Death Game (Part 1)

Kazuto Kirigaya's initial tense expression gradually relaxed. He had seen cloaks like this before. They were the uniforms worn by the Game Masters, who were always employees of Argus during the closed beta. Back then, male GMs were always old men who looked like wizards with long beards.

Female GMs, on the other hand, were always characters wearing glasses under their cloaks. Perhaps something had gone wrong, preventing character creation, so at least the cloaks appeared. But the empty space beneath the deep red cloak gave Kazuto Kirigaya an indescribable sense of unease.

Just then, as if to silence these thoughts, the right sleeve of the cloak suddenly moved.

Through the widened cuff, a pure white glove could be seen. However, the sleeve and glove were clearly separate, with no visible flesh connecting them.

Then, the left sleeve slowly rose as well. Above the heads of ten thousand Players, the empty white gloves spread out to the sides, resembling a faceless person opening their mouth. Immediately, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from far above.

"Welcome, Players, to my world."

"My name is Akihiko Kayaba. I am the only one who can control this world right now."

"I believe all Players have already noticed that the logout button has disappeared from the main menu. This is not a game malfunction. I repeat. This is not a game malfunction, but the original version of 'Sword Art Online'."

"The... original version?"

An uproar erupted among the countless Players, the crowd boiling with disbelief.

"From now on, you will not be able to log out of this game on your own until you reach the top of this castle."

Akihiko Kayaba paused, allowing the information to sink in for everyone, then continued:

"...Furthermore, it is impossible for anyone outside to stop or deactivate the NerveGear. If anyone attempts to do so—"

A brief silence.

The next part of his speech was delivered slowly amidst the heavy silence of ten thousand people holding their breath:

"—the microwave signal emitted by the NerveGear's component will destroy your brains and halt your life functions."

Kayaba's declaration was clear: cutting off the NerveGear's power, or unlocking the restraint and preparing to remove it from one's head, would result in the death of the wearer.

Asuna's pupils constricted beside him, and Kazuto Kirigaya, appropriately, showed a flicker of suitable shock.

Asuna grabbed Kazuto Kirigaya, her expression stiff. "No way, this isn't possible. He must be lying. What do you mean, 'original version'? I want to get out, I want to get out."

Kazuto Kirigaya didn't know what to say, so he remained silent.

All the Players were in an uproar now.

Kazuto Kirigaya could understand their reaction. If he were told he was trapped in a game where death in-game meant real death, he would be furious too.

After all, after finally getting home from work, to encounter such a mess while playing a game—anyone would be filled with resentment.

Yet, after only a few seconds, the crowd erupted again. Countless people whispered amongst themselves, some shouting to their companions, "Haha... What is that guy talking about? This is impossible. Something like this can't possibly happen. The NerveGear... it's just a game console."

"If the external power is cut for more than ten minutes, or the network connection is lost for more than two hours, or if there's an attempt to destroy the NerveGear itself or remove the restraint—only under these conditions will the brain destruction program execute. These conditions have already been announced to the outside world by our company and the media. Incidentally, as of this moment, many Players' family and friends, ignoring our warnings, have attempted to forcibly remove the NerveGear, and the result is..."

The loud, metallic voice paused here, taking a breath.

"—Regrettably, two hundred and thirteen Players have already permanently exited both the real world and Aincrad."

A single scream rang out from somewhere. Apart from that, most of the Players around them were either unable or unwilling to believe this fact, their faces showing only faint smiles or a dazed expression.

"You need not worry about your bodies in the real world. All television, radio, and online media are currently repeatedly reporting this situation and the occurrence of numerous casualties. Therefore, the risk of your NerveGear being forcibly removed has been reduced to a considerably low level. In the future, your bodies in the real world should be transported to hospitals or other facilities within the two-hour disconnection buffer time while wearing the NerveGear, and will be carefully looked after. Please rest assured... and focus your spirits on clearing the game."

"However, please pay special attention. For you, 'Sword Art Online' is no longer just a game, but another real world. From now on... all revival functions in the game will be canceled. Therefore, the moment your HP becomes zero, your character will be permanently deleted, and at the same time..."

"Your brains will be destroyed by the NerveGear."

Hit Point, the remainder of life.

The moment it becomes zero, I will truly die—according to Kayaba, I will die immediately as my brain is cooked by microwaves.

This is indeed a game. A game where life and death are truly at stake. In other words, a death game.

Asuna's face turned ashen. Sensing her despair, Kazuto Kirigaya took her hand and whispered in her ear, "Are you okay? Asuna."

The girl's appearance was truly pitiable; only a big hug from Kazuto Kirigaya could comfort her.

Asuna lowered her head, her mood very bad.

Kazuto Kirigaya looked towards Kazuto Kirigaya and found that even his emotions were in a terrible state.

Worse statements were still to come.

"There is only one condition that can liberate you from this game. As I mentioned earlier, it is to reach the highest floor of Aincrad, the 100th floor, and defeat the final Demon King waiting there. I guarantee that at that moment, all surviving Players will be able to safely log out of the game."

Akihiko Kayaba's words were like a spark igniting gunpowder, and the crowd immediately erupted into chaos.

It's New Year's Day, and adding a few words isn't too much, right?