The Aincrad Arc is the first story arc in the Sword Art Online series. It covers Kirito 's journey within the VRMMOPRG Sword Art Online. In terms of the Sword Art Online timeline, the events of the Aincrad Arc take place between November 6, 2022 and November 7, 2024. The events of this arc are detailed in the following media: Sword Art Online Light Novel Volumes 1 and 2, Sword Art Online - Aincrad Manga Volumes 1 and 2, and Sword Art Online Anime Episodes 1-14.

History

The world premiere Full Dive SAO game, which features an Aincrad, a 100-story multi-biome building transported through the sky, is released a month after a week-long closed beta phase with 1,000 testers, and completely sells 10,000 copies. On the first day of the official launch, there is no log out button, all avatars are replaced with the players' real faces and bodies, and Game Master Akihiko Kayaba states that death in the game is real due to hidden tricks in the FullDive machine, and no one logs out until the final floor boss is beaten. Kirito , a former beta tester with some skill, gets a head start and plays solo.

A month later, two thousand people are dead and no floors have been cleared. Kirito discovers a great deal of enmity towards the former beta testers who seem to be there to protect and lead the newcomers. He meets another solo player, Asuna, at a gathering to attack the first floor boss and works with her on the raid, discovering that she is good. The hatred of the "cheating" beta tester returns as they complete the quest, so Kirito decides to focus the hatred on himself, plays the comic villain, and accepts being called "beta tester's cheater"—"Beater" then leaves for the second floor.

Four months later, Kirito is level 40 and agrees to join the Moonlit Black Cats, a hopeful level 20 guild , and help them grow. Member Sachi confides her fear of death to Kirito, who promises not to let her die. Later, the MBC members become proficient fighters, but find themselves trapped in an over-leveled dungeon and are slaughtered, except for the leader, who had left to buy a guild house, and the over-leveled Kirito. Upon hearing this, the leader refuses to live. Six months later, Kirito learns of a revival item and rushes to defeat the Christmas event boss. However, the item only revives those still visible in the game, meaning no more than ten seconds after reaching zero health. He gives it to his old gaming acquaintance, Klein, who helped him reach the boss. Then Kirito receives a delayed voicemail from Sachi forgiving and consoling him in advance (at the time of recording).

Kirito meets Silica and offers to help her retrieve the item that will allow her to resurrect her familiar Pina. However, there is more to discover than meets the eye, and Kirito not only helps Silica obtain it, but also uses her as bait to apprehend a rogue guild of player-killers (PKs) in order to exact revenge on their former victim.

Kirito rests on the grass and Asuna passes by and reprimands him. He suggests she consider the game a reality since it also offers sensory experiences. Asuna relaxes and falls asleep until sunset, with Kirito watching over her. She is embarrassed but offers him dinner as a thank you. Suddenly, they discover an apparent murder scene right in the safe zone. They focus on the truth of the story with explanations from the victim's friend and guidance from Asuna's guild leader, Heathcliff. A swashbuckling adventure later, they discover the murderer and deliver him to the victims. They witness a ghost inside the game.

Asuna's friend Lisbeth The blacksmith is furious that Kirito has a more powerful sword (Elucidator) than anything she's made so far, and they go on a quest to find materials for a better sword. During the journey and the fight with a white dragon, Kirito impresses her with his thoughtfulness and reliability. They end up in a trap for the night, and there they find the materials. Kirito seizes the opportunity to get them out of the trap, and receives a new sword (Dark Repulser) in exchange for Lisbeth becoming his personal blacksmith just because she loves him now and wants to see him more often. Then Asuna appears and Lisbeth realizes that it was Kirito that Asuna loved, so she steps aside to cry in a corner where Kirito finds her and comforts her.

Continued on page 2

References

SAO Anime - Fan Wiki