PV: Kenta Oshiro
I was Nearly first in line to get SAO. The first printing sold out near instantly, mostly because of the horrible planning by the devs and marketing. There was nowhere near enough copies to go around, so much so that the pending orders were nearly 50x the amount available.
The game is probably doomed to subpar player numbers if the gameplay can't stand on its own.
leaving that diatribe behind, I placed the NerveGear on my head, power on, and activated full dive.
First, in character creation, I name myself my OG username: Supasureiya8K, and of course, to go with that I pick a generically handsome base to tweak to perfection...
And press [Accept].
Now to ply my newfound trade as a pretty boy. I find a cute girl: OrehimeHime9; small, pink clothes and twintails, and most certainly in my strike zone.
Supasureiya8K:
Hey, let's make a party.
Shit that came out weird
OrehimeHime9:
Mmm, maybe…
Supasureiya8K:
Oh, come on… I can teach you how to play, it’ll be fun
OrehimeHime9:
Ok, sure are good?
Supasureiya8K:
Am I good? I'll have you know I take kenjutsu, this'll be a cakewalk!
---
By the end of the day, I've started to like Orehime more and more. She's kind, cute (especially whenever she does her little victory dances), and she didn't mind all of my obscure LN references. I think this might be love.
---
We were in the middle of a fight, I was just about to heroically cut down a boar when we were teleported to the plaza of Noob Town.
suddenly the sky was filled with warnings, oozing blood and a hooded figure bellowing smoke.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
OrehimeHime9 :
I'm scared.
Supasureiya8K:
Don't worry. It's just part of the opening ceremony.
Kayaba:
My name is Akihiko Kayaba.
And as of this moment, I am in control of this world.
I'm sure most of you have already noticed an item missing from your main menus -- the log out button.
Let me assure you, this is not a defect in the game.
I repeat this is not a defect.
This is how "Sword Art Online" was designed to be.
You cannot log yourselves out of SAO, and no one from the outside will be able to shut down or remove the "NerveGear" from your head.
If anyone attempts to do so, a transmitter inside the NerveGear will discharge a microwave signal into your skull, destroying your brain and ending your life.
Supasureiya8K:
Let's get out of here.
I pull Orehime with me to the exit but, I get a faceful of forcefield instead.
Supasureiya8K:
Hey, I can't get out!
Kayaba:
Despite my warning, the families and friends of some of the players have attempted removing the NerveGear, an unfortunate decision, to say the least.
As a result, the game now has two hundred thirteen fewer players than when it began.
They've been deleted from both Aincrad and the real world.
As you can see, international media outlets have round-the-clock coverage of everything, including the deaths.
At this point, it's safe to assume the likelihood of a NerveGear being removed is minimal at best.
I hope this brings you a little comfort as you try to clear the game.
It's important to remember the following:
There is no longer any way to revive someone within the game.
If your HP drops to zero, your avatar will be deleted from the system... forever.
And the NerveGear will simultaneously destroy your brain.
There is only one way for a player to escape now -- you must clear the game.
Right now, you're gathered on Floor One, the lowest level of Aincrad.
If you can get through the dungeon and defeat the boss, you may advance to the next floor.
Defeat the boss on Floor 100, and you will clear the game.
Supasureiya8K:
Why should we believe any of the crap you're saying?
Kayaba:
Last but not least, I've placed a little present in the item storage of every player.
Please have a look.
I open my inventory and find... a mirror? as soon as I take it out it shatters like a consumable item and envelops me in a blue light. I look at myself and see my hard work disappear before my eyes. Then I look towards Orehime and...
Supasureiya8K:
Son of a... You're a guy?!
OrehimeHime9 :
You're not seventeen?
Kayaba:
Right now, you are probably wondering why.
Why would Akihiko Kayaba, developer of Sword Art Online and NerveGear, do this?
Ultimately, my goal was a simple one.
The reason I created Sword Art Online was to control the fate of a world of my design.
As you can see, I have achieved my goal.
This marks the end of the tutorial and the official launch of Sword Art Online.
Players, I wish you the best of luck.
Supasureiya8K:
You have to let us go!
OrehimeHime9 :
Wait! Seriously? This is bullshit.