SAO: I replaced him?

When Argo, the ever-elusive info broker, spread the word that [Star Flame] was calling for a strategy meeting to take down the first-floor boss, the entire high-level player base of Aincrad practically jolted awake.

Morin was already a well-known name by now. Whether it was for his life-saving warnings about the beta test changes or the way he'd gathered players into something resembling an actual guild (even if it wasn't officially registered yet), people respected him. And in a world where every decision could mean life or death, that respect carried weight.

So when the message went out, players moved.

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The Gathering at the Arena

By noon on the third day, the abandoned stone arena in one of Aincrad's small towns was packed. The crowd was buzzing—whispers, speculation, and the occasional joke about whether [Star Flame] was actually planning world domination instead of just a boss raid.

"So many people showed up?!"

"Well, duh. Someone finally found the boss room, and now there's an actual plan instead of just 'hope we don't die horribly'."

"I thought [Star Flame] was already a guild?"

"Not officially. But considering they have more organization than half the playerbase, they might as well be."

Players filled the stands, some standing, some sitting, and a few nervously adjusting their gear as if double-checking their readiness for battle. Unlike later SAO guilds, these were mostly loose groups of friends or lone wolves who had survived this long. There were no formal organizations yet—just players trying to stay alive.

Then, someone spotted them.

"Hey! [Star Flame] is here!"

A ripple of attention swept through the crowd as Morin and his group walked in. He led the way with his usual confident stride, followed closely by Asuna, who—much to Morin's amusement—was unintentionally stealing a good chunk of the spotlight.

Dressed in a sleek set of light armor with red trim, Asuna cut an imposing figure, a striking contrast to the terrified newbie she had been just weeks ago. Now, she carried herself with the poise of someone who had stepped into her own power. The effect wasn't lost on the players watching.

There were a few appreciative glances, some whispers, and at least one guy who got smacked by his teammate for staring too long.

Morin, on the other hand, was focused on something else entirely.

His gaze skimmed over the crowd, taking in familiar faces—Kirito, Klein, some beta testers, and…

Wait.

His eyes locked onto one player sitting quietly among the others.

A middle-aged man with silver hair, a composed expression, and an unassuming set of armor.

Heathcliff.

Or rather… Kayaba Akihiko.

Morin barely kept his expression neutral as his mind raced. What the hell is he doing here?

This wasn't part of the original plot. Kayaba, in his Heathcliff disguise, wasn't supposed to show up until much later. Yet here he was, calmly sitting among the players, watching the event unfold with that same unreadable expression.

Morin didn't let his steps falter. He didn't let his face betray any of the alarm screaming in his head. Instead, he smirked and spread his arms wide.

"Alright, everyone! Thanks for showing up to our first-floor boss strategy meeting!"

---

"President Morin is so polite."

"Hah, as long as he's not volunteering me to be bait, I'm good with this."

"Let's just hope this isn't some elaborate prank where he tells us, 'Just don't die' and walks off."

A wave of laughter rippled through the crowd at that last joke.

Not everyone was thrilled, though.

Morin caught sight of Kibaou, the ever-loud beta tester hater, sitting in the audience with a sour expression. Diavel, who should have been the one leading this meeting according to the original timeline, also seemed slightly miffed. Meanwhile, Kirito was standing off to the side, watching with his usual quiet detachment.

Morin wasn't worried. He had dealt with skeptics before.

He gave the crowd a moment before continuing.

"Now, let's get to the good stuff." He clapped his hands together, shifting into a more serious tone. "We've confirmed the location of the first-floor boss room. But before we all go charging in, swords blazing, let's talk survival."

That got everyone's attention.

"First, the boss. It's called the Goblin Lord—big, ugly, and, oh yeah, it has a guard unit."

Groans rippled through the audience.

"As in more than one guard unit," Morin added, grinning at their reactions. "So, unless you have a death wish, we'll need actual teamwork instead of everyone trying to be the main character."

Kirito visibly flinched at that, but Morin pretended not to notice.

He continued, "We'll divide into teams—main attack force, support units, and those focused on keeping the healers and buffers safe. This isn't a solo mission, and if you run in alone thinking you're the next hero of Aincrad, I will personally ensure you get labeled as 'Cautionary Tale #1'."

Klein snorted. "Harsh, man."

"But fair," Morin shot back. "Now, I'll go over the formation plans, and then we'll get to the fun part—who's actually going to be in the raid team."

That got everyone's attention real fast.

As Morin launched into the strategy details, he could still feel Heathcliff's eyes on him.

It was unsettling.

What was Kayaba planning?

For now, Morin pushed that thought aside. He had a boss to kill first.

And if all went well?

This death game was about to take its first real step forward.

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