"…Well."
Ryuto slowly opened his eyes to find himself in a dimly lit room. He sat up, slipped his feet into his slippers, and was just about to stand when a wave of dizziness hit him.
"Tch… aftereffects."
He stayed seated for a moment, letting his body adjust. Once the dizziness faded, Ryuto rose and walked to the window. Pulling open the curtains, a burst of dazzling sunlight flooded in, washing away the shadows.
The morning birdsong drifted through the now-open window, and the once lifeless room seemed to come alive in an instant.
"Ahhh~"
Stretching luxuriously, Ryuto padded toward the bathroom.
The faucet hissed to life, sending clear water flowing. Leaning down, he cupped his hands together, scooped up the cold water, and splashed it over his face.
The lingering fog in his mind cleared instantly. Raising his head, Ryuto looked at his reflection in the vanity mirror.
Silver hair, sharp red eyes, and refined, striking features stared back at him. He gave a small approving nod.
Reaching for a towel, he dabbed his face dry and returned to his bedroom. The neatly arranged furniture, sunlit floor, and faint breeze from outside reflected a disciplined lifestyle.
From the window, he could see an enormous OLED display on a distant skyscraper. A promotional video was playing—one he knew all too well. Next to it, a banner read:
Sword Art Online – Public Beta Begins Today
"System, you there?"
[ I'm here, Host. Do you have a question? ]
"What's the point of bringing me into Sword Art Online? Why me? Surely there are plenty of people more capable. Or… do you just like picking anime fans?"
[ Don't be so quick to dismiss yourself. Yes, there are others more experienced, but few possess the heart of a true warrior. You're destined to become strong—I merely gave you a head start. As for my reasons… you already know the story Sword Art Online will play out. The rest is up to you. ]
Ryuto placed a hand on his chest, feeling the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat.
"The heart of the strong…"
His gaze drifted to the NerveGear helmet resting on his desk, the power indicator a dim, expectant glow.
Shaking off stray thoughts, he connected the NerveGear to his computer with a data cable, then lay back on his bed, the helmet in place.
"Game or not, this isn't a joke. Even knowing the risks, I won't hesitate. This was once just a dream… now I have the means to make it real. Even death won't make me back down. And besides… I still want to meet Asuna. Link… start!"
Darkness swallowed his vision. A rushing sensation followed, as if his consciousness were flying forward. Then, light—followed by the familiar login interface.
He quickly entered his account details. His avatar was already there, a remnant from his past half year in this world.
Ryuto had been lucky enough to join the closed beta, where he'd tested himself in the game's deadly battles. It was during those trials that the system's earlier words took root in his mind:
"Nerve enhancement. Consciousness deepening. Physical activation."
Armed with those advantages, he had pushed all the way to the 12th Floor, while Kirito and most beta testers were still on the 8th. The name "Ryuto" had become well-known among beta players.
Selecting his account, the world shifted again.
When his vision cleared, Ryuto stood in a bustling medieval-style square. A quick check of his body confirmed what he'd suspected—his stats were reset. Opening the menu, he grimaced at the bold Level: 1 displayed there.
"Back to being a level one newbie, huh?"
Pushing aside his disappointment, Ryuto opened the map and set off. Early leveling spots would be swarmed soon—experience from the beta told him that securing resources early was key to survival.
Three hours later, he arrived at a weathered signpost:
Ulu Village Ahead (Safe Zone)
He jogged forward and entered the small settlement. Despite its size, it had all the essentials—blacksmith, tailor, and various shops. Several NPCs stood with yellow exclamation marks above their heads, ready to hand out quests.
Nodding in satisfaction, Ryuto headed straight to the herb shop, accepted a gathering quest, and made for the designated area.
His target loomed ahead—an oversized morning glory-like plant. Its petals could spit corrosive venom, dealing splash damage, but both its attack speed and movement speed were sluggish.
Recalling its behavior from the beta, Ryuto checked his HP: 362—enough to tank four hits if needed. Then his eyes caught something in his skill list:
Weapon Mastery – Allows the user to wield all weapon types in SAO with adaptable, ever-changing combat styles. (Level 1: Choose and switch freely between two weapon types.)
"A poor man spends his life mastering one weapon. A true master sees every weapon as an extension of himself."
Ryuto smirked. "Looks like the system gave me a little extra help after all…"
He remembered exactly what it had told him before he entered this world.
"Special skills have been prepared for you. Use your heart to master them… and clear the game."
Closing the status window, Ryuto bent down and picked up a loose stone from the ground. Holding it in one hand, he activated a sword skill—not with his blade, but to trigger the targeting assist. The moment the pale guiding light flared, he hurled the stone toward the massive morning glory-like plant.
The monster's attention snapped to him instantly. Its petals clamped shut with a sharp snap just before—
Pssh!
A spray of corrosive venom splattered against the tree Ryuto had ducked behind, sizzling as it ate into the bark.
Seizing the opening, Ryuto drew his Novice Iron Sword and dashed out from cover. The moment the sword skill's activation glow lit his blade, he vanished into a short, rapid movement arc—appearing behind the monster in a flash.
The blade bit deep. The plant's HP bar plummeted to half in a single strike.
It reacted by whipping around and unleashing another poisonous spray. Ryuto rolled sideways, slipped past the attack, and in one smooth motion, drove his sword in from the flank.
Crack!
Like shattered glass, the creature broke apart into fragments of light before fading into data particles. Ryuto exhaled, brushed imaginary dust from his clothes, and gave the sword a casual spin before letting it rest at his side.
Another monster rustled into view in the distance. Without hesitation, Ryuto sprinted toward it.
Three hours later, he was standing at the counter of the herb shop, listening to the shopkeeper's younger brother heap on praise.
"Adventurer, you are truly brave. This is the reward you deserve—please, take it."
Ding!
The exclamation mark above the NPC's head winked out. Ryuto accepted the quest reward—potions and a handful of Cor—and turned to head for the next building.
But before he could take a step, his body was engulfed in a faint, hazy light.
Forced teleportation.
He'd seen it in the beta, but not like this. The sensation of weightlessness hit him, followed by a flash of dizziness.
When his vision cleared, he was standing in the Starting City's Plaza.
Scanning the crowd, Ryuto spotted Kirito and Klein not far away. Klein was animatedly waving his hands, looking distressed—likely asking questions—while Kirito's expression was tight, eyes fixed on the shimmering pillars of teleport light still bringing players in.
Within moments, the entire plaza was packed.
A deep gong reverberated through the square as the bells rang out. The moment the sound faded, a massive hexagonal warning icon appeared overhead, WARNING blazing in its center.
The shape expanded rapidly, swallowing the entire sky in a blood-red hue that pressed down on everyone like a suffocating weight.
Then, from the seams of the glowing pattern, a thick, crimson liquid began to seep, pooling in midair before rising to form the figure of a faceless man in a flowing, blood-red robe.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. A few players even cheered, mistaking it for some kind of launch event.
Ryuto, however, kept his eyes locked on the floating figure.
He knew exactly what this meant.
The real game had just begun.
...
TN:
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