Since the launch of the innovative NerveGear, gamers worldwide have had the chance to experience fully immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the latest titles for the console, provides access to the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid medieval landscape where users can do anything within the bounds of their imagination. With the release of this global phenomenon, gaming has never felt more lifelike. However, this idyllic fantasy quickly turns into a brutal nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The "log-out" function has been removed, leaving the only way to escape as clearing all one hundred increasingly difficult levels of Aincrad. Compounding the struggle, any death in the game is permanent, ending the player's life in the real world. Although Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya was fortunate enough to be a beta-tester for the game, he soon realizes that despite his advantages, he cannot overcome SAO's challenges alone. By teaming up with Asuna Yuuki and other skilled players, Kirito strives to face these seemingly insurmountable trials head-on. Yet, with difficult bosses and threatening dark cults hindering his progress, Kirito discovers that such tasks are much easier said than done.