Sword Art Online: Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night 2021

As the year 2022 unfolds, Akihiko Kayaba conceives a revolutionary virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VRMMORPG), aptly titled Sword Art Online (SAO). This innovative endeavor is facilitated by the NerveGear, a cutting-edge FullDive device developed by Argus, with Kayaba serving as its visionary creator. The NerveGear’s singular interface envelops the player’s entire cranium, redirecting brain signals to seamlessly merge their consciousness with in-game characters, allowing for intuitive control and immersive experiences without physical movement. This technological marvel is equipped with a self-sustaining power source and an advanced high-frequency electromagnetic microwave transmitter.

On November 6, 2022, a milestone moment unfolds as 10,000 players simultaneously log into SAO for the first time. However, they soon discover that their escape from the virtual world is not as straightforward as anticipated. Kayaba’s enigmatic presence materializes, revealing the true nature of SAO: to escape, players must collectively conquer all 100 floors of Aincrad, a colossal steel castle serving as the game’s sprawling setting. Failure to achieve this monumental feat will result in devastating consequences: dying within the game or having their NerveGear forcibly removed from their head will irreparably damage their brain, leading to a mortal outcome in both virtual and real-life realms.

Asuna’s initial foray into the virtual world was marked by disorientation and struggle, a far cry from the carefree excitement she had shared with her friend Mito (Misumi Tozawa) when they logged in together. Having been an original beta tester, Mito leveraged her prior experience to guide Asuna through the early stages of the game, expertly navigating them towards higher-level quests and forming a formidable party in the process. Weeks later, the duo embarked on a mission to vanquish the nepenthes, a formidable plant-based monster lurking within the treacherous mountainous terrain of the first floor. Mito cautioned Asuna about the perilous consequences of killing the nepenthes with an overhead attack, warning her of the impending onslaught of nearby flora. However, as Mito temporarily absented herself to capture a rare sly shrewman, Asuna unwittingly triggered the very scenario her friend had warned against, summoning a relentless horde of nepenthes. Mito’s frantic attempts to rescue Asuna were foiled when she was forced over a precipice by the encroaching plants, leaving her stranded and powerless as Asuna faced certain doom.

As the nepenthes closed in, Asuna received a devastating blow that sent her health bar plummeting towards catastrophe. Meanwhile, Mito, still trapped on the other side of the chasm, was left to watch helplessly as their fledgling party disintegrated amidst the chaos. Just as all hope seemed lost, Kirito arrived on the scene, dispatching the monstrous threat and offering Asuna a lifeline in the form of healing potions and a map back to the nearest town before departing abruptly.

In the aftermath of this harrowing experience, Asuna found herself alone once more, her resolve hardened by the brutal realities of their new world. On November 27, 2022, she awoke in her lodge room with a newfound determination, vowing that if she was to meet her demise within the digital realm, it would be on her own terms. Over the next three days, Asuna dedicated herself to a personal quest, delving deep into treacherous caverns and vanquishing monster after monster. Kirito eventually stumbled upon this solo crusade, urging Asuna to seek shelter in the nearby town and tend to her battered health before she succumbed to exhaustion. Refusing to heed his advice, Asuna collapsed from fatigue, only to be awakened outside the cave by Kirito’s gentle prodding. The latter then invited Asuna to join him for a crucial meeting in the town, where they would begin preparing for their first major challenge: defeating the formidable boss of the first floor.

As the sun dips below the horizon, Kirito (actor’s name) and Asuna arrive in town, where they are drawn into a gathering orchestrated by Diabel, a charismatic figure known for his strategic prowess. With calculated precision, he outlines the plan: each party will form coalitions to conquer the formidable Illfang, the Kobold Lord, come dawn. Asuna’s eyes scan the room, her gaze lingering on Mito (actor’s name), a familiar face that now seems shrouded in betrayal. The weight of her abandonment still lingers, and she finds herself unable to approach Mito, opting instead to focus on the task at hand.

That night, Kirito presents Asuna with a sleek new sword, and as they hone their fighting skills, Asuna’s concerns about beta testers resurface. She confides in Kirito, recounting her own harrowing experience of being deserted by one when she was at death’s door. Kirito listens intently, sharing his own similar tale of abandonment, and Asuna finds solace in the understanding that fear can drive even the bravest warriors to prioritize their own survival.

The following morning, Kirito, Asuna, Mito, Diabel, and their party companions converge on the boss room, where they face off against Illfang and his minions. As the battle rages on, Diabel takes aim at the boss’s weak spot, but before he can deliver the finishing blow, he is struck down by an unexpected onslaught from Illfang’s true weapon. With his final breath, Diabel imparts a solemn charge to Kirito: defeat the boss and protect the players at all costs.

With Asuna and Mito by his side, Kirito successfully vanquishes Illfang, but their triumph is short-lived. The other party members swiftly turn on him, accusing him of withholding crucial knowledge about the boss and labeling him a “beater,” a derogatory term combining beta tester and cheater. Unfazed, Kirito accepts this moniker and claims his prize: a sleek black leather trench coat. As he steps through the gate, he becomes the first player to clear the first floor, cementing his status as a formidable force in the game.

As the dust settles on their tumultuous reunion, Mito (character) extends a humble olive branch to Asuna, profusely apologizing for past transgressions in the mountains. Though initially taken aback by his sincerity, Asuna’s expression gradually softens as she grapples with the weight of her own experiences and the allure of this mystical realm. However, she ultimately declines Mito’s offer to rekindle their party, opting instead to forge a distinct path forward that aligns with her burgeoning sense of purpose. With a newfound resolve, Asuna bids farewell to Mito and sets off to reunite with Kirito (actor name), joining forces on the second floor as they formally introduce themselves to one another. As the dynamic duo prepares to activate the teleporter, their collective presence inadvertently draws the attention of an enigmatic figure lurking behind the floor gate, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of fascination and trepidation as she beholds the newly minted power couple.