Preamble

'The grime-encrusted alleyways were dark, and, obviously, filthy.'

'But I'd lap up mud water to escape these… human scum.'

'Why do they do this to me? I haven't done anything to them!'

Running through the streets, dodging into alleys when he could, getting splashed with a filthy grime he didn't want to know the origins of, Luo Ming wondered one thing: why?

"Little Brother Ming, why are you running from us?" asked one of the boys sprinting after him. "We simply want to know what's inside that precious box you seem so intent on keeping from us," he ended with a mischievous grin.

Luo Ming didn't answer, and kept running. He kept wondering: why? It would be a futile question to consider. It would be like pleading, "Why are all these black guys in the hood always getting shot? Why can't they learn to behave like civilized people?" His solid gray shirt and cargo shorts were drenched in sweat, but his feet continued pounding against the concrete.

Glancing at the box under his arm, his fearful eyes hardened. And he kept running.

Running, running, running.

'I was going to become a pro gamer, become famous and rich and earn my family more money with this, so why has the world chosen to torment me?! I haven't done anything wrong!'

As Luo Ming turned the corner, he could see his home in the distance - his sanctuary, his escape. But just as he thought he was safe, a boy - muscular for his age, with black hair and wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt - stopped him. Not with words, but with a punch to the gut.

"Little Brother Ming," the boy sneered, "what is inside that box? Is it so precious that you would deny your friends from its contents? Tsk tsk, such selfishness."

Luo Ming was barely able to catch his breath as the other boys caught up to him. "Brother Tian, you caught the rat?" one of them said, patting Tian on the back. "It's only natural that a hunter can herd their prey, after all."

Tian grinned wickedly as he pried the box from Luo Ming's hands. "Well, we have to find out, don't we?" he said, sitting on the smaller boy's back and opening the box. Inside was a gray helmet with a visor on the front - a NerveGear. "How interesting," Tian said with a twisted smile.

"Wait! Please Brother Tian, my mother spent our monthly savings to buy that for me!" Luo Ming squirmed to no avail, and the sick satisfaction only grew in Tiantang Bing's eyes.

The NerveGear sat unmoving in the predator's hands, and the prey's pupils shrank.

"You can all go home for now," Tian motioned to the others, who were watching the events play out. "I need to have a talk with our Little Brother. Alone."

"Come on everyone, let's leave Brother Tian."

As the crowd dispersed, Luo Ming gave up.

"Alright then Little Brother," said Tian, while Luo Ming just stared at the filthy street below him. "I'll need to 'borrow' this, I hope you don't mind? Thank you."

Getting up from his perch, Tian began walking away, with a small smile on his face.

"I… hate this place. I hate this very country and its people. I hate this world. It's infested with people like you." Luo Ming, letting his rage take hold, didn't realize he was simply giving another excuse for a beating.

"I should move to Japan. At least they make good anime and manga. Much better than what's written over here. The people are probably much nicer than China's."

"You hate our great harmonious society? Why would you ever say such a thing? I am truly hurt by your words," said Tian, with that small smile on his face transforming into a grin. "I even take care of you after school, so ungrateful. Xi is a father to all of us, he has brought us up with such care, how dare you show such ingratitude."

Walking back towards Luo Ming, grabbing a rotten apple off the ground, Tian squashed it against the boy's face. "This country gave birth to me, so it, and everyone in it, is my family by association. Are you insulting my family, Little Brother?"

Luo Ming stayed silent, letting the apple's remains hide his expression.

"You insult my country - my family - and side with the Japanese?"

Slapping the boy's face, smearing the apple's contents even further, Tiantang Bing dropped the beaten Luo Ming rotting in the streets.

"You should go home, Luo Ming. I don't want my friend catching a cold. Make sure you clean yourself up."

"Oh, wait," he turned back before leaving. "I should leave you with a present. You got me this NerveGear after all."

Kneeing Luo Ming in the face, cartilage cracked as his nose broke.

"Watch your words about the Japanese next time, Luo Ming. If I wasn't so kind and if you were facing a crueler man, you'd get much worse. You fool, how dare you insult me and my country. It is as foolish as standing up to a tank."

Looking down at his shorts, Tian saw that the rotten apple had dirtied his leg when he kneed Luo Ming.

"You even dirtied my clothing, Luo Ming? Are you so spiteful as to repay a gift with an insult?"

Grabbing yet another rotten apple, he squished it all over Luo Ming's back, and left.

"See you tomorrow, my friend!"

If one looked closely at Luo Ming's eyes, they'd see pure despair.

"Dammit…"

Trying his best to get the apple gunk off his face, all he ended up doing was getting it on his clothes.

POV Switch - 1st (MC)

That brat truly couldn't keep his mouth shut, but it is better than having a stoic punching bag.

Lucky for me, all those rotten apples seem to have been dumped in that alleyway.

Plenty of ammunition just for dealing with Luo Ming, though I didn't need to use much of it.

Walking through the streets, taking shortcuts where I could, I examined the thing I now had in my possession.

"NerveGear… last I heard about this, it's the 'next generation of video games'. It's also Japanese made, and it will naturally attract the hardcore 'gamers.' Luo Ming got it, after all."

His family isn't poor and isn't rich either, but my family is simply wealthier, so even if I got in trouble for doing this, I can maneouver my way out easily enough.

I beat up Luo Ming for a few reasons. One; he is a quiet punching bag, and I am bored a lot of the time. Two; I can steal stuff from him relatively easily, since he's very cowardly and subservient. Three; he recommended I watch some anime.

It is not out of negative intentions that I beat him. I beat him to educate him on his wrongdoings and to make him feel included, after all, everyone shuns the poor boy. I beat him up to make him feel that he matters.

There is no reason for me to stop this, as I have good intentions.

Luo Ming is too cowardly to report this to anyone, a quiet punching bag, and gets little gifts for me sometimes.

Like this NerveGear.

His family must have some miraculous luck to get one of these. It was reported that only two hundred thousand were produced for the beta test, and at most there could be no more than a few million - if we count pirated, probably broken, versions with names like 'NerveGair' - in the entire world, with thirty percent being concentrated in its homeland: Japan.

The highest estimate I saw was fifty million, but that was probably a typo. Why would anyone need to produce so many initial copies of a practically experimental gaming device? The exact number is difficult to determine, except that it's fairly common in Japan, but across the rest of the world the authentic NerveGear is rare and selectively distributed. And even in Japan, many owners won't get around to using it, because they are too busy watching pornographic cartoons.

Ah yes, Japan. Luo Ming has some sort of love for that country, for whatever reasons he has. The land which is filled with overworked degenerate slaves that will do everything they are told without not even a word of protest, to the point that they forget themselves and their former culture due to western propaganda. The great country that is decaying from the inside due to birthing no children, and any children they do give birth to become degenerates and otakus.

But he is not Heaven's Favored Child for managing to get one of these, since it got stolen from him after all.

Does that make me Heaven's Favored Child, since I'm the one who ended up getting it?

My name "Tiantang" means "Heaven" as well.

Something to think about, I suppose.

"The NerveGear psychotronics is a device that sends electrical signals into the brain via the form of electromagnetic fields at the bandwidth of over the range found in microwave radiation levels. Its purpose is to trigger certain patterns of chemo-electrical impulses that mimics into an alternate virtual reality. The NerveGear comes preinstalled with one game: Sword Art Online."

Reading the manual found inside the box, I was casually interested.

A virtual world that I am essentially transported to? And I can use powers in the form of video games; exacting my hegemony over others?

What kind of fool would pass up this chance?

Arriving at my front doorstep, I got out my personal keys and went inside.

My parents are usually at work around this time, so there's no need to announce my presence.

Walking into my room, closing the door behind me, and treading on the ragged carpet leading to my desk, I continued reading from the manual.

"The beta tests for Sword Art Online finished on August 31st, 2022. The game opens to the public on November 6th."

Lucky me, Luo Ming managed to get a NerveGear on the day the only game for the NerveGear so far becomes public.

Throwing the manual on my desk, I plugged in the cord for the NerveGear, and placed it on my head.

Laying down on my bed, I pressed the switch that the manual said would turn this thing on.

"WELCOME TO SWORD ART ONLINE."

After being graced with those words, nothing happened.

"...Did Luo Ming buy a defective NerveGear?"

As I was about to take the glorified junk off my head, I was greeted with an epilectic attack.

Flashing colors swam towards me, until I was dropped into a pure white space, a small floating platform of sorts.

Looking around, it seemed I was underground, but I was unable to see the bottom of this small shaft.

The platform was circular, and had a handle which I tried to grab onto. The handle was made of some sort of metal, but it was far too hot to touch.

"What… the fuck… just happened?"

"I don't know," came a voice.

It was a bit of a funny answer, but I didn't think it was all that important.

More importantly, I looked towards the source of the voice and saw a character customisation screen.

My eyes began to adjust to the dim light, and I realized I was in a sort of abandoned subway station. The floor, walls, and ceiling were all metal, and the floor seemed to be made of some kind of black glass. A few puddles were on the floor, and some sort of… steam?

Looking down at my body… body? I had no body.

I suppose that's fairly obvious though, since this thing has no way to know how my real body looks.

There was no guidance for what I was supposed to do, but it was unneeded.

Even I, someone who doesn't play video games, knows what's going on here: character customization and creation.

While I have no issues with my appearance in real life, why wouldn't I change it up?

And what kind of idiot would put their actual appearance and basically tell everyone who they are? If you self-dox like that, you deserve to be swatted and stalked.

Examining the screen, I saw that it starts with customizing the body itself.

Giving myself a muscular physique, I make my skin tone similar to my actual body; pale skin, nearly jade-like. I am a jade beauty!

Moving onto the head, I gave myself penetrating black eyes, black hair which was smooth like silk reaching my shoulders, and sword-like eyebrows.

I looked a bit like an edgy siberian husky, but I didn't let it bother me.

Going onto my weapon choices. A sword looked enticing, but everyone and their mother would choose it. In fact, a basic one was given to all players by default, though it would only be useful for very weak enemies.

A spear is just what I need; it has range and is easy enough to use.

Choosing the color black for whatever gear it gives me, I hope that it's not too ugly.

Pleased with what I had created so far, I pressed the button saying "Done".

"Would the name 'Young Master' be fitting?" I pondered while still examining my new body.

It is the name that every Chinaman is born with, and the reason is, because it's difficult to tell them apart. So they all have the same name, because otherwise nobody would remember each one's name.

But that would be a dull name.

Receiving a sudden enlightenment on what to choose, I entered my username with a grin on my face.

Reaching the end of the character creation process, I clicked "End."

"WE WISH YOU LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY, PLAYER HEGEMANIAC."

Spawning into a hub of players, it seemed that I was late to join this game.

Everyone already seemed to be acclimated to what was going on, all of them going about their own business with me being the only one recently spawned.

Not to mention how there weren't that many people in the starting area anyways.

The floor beneath my feet was simple stone slabs, with some weeds growing in between them. The slabs only extended to a certain distance before they stopped, and a grassy garden around the place appeared, surrounding it all.

The players were wearing fairly generic fantasy clothing; the same clothes I had on, though in varying colors.

Taking a look at myself, I saw the body that I had customized, however I had no choice over my clothing.

I was wearing black starting equipment, with leather boots accompanying it. I looked like some kind of weird goth swordsman.

"Oh well. I'll get clothing befitting my stature soon enough."

Checking the menu that popped up in front of me, I scrolled through my options.

"There's an inventory, slots for my equipment, et cetera et cetera…"

I have but one question.

Do these developers expect the players to use this User Interface in battle?

The screen isn't thought controlled so it's hard to navigate, there's no organization to the inventory so you'd be looking for minutes at least to find one item; a crippling weakness in a battle.

Enemies won't stand around waiting for me to find a weapon or item in the middle of a fight.

This is only what I've seen from a casual glance at the UI, what other problems will I encounter while playing this game?

…Already, this isn't looking to be fun.

I haven't played many video games at all until now and I can see these problems, and it's a safe assumption to say that the other players have played video games.

How were there no patches made during the beta test?

You're telling me that these beta testers played this game for months, and didn't once see the problems in this system?

As expected from a Japanese made game.

Defective.

I wandered through the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the town. The architecture was distinctly Japanese, with red-tiled roofs and stone lanterns lining the streets. The town was bustling with activity, as people went about their business and chatted with each other. I felt a pang of curiosity and wanted to learn more about this place, but I quickly shook it off. I didn't want to draw attention to myself, and I didn't want to make any Japanese friends. I was here to survive, and that was all that mattered.

As I walked, I noticed that the town was split into different districts, each with its own unique flavor. There was the market district, where merchants sold their wares and people haggled for the best deals. There was the residential district, where people lived and raised their families. And there was the castle district, where the ruling lord of the town lived and governed. I made a mental note of these districts and decided to avoid the castle district for now. I didn't want to run into any nosy guards or soldiers.

Eventually, I reached the outskirts of town, where the houses and shops gave way to fields and forests. I saw a sign that read "Katakura Forest" and decided to explore it. I didn't know what dangers lurked in the forest, but I was confident in my abilities. I already had a good enough sword to slice up whatever weak creatures were laid out in this newbie area, and I was curious to see what secrets the forest held.

I entered the forest and immediately felt a sense of calm wash over me. The sounds of the town faded away, replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind. I took a deep breath and began to explore, carefully making my way through the dense underbrush. I saw a few animals here and there, but they were mostly harmless and docile. I even spotted a few players, but they seemed to be more interested in collecting herbs and berries than engaging in combat.

As I walked deeper into the forest, I began to feel a sense of unease. I didn't know why, but something about the forest seemed off. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I kept my guard up and continued to explore, but as the trees grew deeper and the undergrowth darker, there was an even stronger sense that something was lurking in the shadows. I decided to turn back and head for town, since I wasn't ready for any serious combat yet.

I was nearly in town again when I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me. I spun around and drew my weapons, ready for whatever was coming my way. But instead of a monster or a player, I saw a small, scared-looking girl. She looked to be about ten years old, and she was clutching a teddy bear in her arms.

"Please, help me," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I'm lost, and I don't know how to get back home."

I laughed at her.

I don't want to spend more time in this game for today, making an account is good enough progress.

I have schoolwork to do and a life to live outside of the virtual one.

Scrolling down to the log out button, I press it and brace myself for those flashing colors to zoom around in my face again and for me to get sent back into the real world.

None of that happened.

"...You can't log out in this game?"

How could a company have such problems as soon as the game launches?!

Scrutinizing more of the UI, I found an option to contact a Gamemaster, however that didn't work either.

I'm not one of these losers who can spend all day in a video game, I have a life dammit!

Stop.

Calming myself down, I walk over to another player to see if they can log out.

Their name was "Azrael" or something like that, and they were wearing gray starting equipment.

However, before I even finished walking five steps, I was forcefully teleported to a plaza, and the sky turned blood red.

People began panicking after someone tried to walk out and is blocked by a barrier, and these sudden events left me with one thought.

I should've waited a few days before using that blasted Japanese technology.

Letting the no-lifes be my guinea pigs would've been worth some patience.

As the sky forms a being wearing dark red robes, I simply wait.

Stoicism is a good trait to have in this kind of situation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Kayaba Akihiko, the head programmer of SAO. Or my title unknown to this realm, The Fallen God."

The Fallen God?

It's confirmed, this man is delusional.

Insane.

"After being cast out from my own home, I implanted myself into the thing you call a 'computer programmer.' Since I cannot return to my own home, I brought my home to me by creating a world based off of it. Now that everything is finalized, it's time to truly bring an end to my plans here. Earth will become a copy of my world, with a touch of the things I liked about yours. I hope you have fun… in my own world and your home to be."

What?

Since his appearance itself was a shock, everyone was silent during his 'speech'.

It was barely even a speech with how short the schizo made it.

I heard that mentally retarded people and schizophrenics prefer to not interact with others and don't like large crowds though, so it's understandable.

Going through another drug trip on my way out of the game, I was dropped into my normal body at home.

This can't be simulated through the virtual world, the NerveGear has no information on my bedroom appearance, or even of my true body.

I doubt the technology is complex enough to fetch that information from my brain, it's made by a madman who believes he's a fallen god from another world.

At least, that's what I thought before an unimaginable pain assaulted every particle of my body.

Now, I had taken ster- um, beatings before. I was not weak by any standards.

But this felt like my body was being ripped apart, regenerated in the most painful way possible, and then destroyed and regenerated again, in a never ending cycle.

My flesh morphed, giving rise to a body more muscular than my own and my hair grew long enough for me to see it.

Dressed in the black starting equipment of Sword Art Online, I wandered to my mirror and saw the character I had created staring back at me.

…

I sincerely hope this is not just a virtual world.

What? I would have the chance to gain real power, doing whatever I want and enacting my dominion.

I didn't name myself "Hegemaniac" for no reason.

A weaker man may have whined over the possibility of people being killed, but that doesn't matt- I mean, people die every day, so the only life one should try to save is their own life.

I am obviously a kind and benevolent person who cares about the lives of others.

My own death is most important, and if I'm facing a bunch of gamers?

I doubt that a gamer will be able to beat me, which is why I'll watch out for any people like myself.

Any threats should and will be eliminated.

However, the temporary time to think in the safety of my own home didn't last for long, as I was teleported to a hub, seeing other players look manic and disoriented.

"MY FAMILY! I COULDN'T FIND THEM IN MY HOUSE! WHERE IS MY FAMILY!?"

Ah yes, a fascinating subject. 'My family.'

I don't "love" my family, I "like" my family.

They are closer to me than all others, but that's not saying much.

I'm a psychopath? Wrong. I am the very picture of benevolence.

As the other players also started panicking at the one man's proclamation, pandemonium ran rampant, stampedes crushing their boots against the ground while looking for a way out.

All the while I had one thought: hopefully, this is not a game.

Whatever, I'm alright as long as I'm alive.

(A/N: I obviously know that this isn't how things went down in canon, but it's a heavy, huge AU. When I say huge, I mean it. It's not even in a video game anymore lol. But I'll survive this change to canon. I'm alright as long as I'm alive.)