The fanaticism in Golden Stone City was merely a microcosm of the entire Aiselan Kingdom.
By the second day after the press conference, the black market price for a hibernation pod reservation had skyrocketed from five Silver Naels to a terrifying sum capable of bankrupting an ordinary family: five Gold Ducats.
Yet, this could not deter the madness. As night fell, the entirety of Golden Stone City plunged into an eerie, deathly silence. The streets were completely deserted. Taverns ceased operations, blacksmiths' furnaces were extinguished, and even the Royal Capital's most bustling red-light district firmly shut its doors.
Patrolling military police clutched their halberds, watching the faint, eerie blue glow seeping from the windows of residential homes lining the streets. It was the light emitted by the holographic hibernation pods in operation.
At this moment, there were only ten minutes left until the launch of Sword Art Online.
In the Lower City of the Royal Capital.
