Disclaimer: Why the hell would I post this on fanfiction if I owned this? I obviously don't.

Wait, what? WHAT!

This pretty much summarized the general reaction amongst the crowd. This sentiment of confusion, fear, disbelieve and anger. On one hand Cassai could feel sorrow for them, and she was as angry as everyone about being stuck in the game, but on the other... This fear of death...

It had been practically hammered into her, the fact that people died in battle. To her, this was a truth as simple as the fact that humans need oxygen. The idea of respawn was almost completely novel to her.

Through this mindset, she had developed this one fact:

If you aren't ready to die, than you simply shouldn't kill, virtual or not- For them to react like this, just because things became real...

Cassai scowled, once more comparing humanity, and finding it woefully wanting in just about everything.

Still, if she wanted a fighting chance...

She opened her inventory and looked sorrowfully at the item she would need. The likelyhood of getting it in this phase of the game had been ridiculously low, already. She probably wouldn't get it a second time, seeing how it was one of the rarest items in the game.

She gave her inventory one more look, this one in resignation.

[Use Item Minotaur's Bullshorn]

YES

[Countdown Floorwide Messaging left: 4 minutes 56 seconds]

She gave a sharp whistle that had everyone cltuching their ears, because of the amplified sound.

"Alright people", she began, "This is NOT the time to panic. So I kindly request you to calm down, and listen. I wouldn't want the sacrifice of this rare floor-wide Bullshorn to be in vain."

She took a breathe and continued, "Whether Kayaba's words were true or not, this question does not matter. Why? Because we'll be stuck here for a fair amount of time, either way. We can't just rely on the outside to get us out of here, without more data to analyze the programming. "

What we need to do now is tally our numbers. I would also like for people that have already learned certain skills to teach it to as many other players as possible.

I will not force anyone to play along with the game we are now possibly stuck in, but we need to move on regardless. For this, I would like to request the willing to teach the basics of their skills to those who seen guidance. This does not automatically include beta-testers, and to them I have a different proposal, if they are willing.

There is no doubt in my mind that some of them have already planned this, But I would like for those who have faith in their abilities go ahead, and level up as fast as they can. We need strong players to help get this thing moving, whether it is to fight an unexpected boss, chaperone parties or do rare quests.

If we want to keep eventual casualties down, we NEED to organize an infra-structure, or at least the basics of it. Better to be safe and slow, than to be sorry."

After she had said this, a voice rang from the gathered growth,

"And who has put you in charge of this?"

Cassai wanted to weep because of the sheer stupidity of this question. "No one", she said, "However, we might as well plan while every player is here, instead of trying to brainstorm about it after we all have shattered."

She paused, "Seeing how I've seen nobody take up the opportunity to do just that, I have taken it upon myself to start the debate. If anyone has any problems with or suggestions about the very raw plan I have laid down here please, for the love of everything, both holy and unholy, SPEAK UP."

"What about those of us who do not wish to leave this town.", another voice piped in.

She rolled her eyes, "If you don't want to fight, you can simply go around skilling the non-combat options. We do need merchants, messengers, and crafters. Civilians, if you will..."

She wanted to say more, but at that point the Bullshorn scattered. She decided to yell, and hoped that she was audible enough for most of them to hear her.

"I'D LIKE FOR PLAYERS TO SPLIT UP IN FOUR GROUPS. SKILLERS, GATHER IN THE EAST OF THE PLAZA, THIS INCLUDES THOSE WHO WOULD WANT TO TEACH FOR NOW. QUESTERS TO THE WEST PLEASE. THOSE WHO ARE PLANNING TO ACTIVELY CLEAR TO THE NORTH, AND THE REMAINING PLAYERS, WHO WISH TO WAIT EVERYTHING OUT TO THE SOUTH."

Cassai could honestly say she was scared to death, about trying to lead once more, as she was doing now. Especially since there were close to 10.000 gathered here, instead of a dozen, maybe two. But with no one else to pick up the slack, this was the best solution in her mind.

'Please, please buy it, buy it, buy it', she thought desperately. Hah, who had a bad pokerface again Will?

Slowly but surely, the group began to move in the directions she had given. Ofcourse some still left, but it was a beginning.

"ALL RIGHT EVERYONE, WE NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING..."