SAO - A New Matrix

-II-

[Mito's POV]

"I know you're scared, but trust me," I told to my dear friend while hugging her in a crouching position.

This is a disaster. There's no other expression that would do justice to what it's happening. One moment we were having a good time in the launch of SAO, and the next one we are fighting for our lives as child soldiers... whether we want it or not. The worst of all is I'm partially at fault for involving her in this game. She came to find me and play together...because of that, I must fully assume the responsibility.

"I'll tell you everything I know about SAO," I whispered in her ear. "So, let's clear the game together. And let's return home together."

She just almost got killed by a «Dire Wolf» on the first floor nothing less.

"Mm." She hummed in approval.

It's going to be a pain...it could be considered impossible even. Nonetheless, I will give my all to get us out of here. I have to.

"Uhm!" What the- Oh, I was too focused on our world. At some point, a female player approached us. "It's everything fine?"

She looked plain but friendly enough. A mace-user, if her weapon at her waist says anything.

"We are good, thank you," I responded automatically. Perhaps I was too passive-aggressive, after all, she was just asking-

A moment later, a shadow came out from the side of our stranger, and by instinct, I prepared my scythe to engage. It was a Western player; This one was rather harder to read than the brown-hair girl. A look at his obsidian cores told me it's not just any man. The signs of deep calculation were all over his policy.

Also, is he cosplaying as some kind of Karate Kid?

"Are you both trying to reach the next village?" He asked us.

I didn't know how to respond. Should I lie or just walk away from them? Also, something about this man sounds...familiar?

"How about...we all together give you...the finger...and you give us our freedom back!"

It's him. The crazy man who dared to challenge the God of this world like it was nothing. I couldn't help but voice my surprise to see this guy well and alive. And then he tried to deflect the issue but was shattered by even her partner. Then both started bantering with an almost flirtatious tone. Are they acting in a romantic comedy? What kind of nonsense is this? It's less than an hour of being encaged, but these two act like they are still playing a normal game.

Are they 'death game deniers' or something? It's just unreal...

Unreal...but truly warming. Warm and goofy as hell. I can't believe this!

At some point, me and my partner began to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

...

Which brings us to the present.

"That was so cruel!" The mace user pointed at the Westerner. "I demand an apology!" Indignation high and clear.

"It shall be done then." Did he adopt the tone of a butler? He bent one of his knees at her direction, his eyes toward the floor. "My lady, please forgive this fool and I shall deliver what thou heart yearns the most."

"E-e-enough." She weakly rejected. "I-I'm not falling f-for these overacted a-apologies." Irritation in her tone, but the corners of her lips turned upwards anyway.

I had to hold myself from chuckling. "Can we go back to our main topic?" I said.

"Ah, sorry. Lose myself for a moment there." The man had already presented himself as 'Neo'. Got up, turning at us. "Mito and...Asuna-san, wasn't it?" We nodded in unison. "As I said before; If you are going to the next village, we should travel together as a temporary party. The numbers make the strength, it's said."

"Hey-" The one that Neo presented as Lisbeth interrupted us. "Are you ignoring me?" She wasn't happy.

"It's up to both of you. Please, make your decision fast." He turned towards his partner. "Come, let's give them some space." They made distance to give us a semblance of privacy while they kept their bantering.

I turned towards my friend. "What do you think?" Now that I noticed, Asuna hasn't said a thing since meeting these players.

"...I'm not sure." She said with obvious uncertainty. "As I told you, I'm not familiar with these games and how people revolt around them."

I see. She can't assert if these players are serious, or if they are playing us a bad-taste joke. If you haven't played MMOs, there's little you can do with no experience with trolling, scams, and even the unthinkable now...a way to PK us without remorse.

What to do then?

It's obvious; Retreat. Go back with Asuna and think of a way to cope with the situation. That's the most secure play. And nothing less...I can't help but feel we will be losing a lot more than we thought. The truth is that with them I didn't see any threat toward us...just concern and even goofiness. How? How can I be so sure that they wouldn't do anything against us, from so little interaction? We are in a game, however we can't-

"Welcome to your new reality." A faceless, hooded entity said to a crowd of players.

My mind forced me to recall THAT moment at the Central Plaza.

No, it's not a game anymore. These are facts: As IRL, players need power and money if they want to keep a semblance of human dignity. That and not to mention that our death here will mean a permanent death on both sides. These are the shreds of evidence that reveals the truth: This is real. Whatever is happening with us, even if it's transmitted from a server, has serious consequences.

Which means they are showing us their true colors. There's no need to lie because all the players are busy sorting out their initial panic. There's a saying, 'You can fake and mask yourself before others, but once stakes are high, not even a DiCaprio would act without signs of being out of character'. Unless you are a psycho...are they?

"Are you hitting on them?" The girl with freckles was mad, narrowing her eyes. And we still could hear them from here.

"Of course not." He responded by raising his hands in innocence. "You went to see how they were doing, remember? I just want to help."

"Better be so." Lisbeth's hands on her hips. "I get it you might be a genius at VR Games, but no girl would be comfy at a womanizer's side, you know?" Oh my...she's on him, isn't she?

"Brilliance can make up for a lot."

"What!?" A combination of outrage and disbelief was written on her face.

Forget the 'being psychos' potential, these people are too open for their own good.

"I think we could trust them," I whispered to Asuna. "They gain nothing from lying to us. We could lose a big opportunity by letting them go."

"...If that's indeed the case, then we should."

"You sure?"

"I trust your judgment, Misumi." Asuna grimaced while looking down. "It pains me to say it, but I can't do anything by myself. I will let the calls on you...as long as that doesn't bother you too much."

I put my hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "Don't worry." I displayed a confident smile. "Learning will come in time. So, don't go too hard on you, okay?" She responded with a slight grin.

"You two, have you decided yet?" Neo called out to us.

"Yes!" We don't have the luxury of wasting a moment more in indecision. "We are coming too!"

"Good," he sent us party invitations, and we accepted them. "Try to keep up."

"That's my line," I teased, my lips curling into a playful smile.

This duo might become the initial push towards our freedom...or at least I hope so.