Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

Kirito's initially tense expression gradually softened. He had seen this kind of cloak before. It was the attire worn by the game masters employed by Argus during the closed beta test. Back then, male GMs always took the form of elderly wizards with long, flowing beards, while the female GMs were portrayed as bespectacled women beneath their cloaks.

Now, it seemed that some issue had prevented the creation of a character model, leaving only the cloak to represent the GM. However, the sight of the empty crimson cloak brought an inexplicable sense of unease to Kirito.

Suddenly, as if to quiet the murmurs of the crowd, the right sleeve of the cloak began to move.

From the wide opening of the sleeve, a pure white glove emerged. But it was evident that the glove and the sleeve were disconnected, with no visible body underneath.

Moments later, the left sleeve rose slowly. Above the heads of ten thousand players, the empty white gloves stretched outwards, resembling a faceless being opening its mouth. Then, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from high above.

[Welcome to my world, players.]

[My name is Akihiko Kayaba. I am the only one who can control this world now.]

[I believe you've all noticed the absence of the logout button from the main menu. But let me assure you, this is not a bug. I repeat, this is not a bug. It is a feature of the original version of Sword Art Online.]

"The... original version?"

The crowd erupted into chaos, voices blending into a cacophony of disbelief.

[From this moment forward,...]

Kayaba continued after a brief pause, allowing the crowd to absorb his words.

[You will not be able to log out of this game until you reach the top floor.]

He let his statement hang in the air for a moment before continuing, his tone unyielding.

[Furthermore, no external attempts to shut down or remove the NerveGear will succeed. If anyone tries to do so...]

A brief silence fell.

What came next was delivered in a slow, deliberate tone, each word driving terror into the hearts of the players as they held their breaths.

[The NerveGear's signal transmitters will emit a lethal microwave signal that will destroy your brain and terminate your life.]

Kayaba's declaration was unambiguous; cutting the power, tampering with the device, or attempting to remove the NerveGear would result in the user's death.

Beside Roy, Asuna's pupils contracted in fear. He mirrored her reaction with a carefully restrained look of shock.

Gripping his arm tightly, Asuna's voice was strained with panic. "This can't be real. He's lying, right? What does he mean by 'original version'? I want out. I need to get out!"

Roy, unsure of what to say, remained silent.

Around them, the crowd broke into pandemonium.

Roy understood their outrage. If someone told him he was trapped in a game where dying meant real death, he'd be furious too. After all, after a long day at work, you'd expect to unwind with a game—not get embroiled in this kind of life-threatening mess.

However, the disbelief didn't last long. The crowd soon swelled with whispers and shouts, with one player loudly declaring to a friend, "Haha… What is this guy even talking about? That's impossible. NerveGear is just a game console!"

Kayaba's voice cut through the noise, cold and unyielding.

[If the external power is cut for more than ten minutes, if the network is disconnected for over two hours, or if there is any attempt to damage or remove the NerveGear, the brain destruction protocol will be activated. These conditions have been publicly disclosed to the outside world through both our company and the media. And as of now…]

The metallic voice paused momentarily, drawing a sharp breath.

[Regrettably, 213 players have already permanently departed from both the real world and Aincrad]

Somewhere in the crowd, a lone wail of despair pierced the air. Beyond that, most players remained frozen in disbelief or denial. Some forced faint, fragile smiles, while others stared blankly, lost in their own thoughts.

[There's no need to worry about your bodies back in the real world...]

Kayaba continued, his voice chillingly calm.

[Television, radio, and online media are already reporting this situation, along with the rising number of casualties. As a result, the likelihood of anyone forcibly removing your NerveGear has dropped significantly. Moving forward, your bodies will likely be transported to hospitals or other care facilities during the two-hour network disconnection grace period and will be carefully monitored. Rest assured… your focus should remain solely on clearing the game.]

He paused before delivering the next warning, his tone sharpening.

[However, I must emphasize one crucial point, Sword Art Online is no longer just a game. It is now another reality. From this moment on, all revival functions in the game have been disabled. If your HP reaches zero, your character will be permanently deleted, and simultaneously…]

Kayaba's voice turned icily precise.

[The NerveGear will destroy your brain.]

Health Points—the numerical representation of life.

The moment it drops to zero, I will truly die. According to Kayaba, death would come instantly, my brain cooked by the NerveGear's microwaves.

This was a game. A game of life and death—a Death Game.

Asuna's face had turned ashen, her eyes glassy with shock. Sensing her despair, Roy reached out and took her hand. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered softly, "Are you okay, Asuna?"

She remained silent, her head lowered, her expression filled with anguish. Roy gently pulled her into a reassuring embrace, offering what little comfort he could.

Even Kirito, standing a short distance away, seemed shaken, his usual stoic composure faltering.

But Kayaba's ominous declarations weren't over.

[The only condition for liberation from this game is singular...]

[You must ascend to the top floor of Aincrad—the 100th floor—and defeat the final boss waiting there. I assure you, the moment that happens, every surviving player will be able to log out safely.]

Kayaba's words were like a spark igniting a powder keg. The players erupted into chaos, their collective fear and frustration spilling over into frantic shouting.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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