Sword Art Online

Mark Seen

The World of Swords Jul 7, 2012 It's launch day for one of the most highly-anticipated video games of all time. Join the character "Kirito" as he begins his journey in the virtual world of Sword Art Online.

Mark Seen

World of Swords Jul 7, 2012 On November 6, 2022, the VRMMORPG Sword Art Online is officially released where 10,000 copies have been sold. Kirito, who beta-tested the game, log-ins to the world of Aincrad and meets Klein, a new player who asks him to teach him the basics of the game including the battle system, explaining there is no magic so they mostly use sword combat. However, Kirito and Klein cannot log out of the game for some reason. As most of the players head to the village square, a red-hooded figure suddenly appears in the sky. The figure reveals himself to be Akihiko Kayaba, the game's creator and tells them they cannot log-out was made on purpose. Furthermore, he reveals they cannot log-out by simply removing the NerveGear, the VR helmet they use to log-in the game as it will kill them instantly. The only way to log out is for the players to beat and clear all 100 floors of the game and should they die in the game, their real bodies will die as well. As a parting gift, Akihiko gives them a mirror which reveals their real looks on their avatars. As everyone goes into shock of their new predicament, Kirito ask Klein to follow him to the next village to level up as soon as possible but Klein politely declines as he wishes to remain with his friends but promises to see him again. Kirito heads out, vowing to be free from this game. By the end of the first month, 2,000 players have died and the 1st floor has yet to be cleared.

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Beater Jul 14, 2012 On December 2, 2022, Kirito attends a meeting organized by an idealistic Diabel who reveals to the attendants that his party has found the boss of the 1st floor tower. He rallies everyone to team up and beat the boss, Illfang the Kobold Lord, which will open up the 2nd floor. As parties are formed, Kirito teams up with a girl name Asuna. A new player named Kibaou blames the Beta Testers of the game for running away to loot and level up while leaving the new players behind. But another named Egil defends the Beta players, revealing it was them who gave them the free guide book that helped them survive the game. Thanks to the guide book, Diabel strategize on fighting Illfang and his minions. As night comes, Kirito shares his food with Asuna whom the latter reveals she joined them as she wants to do something rather than nothing. The next day, Diabel's group arrives at the boss's room and fight against Illfang and his minions. Both Kirito and Asuna make use of their teamwork fighting. With Illfang's health low, Diabel goes for the finishing blow but Kirito tries to warn him after noticing Illfang has a different type of weapon as describe in the guide book but Illfang strikes Diabel. Kirito realizes that Diabel is also a Beta player as he was trying to get the boss's rare item and as he dies, Diabel begs Kirito to help the others. Having an epiphany on how Diabel was helping the other players while he was only helping himself, Kirito is determined to defeat the boss. Thanks to Asuna and the others help, Kirito finally kills Illfang, finally clearing the 1st floor much to everyone's joy. But the celebration is short lived when Kibaou blames Kirito for Diabel's death as his knowledge as a Beta player would have save him. Fearing infighting between the beta and new players, Kirito mocks everyone, telling them he is unlike the beta players, who were the first to die in the game as they were clueless as he uses his knowledge of the Beta for his own gain. Everyone is horrified of Kirito, who calls him a Beater; a Beta player who cheats. As he leaves for the 2nd floor, he advises Asuna to join a guild.

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The Red-Nosed Reindeer Jul 21, 2012 Four months have past with more powerful players and guilds clearing the game's floors. After saving a guild called the "Moonlit Black Cats", a group of friends from the same school club, their leader Keita thanks Kirito and ask him to join their guild and teach the only female in their guild, Sachi, to fight better. Kirito agrees while hiding the fact he is at least Level 40, twice higher than the others as they slowly and safely level up at low-level floors that have been cleared. Kirito bonds with his new friends, especially Sachi, who admits to Kirito she's afraid to die which he assures her he will protect her and they will be free one day. But on June 12, 2023, as Keita goes to buy a house for the guild, against their usual methods and Kirito's advice, the Black Cats decide to earn some money by going to the upper floors where they set off a trap, locking them in a room with higher level Mobs. Kirito desperately tries to save his friends but they are killed one by one until Sachi is the last to fall. Blaming himself over his friends death, including Keita, who committed suicide upon learning what happen, Kirito goes on a suicidal quest upon learning a rumor there is a way to revive the dead. On December 24, 2023, Argo the informant reveals to Kirito the location of a special boss named Nicholas the Renegade who has an item that can revive the dead. As Kirito heads there, he is followed by Klein and his guild, who fears for his safety. They are soon surrounded by the Holy Dragon Alliance guild who are also after the item. As Klein and his guild hold off the Holy Dragons, Kirito faces against Nicholas alone. But much to his distraught, Kirito discovers the item can only revive the dead within ten seconds after their deaths. To Kirito's surprise, he receives a recorded message from Sachi. Sent to him on Christmas Eve in the event of her death, Sachi tells Kirito not to blame himself over her death and that he should continue living to be free from the game. As she ends the message by humming "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" before saying goodbye, Kirito sadly cries.

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The Black Swordsman Jul 28, 2012 On February 23, 2024, a beast tamer named Silica, quits a party after arguing with their leader, Rosalia. Silicia is ambushed by monsters whilst making her way alone through the forest and her dragon familiar, Pina, is killed trying to protect her. As Kirito saves her, he tells Silica of an item at the Hill of Memories on the 47th floor that can revive her familiar within three days after it's death, offering to accompany her there. As they spend time together, Kirito warns Silicia of "orange players", players who attack other players and "red players", players who kill other players and someone is eavesdropping on their plans. As they make their way towards the Hill of Memories the next day, Kirito tells Silica about his younger sister who is actually his cousin, who she reminds him of. As they finally retrieve the item, the Pneuma Flower, they are confronted by Rosalia and her men, who are actually part of the Titan's Hand, a notorious orange player guild and are after Silica's flower. However, Kirito reveals part of his reason for escorting Silica was to draw Rosalia out to arrest her. The guild realizes Kirito is the infamous Beater "The Black Swordsman", and due to his higher levels and advanced skills, he outmatches Rosalia and her men, forcing them to surrender and send them to prison. As Kirito prepares to return to the front lines, he makes a promise to Silica that they'll meet again in the real world as she revives Pina.

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A Crime Within the Walls Aug 4, 2012 During a meeting between guilds and players on March 6, 2024 on the 56th floor, Asuna, who has now become Vice Commander of the Knights of Blood Oath guild, propose a plan to lure a boss they are fighting into a village but is opposed by Kirito, as the NPC villagers will be killed. A month later on the 59th floor, Kirito is taking a nap until Asuna arrives, criticizing him for being lazy but he convinces her to relax as well. To thank him for guarding her while she was asleep, Asuna decided to buy lunch for him at a town on the 57th floor. However, they discovered a player killed, hanging outside the church, impaled with a spear. As they both investigate, Kirito wonders how the player was killed in a safezone unless he was dueled by another player or someone has found an exploit to kill players. Yoruko, a girl who was a friend of the victim, Kains, saw someone behind Kains before he was hanged. Asuna and Kirito heads towards Egil's shop to help them find clues on the murder weapon, which Egil learns it's a custom made weapon by a player named Grimrock. Explaining what they discovered to Yoruko, she reveals how she and Kains are related to Grimrock. Six months ago, she, Kains and Grimrock were part of a eight-man guild called the Golden Apple lead by Griselda, Grimrock's ingame wife. One day the guild acquired a rare ring and voted whether to use it or sell it, with three members, Yoruko, Kains and Schmit, now a member of the Holy Dragon Alliance, voting to use it. Griselda went out to sell the ring but was killed. Yoruko believes the killer is targeting the three of them as he suspect they were involved in Griselda's death. After getting Schmit and explaining to him everything, Yoruko becomes paranoid, believing Griselda's ghost wants revenge against them. But Yoruko is killed after someone throws a dagger from outside.

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Illusionary Avenger Aug 11, 2012 Kirito chases after the assassin but he manages to teleport away. Kirito is still unsure how it was possible to kill someone in a safezone which a paranoid Schmit thinks Griselda's ghost is really after him. After accidentally seeing a dropped sandwich vanishing and talking with Asuna about the game's marriage system which allows both couples to share each others inventory, Kirito finally figures out how Yoruko and Kains "died" and who is Griselda's killer. It turns out Yoruko and Kains are still alive and tricked people into thinking they were dead by using damaged armor that will eventually disappear along with teleport crystals at the same time to make it look like they died. Yoruko and Kains confront Schmit at Griselda's grave as they are investigating who Griselda's killer is. After Schmit explains he had no part in Griselda's death, the three of them are surrounded by the notorious player-killing guild, the Laughing Coffins, who have come to kill them. They are soon rescued by the timely arrival of Kirito, which the Laughing Coffins retreat and Asuna arrives with the man who hired them and Griselda's killer, Grimrock. Grimrock reveals he killed Griselda, who was also his wife in the real world, because he couldn't accept his kind, dutiful wife he loved now became a fearless, independent leader. Asuna shoots back on Grimrock for killing Griselda, telling him he didn't love his wife but was just obsessed with her. After Yoruko, Kains and Schmit take Grimrock into custody, Kirito and Asuna talks about marriage and how he would still love his partner after seeing a different side of her, they see Griselda's ghost, who thanks them.

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Gun World Jul 5, 2014 A year has passed since SAO was cleared. Summoned by Kikuoka of the Virtual Division at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Kazuto learns of a series of bizarre murders linked to the popular VR game, Gun Gale Online (GGO), the only game in Japan played by pros.

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Ice-Cold Sniper Jul 12, 2014 Armed with a large sniper rifle, Hecate II, the young girl Sinon is making a name for herself as the No. 1 sniper in GGO. When her squadron ambushes another squadron, she succeeds in taking out her first target. But when she takes aim at her second target, a robed “Behemoth,” he dodges the bullet.

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Memories in Fresh Blood Jul 19, 2014 In real life, the player Sinon is a high school student named Shino Asada. On her way home from school, she’s dragged into an alley by delinquent girls. Their leader, Endo, tries to extort money from Shino, but she bravely refuses.

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GGO Jul 26, 2014 Kikuoka has recruited Kirito to investigate GGO, and so he logs in. To lure Death Gun into targeting him, he hopes to enter Bullet of Bullets (BoB), a tournament to decide the most powerful gunman in GGO. But as a first-timer, he doesn't know his way around this game, and soon loses his way, when he catches sight of Sinon and approaches her.

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Gun and Sword Aug 2, 2014 Barely managing to register for BoB in time, Kirito will be competing in Block F of the preliminary tournament. Sinon is also in Block F, and there's a chance that they'll clash in the final. They promise each other to go all-out if they do meet.

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Duel in the Wastelands Aug 9, 2014 After witnessing Kirito's fight to win his first preliminary match, a man clad in a ragged cloak asks him, "Are you the real deal?" It is then that Kirito and Sinon, having both advanced in the preliminary round, face off in the Block F final.

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Crimson Memories Aug 16, 2014 The man in the ragged cloak is an SAO survivor, and he might also be a player Kirito fought with to the death... This thought consumes Kirito, and his anguish is palpable - to the point that it worries Suguha.