[center][b]Nov 29, 2022
Floor 1-Tolbana(Second largest city in Floor 1)
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Almost one month had passed since Sword Art Online started, at the same time the lives of every player as they knew it died with the launch of SAO. The creator of the game and the NerveGear, Kayaba Akihiko, trapped everyone logged in the game at launch inside. During this time, almost 2,000 people had died, and the First Floor had yet to be cleared. Hope seemed bleak and many, not wanting to risk their lives, tried to make a life in the Town of Beginnings. 

Nick was one of the few willing to leave the safety of the starting town, wanting to help end this nightmare. He had made a small name for himself as one of the better smiths and repairman that ventured out into the world of Aincrad. Knowing not every was lucky or skilled enough to get good drops, he took it upon himself to equipment and repair the people willing to risk their lives. There was talk of a meeting to be had in a few days, in hopes that someone had found the Floor Boss and they could move closer to ending this game. The meeting will not be for a few days, so Nick had time to prepare. 

[center][b]Dec 1, 2022
Floor 1-Tolbana, day before meeting.
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"Is there only thing else you need sir?" A young, bearded male asked Nick. "No, these will do just fine." Nick bowed to the young smith and exited his small store. Acquiring his new smithing tools, Nick headed for the bank in town, storing his new tools for use later. Not many players had made it to this town in the first month in SAO. Only the truly determined and skilled left to starting city, leaving the city of Tolbana a mostly NPC filled town. The bank and inn were the only two real places to meet another player. Nick spent much of his time at the inn, offering his services to most anyone. But today he would not be at the inn, enjoying to the bards songs or drinking a fine mug of ale. No, today was a farm day, a day needed to gather materials. He would be joining his friend and heading into the Labyrinth, the place where many think the Floor Boss is, but no one has made it farther than the 10th floor. This trip today would only go a few floors deep, trying to get a few rare drops that can only be found in the Labyrinth. 

The message indicator popped up on Nick's HUD. [i]Must be time.[/i] Using his right hand, Nick swiped the air, opening up the menu. The message was from his friend Saul, the only other American he knew in Japan. [b]"Hey Nick, meet at the city gate."[/b] Checking to make sure he had all his gear, he headed for the city gate, hoping nothing went wrong. 

Saul was a tall, slender teen with shaggy brown and a patchy beard. The kid was 17,never before used a NerveGear, and wished he had never put it on. But Nick pushed him into it, and since being trapped here he had taken it upon himself to make sure Saul did not die. "Hey, there you are. Come on, come on, let us go. I got a good feeling we are gonna get that drop we need today," Saul spoke quickly, using his hands to express his words ever more. "Calm down spaz, we are going." Nick patted Saul on the back, using a little extra force to push Saul forward. "Ahh, what was that for?" Saul cried out. "That did not hurt, you know we don't feel anything." They both laughed, "Oh yeah. I keep forgetting."