Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 01

Summary
The solo player: Kirito, who had the luck-of-the-draw to play the beta version, was inprisoned along with many other players of Sword Art Online (SAO) inside of a game, unable to logout; the only way to live is to win. Death in-game means death in the real world, due to tampering with the Nerve Gear; the console that simulates the in-game character controls by redirecting brain signals. Escaping the death game requires the defeat of the final boss on the top floor, two years later; out of the original 10,000 players at the start, only 6000 remain and 26 floors left to clear

Prologue
A huge castle made of stone and steel floating in an endless sky.

That was all this world was.

It took a vagarious group of craftsmen one month to survey the place; the diameter of the base floor was about 10 kilometers — large enough to fit the entirety of Setagaya-ku within. Above, there were 100 floors stacking straight upwards; its sheer size was unbelievable. It was impossible to even guess how much data it consisted of.

Inside, there were a couple of large cities along with countless small scale towns and villages, forests and plains, and even lakes. Only one stairway linked each floor to another, and the stairways existed in dungeons where large numbers of monsters roamed; so discovering and getting through was no easy matter. However, once someone made a breakthrough and arrived at a city of the upper floor, the «Teleport Gates» there and of every cities in the lower floors would be connected making it possible for anyone to move freely through these levels.

With these conditions, the huge castle had been steadily conquered for two years. The current front line is the 74th floor.

The name of the castle was «Aincrad», a world of battles with swords that continued floating and had engulfed approximately six thousand people. Otherwise known as...

«Sword Art Online»

Chapter 1
Kirito, after fighting a Level 82 «Lizardman Lord», recollects what happened two years ago.

Chapter 2
Cline asks for Kirito's guidance after he realizes that Kirito was one of the one thousand participants of the «Sword Art Online Closed Beta». After Clines successfully defeats a «Frenzy Boar», says that he has to log out because he ordered pizza. Failing to find the logout button, Kirito and Cline discuss the implications of the "unable to logout bug".

Chapter 3
Without warning, they were both teleported to the central plaza of «Starting City». The GM Kayaba Akihiko informs them that the only way to logout is by clearing all one hundreed floors of the floating city of «Aincrad», and that death in-game means death in real life.

Kirito, realizing that there will be shortage of monsters near «Starting City», urges Cline to leave the village along with him. Cline asks Kirito whether they can take his friends along. Kirito, unable to bear the heavy burden of Cline and his friends' lives, wordlessly disagrees. They separate after Cline decides to help his real life friends.

Chapter 4
Almost a year into the game 2000 people died. The remaining players are divided into four groups. Non-players, army, wasters who later join the army, and guilds. only fraction are solo players.

Chapter 5
Kirito successfully kills a super rare monster «Ragout Rabbit» and teleports to Algade to sell the «Ragout Meat». He later decided against selling the Meat after talking with the shop owner: Egil and meeting Asuna; nickname the «Flash» and sub-leader of the guild known as the «Knights of the Blood». He collaborates with her cooking the ingredient in her house for exchange of giving her half the meat. Asuna order her subordinates that she will be leaving for the day, displeasing her bodyguard: Cradil. He directed his anger to Kirito after realising he is a «Beater»: Combination of a «Beta tester» and «Cheater». Cradil's action disgusted Asuna and demanded him to leave. She then ended the conflict by leaving with Kirito through the crowd.

Chapter 6
In planning to cook the rare «Ragout Meat», Kirito journey with Asuna to her homeland in the 61st floor. Upon arriving, Asuna prepares the meal with her maxed out cooking skill. After enjoying the gourmet meal; with the taste synthesized by the «Taste Reproduction Engine». Asuna later threatened persuaded Kirito to partner with her in order to observe his skills on the front line.

Chapter 7
An unhappy Kirito was waiting for the late arriving Asuna at their specified meeting place. He later suffers a collision with Asuna as she ran while using a teleportation crystal; granting Kirito a wonderful experience. She was running to get away from her persistent bodyguard: Cradil, who strongly disagree of her recent actions and try to take her back to their HQ of the «Knights of Blood». Kirito try to intervene for Asuna’s sake and resulted with him in a 1-on-1 duel requested by Cradil. Kirito won the match easily by destroying Cradil’s decorated two-hand sword, however was unhappy that one of his skills is now known to the public. Cradil was enraged by the lost but was force to leave by the order of Asuna; the sub leader of the «KoB», Cradil soon left before the situation escalates any further. Asuna later apologise to Kirito for the troubles.

Chapter 8
Kirito and Asuna were socialising about each other’s taste in clothing, until they notice the movement of numerous flashing green cursor on Kirito’s virtual scanner. With Asuna hiding under Kirito’s black coat, both hide themselves behind the trees as they watch the 12 players from the guild: «The Army» marching pass them. Asuna inform Kirito about the change in behaviour of «The Army», both fear that «The Army» might try the suicidal task of challenging the yet discovered boss of the 74th floor with no Intel, and with only 12 men. Kirito and Asuna made their way into the Labyrinth Area; the tower that also conceal the room of the boss; the guardian of the gate to the next floor.

Chapter 9
The «Knights of the Blood» was known as the best guild in over a year; the leader of the guild, the «Man of Legend», and the sub-leader Asuna the «Flash» were both renowned as two of the best warriors in Aincrad. Kirito thought about this as he was teaming up with Asuna against the common skeleton enemy: the «Demonic Servant»; both display their excellent teamwork with a skill known as «switching» against their common foe. As they adventure into the dungeon, they soon came across the eerie looking door of the boss room. With few minutes of hesitation, they peek inside and look for the dweller of the dark room; there their eyes met with the eyes of the demon. «The Gleameyes»: the boss of the 74th floor.

Chapter 10
When «The Gleameyes» roared, both Kirito and Asuna quickly ran from the boss room to the safe zone of the labyrinth. Both laugh off about their recent cowardice and decided for a break. Asuna prepared the handmade sandwiches and Kirito was fortunate enough to be given one. The following event shows Asuna special talent in synthesising the lost forgotten taste of the outside world, Kirito praising her to the point of even licking of her, the display of Kirito’s greedy personality, and meeting the party of a forgotten friend. As Cline and his members of the «Fuurinkazan» introduce themselves to Asuna in an idiotic fashion, they were later interrupted by the presence of the «The Army». After claiming Kirito’s mapping data, «The Army» made their way off into the labyrinth. After some time, Kirito and the group decided to follow after them after worrying that «The Army» may challenge the boss by themselves despite their earlier warning.

Chapter 11
As feared, «The Army» had challenged the boss and was suffering from their mistake; crystal usage was prohibited in the boss room, and «The Gleameyes» was blocking the exit. As lives were endangered, Asuna enters to provide support, soon follow by Kirito, and then Cline and his party. Facing against this grave situation, Kirito was force to uses his secret «unique skill»: «Dual Blades», and made a high risk attack against the boss. The battle ended with the defeat of the demon boss, and the fallen Kirito on the last thread of his life.

Chapter 12
As his story has not yet ended; the fallen Kirito awoken to find a crying Asuna holding him. The remaining members of «The Army» return to their base to report the incident, and the honour of establishing the link to the next floor was left to Cline and his group. Asuna decided to take a momentary break from «KoB» and plan to stay with Kirito for a little longer.

As the hidden unique skill: «Dual Blades» was now known to the public, and the sudden rise in fame; Kirito went into hiding from the persistent crowd at the second floor of Egil’s shop, waiting for Asuna to return from the «KoB». A new problem arises when Heathcliff; The Living Legend; leader of the «KoB» wishes to duel with the now famous Kirito for the sake of Asuna.

Chapter 13
Today presents the grand event of the duel of the two «unique skill» wielders: the «Dual Blades» vs. the «Holy Sword»; Kirito accepted Healthcliff’s challenge, under the conditions that Asuna will be given to him if he wins, and joining the «KoB» if he loses. The match proceeded with each other scything one another’s life-span, with varying chances that the winner can be either one. The match ended with Kirito’s loss, as the man of legend performed an impossible move that momentarily broke the game.

Chapter 14
As Kirito was a man of his word, he now joins the «KoB»; already disliking the blinding white uniform that was in contrast to his usual black coat. Much to Asuna’s surprise, Kirito confessed about the tragic end of his first guild: the «Black Cats of the Full Moon»; still believing that he was the trigger of their demise. Feeling his sorrow, Asuna comforted Kirito during his time of guilt.

On the first day on the job, Kirito had to attend a mandatory training course to present his skills. To Kirito’s dismay, he discovers that he had to work alongside with the least person he wanted to see: Cradil.

Chapter 15
After Kirito relinquishes all of his crystals following Godfrey’s order, the group adventures to the 55th floor training area. At the time of their break, Cradil attempted his assassination after lacing the drinking water with paralysis poison; killing one after another until the paralysed Kirito was left alone with the murderous Cradil, who turn to be one of last remaining members of the worst Player Killing guild: the «Laughing Coffin».

Despite the paralysis, Kirito struggled near to his death against Cradil and was rescued by the soaring Asuna, allowing Kirito to finally recover. Demonstrating why she earned the name of the «Flash», she reaps his health near to its end before allowing his surrender. To protect Asuna, Kirito ended Cradil’s life by stabbing deep into him with his hand. At the end, Kirito told Asuna that he would offer his life to her, and will stay with her to the end.

Chapter 16
It turns out that Asuna was monitoring the map while waiting at the 55th floor city: «Grandum». Asuna and Kirito reported to Heathcliff about the incident, and temporarily left the guild with his permission. As Kirito did not want to be alone at the moment, he carelessly told Asuna that he want to be with her that night, which led to a comical chain event and draws some attention to an interesting option on their virtual menu screen called «Ethic Code Off». After some time, Kirito finally unveil his feelings to Asuna and made his proposal to her for marriage.

Chapter 16.5
With Asuna insistence, both decided to carry out their affection for one another. The following event shows Kirito’s sadistic side and Asuna’s masochistic side.

Chapter 17
Kirito and Asuna are now in the relationship of marriage in Aincrad, and spending their newly-wed life at a small, round cottage on the 22nd floor. Once again, both announce their love for one another.

Chapter 18
10 days have passed; both Kirito and Asuna push aside their fighting skill for the moment, and decided to train their domestic skills; Kirito on fishing, and Asuna on sewing. As luck would have it, Kirito seem to have spent it all in getting Asuna to marry him as no fish would bite. They soon met a fisherman name Nishida, and decided to help him carry out a fishing event on a later day.

Chapter 19
It was the day of the fishing event; not only was Nishida, Kirito and Asuna were present but a crowd was waiting attentively for the appearance of the local god. Nishida uses his highly trained fishing skill to get the bite, and then switches for Kirito’s superior strength. What they caught however was an enormous Coelacanth monster which Asuna soon over-kill. The event ended and so was their honeymoon, as they were requested to attend the boss raid by Heathcliff the following day.

Chapter 20
Kirito and Asuna returned to the «KoB» headquarters to learn of the demise of a scouting party from Heathcliff; the room of the 75th boss was discovered, however no Intel about the boss was obtain. Upon passing the gate, the boss room will isolate itself and the use of teleportation crystal will be prohibited. Despite the applied grim conditions, Heathcliff still plan to attack the boss with his strongest members and hope for the assistance of Kirito and Asuna.

Chapter 21
Cline and Egil were amongst the group of high level players who gathered for the boss raid; including Kirito, Asuna, and Heathcliff. The tension rises as the man of legend lead the group through the gate of the rare «Corridor Crystal», they trespass into to the boss room with 32 players and awaited the gate to close behind. Within the isolated room, the battle commences against the skeletal centipede who can kill a player with one strike; «The Skullreaper».

Chapter 22
The battle continued for over an hour until the fall of «The Skullreaper»; the deadliest foe so far who easily eliminated 14 players. Everyone grief about whether it was possible to complete this game, as the fatalities and difficulties will certainly rises in coming battles. Suddenly thanks to Kirito intuition, the true identity of the immortal Heathcliff was discovered. Before leaving after immobilising everyone with the authority of the system administrator, Heathcliff decided to challenge Kirito with a one-on-one duel to the death for everyone’s freedom, which Kirito boldly accepted.

The battle rages on with the unyielding actions of Kirito and Heathcliff; both accelerating their skills to an intense manner; and continues until the mistake of trusting the skill guided by the system. As the match draw near to a close, an impossible event occurs; the last attack that would have ended Kirito’s life was redirected onto the supposed immobilised Asuna who shielded him. The attack depleted the last of her remaining health, and as the one truth imagined in this world, she perished from within Kirito’s arm.

Chapter 23
With the loss of Asuna, Kirito lost his state of mind and fight with no longer caring for his life. After Heathcliff pierce Kirito with his blade and ended his life, the dying Kirito perform his last act and kill Heathcliff from point blank. The battle resulted with deaths of the two dualists; with each other sword penetrating the torso of the other; ending with the shatter of their bodies, and the cries of the friends. The infamous last boss was eliminated and thus the game was cleared.

Chapter 24
Kirito finds himself staring at the steel tower in another world with alongside Asuna; watching as the game executes the Final Phase; the destruction of Aincrad. They both were soon interrupted by the presence of Kayaba Akihiko; the man who started it all. After explaining his motive for the death game, he left the two lovers: Kirigaya Kazuto and Yuuki Asuna for the departed world.

Chapter 25
Kirito was finally freed from the game. After finding himself in the hospital, he left his bed with the one goal set in his life: having Asuna back at his arms.