold Lord ran toward Diabel’s group, its sword aloft, but Ami quickly got beside it and sliced its leg, removing a negligible amount of its remaining health. She quickly jumped back as it paused to take a retaliating swing at her. Then it snorted and began running toward Diabel’s group again.

          This time when it raised its sword and brought it across itself, it began to glow yellow. Azumi recognized the angle and knew that it was about to release a skill that would send out a sweeping arc toward them, harming as many players as possible.

          Azumi launched herself toward it as fast as she could, her own blades bright pink as she charged and released her fastest skill directly into its back.

          She gaped as the Kobold Lord staggered and caught itself with its free hand, the glow about its sword’s blade abruptly vanishing. Rikka’s partner had been right; it really worked!

          It straightened itself up to its full height and reared its head back as it roared, enraged.

          One of the squadrons ran forward, releasing their skills into its back while it left itself open and defenseless. A noticeable chunk disappeared from its health. If they could only land another two or three barrages like this one, then this would finally be over!

          Azumi and Ami sprang again as the attacking squadron retreated.

          Faster and faster she and Ami seemed to go, matching and besting the Kobold Lord’s speed as it dashed around the room, distracting and enraging it, while Azumi waited for that pivotal moment to arrive again.

          After several minutes, it came. Then not long after that, once more, and then it was finally over. It felt to Azumi that the entire room froze and watched with bated breath when the last of the Kobold Lord’s HP finally depleted.

          Its body grew transparent as its name, icon, and empty health bars disappeared. Then the massive boss exploded into a myriad of blue fragments that slowly disintegrated as they drifted away.

          Azumi found it to be rather beautiful.

Chapter Text

6

          Denji panted and his arm heavily hung, weak from using so many skills.

          His battle summary screen appeared before him, displaying the inordinate amount of experience that he and Rikka had just gained from defeating the Kobold Lord and many of its sentinels. Apparently, it had been his blade that had dealt the final blow during that last onslaught. He grew several levels at once and instantly felt the rejuvenation effects.

          He sheathed his sword as he bitterly lamented to himself at how much harder that had been than during the beta test. Kayaba had evidently decided that the testers had had too easy of a time of it and adjusted the challenge accordingly. If that was how all the floor bosses were going to be, then they had a very long game ahead of them indeed.

          Among all the raucous cheering around him, one distinct voice stood out.

          “Denji! Denji!” Rikka called, racing toward him. She ran straight into him with the full force of her little body and tightly wrapped her arms around his torso. She looked up at him with rosy cheeks and a beaming smile. “We did it!”

          He’d never seen Rikka so happy before; her face was practically glowing. She’d done surprisingly well in this battle. Several players were still here because of her swift directions. Her exultation was rightly deserved, far more than the other players would ever know.

          He softly smiled down at her. “So we did,” he said, and patted her head.

          “It was your party that won the battle?” Diabel asked, approaching them. It seemed that everyone had been looking around to see whose battle summary included the experience and items from the Kobold Lord. Now all eyes were turned toward the two of them, and Denji saw the way that most of the jubilant smiles around the room faded.

          “Guess so,” Denji said.

          “And it’s just the two of you?”

          “Yep.”

          A player from further back angrily scoffed. “Talk about bogarting all the boss experience.” He spat on the floor and cursed. “Asshole.”

          “Denji?” Rikka quietly said, looking over her shoulder at this agitated player. Visibly unnerved by him, she quickly got behind Denji. Her hands tightly gripped onto the back of his belt as she shielded herself from view. Thanks to this player, her elation from their victory had only lasted a moment and she was already back to hiding from others.

          “Anyone from my group could have landed that last blow,” Denji firmly said to him. “It was luck.”

          “Only having two people in your party wasn’t luck!” The player walked right up to him and got in Denji’s face as he snarled, “We all agreed to be in parties of six! Sharing the experience gained from a boss between only two people is despicably advantageous. Sounds just like something that a beta tester would conspire.”

          Whispering broke out and suddenly everyone was looking at Denji guardedly, many of them with contempt as well. Beta testers had had a bad reputation ever since sleep PKing had broken out. Denji had purposefully never indicated to anyone besides Rikka that he had been part of the beta test for this very reason. If it wasn’t for her, he would have already put this jackass in his place. Instead, all he could do was return the glare and bite his tongue, unwilling to start a fight in front of her.

          The player smirked at him, satisfied by Denji’s tense silence. “Admit it, beta tester.”

          “What does it matter if he was one of them or not?” Azumi suddenly said from the crowd. “And who cares if they’re a few levels above everyone else right now? In a few more weeks, that extra experience won’t matter anymore.”

          The player turned and faced her. “Don’t you know just how many players died because of beta testers like him?” he demanded, jabbing his finger at Denji. “When the game turned, they abandoned us beginners! They took all the good hunting spots and hoarded the easy quest bosses so that they would get stronger the fastest! Then they didn’t even show up for this boss! They’re letting us face the danger alone!”

          Azumi’s brow darkly furrowed, and she crossed her arms at him. Her regal beauty was not compromised in the least by the stern expression on her face. If anything, it made her gaze even more piercing.

          “You’re petty,” she said. “He did show up for this boss, and you should be grateful for that. He saved you; I saw it. And now, you choose to slander him instead of thanking him just because he might be a beta tester? That, to me, is far more despicable than some temporary extra experience.”

          The player’s face turned crimson, both abashed and enraged by Azumi’s stark reprimands. Denji felt the atmosphere around the room shift guiltily; suddenly no one was looking at him with contempt anymore.

          The player, thoroughly ridiculed by her, turned on his heel and marched away, his party following him. Other parties muttered amongst themselves as they began to disperse as well.

          Diabel faced Denji again and kindly smiled as he held his hand out to him. “Congratulations on your victory.” His sentiment seemed genuine enough, so Denji accepted the handshake. After one last nod, Diabel rejoined his party before they began walking toward the exit.

          Ready to get out of here as well, Denji looked over his shoulder at Rikka. “Let’s go.”

          “Hold on,” Azumi said, approaching them. The other three members of her guild remained where they stood as Azumi alone stepped forward. The tall one, Denji realized, looked very much like the avatar he had intended to use throughout the game. He found himself scowling at how ridiculous he had looked during the beta test.

          From where she now stood in front of him, Azumi looked upon him with curiously appraising eyes – intrigued - but certainly not suspicious of him. Trapped in her gaze, he felt his ears warm unnecessarily. Finally, she bowed to him. “Thank you for saving Ima.”

          The shorter guy in her party was looking at the ground, his face red.

          Though Denji would have preferred to simply acknowledge her gratitude and leave, he supposed that he owed her better than a cursory parting for the way she’d come to his defense. And Rikka was clearly enamored by Azumi and shouldn’t waste this opportunity to speak with her, even if he had to force her. After the way Rikka had handled herself today in battle, he could do her this kindness.

          “Don’t thank me,” Denji said, much to Azumi’s surprise. He pulled on Rikka’s arm, dragging her out to the front of him. “I follow her orders.”

          Azumi looked down at Rikka. Rikka tried backing away, but Denji kept a firm hand on her shoulder.

          “Thank you, Rikka,” Azumi said, and bowed even lower to her.

          “It was also her idea to have you stun the boss.”

          “Really? How clever of you, Rikka! I guess we know who the smart one in your party is.” He rolled his eyes as they both giggled, already regretting this decision. “How does your party system work? I wasn’t even sure that you’d come into the room.”

          She had directed the question for either of them to answer but, when Rikka continued to stare at her in silence, Denji took the lead. “She cloaks herself and uses anticipation skills to advise me. She saw that your partner was going to be in the boss’s attack trajectory as it started to charge the skill and sent me to deflect it.”

          “How are you able to communicate from that far away? Surely message boxes would get in the way.”

          “There’s a skill that allows one to throw their voice. When she gives me an order, it sounds like she’s right behind me.”

          “They have those kinds of skills in SAO?” Azumi looked rather perplexed and overwhelmed by this revelation. “I guess I still have a lot more to learn about this game.”

          “Now, now,” a new voice said. The elemental woman from yesterday approached them. Her partner stood a few feet behind her, waiting with his hands obediently folded behind him. The woman addressed Azumi. “Don’t hog all the advice from today’s winner. Some of us have questions too, you know.”

          “Oh, of course. Pardon me,” Azumi said. She seemed unnerved by the woman’s demeanor. “Bye then, Denji, Rikka.” She returned to her party.

          The woman turned to Denji, every bit of her confident smirk visible with those ruddy lips. “My name is Cordelia, Corey for short. Let’s talk somewhere in private, Denji.”

          “I don’t think we need to talk at all.”

          Rikka flinched when Corey stepped right up to him. She put a hand on his shoulder and brought her lips to his ear. An earthy scent washed over him as she pressed her body against his arm.

          “It’s about our unique skill.” She pulled back from him, smiling coyly.

          He didn’t have any unique skills, but she obviously did. Her partner must have one as well, which could only mean one thing… He had to be sure.

          “Ten minutes,” he said. “That’s all.”

          “That’s fine.”

          Denji grabbed Rikka’s hand and walked up to Azumi’s party, who had all been watching the exchange. He pushed Rikka forward. “Watch her for ten minutes. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

          “What?” Azumi said.

          “Denji!” Rikka cried as he joined Corey and her partner. She already had a teleportation crystal ready.

          She held it aloft. “Teleport: Tolbana.”

          The three of them were engulfed in white light. When Denji opened his eyes again, they were in the town center of Tolbana. The sun had just reached its peak for the day. That battle had felt as though it had lasted for days but the whole ordeal had only taken a few hours.

          “Let’s go get a room,” Corey said. They went to the nearest inn and acquired a room. Rooms at inns were soundproof from the outside so they wouldn’t be overheard by other players once they were inside.

          After entering behind them, Denji shut the door and crossed his arms. He had to be careful. He would miss his chance to learn what they knew if he gave any indication that he wasn’t already a part of it.

          “What do you want?” he said.

          “This,” Corey said, indicating her partner, “is Zann.” He nodded at Denji from where he stood behind her.

          Denji tried to think back to what weapons they had used. Corey had used a battle axe, and Zann… throwing daggers maybe? He couldn’t form a definitive memory of him. He had the appearance and demeanor of a bodyguard, but why would Corey need one?

          “We’d like you to join our party,” Corey said. “After all, it would be safest if we all stuck together.”

          “Sorry,” Denji dismissively said, “but I’m already committed to my partner.”

          “That little girl? I’ll admit that she survived today unscathed, but she won’t always be so lucky.”

          He shrugged. “That’s how it is.”

          Corey crossed her arms as she contemplated aloud. “I suppose we could consider letting her join as well. Admittedly, it would be nice to have someone available solely for healing and buffing. Given her age, she may not question things too much…”

          Denji said nothing and waited for Corey to get to the vital piece of information that he sought.

          “How well does she know the game?” she asked him.

          “I haven’t exactly quizzed her on it, but she seems like a regular beginner to me.”

          Corey was beginning to lose patience with him. “Does she realize that this game was specifically created without a magic system or not?”

          And there it was. He had suspected as much and couldn’t help but feel exposed and vulnerable standing here before them.

          So, elementals still had access to their mana after all. It wasn’t surprising. Even if the mundane world lacked mana, those born with it could still manifest it while here, and just because they were trapped in this game, it didn’t change anything. What was virtual reality if not forced meditation to a manmade ethereal plane? If mana could traverse both the physical and ethereal planes in their home world, then why wouldn’t it here as well? These two seemed to be wisely safeguarding their abilities but other elementals might not be so prudent. If mundane players found out about their unique powers, they’d become pariahs and swiftly eliminated. He couldn’t risk being around that, not with Rikka’s life in his hands.

          “If she saw one of us use ‘magic’, she’d want to as well,” Denji said. “It would be difficult to come up with a reason for why she couldn’t.”

          “Then you should leave her in someone else’s care. Your abilities are too important to cast aside for the sake of a single player,” Corey said.

          “No.”

          She was baffled by his steadfastness. “You’re being unreasonable. If you took a second to think this through logically –”

          “I swore that I would send her home. It’s too late for me to abandon her now.”

          “You will send her home. The three of us will make quick work of this game. We’re lucky that the game even recognizes our mana as a source of damage. If we –”

          “If you want to put a target on your back, go ahead,” he snapped, cutting her off. “But I’m not about to risk other players realizing that I’m stronger than the game allows. There’s a difference between being good and being overpowered. You saw how much heat I just got for being a suspected beta tester. I’m not about to get labeled a cheat too. That would put me and Rikka in far too much danger. So, for all intents and purposes, you can consider me just another mundane in this game. I have no intention of ever using my mana.”

          “Not even if it was to save that little girl’s life?” Corey coolly asked.

          “No.” Because he couldn’t.

          Corey shook her head at him in disappointment. “What kind of commitment do you call that?”

          Her judgment spread through him like ice. He was painting himself as a selfish coward, too concerned about concealing his mana to ever put himself at risk for Rikka’s sake. If he just admitted his emptiness, Corey would realize that he was willing to do everything within his power for the child. But he couldn’t let his confession out, because if he did, that would mean revealing what he’d let happen to –

          His heart began racing, the guilt attempting to break free and consume him again. He needed to get out of here.

          “Are we done?”

          “I guess so,” Corey said, defeated.

          Denji turned around and opened the door. Just before he stepped out of the room, he warned, “Stay away from me and Rikka.”

          Corey sweetly smiled at him. “Oh, I don’t think that’s going to be possible, not with all of us being frontliners. You’ll come to your senses one day and I’ll be there waiting. For now, send any other elementals you meet my way.”

          He shut the door on her smug face, his teeth gritted.

          Cordelia was dangerous and, worst still, she thought that he was too. He’d keep Rikka away from her at all costs. It was the only way he could protect her, the only way for him to combat an elemental, by running…

          He banged his fist against the wall and was mocked by an ‘Immortal Object’ warning.

          “Shit!” he hissed under his breath. He wouldn’t let Corey reveal his sins or that his very existence was his punishment.

          He took out his teleportation crystal and went to collect Rikka.

***

“Denji!” Rikka called as he returned to Corey and her partner. A moment later, the three of them disappeared in a bright flash. Rikka stared at the empty space, her small fists tightly clenched.

          Azumi looked at her guild members, quite at a loss at what to do. They looked just as uncertain.

          “Rikka,” Azumi said. “Let’s get out of this stuffy dungeon and go back to town.”

          Rikka lowered her head, avoiding their gazes. “But,” she quietly said.

          “Don’t worry. Denji will know where to find you.”

          Rikka solemnly nodded and stepped closer to them. She shied away from Azumi when she offered Rikka her hand. Apparently, Denji was the only one allowed to touch her.

          Ima stepped into the middle of their group, a teleportation crystal in his hand. He raised it high into the air. “Teleport: Town of Beginnings.”

          Their group was engulfed in light and, when it faded, they found themselves in the town square.

          Azumi turned to Ami. “Why don’t you all go restock our supplies?” She thought that Rikka would feel more comfortable if there were fewer people around. Ami and the others left without protest. Now alone with the child, Azumi wasn’t sure what to say to her. Rikka refused to look up from the ground, despite how many times she had snuck looks at Azumi earlier that day.

          “Let’s wait over there,” Azumi said. Rikka silently walked by her side as Azumi led them to the outskirts of the town center, where the shops were. There they leaned against the pillars of the overhang. If Azumi stepped closer to her, Rikka would edge away, keeping her distance.

          “How did you and Denji meet?” Azumi asked. Rikka didn’t answer. “Do you like being his partner?” She nodded once.

          Azumi ran out of things to say. Now she looked at the ground as well and rubbed the metal tip of her boot against the stone pavement.

          What was it about Denji that allowed Rikka to place so much trust in him? He always looked angry and didn’t seem to be a very congenial person from what little interaction she’d had with him. He was the last person she would expect to partner with such a young girl. Perhaps he was different when they were alone, or they had a past relationship…

          Azumi sighed, feeling rather rejected by Rikka. Children usually loved her. When she looked over at Rikka, Azumi found that she had been watching her out of the corner of her eye. Rikka blushed and looked at the ground again.

          “If you’d let me,” Azumi said, “I’d like to be your friend.”

          Rikka glanced at her but said nothing. What would it take to make this girl smile, even just a little bit?

          Azumi sighed again. She scuffed her right foot against the pavement.

          Heel—heel-toe-heel.

          Then she repeated the simple sequence with her left foot.

          Heel-heel-toe-heel.

          She hadn’t even realized that she’d been doing it until she noticed that Rikka was watching her. Azumi did it again, but this time she held Rikka’s gaze. Rikka was intrigued enough that she didn’t look away.

          Azumi straightened up from the pillar that she leaned against and executed a different combo. The rhythmic sound of her boots scraping and tapping against the pavement brought a smile to her, their music missed.

          Though she lacked a real stage and her boots were a far cry from proper tap shoes, Azumi suddenly felt inspired. She took several steps away from the colonnade and faced Rikka. She began with some simple sequences, her boots tapping out a melody of sorts. The sound wasn’t as crisp as it should be and she had to be lighter on her feet than she normally would have so that her boots wouldn’t stick, but it was good enough.

          Feeling confident, Azumi dove straight into one of her old tap routines.

          The piece she performed had always been a favorite of hers; it was a passionate number with heavy jazz influences. The music played in her head as though she was really hearing it – the smooth saxophones, the sudden punchy exclamations of the brasses, the deep, round voice of the woman singing her story about breaking free from the societal shackles that bound her…

          Azumi performed her dance with all the spirit and expression that the piece demanded. It featured quick combos, spins, and just a couple of sneaky acrobatic tricks, juxtaposed by a few slower, captivating moments of repose and anticipation. Rikka watched her with wide eyes all the while, completely captivated.

          It had been months since Azumi had moved her body so freely, with the sole intent of entertaining and delighting. She found herself transported back to her old days of sparkling costumes, bright lights, and pure grit and vigor. This was what she had dedicated every spare moment of her life to in hopes of one day achieving her dream. She grinned as she let it take over her, her chest swelling from the heat of the resurging fire in her stomach.

          The number ended with a few strong stomps, a striking pose, and a wink at Rikka.

          She heard applause and whistles from behind her, coming from the crowd that had assembled during her performance. Her face warmed at their praise; she’d been too engrossed to notice that she’d attracted quite the gathering.

          “That was amazing!” Rikka exclaimed.

          “I’ve trained my whole life to become a great dancer,” she said, slightly breathless. “That number won my solo division a few years back.”

          “Figures,” someone said from behind her.

          “Denji, did you see her?” Rikka asked, running up to him. If he had caught her show, he certainly didn’t seem impressed.

          “Thanks,” he said to Azumi and, not spending a moment longer with her than necessary, took Rikka by the hand and walked away.

          “Any time,” Azumi said, not that it really mattered. They were already out of earshot. But then Rikka looked back at her and waved. Azumi waved back. She hoped that it wouldn’t be long before she saw her again.