Sword Art Online (2-in-1)

Besides *Cells at Work*, Claire's manga Your Lie in April also caught the attention of many readers. As Ren's disciple, Claire received special promotion from him before the new issue's release. Fans and industry insiders were eager to see the quality of work Ren's training had produced.

The debut of *Your Lie in April* left many surprised. It wasn't so much the plot, as it was still early days and Claire's manga was a weekly publication. The first chapter introduced Kousei, a 14-year-old boy who met a beautiful violinist named Kaori. Kaori mistook Kousei for a creep taking photos, leaving a bad first impression. However, through their mutual friend Tsubaki, they became friends. The chapter also briefly touched on Kousei's background, leaving readers curious.

While the story was still unfolding, Claire's art style captivated many. Even seasoned readers could recognize her exceptional skills.

"The level of artistry and composition here is amazing," one reader commented. "If I didn't know better, I'd say Claire is a pillar of a major manga studio."

"But isn't she a newbie?" another reader asked.

"Is manga really something that can be taught so quickly?"

"Maybe Ren had a hand in creating it?"

This kind of speculation, while flattering, also raised some eyebrows in the industry. If Ren not only excelled himself but could also train others to this level, it was a little daunting.

Fans, on the other hand, were thrilled. They eagerly anticipated more great works coming from Ren's studio.

The plot, especially Kousei's flashbacks, sparked discussions among readers. They saw how Kousei's mother was determined to make him a world-class pianist, pushing him relentlessly with strict lessons and punishments. Some readers found this reminiscent of their own childhood experiences.

"Yeah, my mom pushed me into ballet when I was young. The splits used to make me cry. Sometimes I didn't want to practice, and my mom would get really angry..."

"Some parents just project their unfulfilled dreams onto their kids, which is so unfair!"

"I kind of understand my parents now that I'm older. I don't agree with how they pushed me, but I see where they were coming from."

"Same here..."

...

In a certain neighborhood, Daniel sighed deeply. He remembered his own mother pushing him to learn painting, sometimes even scolding or hitting him to make him practice. In the end, his mother gave in to his tears and let him quit. Daniel thought wistfully, "If I'd continued, maybe I could've been an artist by now, given my natural talent for art."

"This *Your Lie in April* seems worth following," Daniel mused. The first chapter had limited plot development, but he guessed that after Kousei's mother's death, he stopped playing the piano. Kaori, who seemed to love music, would likely inspire Kousei to play again. The typical love triangle involving childhood friends and a new romantic interest seemed inevitable.

Although a bit clichéd, Daniel appreciated the quality of the artwork and framing, especially the scene of Kaori playing music in the park. The side profile of the girl playing her instrument was deeply captivating.

"Now, for the last one!" After reading *Cells at Work* and *Your Lie in April*, Daniel turned to the final new release. He saved this one for last because it was the cover story for this issue, with the intriguing tagline: "This may be a game, but it's not to be taken lightly."

The phrase made him think of TV shows where the protagonist is kidnapped by a maniac and forced to play deadly games, often ending in horrific ways. With these thoughts, Daniel began reading.

To his surprise, the story wasn't about horror games but rather a futuristic concept. In the future, humanity had developed the next-generation console "NERvGear," achieving full virtual reality.

"A virtual MMORPG?" Daniel thought, his interest piqued. During his school days, he often read web novels like *Thief's Path* and *Grand Larceny*, which were centered around virtual MMORPGs.

"Maybe it's about professional gaming, like *The King's Avatar*?" he speculated, thinking that virtual reality battles would be visually spectacular.

However, Daniel soon realized he was wrong. Just as the protagonist and other players were enjoying the virtual world, the game's creator, Kayaba Akihiko, announced that the game had reverted to its original version: players could not log out until they cleared the 100th floor of the game's dungeon. Moreover, death in the game would result in real-world death.

At this point, Daniel understood the gravity of the cover's tagline, "This may be a game, but it's not to be taken lightly." The concept sent chills down his spine, making him ponder the terrifying implications if such technology existed and was hijacked by malicious actors.

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The death game in the manga is truly deadly. Within a month of its start, at least two thousand players had died. This number might not seem large, but considering the limited number of people who entered the game, it's significant. Even those who participated in the beta test and had experience in solo dungeon challenges found themselves struggling with the game's heightened difficulty.

The unique setup, where players can't log out and dying in the game means real-life death, sparked intense discussion among fans online.

"That guy named Kibaou is really annoying," one commenter noted.

"Yeah, and he has such a cringy name," another added.

"He even demanded that beta testers hand over their items. Ridiculous."

"Exactly. The beta testers even released a small guide. What, does he expect them to babysit everyone?"

"Some people just can't stand others having an advantage, even in real life," someone chimed in.

"I bet this Kibaou guy is going to clash with the main character, since he was also a beta tester."

As expected, the story unfolded as the readers guessed. After Diavel discovered the first-floor boss's location and called for a boss strategy meeting, Kirito met Asuna and teamed up with her. However, during the battle, the boss's attack pattern changed from the beta version, and Diavel was killed, leaving Kirito to deliver the final blow and claim the rare item.

Kibaou, the same person who had earlier voiced his complaints at the meeting, accused Kirito of letting Diavel die. Kirito, who had received the rare item, became the target of the group's suspicion and resentment.

Readers felt the frustration and injustice Kirito experienced, especially towards Kibaou. In

the original story, Kirito tries to deflect the group's animosity by dramatically declaring himself a "beater," a combination of "beta tester" and "cheater." However, in this version, Ren took it a step further.

Kirito donned the rare armor dropped by the boss, and without warning, swiftly moved in front of Kibaou. He began striking Kibaou repeatedly, catching everyone off guard. Kibaou, unable to defend himself against Kirito's superior gear and skills, was left with only a sliver of health. Other players, initially rushing to help Kibaou, quickly retreated after seeing Kirito's aggressive stance and realizing the real risk of death in this game.

Kirito, after thoroughly thrashing Kibaou, coolly ascended the staircase to the second floor, leaving a stunned and silent crowd behind. He had not only physically beaten Kibaou but also effectively silenced the others who might have challenged him.

"That was amazing!" fans reacted online. "He put Kibaou in his place!"

"Finally, someone dealt with that guy!"

"Why didn't Kirito just kill Kibaou, though?" one fan questioned.

"Probably because, even though it's a death game, Kirito knows there's a line. Killing would have consequences once they escape the game."

"True. He's a hero, not a murderer."

This intense scene solidified Kirito's status as both a lone wolf and a protector of other beta testers, willing to shoulder their hatred to keep them safe. Fans praised this unexpected twist, highlighting Kirito's cunning and strength.

Meanwhile, Claire, Ren's student, was basking in the positive feedback for her own work, "Your Lie in April." She was deeply grateful to Ren for his guidance, knowing that her success was largely due to his support and teaching. She recalled her hesitation about pursuing a career in manga, worried about the intense competition and high standards. However, Ren's mentorship had been invaluable, not only improving her skills but also boosting her confidence.

Claire had even brought some snacks and toys for Ren's daughter, Yueyue, knowing how Ren liked to interact with her. She admired Ren's playful relationship with his daughter, unaware of Yueyue's occasional frustrations with her father's antics.

Ren, on the other hand, was content and excited about the evening ahead, where he hoped to finally enjoy some "nutritional supplements" as he humorously put it. He chuckled at the thought of how his wife, Jada, might feel about his cheeky plan. If only he could say, "Surprised? I'm cheating," without causing an uproar.

With the successful release of the new manga and the positive reception from both the industry and fans, Ren felt confident and pleased. He looked forward to seeing how his latest works, including the intense "Sword Art Online" story, would continue to captivate readers.

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