THE WORLD OF SWORDS

Kirito and and approximately 10,000 other game enthusiasts eagerly enter the game. Kirito had been a beta tester for months before the game was launched.

Initially, each player uses their own avatar.

Kirito meets Klein and helps him learn the way of the sword by defeating several boars.

Klein is ready to exit the game only to find there is no way out.

Kayaba Akihiko (among other things, designer of the Nerve Gear) appears in the square cloaked and faceless. He announces that the only way to leave the game is to defeat it. Those who do not...will die (both in the game and real life). If a family member or friends remove the head gear used to enter the game from a player, that will kill them.

Everyone's avatar disappears and each player is seen as they are in real life.

Knowing that there are 100 floors to tackle in order to defeat the main boss, Kirito makes his move to the next level. He is determined not to die.