When the announcement of the operating company finally came, I had an ominous premonition, and at this time, the noise in the square also subsided, and it felt like everyone was pricking up their ears to listen to the announcement, and the next phenomenon betrayed our expectations even more. A red pattern that covers the entire sky, the central part of it is like a huge drop of blood that is quite thick, slowly dripping downward. But instead of dripping to the ground, the blood suddenly changed shape in mid-air.

Appearing there was a giant nearly twenty meters tall in a crimson cloak, perhaps more appropriately called the Grim Reaper, since we were looking up from below, so we should be able to see the face in the hat that had been pulled very low - but there was no face in that area, it was a hollow in the whole place, and even the stitching on the inside and edges of the hat could be clearly seen. And inside the long drooping hem, there is also only a slight darkness.

The countless players around must have noticed this as well, as they could hear "Is that a GM?" everywhere "Why don't you have a face?" Such a voice.

At this moment, as if to stop these sounds, the right sleeve of the cloak suddenly moved. Through the enlarged cuffs, you can see the pure white gloves. However, the sleeves and gloves are also clearly separated from each other, and the flesh is completely invisible. Then the left sleeve was slowly raised. On the heads of the ten thousand players, the empty white gloves spread to the left and right, and it felt like the faceless man was opening his mouth, and then immediately a man's low, penetrating voice came from far above.

"Fellow players, welcome to my world."

I looked at the dragon in silence as the red cloak slowly lowered its hands, and its words continued to reach our ears.

"My name is Akihiko Kayaba. He is the only one who can control the world right now."

Kayaba - Jinghiko!

I know the name. How could you not have heard that a few years ago ARGUS was just one of many weak game development companies, and now it has grown into the largest game development company in the industry, and the driving force behind this young genius game designer and quantum physicist comes from this.

He is not only the developer and producer of the game S.A.O., but also the basic designer of the NERvGear (VR headset).

"I think you've all noticed that the logout button disappears from the main menu. But that's not what's wrong with the game. I repeat it again. It's not a problem with the game, it's the original version of SwordArtOnline."

"Ben...... The original version?"

"From now on, you won't be able to log out of this game on your own until you reach the top of this castle."

「…… In addition, there is no way to rely on an outside party to stop or deactivate the operation of NERvGear. If anyone tries to do that—"

There was a brief silence.

The next paragraph, in the heavy silence of 10,000 people holding their breath, slowly spoke:

"—The microwaves emitted by the NERvGear's signaling component will destroy your brains and stop your life activities."

For several seconds, I looked at each other with a blank expression.

If you cut off the power supply to the NERvGear, or unlock it to remove it from your head, the user wearing the NERvGear will be killed, as Kayaba's declaration says.

From all parts of the crowd came the sound of commotion. But no loud shouts or rioters have yet appeared. I think it's because everyone, including me, hasn't understood or refused to understand what Kayaba is saying.

"Haha...... What is that guy talking about? It's simply not possible. It's impossible to do that. NERvGear…… It's nothing more than a game console. How is it possible...... Destroying the brain. You say yes! Kirito!"

I remember this voice, the same as the one I heard on the grassland, and there was another name that was remembered at the same time as his voice - Kirito

NERvGear uses a myriad of signal components buried inside to emit faint electromagnetic waves that give brain cells the sensation of doing something.

Indeed, it can be said that it is a super-technology that is at the forefront of the times. But in fact, all Japanese households have embraced the same principle as home appliances as early as 40 years ago. That's the microwave.

With sufficient output, NERvGear does have the potential to make the water in our brain cells vibrate, and then steam our brains by friction to generate heat. But......

「…… In principle, it's not impossible...... But I guess it's just a scare. Because as long as you unplug the power cord of the NERvGear, it will not be able to emit such high-power electromagnetic waves. As long as it doesn't have a large capacity battery built into it...... ............ words."

His companion was explaining the principle to him, and it added to the fear of me and Ryuji, because we didn't want to believe it either

The tall beautiful man beside Kirito said with a hollow expression and a moan:

"Indeed...... There is a built-in battery. I heard that it is a rechargeable battery that accounts for 30% of the weight of the helmet. But it doesn't make sense! What if there is a sudden power outage!"

Speaking of this, as if he had heard what the man said, his voice continued to be heard from above:

"More specifically, the external power supply is cut off for more than 10 minutes, the network is disconnected for more than 2 hours, and attempts to damage the NERvGear body or remove the fixed lock – only under these conditions will the brain destruction procedure be executed. And these conditions have been published in the outside world through the company and the media. By the way, at this point in time, there are already quite a few family members and friends of players who have ignored our warnings and tried to forcibly dismiss NERvGear, and the result is ......

A loud metallic voice spoke of this place and took a slight breath.

"—Sadly, there are currently two hundred and thirteen players who have retired from the real world and Ain Grandrie forever."

I don't know where the only scream sounded. On top of that, most of the players around them either can't believe it or don't want to believe it, with only a slight smile on their faces or a trance-like state.

My brain tried to refuse to accept what the thatched place was saying. But the body betrayed itself first, and the legs suddenly began to tremble, and the numbers that disappeared were not logged out, but really disappeared.

I took a few steps backwards because of the shaking of my knees, but I was fortunate to be held back by the dragon and did not fall, and I became more and more convinced that there was nothing in this world that could scare him except for the unfinished homework.

That being said, there are already two hundred and thirteen players, so the one who was killed by the boar is also ......

If the Kayaga is true – NERvGear has burned the brains of these people – Kayaba means these people are dead?

"I don't believe it...... I don't believe it. The beautiful man who was sitting on the stone floor said in a hoarse voice.

However, just as I was trying to destroy the hope of all the players, including me, the broadcast that made the Kayaba like announcing work began again.

"You don't have to worry about your body in the real world. All the television, radio, and online media are now reporting on this situation and the situation where most of the victims appeared. Therefore, the danger of the NERvGear being forcibly removed from your head can be said to have been reduced to a fairly low level. In the future, your body in the real world should be transported to a hospital or other facility during the two-hour disconnection buffer time while wearing the NERvGear, and then carefully cared for. We hope you can rest assured...... Just put your mind on the strategy game."

"What ......"

Kirito, who had always been calm, finally couldn't help it anymore and burst out of his mouth with a sharp cry.

"What the hell are you talking about! Do you want us to concentrate on the strategy game? Can I still play the game without being able to log out?"

"It's not a game anymore!"

As if hearing his words, Kiyohiko Kayaba continued to announce smoothly in his unsubdued voice:

"But I hope you should pay special attention. For all of you, SwordArtOnline is no longer just a game, it's another real world. Henceforth...... All resurrection functions will be removed from the game. So when your HP goes to zero, your characters will be wiped out forever, and your brains will be destroyed by NERvGear."

"There is only one condition that can free you from this game. It's just that I mentioned that reaching the highest level, the hundredth floor, of Ayn Grant, and then defeating the final demon king waiting over there. I guarantee that at that moment, all the surviving players will be able to log out of the game safely."

All 10,000 players fell silent.

"All broken...... To the hundredth floor?"

The short knife hand beside Kirito suddenly roared, quickly stood up, and raised his right fist towards the sky.

"W-How can it be done! I heard that it was difficult to attack during the closed beta."

The shouts of the short knife hand resonated with everyone, and the silence that enveloped the scene was not long drowned out by the whispering noise. But there were few sounds of terror or despair to be heard in the noise.

The red cloak moved his right hand lightly, and announced in a voice without any emotion:

"Finally, let you see that this world is the only reality for you. In your inventory, there's a gift I've prepared. Please take a look."

As soon as I heard this, the two fingers of my right hand swung straight downwards almost automatically. The players around me did the same, and a series of electronic ringtones rang out in the square.

After tapping the tab of the inventory from the main menu that appears, the top of the list of items displayed shows the gift that Kayaba said.

The name of the item is "Holding a Small Mirror".

From the window that emerges, the materialized button is selected. Accompanied by a glowing effect, a small quadrangular mirror immediately appeared.

At this point, there was no time to pay attention to what others thought, and trembling to get it in their hands, but nothing happened. What is reflected in the mirror is just a character that I painstakingly created with the face of a brave man.

Looking at the dragon, he was also holding a small mirror and looking at me in the same daze,

At this time-

The players around the dragon were suddenly enveloped in white light. At the same time, I myself was also surrounded by white light, and all I saw was pale.

In just two or three seconds, the light disappeared and the original scenery reappeared......

The face of Long Ji that caught my eye was his face in reality.

"Ichiya, you ......"

I'm the same with that, I don't have the energy to think about why this happened, and there are enough strange things that happened today.

Not long after, the blood-red sky was once again greeted with a solemn voice:

"You're going to be wondering why now. Why - S.A.O and NERvGear developer Kiyohiko Kayaba did this? Is this a large-scale terrorist act? Or is it a kidnapping case committed for ransom?"

The previous tone was completely emotionless, but this time the voice had a certain emotion. Although the occasion was wrong, the word "longing" suddenly came to my mind. I know that's not what I think.

"None of this is my purpose. I can even say that I don't have any purpose or reason anymore. If you want to say why...... That's because for me, this situation is the end goal. It was for this purpose that I created the world and watched it, and I invented NERvGear and created the S.A.O. And now, all my goals have been accomplished."

After a brief pause, the sound of the kayaba returning to inorganic matter rang out.

"That's ...... the game description for the official operation of SwordArtOnline Sword Art Online. Fellow players – good luck."

The huge bright red cloak rose silently, starting at the tip of the hat, and gradually assimilated with the system message that covered the entire sky as if it were dissolving.

Its shoulders, chest, and limbs slowly sank into the blood-red water, leaving only a ripple to spread. Then, the message that filled the sky suddenly disappeared as it had appeared.

The sound of the wind blowing over the square and the music of the N-PC Orchestra as the BGM on the town streets approached from afar, touching our senses steadily.

The game is back to its original form. The only change is that some of the rules of the game have changed.

And then - it got to this point, and it finally ......

A group of 10,000 players, this is the reaction it should have.

In short, there was an overwhelming loud noise in many places, which made the whole square vibrate.

"Liar, aren't you...... What's going on, it must be a lie."

"No kidding! Let me out! Get me out of here!"

"I'm bothered by that! I'm going to have an appointment with someone!"

"Don't! Let me go back! Let me go back!"

Screaming, roaring, screaming, scolding, pleading, and growling.

In just a few dozen minutes, the people who turned from gamers to prisoners squatted on the ground with their heads crossed, some raised their hands to the sky, some hugged each other, and some even began to abuse each other.

"What are you going to do?" Long Ji is one of the few people who still keeps his head up: "Stay in a safe town, or be ready to go with me to the game." ”

"Of course, I'm going to start a sect......

"Then we're going to have to hurry." Ryuge pointed to Kirito and Shortsword in the distance, "It's clear that someone has already started to act. ”

"Someone who can keep a cool head at such a time will be the best even among the closed beta candidates, right?"

"Well, it's just that I don't have an impression at all, maybe it's a lone ranger." Long and tapped me on the shoulder

"Let's go, we can't be left behind."