The game was beautiful, and colorful, everything that Richard could have ever wanted in a game like this, yet he lacked energy to actually enjoy his time in the game. [i]Why am I even playing this? I don't have time for it. I have a lot of studying I could be doing right now, yet I'm playing this.[/i] He then stared off further into the distance at what seemed like hundreds of miles of beautiful plains, trees, and creatures. [i] Is it because Maria would have wanted me too? What am I saying that is insane, but it does sound like something she would want...[/i] The cool breeze from the wind flew by, and soothed Richards thoughts, and he calmly whispered to himself "Well I guess it is about time to prepare for her funeral." It was then that his eyes widened at the sound of a loud bell ringing, and before he knew it he was in the first level town center. [i] Is this some kind of event[/i], but before he could continue on the thought a large hooded figured appeared before him, and the other players.

[quote=Akihiko Kayaba]"Attention players. I welcome you to my world. My name is Akihiko Kayaba, and as of this moment, i am in control of this world. I'm sure most of you have already noticed an item missing from your main menus; the log out button. Let me assure you, this is not a defect of the game. I repeat, this is not a defect. This is how Sword Art Online was designed to be. You cannot log yourselves out of S.A.O and no one from the outside will be able to shut down or remove the nerve gear from your head. If anyone attempts to do so, a transmitter inside the nerve gear will discharge a microwave signal into your skull, destroying your brain and ending your life. Despite my warning, the family and friends of some of the players have attempted removing the nerve gear. An unfortunate decision to to say the least. As a result, the game now has 213 less players than when it began. They've been deleted both from Aincrad and the real world."[/quote]

Richards eyes widened, and immediately checked his menu screen only to notice that what he had said was the truth. [i]I'm going to miss her funeral, and even worse I might have one...[/i] His face was expressionless as the fear built up inside of his body. [i] He has to be joking[/i] Richard thought to himself in an attempt to reassure his thoughts.

[quote=Akihiko Kayaba]"It is important you remember the following: There is no longer any way to revive someone within the game. If your HP drops to zero, your avatar will be deleted from the system, forever. And the nerve gear will simultaneously destroy your brain. There is only one way for a player to escape; you must clear the game. Right now, you are gathered here on floor one, the lowest level of Aincrad. If you can get thru the dungeon and defeat the boss, you may advance to the next floor. Defeat the boss on floor 100 and you will clear the game. Last but not least, I've placed a little present in the item storage of every player. Please, have a look."[/quote]

Richard took a look at his inventory, and only to notice a mirror, and decided to select it. He looked at the object extremely confused, but when he decided to look into the object all of the sudden his body was surrounded in a blue like aura. The aura didn't last long, but suddenly he felt different, and suddenly he looked back into the mirror to notice his character's appearance had changed. In fact it looked exactly like him, everything down to his height, build, and facial features where all there, and extremely accurate. [i] How can this be [/i] but he soon realized that it was using information based on what the Nerve Gear had gathered in order for it to work. Eventually after the sudden panic Richard decided that the mirror probably served its purpose, and placed it back into his inventory just in time for Akihiko Kayaba to continue talking.

[quote=Akihiko Kayaba]Right now, you're all probably wondering why. Why would Akihiko Kayaba, developer of Sword Art Online and Nerve Gear do this? Ultimately, my goal was a simple one. The reason I created Sword Art Online was to control the fate of a world of my design. As you can see, i have achieved my goal. This marks the end of the tutorial, and the official launch of Sword Art Online. Players, I wish you the best of luck."[/quote]

[i] This can't be happening [/i] Richard thought to himself, and started to grind his teeth in anger. [It all has to be a big ruse, or an event[/i], but deep down he knew that this wasn't something to joke about. This world was the perfect death trap for Akihiko Kayaba to play his little game, and he was fully aware of it too.