2 1:

     (Stage one: The Two Colored Eyed Boy, The Commander, The Clingy Healer, and The Rōnin)

The sound of swords clanking against each other's metal. It was a familiar sound, a sound that soothes my mind. Like how a mother would sing a lullaby to their child. The adrenaline rushing in your body as you swing the sword to either strike or defend yourself against your opponent. There, I was a swordsman. I wielded a dark blue long blade, protected by the brown scabbard it was resting in.

The warm sun heating my back, as I jumped into the air. I attempt to make it. I unsheathe my sword, glowing in light blue. I swung the blade backwards, behind my head and over. With both hands clutched onto the hilt, I pierce and slash sideways. The sword was not visible while you slash, the only traces of it were the lights of purples and blues.

I continued to cut and slash in a swift manner. Finally, with my dominant hand, I held my sword, concentrating all my power on this. To perfect my sword skill.

"PHOENIX SLASH!" I yelled. The sound of the blue sword squealing, but in a pleasing way. The aura surrounding my weapon turned from blue to brilliant orange, the blade now looked like the hearth of the flame. A fire had erupted out of my sword.

I thrust my sword toward the target, now, the blade is inside, it burned. With my blade inside, I took advantage of my strength proficiency and cut through.

The great old walnut tree now had met its demise. It fell greatly on the ground, creating a loud BOOM onto the grassy field. The now fallen tree illuminated blue, and slowly, brighter, until a blinding light showered and out of it, fragments like triangles and squares burst. I check my inventory to see if the item I searched for now three whole hours dropped.

I opened my menu to see. The recent drop can be seen as soon as you open your inventory in the menu. There it was, my weary search was over.

Walnut tree sap...and some nuts. I scratched my head for second trying to recall what I was supposed to do afterwards. As the thought came back, I scrolled aimlessly through my stuff. A teleport crystal. I was in the middle of an abandoned nut plantation in floor 26. I could've gone to some marketplace to buy the item but a logical person would already have done that. The sap was a rare item only found when chopping down walnut trees. And it felt like cheating my client if I just bought it somewhere. The drop rate of the sap was lower, being an A-class item used to craft food or resources in fights.

I could've also asked my merchant friend Shylock if he could sell me the sap too. But he's a cunning one. I never bought anything from him, knowing he would scam anyone, even his friends. Thinking about it, I'm not sure if we were even friends in the first place.

I tapped the holographic menu to produce my teleportation crystal. A blue cube like object that fit on the palm of your hand. I raised it up and shouted, "Teleport: Mare!"

I was swallowed by the white light and in the blink of an eye, the ranch of walnuts have materialized into a sea port like city. Crowded and lively, I blended into the crowd of walking avatars and went back home, to my guild.

"Hey, I'm back." I greeted as I shut the door behind me. The guild I was in, Dragon Fang, was a pretty minor guild. Compared to the big leagues like the Knights of the Blood, coincidentally located a floor below us. Our numbers were small too, considering we were all going to the same school. Only around a few hundred joined us. Other students wanted to either be independent, create their own guilds or join KoB.

The guild was housed in a decent sized pub. The warm light lit the place. Some Spanish acoustic guitar song was being played in the background and the distinct chatter of people from every corner was audible. When you enter, the right side had our board filled with requests from clients, adjacent to it is the bar where people can order food, drinks and even crystals when going on quests. On the left, a bulletin of events in SAO coming up, that place didn't have much being posted there. Beside the SAO event board, a staircase to rooms we use for records or place to usually rest and log out eventually.

"Raito! You're back already?" A familiar voice called out. I turned and I saw a girl about my age with sea green short hair, almost you could mistake her for a boy. But I would be hypocritical to judge, my hair looked like that in the real world, the cut I mean.

"Well, I took that job you said." I sighed, she didn't do jobs that much. I did since it was my way of practicing my sword skill without getting involved with the frontline floor-clearers. We still had those despite the game not having the real life death if you died here trope. But the whole point of the game was to reach the hundredth floor. Those were pro gamers who, in rumors, still think this game has life threatening consequences. Me and my friends died a couple of times and know it's untrue.

"So...have you mastered Phoenix Slash yet?" My companion asked as I showed to her the sap and gave it to her to send the client and get our pay. We worked in teams, and since we were freshmen and barely any do play, I was grouped with her along with merchant Shylock.

"Not really, I still stutter step when I jump up and start the skill." we were sitting by the bar. It was her turn to buy us supper. Eating sure wasn't putting food in your stomach when this is just all projections and eating in SAO, was just making your brain pretend you are being fed something but in reality, you aren't getting any nutrients. Hence another argument why the rumor isn't true.

We were served a plate of sandwiches and fries. My teammate ate the fries while I ate the sandwich. I stare out into the packed building with teams, laughing, roasting, and planning with each other what they would do the next time they log in or after their parents go to bed. I didn't like to play late night, since I had two siblings who tell me if I ever touched the gear and play late, they'd wrestle me to death. My brother looks like a bamboo stick but can sit on you to death. My sister, who was the eldest out of us, can pack a good punch and kick.

"There's this dungeon the KoB found recently check it." she produced a newspaper out of her satchel. I take it and read it.

Newly discovered Dungeon on 32nd Floor by SAO's Biggest Guild; Knights of the Blood.

As of September 11th 2042, 18:35, a new dungeon has been found by the the major guild, Knights of the Blood. Otherwise known as KoB. The dungeon's size and inhabiting monsters are still unknown. Leader of the KoB guild, Rogue624 says, "By tomorrow, KoB and voluntary recruits shall join us and gathering info on the dungeon."

The guild is now accepting temporary recruits. All guilds and public establishments have flyers for more information. Each player also has forms of they wish to recruit.

I see the form on my inventory labeled, KoB recruit form. I check the time it was eight in the evening, almost time for dinner. I got out of my seat and was about to walk away. My green haired friend stopped me as I was about to go up the staircase to the inn rooms.

"Same time, same place?" She asked as turned to her, I nod silently and proceed to climb up the stairs.

The sound of the guitar and chatter was silently starting to cease as I went further into one of the inn quarters. The mechanic in SAO is that if you wish to log in back in the guild, it would be safe to log in inside the inns provided. If you had a home, it could also be convenient as you would return to your home if you logged in once again. Any place, as long as it's a safe zone, can a player log out. So if a party were in a forest or dungeon, there are certain areas they could but it is not your best bet since the game puts you back to the entrance of the forest or dungeon.

I enter an inn quarter and sat in the bed, thinking thoroughly about tomorrow. Sure, I'd be here but do I really want to miss an opportunity? My thoughts have led me to stare at my menu for almost fifteen minutes. The KoB recruit form was just waiting to be filled up. I open the form and filled in my username and level.

Username: Raito

Level:30

I hit send with a heavy heart. I quickly find my log out button and wake up back home. On my bed, not in the world of Aincrad.