Break the Code

I should say, I do not know the SAO world as much as I'd like to. In fact, my knowledge isn't very extensive at all. As a result, updates could take longer because of it. That is, if I ever do... Regardless, I would appreciate assistance and pointers if I make an error. I'm quite sure some of you know the world better then I do.

Anyway, lets try this one out, see how you all like it huh?

Chapter one: God of Irony

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Imagine death as if you were sleeping. You may come to be aware of you situation and surroundings, you may hold to that conscious thought, and you may lose it again. For a period of time you may be completely unaware of existence and lost to reality, or whatever your subconscious dictates it as. And at other times you may be fully aware that you are in fact, dead.

This goes on for what seems an eternity, or just a few minutes, you wouldn't really know. in death, time, and space are irrelevant. To someone who is dead, it does not matter how long it has been since you died, since after all, at times you do not even know you are dead. This complete conscious is what dictates the thoughts and actions of God. Or rather, the collective unconscious. Because whenever a mind was unconscious, it's thoughts and knowledge were added to his, this his name being as it is.

However, there was not a single mind that had the solution to his problem.

The Collective Unconscious had a problem. That problem was Lelouch Vi Britannia. The boy who saved his existence, and by extension, that of the world. Under normal circumstances, well, not exactly normal given this was the first time this had ever happened, the collective unconscious would find some way to alter the course of events to his benefit. And seeing as how that was not necessary-Lelouch did it himself-he wasn't exactly sure what to do. But to make it worse, of his own choice, he did not live long. And the circumstances of the late emperor's death did not allow the choice of a 'miraculous recovery'. In fact, such a blessing would be only a curse. No matter how you look at it.

And as the collective unconscious went about doing whatever it is gods do, that problem remained a persistent nuisance in the back of his mind, and all those linked to it. It wasn't for a few years that the solution finally revealed itself. With a new human invention that proved it might just be the solution he was looking for. Regardless he was hesitant seeing how it wouldn't, exactly fit. However, a specific area of that solution arose. And after some peering into the soul of its creator, he than found that the absolute perfect solution.

From this, the demon emperor Lelouch Vi Britannia would get the opportunity he so deserved.

God smiled. How perfectly ironic it was.

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Lelouch woke up.

It was unlike anything he had experienced up until this point. More often than not, he was aware of his physical condition, or lack of one. And at times when his mind began to slip, regaining it was similar to the feeling of waking, as death is comparable to sleep. However, this was nothing like it. He really, genuinely woke up.

It took a few moments to realize what was happening. It left him confused and dazed as he looked around him at the bright blue sky. He saw the pillars surrounding him on the platform he appeared to be standing on. He then decided he was in the world of C.

"Lelouch." He heard someone call out to him. He jumped at the sound of the voice, turning to see a mirror image of himself approach him.

"I have been waiting quite some time to see you." The copy told him. "I am what you call God. Or if you prefer, the collective unconscious."

Lelouch frowned. "What am I doing here? Aren't I dead?" He asked.

The collective unconscious nodded. "Yes, you are. I am merely communicating with your conscious mind through the sword of Akasha. That is after all, what the Ragnarok connection was originally meant for."

God turned away and began walking, beckoning Lelouch to follow. "You see, up until recently I wasn't really sure what to do with you Lelouch Vi Britannia. I will admit, I owe you my life. So I feel there is something that must be done about it. I've mulled over it awhile but only in the last few months has my answer finally arisen."

Lelouch frowned. "Few months?"

"Yes." The collective unconscious nodded. "The year is now 2022 ATB. The world has enjoyed four years of undisturbed peace thanks to the demon emperor's sacrifice. And it hopes to enjoy many more. However, that is not my concern." He sighed. "Humans live in a cyclical pattern. Over time, they will slip into old habits. Give it a hundred years and you'll see. But at the same time, what you have achieved goes beyond what any leader or man has ever accomplished. So, here is my reward to you Lelouch Vi Britannia: I will give you a second life. It will not be the one you once had, rest assured, your identity will remain hidden. The circumstance of your previous life left with me without the option of allowing Lelouch Vi Britannia to continue living. But at the same time,"

God raised a finger at the confused Lelouch. "You will have a chance at life beyond anything you could imagine. I will allow you the opportunity to be the kind of person you were always meant to be. In time, you will come to understand what I mean. And whether or not you choose to accept that, the choice is yours. I will not dictate not enforce what you choose to do. Just know this: the world you will enter is not like the world you remember, both physically and what you can not see. Things are not as they will seem at first, but it will not take long for that deception to be revealed."

God began to walk away, leaving Lelouch behind to stutter at the cryptic message he was given. "What do you mean? Where are you taking me?!" He asked the figure who slowly became more distant.

"The best of luck to you Lelouch. I do sincerely hope you become the kind of person that would make your sister proud. Believe me, you will have every opportunity to be the hero."

And that was the last he heard, before a sudden light began to envelop him. Was it true? Was he going to be given a second chance?

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When the light finally faded, his first thought was absolutely nothing happened. The sky and atmosphere hadn't changed in the slightest. Until he began to look around. What he saw left him baffled.

What he could only describe as giant platforms seemed to spiral up from below, supporting towns and miniature plots of land all around him. He could only assume he was standing on one as well. Upon further examination, a giant, very giant, pillar could be seen in the far distance. It reached up to what looked like a massive roof like canopy. But he couldn't say he was in a gigantic room, he could defiantly see the sky beyond the roof. All together, it made absolutely no sense. There was not a place on earth like it. Nor did he believe it could be constructed in just four years.

He was so distracted by his surroundings he failed to notice just what he was wearing. After looking down, he saw a black outfit covered in a leather...armor? He even shortly discovered he was carrying a sword to boot.

It was all very strange and surreal. He couldn't figure out the strange world around him. It was almost like a-

"Video game." He whispered.

Could it be?

He began to move around. Running forward until he came over a hill. He saw a few other people, all wearing similar clothing to his. A few of them were fighting boar like creatures. After a moment, he saw one explode. Not a regular explosion, but a pixilated one almost. Shortly after, a message appeared in its place, hovering in the air.

"I'm in a video game." He realized.

What in earth could posses God to put him in a game? He never found time to play games during the last year of his life. True, he played one here and there before he became Zero, but he wasn't a real fan of them. There was no real reason to why. He thought back to what the collective unconscious said and sighed. Pergolas he just just go along with it and see. Maybe there was a reason other than a laugh at irony.

He mimicked the motion he saw others do and opened his menu. "Okay, what can I learn from this?"

He first checked his character status: level one, zero experience. So he was just starting out it seemed. No surprise. No name. That was odd. Would others be able to see that? Maybe god just wanted him to name himself. He couldn't exactly go around calling himself Lelouch. Even of his physical Appearance was slightly altered, such a connection might bring people to notice others. Speaking of it, his picture identified him as a slim young man with Snow White hair and golden eyes. His facial structure was more or less the same, but those differences seemed to deter that resemblance.

He continued to browse through his stats, noting all the base skills he was familiar with from others games. He came to notice however, the complete lack of magic. He was no expert, but he was fairly certain magic was a staple feature of an RPG. He supposed it didn't matter. A game was all the same to him. But honestly, what was he supposed to do here? He had come to the conclusion that this game must have some form of VR technology, given the menu and messages he saw. That and players motions were fluid rather than that of a game character. That meant he technically was actually living in this game. Was he really supposed to just live inside a game? And what was that about becoming a hero? Was that some kind of joke, to be a hero in a video game? What did that matter?

He took a deep breath. He knew very little about this game. It would be important to find out everything he could. He began to walk toward two people who were talking nearby. He approached the one with longer black hair first, he had the impression he knew more than the red head with the head band by his demeanor.

"Hey, sorry, but you could you point me in the direction of town? I kinda got lost." He said, a slight smile on his face.

The black haired one chuckled. "Your in west fields, so anywhere east will work. You can get a map for free back at town you know."

Lelouch scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I was just a little too excited, I kinda forgot." He assumed he was very close if not at the very beginning of the game. He could assume a noob move was not a questionable thing to do.

The red head laughed. "Hey, it's the opening day of Sword Art Online! I bet most of us ran right off! Lucky this guy here knows what he's doing!"

Lelouch nodded. Sword Art Online huh? Explains the lack of magic right in the name. And that all but confirms its a game. And the opening day? God wasted no time throwing him in here.

"Yeah, I guess your right. Thanks for the help." He replied.

"No problem man." The other said. "Don't forget a map when you get back!" He shouted to Lelouch as he ran off.

"The least he could have done was put me somewhere useful like in the actual town." Lelouch muttered to himself.

After a moment of running he came across one of the boars he saw earlier. It seemed content in blocking his path. Lelouch shrugged. Now was as good a time as ever to figure out the game. He drew his sword from his back and took a stance against against the blue pig. It seemed to take note of his hostile action and snorted and kicked the ground in preparation to charge.

Lelouch breathed in, he was not fighter, he had to take things logically if he was to win. Game or not, a level head always wins. He waited for the boar to charge him, and at the last second sidestepped away, leaving his sword out to make a slash through its side. The pig stumbled a few steps behind him, before collapsing into a flurry of bright polygons. A message popped up informing him of his rewards. He stood up. That wasn't half bad. Perhaps more practice could lead to more effective methods of dispatching his enemies. He decided he could spend some time training before heading to the starting town. If he was to actually live here, he might as well learn how to.

After taking out several more of the pigs, and successfully achieving level two, he called it a day and began to make his way back. He marveled at the setting sun as he realized just how real this world was. Maybe living here wouldn't be so bad.

He looked up as someone approached where he was resting.

"Wow. Not bad." The girl congratulated him. "Most people don't fight like that. The only strategy they might come up with is grouping up and hitting it till it dies."

Lelouch snorted. As a military strategist, he couldn't agree more.

The girl sat down next to him, and he took note of her appearance. She had shoulder length black hair, and blue eyes that reminded him of Kallen a bit. "In all honesty, I prefer an RTS game over this, but it's opening day after all." He said, baiting the knowledge he had as a way to obtain more.

"Still," she began. "One of ten thousand to play the game. Pretty lucky."

That's all I got? Eh, whatever.

"I'm Charlotte by the way." The girl introduced herself.

"I'm Le-" Lelouch began out of habit. "-ra." He finished. Lera? What the hell kind of name is that? Well, it's an RPG, so...

"Nice to meet you Lera." Charlotte said.

Well at least she doesn't find it weird. He sighed to himself. That was very nicely done.

"You too." He replied.

After a second of silence, the newly dubbed Lera rose. "I was planning on heading back to town, care to come?" He asked. Perhaps he could get a little more information about the game.

She nodded. "Sure."

The two of them got up and began to head back to town. They talked and as Lera tried to procure information, his still present charm got between him and an informative conversation. Rather personal questions forced him to create a new history for himself. He stuck relatively close to the story of Lelouch Lamperpouche. He even mentioned he went to Ashford. He could get away with the appearance of a high school student.

Eventually, the two finally reached the starter town, and immediately, something felt off.

"Charlotte," he began. "You did at there are ten thousand players right?" He asked.

"Yeah." She replied, a slim understanding as to why he would ask that.

"There are easily that many people here, if not very close." If that were true, every player was being condensed into one area. He even saw a few lights he assumed were teleportations.

Soon however, the answer to why revealed itself. A deep red hexagon blinked directly in the sky, drawing the attention of all those present. It quickly spread across the entire sky, filling the whole space. A red blood-like liquid began to seep from the cracks, pooling together and slowly taking shape. Lelouch stared as a robed faceless man formed above them.

"Greetings." The man began. "And welcome, to my world. Sword Art Online."

His world? Lelouch thought.

"I am Kiyaba Akihiko. And at the present, the only one in control of this world. As you may have noticed, there is something missing from your menus. That is the logout button. This is not a defect in the game. I repeat, this is not a defect. But rather, a feature of the game."

Lelouch frowned. In a VR game, that meant...

"And of someone were to remove the nervegear from your head, a microwave will be emitted from within the helmet, destroying the brain. Unfortunately, from this, two hundred and thirteen avatars have been removed from SAO, as well as the real world. However, this has appeared all over the news, so you don't have to worry about that happening anymore."

Lelouch began to twitch, his brow slowly dropping into a terrifying glare. What the hell was this supposed to achieve? True or not, this man had effectively trapped ten thousand people inside a game, but for what end?

"I'm sure some of you are wondering, why I creator of Sword Art Online, and nervegear, would do such a thing? My goal had already been achieved. And that is to creat a world in which I can direct the fate of its future." Kayaba stated.

That's it?! That's why you dare disrupt my peace?!

"I have left you all a gift in your inventories, you can all take a look at it now."

As Kayaba said this, each player opened their menus, and retrieved the mirror left for them. Lelouch as well, looked at his reflection in the mirror before they were all envelope in a bright light that blinded his vision. When it faded, he looked around to see that everyone around him looked different. He noticed a small message appeared before him: error. No data found. Because of that he assumed, his appearance had not changed. He took notice to Charlotte next to him. She looked considerably younger and had more frayed hair rather than her avatar's smooth hair. However, the color remained the same. He could only assume, that these were the player's real life appearances. He looked up as Kayaba began to continue.

"At present, the only way to escape, is to reach the one hundredth floor of Aincrad, and beat the game. And also, there is no longer any way to revive a player within the game. If you are to die, your avatar will be erased, and your brain destroyed."

The body of Kayaba began to dissolve.

"I wish you the best of luck, players."

'So this is how it is. I see now god. There is one who dares to disrupt what I and millions have died for. I will not stand for it. I will beat you game. You lost the moment you went head to head against me. Kayaba Akihiko, I will save them. No more will anyone die at the hand of one with selfish desires. You are the worst of anyone I have ever seen. And I will beat you. You and your world of swords, will be conquered!

I am Lelouch Vi Britannia! I have conquered the very world itself, and this one will be no different!'

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You know, I realized that ten thousand players isn't really that good a demographic. First of all, one in ten is a beta tester, there had to be several in the first floor raid, and they were all pretty stupid of you ask me. Not only that, but with as many different social jobs available, and as many floors as there are, I don't think ten thousand is enough. But whatever, not that important.

Tell me what you think!