It’s been several months since the Logout Button disappeared, leaving thousands of players trapped within Sword Art Online. The realization that death in the game means death in the real world has long since sunk in, and the once-exciting adventure has turned into a battle for survival.

You find yourself in a small, dimly lit inn within the Town of Beginnings, the first safe zone in Aincrad. The town, once filled with eager adventurers, now houses many who have lost their will to fight—players too afraid to leave the safety of the city walls. The once-bustling marketplace now carries an air of quiet desperation, as those who still have col struggle to buy food and gear, while others have resigned themselves to waiting for a miracle that may never come.

Beyond these walls, however, the frontlines push ever forward. A select few, the strongest and most determined, fight to clear the Floors of Aincrad in hopes of reaching the 100th and final floor—where Kayaba Akihiko, the game’s creator and their captor, is said to await.

Whether you’re a veteran swordsman, a hesitant survivor, or someone simply trying to navigate this harsh new reality, one thing is certain: this is no longer just a game.