The first floor of Aincrad was quiet, but the calm was deceptive. Death had already claimed its share, leaving players wary, scared, and desperate for allies. Kirito moved through the streets of the Town of Beginnings, his sword strapped to his back, eyes scanning for danger, or opportunity.
He had learned early that survival was not about numbers but timing. One misstep — one blink too slow — and even a low-level monster could end a life permanently. And while his Future Sight offered glimpses of what was coming, it came with a mental toll, draining him with every vision. He had to be careful not just with monsters, but with the world itself.
Players were beginning to organize themselves into parties, knowing that working together offered a slim chance of survival. Kirito had avoided formal groups, preferring to move alone where his speed and foresight would not be restricted. Yet, the rumors of his ability had begun to circulate. People whispered of the Black Swordsman who saw death before it came — a shadow who could protect or condemn with every step.
It was during one of these days that Asuna found him again. She had sought him out, curiosity mixed with concern. Her skill was formidable, but Kirito's precision and awareness made her wary.
"You move like no one else I've ever seen," she said as she fell into step beside him. "Your speed, your awareness… you're not normal."
Kirito glanced at her. "I already told you. It's not something I can share easily. And it's not something to rely on."
Asuna didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. The two walked in silence for a while, occasionally hearing the faint clang of steel from training areas or the distant roar of a monster in the wild plains.
Later, they reached a small forest outside the town, where a group of players was ambushed by a pack of low-level monsters. They struggled to defend themselves, their coordination poor, their attacks hesitant. Kirito's vision flared.
> Two wolves will strike from the left in four seconds.
One player will trip and be targeted immediately.
A tree branch will fall if the fire spell misses its mark.
Kirito moved, almost dancing through the chaos. His blade flashed, deflecting attacks, redirecting enemies, and saving players before they even realized they were in danger. The wolves fell one by one, light dissolving their forms into shards.
Asuna watched, awe in her eyes. "You… you saw that coming."
"I had to," he said softly. "Otherwise they'd be dead."
Her expression hardened. "And how many times have you failed? How many did you not save?"
Kirito didn't answer. There were too many. Every vision of death left an echo in his mind. He had saved many, but he had already watched countless others fall, unable to intervene in time.
After the skirmish, the group gathered around, praising him, but a subtle fear lingered in their eyes. People respected him, but they also kept their distance. His speed, precision, and seemingly uncanny foresight made him both a protector and a potential threat.
Asuna stepped closer. "You can't keep doing this alone," she said. "If you insist on moving alone, you'll burn yourself out."
Kirito shook his head. "I don't have a choice. I need to see the patterns, understand the enemies. Being tied to a group slows me down — makes me predictable."
She frowned but did not argue. Instead, she made a decision. "Then let me follow you. Not as a hindrance, but as someone who can help. You may see the future, but that doesn't mean you have to carry it alone."
Kirito hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But don't interfere unless you trust me."
Over the next few weeks, Kirito and Asuna moved together, silently perfecting their coordination. His Future Sight allowed him to anticipate monster behavior and attack patterns, while Asuna provided speed and strength that complemented his foresight. They saved lives, cleared small dungeons, and avoided traps, their names whispered among the survivors.
Yet, with every rescue, Kirito's isolation deepened. He began to see that the more he interfered, the more people depended on him. And in a world where death was permanent, dependence could be fatal.
> The future is fragile, his visions warned.
One wrong move, and even the strongest bonds can shatter.
It was during a raid on a mini-boss — a corrupted ogre guarding the entrance to a mid-level dungeon — that Kirito truly tested the limits of his ability. The ogre's movements were erratic, its attacks punishing. Players faltered, some falling to the ground, their HP near zero.
Kirito's vision split into multiple possibilities. Each swing, each dodge, each timing decision had consequences. He saw two players about to be crushed, and in a single, fluid motion, he intercepted both attacks simultaneously, slashing through the ogre's defenses and creating an opening for Asuna to finish the fight.
The group stared in awe.
"You… you saved us all!" one player exclaimed.
Kirito's expression remained calm, almost distant. "Don't thank me," he said. "I just see what's coming."
Asuna, however, looked at him with a mixture of admiration and concern. "You're too far ahead of everyone else," she said softly. "But you're human. Don't forget that."
Kirito's eyes flickered, a shadow passing across them. "I haven't forgotten. That's why I keep moving forward — and why I have to keep seeing."
That night, as they rested atop a small hill overlooking the town, Kirito sat in silence, staring at the stars glittering over Aincrad.
Asuna sat beside him. "Do you ever wonder," she asked quietly, "if seeing the future is a gift… or a curse?"
Kirito didn't answer immediately. He had seen too much. He had intervened too often. Every death avoided left echoes of those he couldn't save.
Finally, he spoke, voice low and distant. "It's both. Without it, I'd be like everyone else — blind to the dangers that lurk. But with it… I feel the weight of every life, every choice, every consequence. The future is a river. I can glimpse it, but I cannot control it entirely."
Asuna placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then at least let me be beside you in the river," she said. "If the current is too strong, we can face it together."
Kirito's lips curved into a faint smile — the first genuine one in days. "Together, huh?"
> The stars above shimmered, silent witnesses to the bond forming between them. Two players, two swords, navigating the deadly currents of Aincrad, one step ahead of fate itself.
And so, the Black Swordsman no longer moved entirely alone. The bonds of fate had begun to form — fragile, yet unbreakable — and the journey to the top of Aincrad stretched endlessly before them.