You Were Actually This Handsome All Along?!

"Don't worry. This is definitely just a bug in the game. Once the game administrators notice the problem, they'll surely fix and adjust it."

Some people were panicking, but there were naturally players who remained relatively calm. There were even people in the crowd claiming to be beta testers, saying that this was probably just a technical adjustment and telling everyone to stay calm.

"Impossible. A phenomenon-level game like Sword Art Online simply couldn't have such a basic gameplay bug.

"And nothing like this ever happened during the beta test."

Compared to the other composed players, Kirito felt the unease in his heart growing stronger by the moment.

"Then maybe, just as I said, this is an opening ceremony prepared by the game developers.

"They just didn't mention it in the game announcements because they wanted to surprise the players?"

Before Seiya or Kirito could say anything in response to Klein, someone else soon answered his question for them.

Red brick-like message panels spread at a visible speed, enveloping the entire plaza.

Then, a gigantic figure clad in a red robe suddenly appeared in midair. Its face was completely obscured, and it looked just like the Grim Reaper.

"This is indeed a grand ceremony prepared for all of you. But it is not the welcome ceremony you imagined. It is a true invitation to death.

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Akihiko Kayaba, and I am the developer of this game.

"I believe many players have already noticed that your log-out buttons have disappeared.

"But I would like to say that these are Sword Art Online's true rules. Players cannot voluntarily leave the game.

"If people outside forcibly sever the connection, the helmets will immediately emit high-powered microwaves, instantly destroying your brains.

"And the only way to leave this place is to successfully conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad, defeat the final BOSS, and clear the game."

Naturally, many people did not believe the man who called himself Akihiko Kayaba. However, Akihiko Kayaba soon produced extremely convincing evidence.

He stated that 213 people had already removed their helmets despite being warned not to, and had therefore died.

News of their deaths was also causing an uproar in the Real World.

After seeing the projected news footage Akihiko Kayaba displayed, many players who had still been considering their options no longer dared to act rashly.

"So we just need to clear all one hundred floors of the Sky Tower?"

Clearing all one hundred floors of the Sky Tower was not an easy task. During the beta test, the highest floor players had managed to conquer was only the eighth floor.

But the beta tester who asked the question was not discouraged.

He knew very well that players in a game world were comparable to the fourth natural disaster. No matter how difficult a dungeon was, as long as they possessed an "Immortal Body," clearing it was only a matter of time.

There were countless more players in the official release than there had been in the beta. The beta testers had reached the eighth floor in one month.

With so many players here now, it would take at most a year to reach the hundredth floor.

"Of course. I can guarantee you that. Once you clear the hundredth floor, I will naturally allow you to return to your original world.

"However, I must remind you that before then, if your HP Bar reaches zero in this game, your helmet will likewise emit microwaves and destroy your brain."

Upon hearing Akihiko Kayaba's words, the beta testers in the plaza who had still retained a trace of confidence instantly broke down.

"What kind of joke is this?! Isn't this obviously sending us to our deaths?!"

"Exactly! If dying in the game means dying in real life, then aren't we being forced to clear the game in one life?!"

Akihiko Kayaba did not care in the slightest about the curses hurled at him by the players. Instead, he slowly continued, "That is why I said from the very beginning that this is a true Death Game.

"If you truly approached this with the attitude of playing a game, then what meaning would there be in trapping you here?

"Very well. Before I leave, let me give you a small gift. I also wish you all an enjoyable game."

As his words fell, the enormous Grim Reaper who called himself Akihiko Kayaba disappeared from midair.

After he vanished, every player in the plaza found a mirror in their hands.

Under the mirrors' reflection, all the players present revealed their true forms and reverted to their appearances in the Real World.

Some handsome young men instantly turned into fat shut-ins. Quite a few cute girls who had been acting all sweet and delicate also transformed into burly men who looked like they picked at their feet. It was a full-blown online dating disaster.

Kirito and Klein, who stood beside Seiya, were naturally no exceptions. They soon turned into a youthful-looking boy and a weathered office-worker older brother.

Seiya, on the other hand, held his mirror and kept turning it over in his hands. His face had not changed in the slightest from before.

The mirror Akihiko Kayaba had given them was probably a one-use item, disappearing immediately after it was used.

There was no need to explain its effect any further.

Since Seiya had entered the game using his original appearance, the item known as the "Mirror of Truth" had not activated for him.

Looking at the mirror in his hand, Seiya recalled that Akihiko Kayaba would later create an alternate account and mingle among the players.

That raised a question: if he gave this mirror to Akihiko Kayaba then, could it force him to reveal his true form?

Compared to most players, who had suffered immediate social death on the spot, Kirito and the others' changes in appearance were still within an acceptable range.

When Klein saw that Seiya had not changed at all, he stared at him in surprise. Having gone from a dashing man to a dispirited older brother, Klein asked, "Wait, why are you the only one who didn't change back to your original appearance?"

"This is his original appearance. Seiya didn't alter his facial model at all when he entered the game."

Hearing Kirito's words, Klein looked even more devastated. "Come on, that's way too unfair!

"If I remember correctly, didn't you say Seiya was also the champion of the Kendo Championship?

"It's already bad enough that he's accomplished so much at such a young age, but he's even more handsome than the face I made for myself. Is that even fair?!"

Seeing Klein's look of utter disbelief, Kirito walked over and patted him on the shoulder, indicating that he completely understood how he felt.

Because Kirito had been feeling that way for years!

"Rather than worrying about something so unimportant, don't you think there are more urgent things to do now?

"Like the leveling area Kirito took us to earlier. The limited resources nearby will probably be fought over by quite a few players, won't they?"

Seiya's words made Kirito pause for a moment before he hurriedly nodded. "That's right. The resources in the starting village are limited. If we don't get there quickly, other people will definitely beat us to them!"