(Artist: saoifmatomejp on Twitter)

Year of 2022, August 31st. After the NerveGear is officially released to the market in May, the first Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game called Sword Art Online (SAO) is officially launched as the beta version. And today is the final day of the beta test.

12:00pm in Lai's Apartment..

The boy sighs as he grabs the NerveGear headset and observes it with both hands..

Lai: Time sure flies fast.. I'm gonna miss it so much..

In Koharu's...

Koharu: Yeah.. Can't believe today's the final day..

She puts up her headset after connecting to the power source and her whole body lays down on the bed.. She closes her eyes as the system starts.

Koharu: Link..!

Lai: Start!

Their minds both transported to the verification screen first before the login.

Touch: OK

Sight: OK

Hearing: OK

Taste: OK

Smell: OK

Language: Japanese/English

Log_in:

              Account: ********

              Password: ********

You sure you wanna log in as Lai(M)?

Yes              No

Welcome to

Sword Art Online!

After confirming, their minds dived into The World Of Swords.

Aincrad Standard Time, 12:00 in Floor 1, Town Of Beginning...

Lai: ...Huh?

His eyes slowly open and found himself in Floor 1, Town Of Beginning. The very first Safe Zone where most of the beta testers are hanging out there. He smiles as he is ready for his last adventure in Sword Art Online.

Lai: Let's enjoy till the very last!

He heads to the Bulletin Board in Merchant District to take on some quests before setting out to the Origin Plains with his Anneal Blade. And also stocking some healing potions for the emergency needs.

Lai: Alright! Everything set! Let's go!

In the meanwhile, Koharu had just equipped her store-bought Bronze Mace and head over to the Labyrinth to grind some experience point from the mobs.

Koharu: Hope I can catch up their levels!

Their paths had crossed as they both saw each other in the district without noticing.

Timeskip... In the Labyrinth.. With Lai killing 20 Frenzy Boars for the {Get Rid Of The Boars} quest from the troubled woman and collecting 10 coarse stone as for the additional reward.

*Slash!* *Boar cries* *Fragments burst!*

After he reached the hunt quota, he had a thought of defeating the first floor boss along the way before reporting the quest. As he's on his way to the boss room. He notices a girl wandering around in the Labyrinth..

Lai: Huh, a girl?

He approaches to her until the straight hair girl notices him as well as she turns around. She sounds a bit stuttering to him.

Lai: Hey.. Are you lost?

Koharu: Oh! Uhm... Hiya! Can I talk to you for a minute?

Lai: Uhm.. Sure. The name's Lai! Nice to meet you!

She chuckles brightly..

Koharu: And I'm Koharu! Nice to meet you too! I should be introducing myself first! Sorry about that.

Lai: I don't mind at all. So what are you doing here anyway?

Koharu: Oh I was trying to do some leveling, but instead of gaining experience. I just leveling my speed to run away.

Lai: Your first time playing VR?

Koharu: Not just VR. This is my very first video game I had ever played. I made sure to look up some stuff online before starting but..

Lai: It's different from your expectation, right?

Koharu: Yeah! And I'm really glad someone know me well! But I'm absolutely terrible at this game and I'm talking really bad as well. This is so embarrassing for me to admit.

He smiles confident with both of his hands place behind his head.

Lai: Well, I was about to beat the boss. But that can be done later. Ready for some basic training?

Then, she jumps in joy as soon as she hears that from him.

Koharu: Sure, I'd love to! I wanna get at least better at this game before the beta closed!

Timeskip... Aincrad Standard Time 15:00. Origin Plains.

Lai: Koharu! It's coming for you!

Koharu: Hah!

She slices the boar with the dagger given by Lai as she backsteps away while it charges towards her. The boar got burst into millions of fragments and they both gain the same amount of exp points and cols from the mob. She asks him with confidence.

Koharu: So that was good, right?! The dagger sures very light and easy to wield and move at the same time!

Lai: Yeah, at least you didn't fall over this time.

Koharu: Oh come on, Lai! I'm better now!

Lai: Okay. With dash learned. Let's try the Reaver Skill. It's activated by lower your stance and raise your weapon atop your shoulder.

She does as what he just told her. She lowers her body and raise her dagger atop her shoulder. Then, the blade starts glowing with orange light. She confirms if she did right.

Koharu: Like this?

Lai: Yeah, once you ready. Jump forward and thrust the target.

He blocks the boar's horn attack and kick it's attention to Koharu.

Lai: Now!

Her feet presses onto the ground and delivers a single, fast thrust with a forward jump towards the boar. The boar got defeated in the end.

Koharu: I.. I did it!

Lai: Good! Now let's do some practice and polish our own skills.

Timeskip...

He toggles the menu to check the time, it is now 17:00 in Aincrad Standard Time.

Lai: The beta's almost over, huh?

Koharu: Yeah....

Lai: Have you got the hang of it yet?

Koharu: Of course! I'm gonna do great in the full game!

Lai: Me too!

As they are about to say, they both ask each other at the same time..

Lai and Koharu: So..

Lai and Koharu: ...

She got blushed a bit but Lai decides to step back for letting her start what she wants to say.

Lai: Ladies first.

Koharu: O-okay! Hey... Will you play with me again after the release?

His eyes widen open and he agrees with a nod.

Lai: Sure! You can have my promise!

Koharu: Woohoo! It's a promise then! A real one! Well..

Before the system force the testers to log out from the server. She turns around and smiles serenely at him..

Koharu: See you!

The screen starts fading as his mind transfer back to his body.

.

..

...

....

.....

......

After he just woke up, he removed his NerveGear and chuckles quietly..

"See you" huh...?

End Of Chapter...