Link Start!!!

One month passed and the SAO closed beta ended. Lelouch returned to the dimensional ark with Aisha to report the information they gathered about this world to Noah while the Werewolf squad remained in that world to prepare everything that Noah and the others would need if they wanted to come to this world.

....

Once they arrived at the dimensional ark, they were greeted by Noah and the others. The atmosphere inside the ark was filled with curiosity.

"Lelouch, Aisha," Noah began in a serious tone, "what did you find in that world? We are all very curious."

Lelouch nodded, tidying up the notes he had made during his time in SAO.

"That world is another Earth in the year 2022. In that world, there is a newly developed Virtual Reality technology, when I entered that world it happened to coincide with the closed Beta of Sword Art Online, the first full dive Virtual Reality game. Although at first it seemed like any other RPG, there was something much deeper behind it.

When I first entered the game, everything felt normal. However, after a while, I started to feel strange, especially in my interactions with NPCs and monsters."

"SAO?" Noah asked, looking interested. He certainly knew SAO, in his past life, he had once wondered if he could also experience a full dive Virtual Reality like SAO.

"Although their behavior wasn't strange at first, their subsequent behavior became more natural and realistic. For example, there were NPCs who looked anxious when I walked around their village, as if they were truly afraid of the monsters roaming around."

Noah frowned, listening carefully. He felt that the SAO that Lelouch was talking about might have been very different from the SAO he remembered, so he wanted to confirm one thing—"Aside from that, is there anything else? What about the concept of the game?"

"In addition to the strange NPCs, there are also various races and a complex magic system in this game. Players can choose characters from various backgrounds, and each race has its own strengths and weaknesses. I found that the magic system in this game is also very detailed. There are many types of magic that can be explored, and I see some players who have started to develop unique magic techniques."

The more Noah listened to information from Lelouch, the more he was convinced that there must be interference from people from another world in that world. Because even if there were some differences between the anime and reality, it would not be to the extent that even magic and various races that originated from the concept of Alfheim Online would be included in SAO which was basically a world focused on swords.

Although he did not know who the person who intervened was and how strong that person was, whether he was an individual or a group, but Noah had to be careful when entering that world.

Since that world attracted the attention of unknown entities from another world, then there must be something special about that world. Noah was determined to investigate this, there was no way to let go of the opportunity that was before his eyes.

But to be careful, Noah decided to explore that world alone accompanied by a squad of werewolves who had been waiting in that world.

.....

The bright blue sky and the blazing sun seemed to depict the spirit and enthusiasm of the people towards the news of the public beta release of Sword Art Online. Unlike in the anime that Noah knew where it was limited to 10,000 players, SAO currently limits the number of players to 100,000 people from all over the world.

This first Full Dive game has attracted the interest of not only teenagers, but also adults and government agencies from various countries, especially Japan as the birthplace of the game. Not knowing what the officials were looking for so that those who were usually not interested in games that seemed to be otaku culture to pay attention.

Noah moved through the crowd, feeling the vibrations of enthusiasm in the air. The sound of laughter, conversation, and hope filled every corner. The public seemed impatiently waiting for the moment when they could dive into a new world that promised an experience like never before. They were talking about the same thing: namely Sword Art Online. From their conversation, he knew that the NerveGear sale would open this afternoon, but because Lelouch already had a NerveGear, Noah didn't need to buy a new one.

He continued walking, noticing the various advertisements broadcasting Sword Art Online. On the side of the road, he saw a group of people gathered in front of a stall selling NerveGears. They were all talking excitedly, imagining what it would be like to dive into a world filled with magic and adventure. "Do you think we can get a NerveGear?" one of the young men asked his friend.

"I don't know, but I already asked my dad to buy one! I can't wait to experience Sword Art Online!" his friend replied with a beaming face.

The next day, the atmosphere outside his house was lively. News of the SAO public beta launch was a hot topic everywhere. Noah set up his NerveGear, making sure everything was working properly before putting it on his head and lying down.

"Link start"xn

At the same time as Noah, a hundred thousand other SAO players entered the game.

In an instant, the world around him disappeared, and he felt the sensation of being plunged into a new reality. When his vision opened again, he found himself in a white space where he filled in his identity and race. Noah did not change his appearance and used his original appearance that was scanned by the NerveGear. He used the name Vermilion and chose the human race.

After filling in his identity and choosing his race, Noah was immediately teleported to a very different world. Clear skies, vast green fields, and majestic buildings towering in the distance.

"This is it, SAO," Noah said in awe. For him, this was a unique experience even though he had visited another world. He stepped forward, feeling every detail of this world. The sound of the wind blowing, the smell of fresh grass, which was very strange because Aincard was a Virtual world, there should not be the smell of fresh grass here.

Although it was strange, he decided to ignore it for now and enjoy the game because the game had just started, if the person behind the scenes wanted to do something, it would be impossible to do it now.

Not only Noah was amazed by how realistic Aincard was, but also all the players who entered this game.

....

Floor 1 • Starting city • West Region

Two young men from the Dark Elf race were facing a large boar. One of the young Dark Elf men had a tall body with short black hair and dark eyes. He stood aside while giving instructions to his partner on how to fight.

The last Dark Elf was a man with a well-proportioned body and reddish brown hair. He faced the boar seriously while listening to his partner's instructions.

"Klein, don't rush into attacking, pay attention to the boar's movements!" The black-haired Dark Elf shouted.

"I know, but this boar's movements are too fast, Kirito!" Klein shouted as he rolled to avoid the boar's attack.

That's right, they were Kirito and Klein who came to the grassland in the western part of the starting city to teach Klein how to fight. Although currently SAO does not have the help of automatic skills, but because Kirito has a strong kendo foundation, he can teach Klein who is a newcomer how to fight.

.... Swosh ...

After repeatedly failing and being attacked by the boar, Klein finally managed to kill the boar.

"Sigh ... it's so tiring, why isn't there a battle support system ..." Klein complained as he sat on the ground.

"But that's what makes SAO more challenging and fun because we are free to create our own fighting style." Kirito said as he sat beside Klein.

They continued to train until dusk.

"I'm hungry... I think I'll go out first," Klein said while holding his stomach.

"Well, eating the food here doesn't make you full, but it only makes you think that you're not hungry" Kirito said wisely.

"Eh?.. there's no button to log out." when Klein was about to log out, he found that there was no log out button on the menu bar.

"Take a good look" Kirito reminded Klein.

"It's nowhere" Klein said after checking repeatedly and was sure that there was indeed no log out button.

"It's under the main menu..." Kirito said as he approached Klein and opened his menu bar.

But Kirito's words stopped when he also didn't see the log out button. An uneasy feeling immediately filled Kirito's heart.