Kirigaya Kazuto's POV
Ever since the Infinite Crisis came out, the game have been very well received by the gamers worldwide. Mythos Entertainment, a rising company that appeared out of nowhere and immediately took over the VR industry like stealing candy from kids. Everything was like a dream came true to me, a game that feels like a second reality where every players have to move their own body instead of relying on a good old physical controller. The capsule were slightly expensive than the average PC, but it was worth the price considering the huge benefits that comes with it. As someone who really looks up to technology in general, I really wanted to meet the genius behind the capsule and the game invention.
Playing solo is a lot more difficult than the recommend team play, but the rewards makes the experiences more than made up to it. I wasn't someone who had that many friends to begin with, but it was also thanks to this game that most people at my school often have something to talk about—instead of the usual gossiping involving students drama.
I had even made a name for myself in the game, the Black Swordsman. It was rather embarrassing to admit but, they decided to go with that likely because I was always seen wearing all black and wield a sword as my main weapon. Some even called me a cheater, not knowing I have been learning about the system of the game since I was lucky enough to be invited into the beta. The game was truly like another world, every mechanisms feels like something that anyone with a proper mindset could take advantage of just by simply thinking this digital world as a second reality.
That's how I were able to get this far, a Level 70 Swordmaster. Somewhat, I have seems to have mysteriously triggered a rare quest that allow me to change the normal Swordsman class to the current one I have. Of course I accepted it without any hesitation, there is a master in the class name after all—it should be stronger than the average class. Even the NPC have also changes the way they addressed me, usually every players were called as 'Guests From Afar'. But after the class change, I was referred to as Young Master.
It was hard getting used to it, I even tried to make them stop but to no avail. They're treating me like a noble, however, it made sense considering the game is set like a medieval fantasy. Perhaps, the class didn't just made me a better Swordsman with powerful skills, but it also gives an aura that NPC can distinguish from average players. Otherwise, how could an NPC from a small village also called me the same as others?
But that wasn't the most pressing issues, it never was. At least in comparison to something that could affect the very reality every players live in. Yes, for some unknown reasons, I realized my strength seems unusual high when I had a kendo practice with my cousin after such a long while. I ended up sending her crashing into the wall, fortunately I didn't exert my full strength. If only my surprise ends there, that would've been great. But it didn't. In fact, it gets relatively worse.
I didn't know what's gotten into me but I tried executing the sword skill in real life after that accident. Normally, that shouldn't work because it's a video game after all. No matter how hard they tried to mimic it as close as reality, it's just made of zero and one at the end. The class power system are just data combined with pretty visual.
Yet it works. I managed to cut a small branch of a tree my aunt had been growing with the wooden sword used for kendo practice. It was the basic sword skill, Sword Slash. If I had somehow thought about this during the practice with my cousin, that would've ended up tragic. But my curiosity didn't end there, I continue testing a lot more things until I finally confirmed my theory.
It seems my Kirito, Level 70 Swordmaster, a video game character I had painstakingly grinding so hard for, had somehow merged with myself in reality. I didn't know when, but at some point it does felt like something had changed, though I couldn't pinpoint the exact timeframe. Plus, I never think it was something special that only happens to me, so I boldly search anything related to the game on the net until I found an obscure forum. They aren't that many members there, barely in the hundred but most of them have recognisable name. That goes without saying, these people are the top players of Infinite Crisis.
And the forum also have a member chat, which the top players used to exchange information in regards to IRL stuff without exposing too much of their real Identity. But from what everyone had gathered, there's a common thing—they all played the game. Then one player claimed they realised when the merging occurs and the possibly requirements. Player needed to be at least Level 50 or higher, and they must also have rare class. Every top players also have their own secret, but all of them confirmed that the theory have some truth to it.
And just like any other days, I comes online to check if the members increase, and it did. Just by reading the backlog, the newcomer fortunately found out while he was working at the construction site by accident. They were on a quick smoke break when they, like many other curious souls, decides it would be fun to try picking up a concrete bag. And surprisingly, they could easily do it one hand despite knowing clearly they were never that strong. By the time I catches up to the newer messages, the newcomer were already familiar with most active members.
Kirito: Did I miss anything?
XxHaremKingxX: No, just a rather lucky new member.
Girls_Are_Cute: WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT BECOMES A GIRL
Kirito: Ah, I see. It seems a certain someone is still grieving over the lost of their little dragon.
Angelic_Ninja: Well, they're the only one that inherited the gender as well. Pfft. Thankfully I didn't dare to try playing as opposite gender.
Girls_Are_Cute: HOW WOULD I KNOW THIS WOULD HAPPENS!!!! FUCK THIS GAME MAN
XxHaremKingxX: That's not what you said when you first joined this forum, what was it again? 'Man I love this new body, I can't stop touching myself', was it?
XxHaremKingxX sent a screenshot to the chat.
Girls_Are_Cute: BITCH YOU SAVED THAT?! YOU WANN FGHT IT OUT HUH
XxHaremKingxX: On bed? Sure, I'm open anytime. Even if you're an ugly fat otaku before, you're a cute girl now, heh.
Kirito: you two gets along well.
Angelic_Ninja: I don't think so, but thank the Heaven I gives the game a try and now I can do the legendary ninjutsu like it was nothing!
Ruri: It's not so bad. I wish I can unlock flight soon, then I can just fly to school or something.
MASTER: Well if you don't mind attracting attention, then go ahead. The government seems to be looking out for people like us, I wouldn't be surprise if they already invades this forum.
I widened my eyes at that message. I hadn't seen any news about the game, so I thought the government didn't know anything just yet. But if what 'MASTER' said is true, then wouldn't everyone be in danger? I had read many novels with that plot, and most of them didn't end well.