SAO - A New Matrix

-V-

Central Plaza, Town of the Beginnings, 1st Floor

"What's going on?" Asked a random player.

I looked to my sides, and players started filling the zone around me. Massive force teleports? Why? And why in the Central Plaza? Something bad must have happened.

"Why are we back here!?"

"What's wrong with the logout button?"

Logout button? When I was about to investigate my UI, someone nearby yelled. "Look!" A player with a red bandana on his forehead pointed up.

The skies painted themselves blood crimson, while hexagonal messages of Warning popped up in mass. Big letters of «System Announcement» stood out over all other messages. A slimy red liquid slipped between the crimson hexagons, merging to form a singular entity at the top of «Black Iron Palace». A giant hooded figure hovered above all the players in the plaza.

"A Game Master?"

"Why does it have no face?"

Ok, this is not the appropriate way to make announcements at all. If this is some 'Show' to surprise the players, it is poorly planned and nonsensical. The Argus I know wouldn't do this...THE Kayaba Akihiko I know wouldn't allow this type of spectacle, risking scare or annoying their player base.

"Attention, all players." The hooded figure said, wearing robes that only allowed its hands to be visible. He extended his arms, like a sect leader welcoming his faithful followers. "I welcome you...to MY WORLD."

'MY WORLD'? That means...

"I am Kayaba Akihiko. As of this moment, I am the only human alive with control over this world."

Why would you do this? Why emphasize saying 'MY WORLD'? And what do you mean by the only human...no. No way...i-it can't be...

"Some of you have likely noticed by now that the logout button has disappeared from the main menu. This is not a bug. I repeat, this is not a bug. It is a feature of Sword Art Online."

I immediately verify it...as a true statement. My UI doesn't show the option down the 'HELP' button.

This son of a bitch truly has done something absolutely outrageous. I don't need to listen to what's coming next because I already know. I have deep knowledge about the development of the «NerveGear», and even have a list of features that seem illogical for this technology, such as the necessity for a battery.

"From this point onward, you will be unable to freely log out. Furthermore, the «NerveGear» cannot be removed or shut down via external means. If forceful means of exit are attempted-"

'The high-powered microwaves emitted by the «NerveGear» will fry your brain until death'. That's what would happen if you deactivate the safety mode of that damn helmet. I must stop myself from tuning in with this madman. Something about his speech is driving me crazy, and it's not only the nature of what he is saying.

There must be something I can do.

I look around for an exit –but no, this psycho even closed the zone– so the players cannot even save themselves from listening to their death sentences. I'll have to find a distraction then.

"-As you can see, multiple news organizations across the globe are reporting on the incident-" He was showing multiple screens about the incident, but I couldn't care less. I had seen enough to know how this was going to end.

No NPC's –they must be deactivated– and the avatar of this nutcase must be «Immortal»...or is it? I take a sight at the ground and finally find something of use.

"-I hope all players can now fully relax and do their utmost to clear the game."

"Excuse me," I said to a nearby female player while I looted an insignificant pebble right next to her. Then I move to the next one.

"-Should your HP drop to zero, your Avatar will be lost forever, along with your real body-"

"Pardon me," I went around multiple players, looting some little rocks.

"There is only one condition which you can be freed from this game-"

Huff, this should be enough. I put a little pile of pebbles right next to me while I prepared to do my little retaliat- I mean, intervention.

I must wait for the right moment.

"-By defeating the last Boss in the Ruby Palace on the 100th Floor, you will clear the game and be able to safely logout once again."

I noticed how the players reacted with deep united frustration and horror towards those words. Defeating a hundred bosses while the B players only managed to reach the 10th Floor? According to logic, that will take around ten months, if things go in the ideal scenario.

"Finally, I've prepared a gift for all of you. You may find it in your item storage."

Let's see...a hand mirror? Whatever it truly is, I'm not gonna click on it-

A festival of lights suddenly broke and ignited all the characters nearby. Yelps and screams of panic joined us, reminiscent of an opera in a public space. Hell, I didn't even touch on the damn item, but I got blasted anyway.

The once shiny plaza soon returned to its original colors. Once I took a glance at my surroundings, almost every person changed. Some men even had the woman's «Starter's equipment», and there was quite a few of them...

From what I grasped from the people's whining, the mirror revealed everyone's true appearance. Of course, I remained the same.

"Welcome to your new reality."