On November 6, 2022, the VRMMORPG, Sword Art Online (SAO), is officially released, with 10,000 copies released and sold immediately. Kirito, who beta-tested the game, logs-in to the world of Aincrad and meets Klein, a new player, who asks him to teach him the basics of the game including the Sword Skill battle system. Later, after several hours in the game, Kirito and Klein discover that they cannot log out. Shortly after, the pair are teleported to the town square, where they see that all other players have also been transported to the location. A red-hooded Game Master then appears in the sky and reveals himself to the crowd as Akihiko Kayaba, the game's creator. He tells them that he intentionally removed the log-out option. He cautions that they cannot log-out by simply removing the NerveGear, the VR helmet they use to log-in the game, as it willhug them instantly. The only way to log out is for the players to beat and clear all 100 floors of the game. Should they die in the game, their real bodies will perish as well. As a parting gift, Akihiko gives them a mirror that alters their in-game avatars to resemble their real appearance. Kirito asks Klein to follow him to the next town to level up before resources are depleted, but Klein politely declines as he wishes to remain with his friends. Kirito then heads out, vowing to be free from the game. By the end of the first month, 2,000 players have died and the 1st floor has yet to be cleared.

Sword Art Online Season 1 Episodes...

• s01e01 - The World of Swords
• s01e02 - Beater
• s01e03 - The Red-Nosed Reindeer
• s01e04 - The Black Swordsman
• s01e05 - Murder in the Safe Zone
• s01e06 - Illusionary Avenger
• s01e07 - The Temperature of the Heart
• s01e08 - The Sword Dance of Black and White
• s01e09 - The Blue-Eyed Demon
• s01e10 - Crimson Killing Intent
• s01e11 - The Girl of Morning Dew
• s01e12 - Yui's Heart
• s01e13 - Edge of Hell's Abyss
• s01e14 - The End of the World
• s01e15 - Return
• s01e16 - Land of the Fairies
• s01e17 - Captive Queen
• s01e18 - To the World Tree
• s01e19 - The Lugru Corridor
• s01e20 - General of the Blazing Flame
• s01e21 - The Truth About Alfheim
• s01e22 - The Grand Quest
• s01e23 - Bonds
• s01e24 - Gilded Hero
• s01e25 - The World Seed

Sword Art Online Show Summary

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...