Journey to Planar World

Days passed in Aincrad. As a beta tester, Kirito should have been blazing ahead at the forefront, but now found himself lagging far behind.

Each day, his level crept up at a snail’s pace, far below other beta testers already exploring resource-rich areas.

Even some diligent regular players, relying solely on persistence, had surpassed Kirito.

A mysterious figure, Miguel, was a creepy stalker. Every step Kirito took, Miguel was there, waiting with a mocking smile that always ignited Kirito’s rage.

One day, Kirito found a quest promising massive EXP and a rare item. It was a chain quest requiring hours to complete, testing his patience and skill.

Kirito worked tirelessly, defeating tough monsters, gathering rare items for the NPC, and solving complex puzzles. He felt this was his only chance to catch up from his dire lag.

After nearly two relentless hours, he reached the final stage: defeating a mini-boss monster in a hidden cave.

He fought desperately against the boss. Its HP bar was on the brink, just a few red pixels left. Kirito mustered his remaining strength, preparing a final strike to end the battle.

”This is your end!”

Activating Sword Skill [Vertical]. His sword glowed brightly, Kirito poised to pierce the boss’s heart.

But before his blade could connect, a white shadow flashed like lightning.

*SWOOSH!*

A lethal kick struck the boss, shattering it into data. Miguel stood casually beside the vanishing boss’s corpse, hands in his cloak pockets. A faint smile curved his lips.

”Thanks for the hard work, Kirito. I’ll take the reward, alright?” Miguel said, his tone dripping with mockery, swiftly grabbing the rare item dropped by the boss.

”Why are you doing this?!” Kirito shouted, his voice breaking, filled with despair.

After being repeatedly thwarted by Miguel, Kirito was nearly driven mad with frustration.

”Fair? There’s no fairness in this world, Kirito. Only the strong and the weak. And you—you’re too weak to protect yourself. Too weak to be a worthy protagonist.”

”I’ll defeat you… One day, I’ll defeat you!”

Miguel lightly patted Kirito’s head, like patting a dog.

”Until next time, Beater.”

Then, he vanished using the Doa Doa no Mi’s power, leaving Kirito alone in the dark cave. He hadn’t truly left; he watched from a separate space. That’s why Kirito never knew Miguel was always by his side.

”Damn it, why am I going through this? That guy doesn’t seem like a player, but he’s too smart to be just an NPC… What the hell…”

Clenching his fists, for the first time, Kirito wanted to kill someone.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Kirito was forced to hunt monsters ignored by other players, take trivial quests offering meager EXP, and even fight in areas below his level just to gain a single level.

His reputation as a supposedly formidable beta tester had become a laughingstock.

Other players, knowing Kirito was a beta tester thanks to Miguel, sneered and shunned him, viewing him as public enemy number one.

Kirito knew Miguel was out there somewhere, watching.

Miguel didn’t kill Kirito or cause his in-game death. He only obstructed him, systematically crushing his progress and ambitions, making Kirito feel helpless and alone in this death game.

Miguel was an invisible shadow, yet his presence felt more real and devastating than any monster.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

One bright morning, Kirito found himself at the edge of a forest rarely visited by players. He decided to try his luck here, hoping Miguel wouldn’t find him. He spotted a group of Frenzy Boars roaming.

Kirito drew his sword, a basic one earned after completing tough missions Miguel ”allowed” him to finish.

”Alright, let’s do this.”

*WHOOSH!*

He charged, his sword glowing blue as he activated [Horizontal Square], slashing the first Frenzy Boar.

”GIIIIKKKKK—”

The Frenzy Boar squealed and staggered back.

”You’re pathetic, Kirito. Your attacks are so slow.”

A voice came from behind a tree. Miguel leaned against the trunk, watching with a bored expression.

”…”

Kirito ignored him, focusing on the fight. He leaped, dodging a charge from a second Forest Boar, then struck with [Slant].

*BAM!*

The Frenzy Boar collapsed but wasn’t dead. Kirito prepared a finishing blow.

*SWOOSH!*

A black sword whizzed past Kirito’s head, striking the Frenzy Boar’s vital point.

*CRUSH-BANG!*

The Frenzy Boar shattered.

”Bastard…!”

”Enjoy this pitiful grinding process, Beater.”

With that, Miguel’s figure vanished.

”…”

Kirito clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles whitened. He knew Miguel was doing this on purpose, making his life miserable.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Kirito tried seeking more secluded areas, trekking hours through forests and mountains, avoiding main paths used by other players. He even searched hidden caves, hoping to find a place Miguel wouldn’t follow.

He found a promising cave filled with monsters. They weren’t too strong, but their numbers were high, and the EXP was decent if cleared in bulk.

*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*

Kirito began fighting, his sword flashing swiftly, cutting down monsters one by one. He felt satisfied; his EXP bar was slowly rising.

After about an hour, Kirito was exhausted but spirited.

His EXP bar was nearly full—if he defeated one more bat, he’d level up.

A monster swooped toward him. Kirito readied [Sonic Leap], lunging forward with a thrusting strike.

*KRZZZZTTT!*

Suddenly, every monster in the cave exploded into light particles in an instant. Kirito landed, staggering, staring at the empty scene before him.

Miguel stood at the cave entrance, his black cloak fluttering lightly, a satisfied smile on his face.

”Done already? Oh, sorry. Just clearing the path for you.”

”You… you killed them all?” Kirito asked in disbelief.

”Of course. Why waste time on weak monsters like that?” Miguel stepped inside, passing Kirito as if he weren’t there.

”Come on, let’s move. There’s an interesting quest in the next town. But you’re probably too slow for it.”

’Is this karma for sins from my past life?’

Kirito’s fists trembled. He didn’t know where to hide anymore.

Miguel was like an unkillable pest. Every time Kirito found a gap, Miguel was already one step ahead.

Frustration and rage built within Kirito. Every day was a struggle. He felt like a mouse endlessly chased by a cat, relentless and hopeless.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Time marched on mercilessly. Three weeks had passed since the death game began.

Kirito was now an anomaly. His level was abysmally low compared to other players. He, who should’ve been the strongest, was now just a struggling lone wolf in the starting areas.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Tolbana, the second-largest city on Floor 1, spanned about 200 meters. Strategically located, it was the closest city to Floor 1’s Labyrinth, just a 30-minute walk from its entrance.

Filled with slowly spinning windmills, Tolbana was a hub of activity for players, especially three weeks after SAO’s official launch.

Sitting alone on a quiet park bench, Kirito looked dazed.

His mind was consumed by Miguel, the stalker tormenting his virtual life.

The city was a safe zone where PK (Player Killing) was barred by the system. Thus, Kirito wasn’t the least bit wary as other players passed nearby.

But something unexpected happened.

*SWOOSH!*

A female player, previously unremarkable, suddenly drew a dagger and stabbed at Kirito’s head with lightning speed.

*PU-CHI!*

”What?!”

Kirito’s eyes widened, unable to comprehend the drastic shift.

More shocking, he watched in horror as his HP bar plummeted rapidly, leaving only a blinking red sliver.

”I can’t let that sissy boy die.”

Space warped strangely, and Miguel—always near Kirito with the Doa Doa no Mi’s power—appeared instantly.

Without hesitation, he drew his sword and attacked the woman.

*SWOOSH!*

”Tch.”

The woman, revealed as a disguised Abyssal Devourer Type Assassin, clicked her tongue in annoyance.

She retreated swiftly, her body sinking into the shadows on the ground, vanishing without a trace.

”Haa… Haa… Haa…”

Kirito panted, still reeling from what had just happened.

Death had been so close, and Miguel had saved him, for reasons unknown.