Chapter 3: All I Need Is One Sword
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With the final roar of a monster fading into the wind, something clattered to the ground. A dark object rolled to a stop near Kamikawa Hikaru's feet.
A drop?
Hikaru blinked in surprise for only a moment before stepping forward and crouching down. In his hand was now a sleek black dagger, its blade gleaming coldly under the light. He checked the weapon's stats, and the corners of his lips curled up into a satisfied smile.
It was a rare item—a small weapon, but with impressively high attack power. He stashed it into his SAO inventory and resumed grinding.
Hours passed. After slaying yet another monster, Hikaru looked up toward a small town not far ahead. His gaze softened.
That's enough for today.
His body was starting to feel the fatigue of nightfall, and he decided it was time to rest.
With his enhanced reflexes and neural coordination—abilities that surpassed the limits of a normal human—Hikaru was undeniably one of the strongest solo players in this free world of SAO.
He dashed toward the nearby town. As he entered city limits, he noticed something odd.
Everyone around him was... an NPC?
But then it clicked.
Aside from himself and perhaps the closed group of Beta Testers, most players were probably still getting used to the game mechanics. The early areas were likely filled with NPCs while the majority of players were still playing cautiously.
With that in mind, Hikaru walked into a general store and sold off everything he didn't need—animal hides, extra food items, and beginner loot.
Yes, SAO had crafting classes like blacksmithing and tailoring, but Hikaru had zero interest in the life-skill route.
As he approached the counter, the shop's NPC clerk—an elderly man with round glasses—greeted him.
"Welcome. My, you've brought back quite the haul, sir…"
The NPC's AI was surprisingly sophisticated—far from robotic. Hikaru simply offered a small nod in response.
Once the trade was complete and the Col clinked into his pouch, Hikaru left the shop and headed for his next destination: a clothing store.
Up until now, he had been wearing basic starter gear—boring, unimpressive. But now that he had money, it was time to change that.
When he emerged, his look had transformed entirely.
A loose-fitting black coat now draped from his shoulders to his knees. His sword remained hidden beneath it, while high black boots completed the ensemble. The air around him had shifted—he looked bold, sharp… dignified.
Next stop: the weapon shop.
There, he purchased a crimson-glowing longsword known as Bloodlust.
The price was steep, but the sword came with a rare passive: it restored a small portion of the user's HP with every successful hit. For Hikaru, the trade-off was more than worth it.
Even better? Bloodlust remained effective well into level 20 and beyond—and just like any other SAO equipment, it could be upgraded over time.
A long-term investment, and a deadly one at that.
After his purchase, Hikaru's presence changed yet again. There was a calm strength in the way he walked now—a charisma that couldn't be faked.
"Expensive, yeah… but with this, battles and grinding are going to be so much easier," he murmured, glancing up at the starlit sky with a faint smile. "Right now, I might just be the strongest player around."
Opening his map, he located the nearest inn and began walking.
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Inns in SAO weren't just for resting—they were also hotspots for information. Hikaru was hoping to pick up anything useful from the local chatter.
But the moment he stepped inside, the previously lively room fell completely silent.
By this point, a good number of players had reached this town. But unlike Hikaru, most had barely fought any monsters and opted to rest instead.
His black outfit—and the faint red glow of his weapon beneath his coat—made him stand out instantly.
Especially among beginners still wearing their shabby starter gear.
Hikaru ignored the stares and sat near the counter. After skimming through the drink list, he picked something at random, paid for it, and took a slow sip. His relaxed, composed attitude only made the others more curious.
"Who is he…? He looks amazing…"
"Look at that gear! He must be super high level. No way he's not a Beta Tester!"
"Beta Testers, huh? I heard they're selfish jerks who never share any info."
That last sentence shifted the atmosphere in an instant.
The admiring stares became suspicious. Bitter. Envious.
Beta Testers—players who had tested SAO before its official launch. They had access to knowledge most newcomers didn't. And now, in a death game where information could be the difference between life and death… that advantage stirred resentment.
It didn't take long for that jealousy to turn hostile.
And unfortunately for Hikaru… he looked the part.
Even though he wasn't a Beta Tester at all.
Just as he stood to head upstairs, a loud voice rang out.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!"
A burly man slammed his hand on a table and rose to his feet. A long scar stretched across his face, adding menace to his glare.
Here we go, Hikaru thought.
He turned with calm eyes. "You need something?"
"You're a Beta Tester, aren't you?! Why the hell aren't you sharing any of that info, huh?! Planning to keep it all for yourself?!"
His voice boomed across the room, drawing the attention of every other player.
Hikaru frowned and swept his gaze across the room. Then, with a quiet sigh, he said:
"If I were a Beta Tester, I would've already shared everything I knew. But sorry to disappoint you—I'm not who you think I am."
With that, he turned back toward the stairs.
But the man charged.
Too bad for him—they were still in a safe zone.
The moment he reached out, the system's protective field activated. His hand hit an invisible wall with a dull thud.
Hikaru didn't even flinch. "Why are you so desperate to believe I'm lying?"
"You think I care?! Coward! I challenge you to a duel—right here, right now!"
Hikaru paused, clearly not amused. He hadn't planned to waste time on this. But the man's insults kept coming… and eventually, something snapped.
"…Fine. I accept."
The room fell silent.
Hikaru descended the stairs and looked the man in the eye.
Then he turned around and walked outside.
The crowd followed.
No one tried to stop the fight. If anything, they were eager to watch. Everyone still believed Hikaru was a Beta Tester, and this was their chance to take one down a peg.
Standing in the city street, Hikaru opened his interface, selected the Duel option, and sent the request.
The man accepted.
With a faint flick of his coat, Hikaru drew his sword.
Bloodlust shimmered ominously in the night air.
He gripped the hilt tightly, eyes calm, heart steady. Just before the duel began, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
To the angry man, it looked like arrogance.
Snarling, the man unsheathed his own weapon.
The countdown ended.
Hikaru's eyes snapped open.
In a blink, he dashed forward like a bullet. His blade cut through the air with lethal precision, aimed straight at the man's neck.
The speed was unreal.
The man barely managed to raise his sword to block—
CLANG!
Bloodlust smashed through the weaker weapon like it was paper. Sparks burst in every direction as the tip continued its arc toward the man's throat.
A thin, precise line of red.
But Hikaru hadn't gone all out.
He held back—only shaving a portion of the man's HP before lowering his weapon.
"That strike was punishment for the insult you threw at me earlier," Hikaru said coldly. "Do it again… and I won't be so forgiving."
He had no interest in killing.
Not here. Not in SAO.
Because in this world… killing meant real death.
And at the end of the day, Hikaru was still just a regular teenager.
He ended the duel and turned his back on the stunned crowd, returning to the inn and heading upstairs.
But the scene had already been burned into everyone's memory.
By morning, the rumor had spread.
A mysterious player dressed in black.
Wielding a crimson-bladed sword.
Unmatched speed and deadly precision.
The whispers had begun—
"The Black Cloaked Beta with the Crimson Blade."
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